With JiDan staying to the side of his mother, Yu XueQin feels more relaxed. Assigning Zhong Song to Lang Yuan as a tutor is just a pretense. The main objective would be to protect the Empress Candidate while he stayed on the Higher Realm. Though, his trust to his half-brother is high, he can't still cut the worries that lie deep on his heart. Zhong Song is just a half-breed. He can protect Lang Yuan against normal dragons. But to the likes with the imposter black masked man...

The trials are just a folly. Yu XueQin himself will never bring such ridiculous games. But it was Lang Yuan who asked it for himself and it is just simply his virtue to respect the human to his wishes. Whatever outcome it will bring, Lang Yuan will still become a priority. After all, the schemes behind the palace are normal occurrences. Framing a concubine to raise Lang Yuan to the top is just a simple feat.

Well, that seems to be his plan from the start. Let the human play and face his mistakes. After he is done playing, then he will take him home and have them unite. He will then continue living with 'his' human - a life that will surely become exciting. Lang Yuan is an interesting existence. To stay beside an interesting person will surely bring liveliness.

If only a discrepancy did not happen.

He cancelled the trials. Why would he sacrifice his 'interest'? If that person will be gone within his grasp, he somehow didn't know what to do. He was surprised to know that the loss of a simple being will make him think like this. Lang Yuan is just a human. And his world has lots of human. Why should he be worried if that single human will be gone?

Yet, his heart can never forget that painful clench. The moment he saw Lang Yuan almost abducted released a rage he never thought would come out. Plus, his son was hurt. Who even dared to do that to his family?

Yu XueQin is really cold from the outside. But the residence of the higher realms know that it was just his facade as the emperor. Because, if Yu XueQin was really cold up to his bones, why does persons like Zhong Song who is known as the 'sunshine' stay with him? And the fact that Yu XueQin did not even hated his half-brother a bit.

He released the decree after he marked Lang Yuan. His mark is just temporary; he wanted to mark him permanently. A dragon's possessive desire is too much that whenever they found a treasure, they will hide it deep in a castle and keep it forever. Nobody can change a dragon's desire once it was switched on.

The emperors who heard about the news are indifferent. After all, this is not their kingdom and involving themselves will only bring trouble. Some of them decided to just go home and sleep. Well, this journey at least brought them out from their messy offices and served as a long vacation that they always wanted. Even though their plan of staying out for so long was cancelled, this is still a rest.

But some of the emperors criticized the decree. Then? What if there is danger? Who cares if one of the concubines will die? Actually, they would be happy if the chance of bringing out an heir from another emperor will lessen. And the human? Well, if he dies then that's good. At least in this equilibrium no one is leading. The balance will remain in eternity.

Yu XueQin, of course, disliked the emperors. Even Mu BoLin, the youngest emperor understands the danger and accepted the decree. The small emperor wanted to stay in his realm for a while for sightseeing. He is still a child and needed experience. Yu XueQin obliges the little emperor and give him some advice to hone him as a better person in the future. But dragons like Tian YingJie strongly disregarded the decree and wanted the trials to continue.

And that is the reason why the two figures are heaving tea on the great hall. All the servants of each emperor stayed on their corners not crossing the other. They are sitting casually in a low table with a sweet scented plant atop. There are snacks on the table and a set of teacups and dried leaves. The sweet scent invaded the nostrils of those servants who did not belong to the realm and thought that this tea would taste good. Tian YingJie is drinking the tea leisurely while being surrounded by the servants fanning him.

"Flavorful, never tasted a drink like this before," Tian YingJie clearly said. "I never thought that the Emperor is drinking such luxury every day."

Yu XueQin humbled and twitched the sides of his lips into a small smirk. "Of course, The emperor only deserves the greatest taste and quality. Perhaps, Emperor Tian wasn't able to have this in a daily basis?"

How boastful ah! Zhong Song who is present in today's meeting could almost curse under his breath. Ah, Yu XueQin ah, not only you are flaunting your wife's goods but also shamelessly taking him as yours already. The scholar only cleared his throat as if mocking Yu XueQin. Yu XueQin watched the scholar from his peripheral and sent him a killing glint. Zhong Song shuddered.

"If Emperor Tian wants the recipe, I could have my servant to list out the ingredients for you," Yu XueQin nodded.

Of course, the arrogant emperor could not accept such humiliation. He is the man of luxury! Why does it seem that the quality of his home suddenly plummeted? He only took a fan under his sleeve and opened it in a flip. He flapped it unto his face with a sarcastic smile.

