Xiao Zai was disgruntled to learn that Chu Yun had left without telling him, but not surprised. Unlike the image he was so interested in conveying in public, Chu Yun was anything but obedient in private.

Not that Xiao Zai expected obedience, but…he entertained at least ideas of camaraderie, a friendship, perhaps.

That seemed more unlikely every day.

He didn’t want to spend his day wondering where Chu Yun could have gone to, so he kept himself occupied by working on that little plot of land at the edge of the estate. There were workers milling about, hired by Chu Yun, but they were busy with the renovation work. No one bothered Xiao Zai, and he got a few hours to himself and his thoughts.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when a cough brought him out of his own head.

When he turned around he found his dam standing over him, smiling softly. “I came to see if you wanted to have lunch with me.”

Xiao Zai got up and wiped his hands on the front of his dark, dirt-stained robes. “Chu Yun isn’t home.”

Gu Wei tipped his head to side. “I know, he’s at the palace, the last someone saw him, he was talking with Concubine Min.”

What business could Chu Yun have with one of his father’s concubines. He frowned, and looked down at his dam in confusion, the question dancing on the tip of his tongue.

Gu Wei smiled enigmatically and patted him on the back. “Let’s go inside.”

—

Xiao Zai asked the servants to serve lunch in his quarters, and while the food was delicious as always, his mind was elsewhere.

“Chu Yun hired very talented cooks,” Gu Wei said, inspecting the food on his bowl. “And I can see the renovations on the estate are progressing along very speedily.”

Xiao Zai sighed, leaning his elbow against the wooden table and waving with his chopsticks in the air. “He doesn’t want to live in a dump.”

Gu Wei hummed and took a sip of fragrant rice wine. “He seems to be moving very quickly, his meeting with Concubine Min is interesting.”

“What could he want with her?” From what Xiao Zai remembered she was pleasant enough, although slow. One the the newest additions to the royal harem. 

“She’s your father’s favourite,” Gu Wei said, matter-of-fact. 

There was no jealousy or resentment in his tone. Xiao Zai knew his dam had no interest in the king’s attention, if anything he was glad to be ignored.

Xiao Zai was suddenly reminded of the odd comment Chu Yun made about Xiao Yuan’s bed warmer. He knew he had to bring up the subject carefully. He cut his eyes to his dam, who looked as composed as always.

“Chu Yun…he…mentioned that Xiao Yuan’s…pet…reminded him of someone.”

This was always a difficult subject, and Xiao Zai wished Chu Yun wouldn’t try to turn over this particular stone. But he had to warn his dam-father anyway.

“Oh,” Gu Wei said, one eyebrow climbing up to his hairline. “That doesn’t surprise me, he’s very diligent, and he won’t rest until he has a clear picture of all the dynamics in your father’s court.”

“Yes, but…”

Did they want him to?

Gu Wei smiled. “He’s your husband. Have you spoken with him about what he wants?”

Xiao Zai sighed again. “He said he wants me to be king, but I don’t know if I should trust him.”

“Whyever not? Everything he’s doing points in that direction.” He filled his wine cup again, drinking it all in one go. “There’s no reason to suspect his sincerity.”

Xiao Zai ran one hand through his hair. “But he does all these things…I, like he wants people to believe I have some kind of control over him.”

He looked into his dam’s eyes, hoping he would understand all of Xiao Zai’s reticence without him having to explain. Gu Wei smiled and reached across the table to touch the back of his hand.

“He married you on the orders of his own king…he won’t put his entire family in danger by trying to dissolve the union.” 

That much Xiao Zai understood, but he was still a little unclear on everything else.

Gu Wei smiled, indulgent and fond. His icy exterior only melted in front of the people he loved, and there was no one he loved more than his two children. 

“It’s like this: if he is trapped here, at least he’s going to make sure his position is stable. It doesn’t get much more stable than being married to the king,” one corner of Gu Wei’s lips quirked up, he knew different, “at least in theory, but then again, I supposes his plans don’t involve you having an harem when you ascend.”

Xiao Zai frowned. “What is he planning, then? It’s hard enough for me to have support, with or without his schemes, how am I going to achieve that without an heir?”

For his part, Xiao Zai couldn’t say he had any interest in having an harem. He’d seen how cruel it could be, how much suffering it caused. Not only to his dam but to other people as well. Some became such bitter and spiteful version of themselves their own family wouldn’t recognise them — and often didn’t. The visits trailing off into nothing, until the concubines were left to waste away inside the palace. 

Other royal children had teachers and lessons, things that kept them away from the worst of the harem, but Xiao Zai saw all of it first-hand.

Gu Wei saw the conflicting thoughts on Xiao Zai’s face and shrugged. “I don’t know what Chu Yun is planning, but maybe he’ll be more transparent with you if you extend him a token of your trust.”

Slowly, Xiao Zai nodded.

—

Chu Yun returned from the palace in good spirits. Perhaps too good, because he was surprised to find Xiao Zai waiting for him near the gates, holding two horses by their leads, one of them was Little Butterfly.

He thrust her lead at Chu Yun as soon as he came down the carriage.

“Let’s go for a ride,” he said, climbing up his own horse.