White

White - the color of perfection.

--- Associates with : beginning, faith, sincerity, possibilities, purity, light, goodness and innocence.

Last Color – White

Both Lu Cang and Gu Miao Lang whipped their head to the cold and unfeeling voice from the entrance.

There, both of them could see a familiar figure standing so elegantly while slightly leaning on the door frame. That graceful person was wearing an exquisite robe in white, face more beautiful than any mortal beings, the provocative smile on his smooth lips as if mocking the two people who were looking at him like they couldn't believe that it was really him, in this world, who else but Jing could wear such detestable expression without being loathed.

To see him unexpectedly appear at this very moment, it would be a total lie if Lu Cang wasn't shocked in the slightest bit.

"Jing!" Among the two, he was the first to come to his awareness. He practically jumped with joy upon seeing Jing appear. It was barely several months ago Jing appeared in the very same manner, gave him the greatest surprise of his life.

These several days, he had been trying his best to suppress his longing, now that Jing had appeared, the lump in his heart was lifted at once. With Jing appearance, everything would be alright now.

Ignoring the gaping Gu Miao Lang, suppressing his urge to run, he simply walked to Jing's side. He really wanted to hug Jing, but, recalling the last time how he lost control of himself due to the overwhelming feelings, he quashed down his urge and saved it for later. But how would Jing care for such petty thing. As soon as Lu Cang was within his reach, he pulled Lu Cang and secured him in his arms, in a tight embrace. 

Jing coldly gazed at Gu Miao Lang who were staring at their intimacy. "Finally, you show your true color." From the beginning, Jing had been suspecting the real motives behind Gu Miao Lang action in finding the Prince. He didn't pay much attention since he didn't care for their kingdom affair. But now that he had brazenly tried to involve Lu Cang in his scheme, of course Jing would be furious.

Shifting his eyes to properly check on Lu Cang's condition, Jing could see the weariness in Lu Cang's face. Lu Cang ought to be extremely exhausted from the meticulous funeral ceremony. ---That's what he deserved from his so called heroic nature.

"Lu Cang will never be a King that you can control. Even if he agreed to be a King, don't ever dream about controlling him like a puppet. He is such a wild and ruthless bandit." And only Jing could control this wild and ruthless bandit King.

Gu Miao Lang seemed to be greatly surprised. For his hidden intention to be revealed, he couldn't utter a word for a while. ---Especially when Lu Cang also looking at him with his blaming eyes, he could only lower his head in defeat. Judging from Lu Cang's reaction upon the arrival of this gorgeous man, Gu Miao Lang knew that his chance to convince Lu Cang to be the King in this kingdom already close to zero.

"Jing, how did you get in?" Even with Jing's skill, it was still too reckless for him to break into a tightly guarded palace. This was not the Forbidden City in which Jing would be familiar with like his own palm. And as far as Lu Cang knew, Zhao Kingdom hadn't sworn allegiance to Datong. In Jing's capacity as Datong's Emperor, intruding into other Kingdom would be as good as throwing himself to the enemy, or worse, could ignite the spark of war.

Saying Jing wasn't aware of the implication of his own conduct would be understatement. He was the most admirable Emperor of Datong after all. Without any care for Lu Cang's unnecessary worry, Jing rolled his eyes.

"How did I get in? It is easy if I have this guy to lead the way." Simply pointed at someone behind him who still stood hidden several steps from the door with his chin, Jing ordered him to come out. "Come out!"

General Gong appeared and stood by the door. Didn't come in since Jing didn't ask him to. For Lu Cang's surprise, following next was Prince Fu Long. He stepped in the room after receiving a nod from Jing. It appeared that they had been listening to Lu Cang and Gu Miao Lang's conversation for quite a while.

"No wonder, when I asked you about the moles you seemed a bit flustered, so, it was because you don't have them, brother Yu De?" Flashing Lu Cang his understanding smile, Fu Long coldly dropped his line of vision on Gu Miao Lang. He didn't seem to blame Lu Cang, instead, he was looking at Gu Miao Lang like a tiger looking at a mouse. 