"Oh, I won't bother the emperor. After all, this is just a small matter. I know the cooks in my kingdom can still make better than this," he said.

Yu XueQin only nodded. Tian YingJie reached out for the snack and ate it. The sweet taste of pastries from the twenty first century exploded on his mouth. The flavors mixed in a matter that it wasn't too sweet, not too bland, enough to tickle someones taste buds. This snack complimented the tea, erasing the sweetness yet leaving a more soothing taste. Tian YingJie suppressed the want of snatching the recipe and swallowed the food down on his throat.

"So, what does Emperor Tian wanted that this Emperor requested my presence?" Yu XueQin asked. It's just a courtesy call, nothing serious.

Emperor Tian YingJie swallowed the last piece of the pastry and wanted to wish for more. The maids noticed the empty plate and served another one. He wiped his mouth a bit and drank the tea.

"I was surprised when I saw the 'candidate' you brought in your palace. So he is really a human," Tian YingJie said.

"Indeed, he is a human," Yu XueQin did not deny it.

Tian YingJie nodded. He started eating the snack in smaller bites to savor the flavor more.

"Then, I want the Emperor Yu XueQin give me the human," he bluntly said.

The change of emotion from Emperor Yu XueQin's face is not evident, but the cold killing intent he released affected the servants. The generals from Tian YingJie's side quickly hold the hilts of their sword ready for a fight. Tiang YingJie only raised his hand to stop his subordinates. He was leisurely drinking the tea, ignoring the death aura before him.

"Wait, Emperor Yu. I'm not still done," he continued. "I'm not stupid to snatch a toy from someone. What I wanted to say is that once you are bored with the human, give the human to me."

Zhong Song and Co., looked at Yu XueQin who remained silent. The emperor only shifted his movements to take a sip from the tea. After drinking, he stared at the brown-translucent fluid and shook it lightly. The liquid inside the cup made a circular motion like a tornado. He placed the cup down and faced the emperor across him.

"And do you think that I will lose interest of him?" He asked.

Tian YingJie showed a mocking smile. "Isn't it a dragon's trait to dispose a toy that he has no use?"

But Lang Yuan is not a toy. He is Yu XueQin's treasure.

"No use or has use, what is the difference?" Yu XueQin retorted.

"Emperor Yu, a human is just a toy amongst us gods. No matter what happens, a human will forever become a human. Even half-breeds are the same," Tiang YingJie purposely glances to Zhong Song unto the side. "They are naturally weak creatures, was only born to be played on our hands."

"Out of respect, Emperor Tian, but I will never hand in 'my' Empress. And even if I got bored with him, I will not still give him to you. After all, I can gift him to my brother who has garnered more qualities than anybody else."

As if I will lost interest, Yu XueQin thought. He was firm in his resolution that Lang Yuan will forever bring him surprises. And to hand him to Zhong Song? It's just a joke. He will never share Lang Yuan to others.

"I will compensate," Tian YingJie insisted. "You will give him to me; I will give you five ladies from my harem. All of them are still virgins and has high cultivation. I will also add dozens of fodder for your military. If not enough, I will also give you the armory of the palace. Isn't it a good exchange for a deal?"

The exchange for a mere human is too much the value. However, Lang Yuan is not a simple human. His ability can exceed the value of these things in one go.

Yu XueQin only chuckled before saying a hard: "No."

Tian YingJie frowned. Isn't his offer great enough?

"I did say, Emperor Tian. I will never give him to you," he said.

"Why?" Tian YingJie asked in a rather loud voice. "I only want him after you use him. The value of a second hand object should diminish but I still offered a large sum of advantages. Why won't you accept?"

"It's because I won't be bored," Yu XueQin said proudly. "Only stupid people will get bored with his presence."

Outsiders are not aware of Lang Yuan's charms. Maybe they can only see him as a human with fragile appearance. But his fragility isn't really very weak. He was priceless to the point that even broken can still be of use. Like a star that can still bring eons of life after hitting the black hole.

Of course, Yu XueQin will not tell. If anyone knows about this trait, not only Tian YingJie would want the youth but also all of the emperor present on the nine realms. His significance is more than the power their worlds can hold.

The arrogant emperor has never felt rejection before. Yu XueQin's firm resolve of keeping the human went out from his expectations. Why would he not agree? Of all the creatures in this world, humans are like ants constantly thriving for life. In a puff, their life will be gone. A little entertainment can only last for a mere minute of the dragons' longer life.

He wanted to offer more advantages when a eunuch suddenly yelled: "Emperor Chang MingYu has arrived!"

