Wolf King And His Fox Consort [BL]

Chu Yun hadn't realised how much his brother had grown in the past year until he stood in front of him, ready to leave.

"Are you going to cry?" Chu Hean asked, one corner of his lip curled up in amusement.

Chu Yun scoffed after dragging the edge of his sleeve under his eye. "No. I just can't believe I'll finally be rid of you."

Lieba Chun threw an arm over Chu Hean's shoulder. "I'll take good care of him."

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"I don't need you to take care of me," Chu Hean said, but Chu Yun noted how he listed closer to Lieba Chun's side.

"Well, you might have to take care of me."

"Of course," Chu Hean said, "Your enemies will be my enemies."

Chu Hean was a full head shorter than Lieba Chun, and slender as a willow, but no one who saw the glint in his eyes would question his determination.

For all his smooth talking, Chu Yun didn't doubt the Wise Prince meant his words; it was obvious to see from the way he looked at Chu Hean.

Otherwise Chu Yun would have been a lot more worried about his younger brother leaving with him. It wasn't that he didn't think Chu Hean could look over himself, but he would be a stranger in a strange land -- something Chu Yun was intimately familiar with -- he would need someone on his side.

Someone to see him through thick and thin. To stand by him when the going got rough.

And it would. Lieba Chun hadn't elaborated on it, but it was obvious there was some tension at home.

The Xiongnu held vast territories and had large clans, disputes over inheritance were to be expected.

Something seized in his chest. He hoped Chu Hean was up for the task.

As if sensing Chu Yun's apprehension, Xiao Zai slid an arm around his waist, holding him close. "We'll visit as soon as we can."

"You wouldn't dare miss my wedding," Chu Hean said, his eyes narrowed into slits.

"No, never, I wouldn't dare."

In the back of his mind, Chu Yun made calculations about the logistics of such a journey. It would be dangerous for both him and Xiao Zai to leave Zui altogether. Naturally, no one could know. Moreover, Chu Yun had no intention of leaving the twins behind -- but he knew that would be met with the court's disapproval.

He was confident he could find a way.

Chu Hean and Lieba Chun were ready to leave, but Chu Yun was having trouble saying goodbye.

He hadn't felt that things were this final when he had gotten married himself.

He took a fan out of his sleeve and held it in front of his face. He didn't think he was going to cry, but it was better safe than sorry.

Seeing his brother on top of a tall Xiongnu horse, wearing their traditional clothing, Chu Yun felt as if he was admiring a wordily stranger. Not his younger brother, but a man in his own right, the river of whose life was now going to diverge permanently from his own. Maybe they would meet again at sea, but their paths there wouldn't be the same.

"Elder brother, I'm off now."

Chu Yun nodded. "Safe travels."

"We are friends and allies, and if Zui ever requires assistance, know that the Wise Prince of the Xiongnu will be ready to honour those bonds."

"The Wise Prince honours us," Xiao Zai said.

Behind Chu Hean and Lieba Chun stood a honour guard of Xiongnu, handsome and colourful in their cheerful garments. Among them, close to the front, sticking out like a sore thumb in her billowing robes was Min Sezhui.

She and Chu Yun had already exchanged private words of goodbye and well-wishes. Already, Chu Yun thought, she seemed to sit taller on her mare. She was ready to shed the weight of her previous life like autumn leaves, and Chu Yun wished her nothing but the best.

Her gaze found his own, and she nodded to him across the distance.

Finally, there was nothing else to say, and Chu Hean, Lieba Chun and the remaining Xiongnu left through the royal palace's main courtyard. Xiao Ziyi and a contingent of Zui cavalry escorted them to the sound of drums. They would accompany them all the way out of the city's gates, and to the Zui border in a display of friendship between their people.

Maybe Chu Hean was the better politician than him, because having an alliance with the Xiongnu was a better deterrent to enemy invasion than any new weapon, or breed of formidable war horse.

Although, if Lieba Chun was true to his word, a herd of 100 heads would be delivered to Haolin next year. Xiao Ziyi's eyes had almost sparkled during that particular discussion.

Chu Yun was glad for Xiao Zai's solid presence at his side.

"You can cry when we're back in our rooms," Xiao Zai whispered in his ear.

Chu Yun smacked his thigh discreetly with the closed fan. "Who said I'm going to cry. Chu Hean is a nuisance, and I'm glad he's moving on with his life, and no longer risking it being a contract killer!"

He wasn't entirely sure Chu Hean was going to put a stop to that kind of activity -- but he could at least hope. It was a faint hope, as Lieba Chun had made it abundantly clear he enjoyed that about him.

He was so focused on his own thoughts that he didn't notice Hua Nanyi's approach.

"I'm here to say goodbye."

"You just missed Chu Hean."

"I know, I talked with him before. I meant say goodbye to you."

Chu Yun didn't think she could have shocked him more if she had slapped him. "What do you mean?"

"I think it's time I figure out who I am, outside of you." Chu Yun understood from her tone that she wasn't making an accusation, just stating a fact.

"But where are you going?"

"Wherever the road takes me."

"Can I change your mind?"

She shook her head with a smile. "No. I'm going today."

"Take whatever you need."

She grinned, and Chu Yun realised how long it had been since he'd seen her smile like that. Genuinely happy.

"Of course. I'm going to clean the palace coffers out."

They exchanged a long look, and then Hua Nanyi went back the way she had came. She wasn't going to leave right away, but Chu Yun knew he probably wasn't going to see her again before she did.

Hua Nanyi's announcement had tipped the scales; the tears seemed inevitable now.

He hid his face in Xiao Zai's chest, glad that there was no one around to watch them too closely.

"Everyone is leaving," he mumbled against the fine silk of Xiao Zai's robes.

Behaving in such an undignified manner was beneath him, but Chu Yun felt hidden from prying eyes by Xiao Zai's solid chest, and the draping of his sleeve when his arm came around his shoulder.

"I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me."

"As if I'd let you go."

Chu Yun's fingers tightened on the front of Xiao Zai's robes. Xiao Zai took his hand and brought it to his lips. "My heart is yours. Now and forever."

"I suppose you're an acceptable consolation prize in the absence of my younger brother and my oldest friend."

Xiao Zai muffled his chuckle against the top of Chu Yun's head. "I'm glad to hear it. What does his Royal Highness think we should do now?"

"I think his Majesty will agree that we have the rest of our lives to find that out." He tilted his chin upwards, and brushed a kiss against Xiao Zai's lips. "It can wait."