All along he had known that there was something off with Lu Cang's awkwardness. Certainly, Lu Cang didn't behave himself like a commoner, in fact, he indeed had the air of nobility. However, whenever Fu Long addressed him as the lost prince Fu Yu De, a hint of guilt was floating in his eyes. Moreover, he didn't seem to be comfortable at how they addressed him as a Prince. ---Obviously, this person wouldn't be able to stand the malicious politic within the palace for he didn't have the ability to hide his feeling.  

"I only agreed to impose as the prince until the Queen passed away. Also, there is something I wanted to confirm. Now that everything is cleared, there is no need for me to persistently become a fake prince." Although looking at Fu Long, Lu Cang's self-explanation was directed at Jing. He didn't want Jing to think that he really wanted to be whatever prince or king, like how Jing previously accused him.

"I understand. Initially, because you came along with him, I thought brother was the same as the Vice Minister, but this time, I am awfully wrong. Please forgive me." Though he was still addressing Lu Cang as brother, but Fu Long manner in talking with Lu Cang had changed. He didn't talk in the same warm manner like the first time they met, instead, he was talking in a very respectful manner. It was obvious that he carefully chose his words so he wouldn't offend Lu Cang.

No. Actually it was Jing that he couldn't afford to offend. In a glance, Fu Long already could approximately make a rough guess that offending Lu Cang could cause this beautiful but fearsome man in rage. 

---When the Vice Minister returned safely with the lost Prince nonetheless, he thought the special squad he sent to pursue the Vice Minister, led by his most loyal subject, General Gong, had failed their mission. ---Most probably they all had been forced to forfeit their lives, but apparently he was wrong.

Very early this morning, the sun hadn't even woken up from its slumber yet, they all returned from their secret mission. What more surprising was, a new addition to the group who acted like he was the leader instead of General Gong. He didn't even regard Fu Long as the one he had to respect as the Prince Regent of this Kingdom. The belittling eyes when he looked at Fu Long, though it was irritating, but there was a kind of intimidating aura from this man that even Fu Long himself couldn't help but shudder.

As the man's order, they all waiting in ambush outside the Prince's room while listening to the conversation between the Prince and the Vice Minister. Consequently, they heard the truth about the Prince.

"The same?" From beginning, Lu Cang had never regarded Gu Miao Lang as a bad person. Hence, he was slightly confused by Fu Long's manner of speaking, as if Gu Miao Lang was of some malicious characters.

"Yes. The same greedy type, blindly pursued fame and glory. But brother, you definitely are not this type. I am sorry for putting you in the same category as this lowly greedy man."

Could see Lu Cang's confusion, Jing gestured the General to recount the story for Lu Cang.

Apparently, Fu Long's elder brother who was said to drown when he was five years old, actually got assassinated by Gu Miao Lang under the Queen's direct order. General Gong saw him when he threw the Prince's body into the water after he strangled him. However, as the only witness, General Gong was not in any favorable position, moreover, Gu Miao Lang was the most trusted subject of the King and the Queen. Therefore, General Gong could only hold the grudge while waiting for the perfect moment to reveal the truth.

And after that incident, when Fu Long was born, General Gong had been extremely protective towards him. He didn't want the only heir of the Kingdom to be assassinated again. He had been watching closely every move of the Queen and her cousin, Gu Miao Lang. He also knew that the Queen and Gu Miao Lang had plotted to get rid of Fu Long from his right as a Prince, and he had made a vow that no matter what, he would do whatever in his power to raise Fu Long to be the King of Zhao Kingdom.

"The Queen must have given him a lot of rewards for eliminating my brother." With eyes filled with hatred, Fu Long looked at the Vice Minister.

Though had known that this man was annoying and stubborn, but it had never crossed Lu Cang's mind that this seemingly honest and upright man would commit such a grave sin. Killing a little prince who was still oblivious about the world.

