Chapter 87 - I want to be like you

After moving from the palace square, Feng Long and Meng Zhang walk hand in hand along the Ganjiang riverside. Feng Long is very relaxed, enjoying the beautiful scenery:

-Meng Zhang... I'm enjoying it so much this time we are together.

-May I say something about it?

-As you wish, majesty.

Feng Long bows to him. He helps him to rise:

-Please rise... I am the one who should bow...

More than simply bowing, Meng Zhang kneels to Feng Long:

-I'm so grateful to his majesty's wisdom back when you choose not to declare war... I was wrong... - Meng Zhang's eyes water.

Feng Long smiles and helps him to rise:

-Please, your majesty, rise... You are the youngest emperor... But wiser than many.

They walk a bit and sit on a bench nearby. Feng Long gently caresses Meng Zhang on his nape:

-Jiangxi has a lot of potential... I'm happy to know it is being taken care of by someone competent and wise... No one is guaranteed to never get anything wrong, but the quality lies in recognizing and correcting such mistakes. 

-I feel better now at your side, Feng Long... I want the best for our empires. And, especially, for you and your prince.

-Yu Lexuan is so lovable... He really shaped who I am now. 

-I like him. He treated us so fairly during that troubled times. He never treated me disrespectfully... But Xie Yun is still too hard. I really want to soften his heart, to love him as my prince... But I could never get him to really love me.

-Maybe in a few days, it might happen. Deep inside, I'm sure he loves you. It does not affect me that much because Yu Lexuan is my soulmate. I have absolute trust in him. 

Meng Zhang touches his head on Feng Long's shoulder, staring at a mountain far away:

-I'm so impressed to see how you are so connected... And how you can love Zhong Kunyi too, I noticed he likes you!

-Yes, I like him too. I like so many other people. I'm happy to definitely include you among them. - Feng Long smiles.

Meng Zhang blushes slightly, hugging Feng Long more:

-Tell me you will succeed in softening Xie Yun's heart...

Feng Long smiles and tightens the hug. Meng Zhang lies his head on his chest while he caresses him gently:

-Unfortunately, I cannot guarantee it will work... I can try, but it will depend on how much he actually loves you.  

-I hope he likes me at least... I really struggle to provide him what he wants. I measure no effort to make him happy, but, as I said, it is difficult to know if I'm doing the right thing or overcompensating.

-I think it is possible to know it. But it takes time. Given that you get almost no feedback, this will be very hard. 

Meng Zhang slowly moves his left hand, touching Feng Long's face, caressing it. He smiles:

-Meng Zhang... I like the way you caress me... 

-Teach me...

Meng Zhang gets up, and gets between Feng Long's open legs, engaging in a kiss. Feng Long raises an eyebrow. He expected a kiss could happen, but not that early. He deepens it, putting his hands over Meng Zhang's lower back, gently pressing it.

After they separate, Meng Zhang blushes and sits beside him again, a bit embarrassed:

-Feng Long... You told me to just pretend I like you, but...

-As I told you, I have no problem. I like you, Meng Zhang... I feel honoured to be treated that way by you... I must admit your kiss is so sweet. - Feng Long smiles.

Meng Zhang blushes even more:

-Well... I also feel honoured you enjoyed it... But, you know... Maybe we should move back to the palace and see how our friends are doing... I'm curious to see if Zhong Kunyi managed to get the treaties signed by Xie Yun.

-Yes, your majesty, as you wish. I'm your lucky guest. 

Feng Long smiles, and they get up, walking back to the palace. There, Yu Lexuan and Zhong Kunyi chat:

-I'm really impressed you got some treaties approved by Xie Yun Zhong Kunyi! The last time I tried, he rejected everything!

-Diplomacy. This is what I know the most, and math, of course. You can get anything from anyone using the right words and tone. - Zhong Kunyi smiles.

-You do get a lot of things out of me each time you try! - Yu Lexuan smirks.

Zhong Kunyi blushes. Feng Long and Meng Zhang arrive next. They bow to him:

-Greetings to his majesty.

Meng Zhang smiles and helps them to rise:

-Well, how was it, Zhong Kunyi? Could you get any treaty rectified with Xie Yun? Did he treat you well?

-Ah, yes. We rectified at least 15 treaties, including four new ones. I had a bunch of others to show, but he has given up after some time. He said he was stressed.

-I understand... maybe you can try again tomorrow. I hope you can get more treaties passed. Of course, you only need to convince Xie Yun. I trust you. 

Feng Long smiles:

-Well, where's Xie Yun?

-I saw him going to the back of the palace. He was either in a rush or stressed out. - Yu Lexuan moves closer to Feng Long.

-He was stressed out, as I said. - Zhong Kunyi points out. 

-I think your plan kinda worked, Feng Long. - Meng Zhang smiles.

-I'm not so sure about that... We will need at least a night to confirm it. 

While they discuss, Xie Yun moves to his room, laying on his bed, crying:

-Meng Zhang... Feng Long will not steal you from me! Never!

Rage builds up, but the only thing he can do is cry. He thinks about the occasions Meng Zhang tried to push their relationship forward, but he repeatedly refused to move an inch. He understood that it was wrong but couldn't solve it. 

...

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