Only Tiang YingJie motioned to turn his head around to see the emperor walking towards their direction. Like his relationship with Yu XueQin, Tian YingJie also doesnt have any faults with Chang MingYu. It's just like an 'acquaintance' with only a chance of knowing the other because of their names as leaders. They never had a conversation or any exchange of diplomatic greeting. The arrogant emperor would not lie low to start dealing with this thing.

Chang MingYu's is 'frenemies' with Yu XueQin so nobody is surprised when the emperor arrived with no invitation. The hostility between the two 'frenemies' is to the extent of comfortability, that if one of them will not exude any form of open-hostility they will get worried. A eunuch quickly placed a low table with a half zhang in between them.

[ Zhang = 3.33 meters ]

Chang MingYu sat down with no restraints while Tian YingJie silently drank his cup of tea. The arrogant emperor has nothing to say with Chang MingYu so he just let the emperor sit beside him. A maid served the same tea to Emperor Chang MingYu and accepted it with a smile.

"Will you still not give him to me?" Tian YiangJie asked again.

"Sadly, Emperor Tian, I will not handing him. And if you wanted, I can give you my harem with no problems. You can get them without an exchange," Yu XueQin said.

Tian YingJie is not interested with the ladies. Though, it is true that their beauty exceeds his harem, they are still no different. The only good things about them are their faces. Other than that, they are just broken toys. He wanted Lang Yuan who is completely different.

THhe arrogant emperor would want to ask when the emperor beside coughed. The two people looked at Chang MingYu who suddenly banged the cup broken to the table while coughing. It wasn't excessive, but the force that he used is distinguishable. It is as if he was surprised by something.

"Emperor Chang, what seems to be the problem?" Yu XueQin asked. There's no poison in the tea. If he wanted to kill this emperor, he will never do such cowardly thing. He's rather have a one on one fight than to become lower than dogs.

Chang MingYu is covering his mouth as his cough is slowly dissipating. His one hand is gripping the teacup until cracks are formed. His head was lowered, lips pale, and both eyes are dilated. He was looking at the air before him in a trance, suddenly looking so solemn. Chang MingYu then clenched his chest and muttered in a very silent voice: "... Yua..."

Yu XueQin is very attentive. He heard those words that Chang MingYu carelessly muttered. He narrowed his eyes, looking suspiciously to that emperor. There are a lot of Yuan in this world. Maybe calling Lang Yuan's name is just coincidence?

"Emperor Chang..." Yu XueQin called again.

Chang MingYu came back from his senses. He shook his head a bit maintaining a stoic composure. He apologized to the ruckus that he made. His face looks like dead fish.

"I am just overwhelmed... " He admitted. "The tea tastes good..."

And never thought that he will able to taste it again.

"I'm glad to hear," Yu XueQin grinned. "After all, it was made by my candidate empress."

Tiang YingJie thought that Lang Yuan's value has risen while Chang MingYu only nodded. One emperor thought that he should get the youth no matter what while the other is suddenly become silent drinking the tea in nostalgia. This meeting is indeed one of the most dangerous meetings of all.

"Of course, Of course," Chang MingYu could only agree.

Yu XueQin looked at him with narrow eyes.

"I heard about the last part of the competition. It seems that your action created a huge deal with the trial," Yu XueQin is talking about Chang MingYu's [one plus one] stunt. The emperor smiled.

"Well, if I asked him a difficult question I doubt that he can still survive by stalling the time," Chang MingYu said. "Really, to just carelessly have the human reach that state, Emperor Yu is really cruel."

"Then let me apologize," Emperor Yu XueQin gritted his teeth. Chang MingYu can really hit it hard to the core. He's not only rubbing salt to the wound, he even soaked it with a supersaturated brine solution.

"Though, it's not my problem. You don't have to apologized," Chang MingYu ate the pastry. Still, his expression holds nostalgia.

"But your action still worth a thousand thanks. Let me grant you a gift," Yu XueQin said.

Chang MingYu did no comment. If Tian YingJie is not here, Yu XueQin could have the usual one on one sarcastic remark the two often does. Also, he has one question that he wanted to know. Tian YingJie is one of those who refused to accept the decree.

But Chang MingYu surprisingly approved of it.

The three figures continued to chat then dispersed after some time.

___________________________________________
Yay! Another Update!

The author has something to say:

Author: Emperor Chang, why did the tea moved you to tears?

Chang MingYu : For a person who is used to eating 21st century stuff, sure I am.

Yu XueQin: *Pats the comrade harshly*

Tian YingJie: *steals the pastries away*

And the world WAR III began 😂😂😂