All this while, Gu Miao Lang only drooped his head, listening to everyone as if listening to the judge reading aloud the list of his crime.

Nobody would have ever guessed, he did everything not because of wealth or glory. He did everything out of love. His undying love for the Queen.

He knew how much the Queen hated Fu Long and his mother. Fu Long's mother was the real culprit behind the missing prince. She wanted her prince to be the King instead of the Queen's son. For that, she paid a handsome amount of money to the maid's lover and asked him to convince the maid to take the Prince away for good. But the maid's lover, happened to be a very greedy man, thus he came for more and got caught by the Queen's men, tortured until he spilled everything. But at that time, the maid who had found out about her lover being caught, had fled to somewhere unknown, thus they lost track about the prince's whereabouts. ---Until the maid returned three years ago.

However, the Queen, having her only child taken away, in her shocked state, had ruined her health to the point she no longer was able to have another child. The agony of seeing the villain still could live happily had blinded her, without any hesitation, she ordered Gu Miao Lang to also eliminate her son, to let her feel the same agony of losing her child. Gu Miao Lang of course would happily help his beloved one. His only intention was to alleviate the agony on his beloved face. He didn't hesitate to dye his hand in the color of blood if that meant he could make the Queen smile.

Forcing Lu Cang to be the King, his only intention was to hinder Fu Long, the person the Queen hated to the marrow of her bone, to ascend the throne as the King. If Lu Cang could be acknowledged as the legitimate Prince, ---didn't matter if he was the real prince or not,  as the King's direct descendant he would have all the right for the throne. Afterwards, Gu Miao Lang could go to follow the Queen to the other world.

But fate was such a cruel fact. Despite having the very alike appearances, Lu Cang didn't have the slightest intention to be a prince. Too bad! And given his upright nature, not even the position as the King could waver him.

Such a shame. In the end, he still couldn't fulfill his final oath for the Queen. He only could helplessly watch as Lu Cang gave the Edict to Prince Fu Long.

------

Gu Miao Lang was sentenced to death for his grave sin of assassinating Prince's Fu Long's elder brother.

As for Fu Long's mother, who was accused for being responsible for Prince Fu Yu De's kidnapping case, since she had passed away five years ago, and there was not enough witness and evidenct to proof her sin, ---the maid committed suicide after she spilled everything, she and her family, including Fu Long, were declared as not guilty.

And with the edict, Fu Long could ascend the throne without any problems despite his young age. Most people would think he was being controlled since he was still so young and such. But Jing knew better. This young King was not a simple teenager. He practically had cleared all the evidence of his mother's sins. And the edict, the deceased King was tricked to write that edict before he was poisoned to death. And the Queen persistently wanted to live on solely to get in his way.

But all of that was not Jing's concern. It was their own Kingdom's internal affairs after all. Zhao Kingdom could happily celebrate their new King in all joy and jubilant. ---Nobody would ever know the intrigue behind the thick walls of the Palace.

As for the Imperial couple, once again they walked hand in hand under a clear blue sky, enjoying the beautiful scenery all along on their way back to Tong'an, sent off by the newly crowned King and His Royal Subjects in a fairly extravagant way.

Ever since they were in Zhao, Lu Cang had been extremely curious, how could Jing command that crude and bulky man like commanding a mere little puppy. And that Fu Long also seemed to be a little intimidated by him, ---but who wouldn't? Jing's majestic aura was truly undeniable.

"Jing, how did you make that arrogant General to be that obedient?"

Slightly laughing, Jing gave Lu Cang his mischievous sideways glance. "Because he was a General, I only needed to 'accidentally' mention Mu Yue, and he himself had witnessed with his own eyes the prowess of our Xiao Yue, you think he will doubt me?"

Mu Yue's fame as the Great General of Datong certainly spread vast and wide. There was no way Lu Cang would doubt that.

