After King Yibo confirmed that Zhan's body had been properly soaked, he helped him bathe. Zhan still hadn't stopped crying. Any time King Yibo moved him even slightly, Zhan let out a sharp whimper that only made his sobbing grow louder.
All King Yibo could manage to say was, "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry."
He didn't realize the apology was only upsetting Zhan more. When he wrapped Zhan in a bathrobe, he had to remove his own clothes as well, completely soaked. Then he lifted Zhan into his arms and carried him to the bedroom.
Zhan's legs were too weak; he couldn't stand properly at all. King Yibo gently coaxed him, helping him sit with difficulty. The louder Zhan cried, the more alarm grew in King Yibo's chest....something was clearly wrong. Zhan suddenly collapsed sideways, sobbing uncontrollably and calling desperately for someone to help him.
King Yibo knelt in front of him immediately, pulling him into his arms. Zhan clung to him tightly, trembling hard.
"Please stop crying, baby," King Yibo whispered, his voice soft and shaken, holding him close with his eyes closed.
But Zhan couldn't stop. Pain shot through every part of his body...his head throbbed unbearably, his body burned with a fierce fever, and he could barely breathe between sobs. He looked nothing like the fierce, stubborn Zhan that everyone knew. Someone like him was never good at enduring suffering, and now it was overwhelming him.
Zhan's cries pierced straight into King Yibo's heart. He was naturally tender-hearted, though his face often showed no trace of it...cold, composed, almost harsh, as if nothing could move him. He lifted Zhan carefully and placed him on the couch, the bed ruined from the earlier mess.
Zhan grabbed onto him instantly, terrified to be left alone. King Yibo had no choice but to kneel on the floor, holding him up.
"Tell me what's wrong, my love?"
His intense gaze made Zhan struggle to swallow his sobs. With great effort he whispered,
"It burns… the pain is unbearable, like you're still inside…"
Then he broke down crying again.
"Stop crying, please. Let me check what's hurting you."
Zhan shook his head quickly, pressing himself into King Yibo in fear.
"You won't understand and I can't let you see through me. Call Mah for me."
King Yibo rubbed his forehead, then looked up again....still kneeling in front of Zhan, nothing like a king. His voice softened more than he knew possible as he cupped Zhan's face with both hands, wiping the tears with his thumbs.
"Listen… choose someone else to call. I can't bring her here even I'd she's in the country. I won't let her see you like this. Tell me.... who do you want? Mom? Grandma? Aunty Jasrah? Or should I give you my phone so you can choose?"
Zhan nodded weakly, tears pouring again.
"Alright then, stop crying. I don't want to see your tears. If you keep going like this, I swear I'll repeat what happened last night… do you want that?"
Zhan flinched, shaking his head violently as new tears burst out. King Yibo quickly covered Zhan's mouth with both hands, trying to calm him. The mixture of pity and exasperation nearly made him laugh, but he held it in. If not for fear of making Zhan worse, he would have already done it again....he'd been fighting himself since morning.
He helped Zhan lie back down carefully, then stood and picked up his phone. Returning to kneel again instead of sitting, he opened his contacts. Zhan had never seen King Yibo kneel before anyone except during formal rituals. And even then, never like this. The posture didn't humiliate him....it only made him look more like a devoted lover, overwhelmed with worry.
He handed Zhan the phone. Zhan took it with trembling hands, his face swollen and red. King Yibo's firm voice telling him not to cry forced him to swallow back tears.
He searched for Dannen's number, hesitating for several seconds as if afraid to call, then finally dialed. On the third ring, someone picked up. Zhan squeezed his eyes shut and the tears he'd been holding spilled again.
Dowager Ruyan, who answered the phone, had only picked up because Daneen had rushed to tell her that Dowager Taihou was unwell, and she told her to prepare bathwater for her. Seeing King Yibo's name, she thought the call was about Dowager Taihou's condition.
But then the line went silent. She could hear the sound of someone holding back a sob, a broken attempt at controlling heavy breathing.
"Hello?"
Dowager Ruyan spoke calmly, her voice steady and dignified.
It was as if someone struck Zhan with a silver plate; he snatched the phone to his ear instantly....and the sob he'd been trying to hold burst out uncontrollably.
King Yibo had no choice but to take the phone from his hand. Since the call was already answered, he couldn't hang up without causing panic. He brought the phone to his ear as he stood, speaking with the composed, soft voice he was known for.
Dowager Ruyan closed her eyes and exhaled gently before responding.
In complete surprise, King Yibo said, "Grandma? Where is Mamy?"
"She's preparing bathwater. I hope everything is alright? I thought I heard crying earlier."
He suddenly felt his throat tighten....silence hanging heavy. For the first time in his life, he felt embarrassed in front of his grandmother. With difficulty, deep in his chest, he managed to say,
"It's Zhan, Grandma. We need Mamy right now."
Dowager Ruyan, an elegant and iron-willed woman, simply smiled without showing that she understood more than she pretended.
"Very well. I'll tell her to come out."
"Alright," he murmured faintly.
Then she ended the call.
King Yibo released a long breath, rubbing his forehead. He looked at Zhan, whose eyes were squeezed shut as fresh tears streamed down his face. King Yibo couldn't understand the depth of this crying....though he sensed there was stubbornness and childish defiance mixed in. Normally, Zhan's sharp tongue could cut anyone down, yet after the slightest push, he broke like this? Clearly, there was a long road ahead.
He stood and removed the bedsheets, promising himself he would deal with the aftermath personally. To avoid anyone seeing the mess, he packed everything and stored it away. Then he carried Zhan to the next bedroom and locked the previous one.
