Chu Yun couldn’t believe he had just arrived back in Zui and already there was gossip about him. These people couldn’t go a single day without riding his ass.

The rest of the meal with Gu Wei and the Queen Dowager was unbearable. Chu Yun couldn’t relax under the old Dowager’s shrewd gaze, and he could just tell there was some silent conversation happening between Xiao Zai and his dam. That worried him most of all.

It was obvious that Xiao Zai held his dam-father in high regard; whatever he said went. If Gu Wei decided to make Chu Yun’s life a living hell, all the ground he had gained with Xiao Zai would have been for nothing.

He needed to be vigilant. It was obvious there was more to Gu Wei than met the eye.

The meal finally came to an end. The Queen Dowager and Gu Wei came in the same carriage, and were going to leave the same way.

“I trust I’ll see the two of you tomorrow,” the Queen Dowager said, smiling at her grandson and Chu Yun while one of her servants helped her into her outer cloak.

“We wouldn’t miss such an important event, your royal highness.”

“Good, because with such short notice, maybe some people weren’t counting on you making an appearance.” She threw them one last meaningful glance and left.

Chu Yun understood what she meant. If she and Gu Wei hadn’t come to visit them, it was likely that they wouldn’t have learned about the engagement ceremony tomorrow. It wasn’t the kind of thing that palace servants were allowed to discuss, so the news would only have reached them after the fact.

The implications would be that Xiao Zai somehow resented his brother’s engagement. Gu Wei had said that the First Prince would take a Principal wife, not spouse…that meant that even if his future wife was a beta, she could give him an alpha heir.

For some reason Chu Yun, had an inkling she was going to be a beta female. He couldn’t get the king’s distasteful look out of his mind. He just knew that he wouldn’t want his first son to think he was too favoured.

A King with a beta for a Queen Consort wasn’t unheard of, but it wasn’t exactly a strong position. It would allow the current King to keep a stronger hold over the court once he abdicated in favour of his son.

It was the smart thing to do, if the King didn’t place much trust in his heir.

The Queen Dowager was already inside the carriage when Gu Wei said:

“Yun-er, a word.”

It took Chu Yun a moment to realise he was talking with him.

Xiao Zai looked between the two of them in confusion but said nothing. Dark clouds were covering the moon, and the night seemed blacker than usual. A howling wind rustled the pine trees around their estate.

Chu Yun nodded, and stepped off to the side of the pavilion, putting some distance between them and Xiao Zai.

“About tomorrow,” Gu Wei started, “the two of you need to present an united front. I could tell you were embarrassed about the rumours, but it’s a good thing, the Queen Dowager is right about that.”

Chu Yun nodded. He didn’t know why Gu Wei was telling him this and not Xiao Zai, but he understood the point he was trying to make.

“All eyes will be on you tomorrow, much more than on Xiao Yuan and his unfortunate future bride.”

Gu Wei’s had his arms crossed loosely at the elbows, anyone who was looking at them from a distance would think they were having a casual conversation.

Someone like the Queen Dowager, for instance, peeking in at them from between the gap in the carriage’s drapes.

“I understand,” Chu Yun said. He did. He would spend the entire day glued to Xiao Zai’s side. Playing the part of a besotted fool for everyone to see.

“Good, but it isn’t just that.” He smiled. “The two of you shouldn’t just keep to yourselves. Mingle. Xiao Zai has a bit of a reputation as a, pardon the pun, lone wolf.” Something glinted in his eyes. “It would be good for everyone to see how you bring out the best in him…including a more sociable disposition.”

Chu Yun nodded. Gu Wei didn’t need to say anymore. He understood the implications. The First Prince was a peacock, and the Second Prince was a loner.

If tomorrow Xiao Zai came out of his shell and interacted with the other guests…say, the ministers who could one day throw in their support on his bid to be king, then that would be a credit to Chu Yun — and their unusual marriage by extension.

“I’m glad we agree,” Gu Wei said.

He was still breathtakingly beautiful, despite being almost two decades older than Chu Yun. It was bizarre to think the king didn’t favour him, because none of the concubines in the royal harem Chu Yun had seen could hold a candle to him.

That only made Chu Yun more worried — he couldn’t get a clean read on Gu Wei. It was always hard to tell what he was thinking, especially about Chu Yun.

But one thing he knew for sure — Gu Wei wanted his son to be king. The information Hua Nanyi found said as much, and all of Gu Wei’s actions since their first meeting confirmed it.

Unfortunately for him, there was only room for one kingmaker, and Chu Yun was going to be it.

“We’ll see father-in-law tomorrow,” Chu Yun said, gesturing Gu Wei towards the carriage. It was getting late, and he wanted to be fully rested for tomorrow.

Gu Wei simply nodded.

When he was about to step inside the carriage, he turned around and asked Chu Yun:

“Have you come up with a name for the kitten?”

Chu Yun had almost forgotten about the damn thing. “Not yet,” he said, smiling tightly. “We haven’t had the time.”

“You should see to it. It’s back luck for a pet to remain nameless for too long.”

Chu Yun kept smiling. “Safe travels.”

Xiao Zai had come to see his dam and grandmother off at the gates, and stood at Chu Yun’s side as the carriage rode off.

“What did my father want?” he asked, barely hiding his curiosity.

Chu Yun grinned and patted his cheek.. “He wanted me to make sure you’re a good boy tomorrow.”