Wolf King And His Fox Consort [BL]

The Queen Consort was called Han Guilan, and the Third Princess Ru Yumei. Introductions made, Chu Yun decided to put something to the test.

"I'm sure her Highness the Queen Consort and the Third Princess must be exhausted from the journey," he gestured for two maidservants to come forward, who approached the two humans with their heads bowed, "perhaps you'd like to rest for a moment in your rooms?"

The Queen Consort smiled pleasantly. "Room, if it wouldn't be too much an imposition," she said sparing a look towards the Third Princess. "I'm sure things are done differently in Zui, but since my daughter is still an unmarried woman I'd like us to room together."

So the Queen Consort was controlling, if nothing else.

It remained to be seen if the Third Princess' warning was legitimate, but for now it seemed her mother didn't intend to let her out of her sight.

"Of course," Chu Yun agreed, his pleasant smile matching the Queen's, "Please feel free to choose one of the rooms we prepared in advance, there should be more than enough space for two."

Ru Yumei had no reaction beyond her demurely lowered eyes.

The Queen Consort excused herself, and left with her entourage of guards, and the three maidservants who travelled in the carriage with them.

Chu Yun watched them go in silence, and then turned to Xiao Zai, "First Impressions?"

"They're nothing like Ru Long," Xiao Zai said, sounding contemplative. "I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this."

Xiao Ziyi agreed with a grunt. "The Queen doesn't look like the kind of person who'll let herself be pushed around." She eyed Chu Yun apprasingly. "Are you sure you can get something out of her?"

"I'm sure," Chu Yun said, "If she doesn't tell me what I want willingly she will do it under duress." He shrugged. "Either way, we'll find out more about Ru Long."

Xiao Zai let out a peal of dark laughter, and wrapped his fingers around Chu Yun's wrist, the gesture hidden under the fall of their wide sleeves. "Why does it seem to me like you grow more ruthless each day?"

Chu Yun flashed him a smirk, a sharp canine digging into his lower lips as he patted his stomach absently. "Your child must bring it out in me."

The sharp intake of Xiao Zai's breath was audible in the silent courtyard.

"I think I should leave," Xiao Ziyi said, looking extremely uncomfortable. "I'll see you soon for the luncheon."

"Wait," Chu Yun said, pinning her in place with a look. "They brought their own maidservants, but it would be useful if we got Hua Nanyi in their room. It's possible they'll dismiss her quickly and won't talk much in her presence, but there's still useful information she could get from them."

Xiao Ziyi nodded stiffly. "That makes sense."

"You should go tell her to bring them fresh linens, or offer to run them a bath," he said, tone dismissive "Or something else to that effect."

He turned to leave before she could complain, dragging Xiao Zai along with him.

After they had some distance between them Xiao Zai turned to him with a smirk of his own. "Like I said...ruthless."

Chu Yun gave him a tiny smirk, and tampered down the urge to show him just how ruthless he could still be.

---

They weren't making a big event out of the Queen Consort's and Third Princess' presence in Zui, and so they had a meal in one of the ceremonial halls. The decoration was appropriately grand, but the room wasn't large, making the mood feel more intimate.

Both mother and daughter had changed into a fresh set of robes for the meal. Ru Yumei was wearing another veil, just as lovely as the previous one.

Xiao Ziyi sat to Xiao Zai's left, and Xiao Yuan to her right, accompanied by Fan Jiang too.

Chu Yun sat to Chu Yun's right and poured him wine, letting him direct the conversation.

"I hope that her Royal Highness can convey to the King of Su our well wishes, and that he knows that I mean no disrespect by contacting her Royal Highness instead of him," Xiao Zai said, drinking the contents of his cups and extending it to Chu Yun to fill up again. "News have reached us of his Majesty's compromised health.

I thought it best to leave it to her Royal Highness' discretion how to best inform him."

Chu Yun watched the Queen Consort's movement's attentively, even as he pretended to be focused on filling up Xiao Zai's cup.

The Queen's fingers almost didn't shake when she gestured for the servant waiting on her to stop pouring tea. "His Majesty was very wise to do so, I'm afraid my husband would have wanted to come himself, and he is in absolutely no condition of doing so."

Xiao Yuan raised a cup towards the Queen Consort with a foolish smile. "Ah, but that must mean his health is improving, no? From what we hear the illness afflicting him has kept him out of public view for some time. Even if his physician's would advise him against it, it is certainty a good sign that his Majesty would have wanted to come regardless."

The Queen Consort smiled tightly. "Yes, quite."

She didn't elaborate, but she had revealed enough.

Chu Yun got the impression that the King of Su was in much worse shape than they thought.

"Haolin is lovely this time of the year," the Third Princess said, speaking up abruptly. "I didn't expect there to be so many trees, and the canals across the city are very romantic." Her dark eyes drifted towards Xiao Ziyi. "I hope the First Princess can show me around before we leave."

Xiao Ziyi nodded into her own wine cup. "Sure, we can go on a boat ride, to see the canals."

The Princess was clearly determined to put some distance between herself and her mother. Chu Yun was happy to help things along. "If her Royal Highness is amenable, I wouldn't mind accompanying them as a chaperone."

The Queen took a long sip of her tea. "We shall see, I wouldn't mind going myself."

Of course she wouldn't.

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