"Also, I brought them to meet Old Lu. ---Oh, Old Lu seemed to be much better after we moved him to that house arrest facility. Old Lu told them about the child they found. That year, they found two boys, one was you, the other one was a dead body. Wearing beautiful high quality silk, but unfortunately, he couldn't survive the cold. They just threw him off the cliff since it was too troublesome to bury him. The remains of his body are unlikely to be found anymore." Jing lightly explained the situation after Lu Cang left in a haste to Zhao Kingdom

---Only that, the Old Lu they met was not the real Old Lu. Jing had arranged for some crude man to talk to them behind the prison door. He had to convince them that Lu Cang was truly not their Prince, ---but of course, this kind of child's play was nothing for Jing.

"Regarding that little prince, if that General was so respectful towards me, he would think twice to oppose me, right?" Certainly. This fact goes without saying. After all, General Gong seemed to be his strongest supporter, and Fu Long didn't give any impression of someone who was well versed in martial arts.

"Did they know about your real status?"

"No. Most probably they only think I am someone who is very close to the Ruler. Especially with Mu Yue only addressing me as Master. At the utmost, they might regard me as an Imperial Prince."

"I see......" Something seemed to cross Lu Cang's mind. As if reminded of a very important matter, Lu Cang whipped his head to Jing's direction. "Jing! I thought you went to the east with Mu Yue?"

"Fool! Did Mu Yue ever mention about fetching me? He only said about needing me to make the decision!" It was true. Mu Yue came to ask for Jing's decision on the matter, and soon after that, he headed to the east all by himself while Jing returned to the abandoned stronghold, and as he expected, Lu Cang left them there in a fairly miserable state. Hearing the story from the General's side, Jing finally could have the general view on the matter. Hence, he led them back to their Kingdom to fetch his lover.

"Then, why did you......" Why did he make Lu Cang choose again? He could just tell Lu Cang to wait him to finish his business with Mu Yue then together go to Zhao, why the need for them to be separated again? 

"Isn't it obvious? I want you to miss me so much, so much to the point you can't sleep well at night and can't eat properly!"

Albeit giving Jing his rolling eyes, Lu Cang still had to admit inwardly, he indeed couldn't sleep well and couldn't eat properly for these several days since he and Jing had to part way once again.

"Me also, without seeing your smiling face, how could I ever sleep soundly?" Teasing Lu Cang who couldn't stand his corny speeches was Jing's newly found hobby. He could see Lu Cang's face slightly flush for his corny words. ---although Jing was the one uttering the words, Lu Cang was the one who would get embarrassed by his words.

But of course, those kinds of words always could make Lu Cang happy, though he hid it with an angry irritated face, the corner of his lips formed a curve that betrayed his angry look.

"Xiao Cang, take this." Squeezing his Emperor's golden emblem into Lu Cang's hand, Jing smiled mysteriously.

"Why do you give me this?"

"As compensation. Since you refused to be their King, I reward you with this Emperor's emblem. You have seen how I used it previously, haven't you? With this emblem, you can go wherever within Datong's territory and can have the privileges and be treated like the Emperor." Lu Cang's decision to go to Zhao was partly because he craved for his lost freedom due to his decision to stay by Jing's side. Giving Lu Cang his emblem, Jing was giving him his freedom though only illusionary. ---He knew by heart, given Lu Cang's nature, he wouldn't want to use it. 

"I wonder if there is a day I could use this......" Lu Cang muttering to himself, Jing had always traveled with him practically everywhere, then, what was the need of the Emperor's emblem? A mischievous idea flashed in his mind.

"Having this, means you have the freedom. You can use it to order whomever but me. So, no! You can't use it to reverse our position in bed."

Damn! How did he know Lu Cang was about to use it to reverse their positions. After that time, he really wanted to enjoy the sensation of entering Jing again. One time was not enough to repay all of the humiliation he had felt for these past five years. ---Lu Cang couldn't help but curse inwardly.

But well, Jing giving him this, even if it didn't necessarily imply that he wanted to be together forever, at least, Jing trusted him this much to entrust the highest symbol of command into his hand. Jing had faith in Lu Cang that Lu Cang would never abuse the power given to him. 

In the sky, as they walked toward the rising sun, they didn't see the rainbow appearing as if giving them its blessing. The brilliant seven colored bow slowly faded, covered by the white as snow clouds.

------

At the time they arrived at Datong's main Capital, Tong'an, the Northern Procession also had returned from the secondary Capital, Tongde. Granted, It was autumn already.

As expected, all of the courtiers gave him the sourest face they could muster. ---Including Zheng.

Without any care for their look, Jing simply dragged Lu Cang to the hotspring bath in the palace. ---The first place Jing showed him when Jing revealed his real status as the Emperor.

"Xiao Cang, let me wash your hair......"

Lu Cang just sat there in the pool while Jing playfully played with his long and smooth hair. His mind was occupied with the expression of the courtiers just now.

"Jing. May I have a little request?"

"Hmm? What is it? Just say. The moon? The stars? Or the sun?"

Lu Cang turned his head to show his condemning face to Jing and received Jing's laughter at his amusing face.

"Can I move to the Wu Division? Military is much more suitable for me rather than the administrative affairs."

"No way! Who would agree to send you to the battlefield!" Of course Jing would flatly reject this absurd request.

"But Jing......"

"No. No way!"

Lu Cang fell silent. But he hadn't given up yet. He would persuade Jing in every way. Even if he had to sulk like a kid. He would. As long as he could move to the Military Division. He wouldn't mind it even if he was a mere low rank soldier as long as he could avoid the despising eyes of the courtiers.

"Cang, don't move about! I can't wash your hair properly if you keep on moving like that!" Jing clicked his tongue in irritation since Lu Cang kept on turning his head to ask Jing trivial questions like where did Mu Yue go to? Or when exactly was the Northern Procession returning, and such nonsense matters.

While he was in the middle of washing Lu Cang's black and silky hair, Jing abruptly paused his movement and stunned for a moment. ---There were three dots he had never noticed before.

Jing let out a soft pfft laughter.

No wonder they couldn't find the marks on his body. The special three moles in a line mark was on his head, covered by the thick hair.

This secret was to be kept forever! In this world, only Jing would know about this.

"What is it Jing?" A sudden laughter from Jing had aroused Lu Cang's suspicion, but he only ask without the courage to turn his head, so he couldn't see Jing's brimming with affection eyes.

Jing stretched out his hands and hugged Lu Cang from behind. "Cang, what about staying here with me, in the palace?"

Staying with Jing in the palace means...... ---Lu Cang was shivering out of fear.

How could he stand Jing's beastly desires every night? No. Lu Cang didn't want to die at a young age like the male pets of the Emperor that he read in the books.

"No." Firmly rejected Jing's absurd idea, Lu Cang shifted uncomfortably as he could feel Jing's desire was poking on his buttocks.

Unexpectedly, despite Lu Cang's rejection, Jing was not angry, instead he was smiling beautifully while his charming eyes stared at Lu Cang.

He could concoct lots of ideas to make Lu Cang willing to live with him in his Imperial Chamber. He still had a lot of time for that.

But for now......

His little brother needed to vent the frustration more than anything.

As the result of Jing's venting, adding to the list of 'the Marquis' wrongdoing', was to cause the Emperor to refuse to attend the morning court even after returning to the Capital. All the courtiers firmly believed, it must be the Marquis' evil influence to cause the Emperor to refuse to go out from his chamber all day long.

---Lu Cang helplessly imagined their even sourer faces as he drowned himself into Jing's warm embrace......

The end.

#Today, all day long, it has been raining. The weather is really nice. XD

Too bad, I can't see the rainbow for the rain hasn't stopped and the sun still hiding behind the clouds. XD But I so love this kind of weather. XD

Only the epilogue is left. See you soon. XD