Within ten minutes, his trusted aide called. After respectful greetings, he informed King Yibo that Daneen and Dowager Ruyan had arrived. Surprised that two people were expected, King Yibo ordered them brought to Room 3. It was the first time since Zhan....who now held the place of spouse....that anyone else had been allowed into the private upper floor. Even his wives, who had died here, were kept only on the fourth level. Zhan was the first to ever enter the top floor.
Zhan himself froze when he heard Dowager Ruyan's voice. But our fearless King Yibo tightened his expression and showed nothing; no flicker of emotion crossed his face. However, being a man of deep reserve, he couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes. Dowager Ruyan entered alone.... Daneen remained outside, unable to step in.
Daneen didn't know why.... something stopped her feet. Dowager Ruyan had practically forced her to come, and Daneen's visible shyness like she was meeting her in-law astonished even the Dowager.
She moved slowly into the room, eyes shifting between King Yibo, who hadn't looked at her since the first glance, and Zhan, curled under a blanket, trembling from cold. King Yibo had wrapped him tightly because of the uncontrollable shivering.
Stopping before Zhan, Dowager Ruyan gently lifted the blanket enough to reveal his face and called his name softly. Zhan flinched and buried his face again, tears falling.
Compassion struck her immediately....anyone could see he was suffering terribly. She turned to King Yibo.
"Good morning, Grandma," he said shortly, his face even more tense.
She acted as if nothing unusual was happening.
"Good morning. What is wrong with him? His body is burning, his face is swollen, his eyes look bruised… the boy is completely out of himself."
If there were a hole in the floor, King Yibo would gladly hide inside it. He didn't know where to begin explaining. He looked away for several seconds, silent, and just as she lost hope of a response, he spoke quietly:
"He… grew up, Grandma."
Dowager Ruyan stared at him, recognizing the complicated temperament behind the answer...stubborn, unyielding, difficult. She turned back to Zhan, who was crying weakly.
"Sweetheart," she whispered to him. "Will you try to sit up?"
With great effort, Zhan answered, voice shattered.
"Please… I can't sit up. It hurts so much I feel like I'll die."
King Yibo closed his eyes painfully....the sound of Zhan's crying cut into him like knives.
Dowager Ruyan felt the ache as well. She knew this wasn't weakness or theatrics. She understood the background: the men of King Yibo's bloodline were notorious...if a woman fell into their hands, she rarely escaped without suffering. Most married young to avoid harsher consequences, though there were always rebels among them.
But for years she wondered about King Yibo himself....he showed no interest in marriage even as he grew older. When he finally agreed to marry, many suspected he disliked women or was unwell. Everyone knew that men of this palace could never ignore a woman the way King Yibo did…
Dowager Ruyan fell silent, simply watching Zhan as he lay back down. She gently took his hand, comforting him as she spoke softly:
"That's enough crying, my dear boy. You're strong, you'll be alright. May your life be filled with peace and endless happiness. May you continue to shine, illuminating this family."
King Yibo whispered a quiet response under his breath, barely audible.
Dowager Ruyan picked up her phone and called Daneen.
King Yibo felt an odd heaviness as he listened to Dowager Ruyan instruct Daneen to come in. Being in the same room together with Daneen today felt significant....almost overwhelming. He forced himself to remain standing until Daneen stepped into the room.
Daneen, too, seemed shaken.... moving like someone lost. She refused to look in King Yibo's direction, as if this were their first time sharing the same air. When he greeted her, as respectfully as always despite his tension, she answered timidly without lifting her gaze.
Dowager Ruyan remained focused entirely on Zhan, unaware of what was happening between the two. When she finally sensed Daneen standing beside her, she looked up. Daneen's eyes were fixed on Zhan, horror tightening her expression though she tried to mask it.
In a soft, controlled tone, Daneen asked, "What happened to him Momma?"
"It's your nephew," Dowager Ruyan replied bluntly.
Understanding immediately, Daneen asked nothing more
....until Dowager Ruyan instructed:
"Help him sit up properly. Then prepare warm water with these oils."
Daneen nodded, moved closer, and helped lift Zhan. He clung to her desperately, crying harder, but Dowager Ruyan told her to release him....she wanted him sitting upright.
With no choice, Daneen eased him into position and gently freed herself, refusing to look toward King Yibo's side of the room before slipping into the bathroom. King Yibo suddenly felt unable to stay still; the room pressed on him. He stepped out quietly, stealing one more glance at Zhan....crying, shaking, unable to sit properly.
He went straight to the gym. Pulling off his robe, changing into sportswear, he threw himself into intense exercises....like someone trying to outrun a storm inside himself.
With great difficulty, aided by Daneen, Zhan managed to reach the bathroom. Only then did he realize how much help King Yibo had been carrying him earlier.
Both Dowager Ruyan and Daneen felt their hearts twist watching him struggle even to walk. Even in the warm water, he couldn't stay still....clutching at Daneen and pleading through sobs:
"Mamy… please take me out… it hurts too much."
Daneen laid his head on her lap, stroking his hair gently as she sat at the edge of the bath.
"Just breathe, it will stop soon," she whispered.
"It won't stop...it's getting worse," Zhan gasped through trembling lips.
Daneen fought back tears. She knew it was pain...and not a small one. She never understood how some people lacked mercy. At Zhan's age, no one should go through something so harsh all at once. She knew the men of this bloodline had a fearful reputation....and King Yibo, who had been without a partner for years, was no exception. Zhan was his first.
And all the wives who had been brought to this palace before? They never survived past the next morning.
Raising Zhan slightly out of the water, Daneen's face hardened:
"Hold still so I can check if there's an injury. Pain like this means something isn't right. If we leave it alone, it can damage nerves...possibly even your mind. Do you want that to happen?"
Zhan shook his head frantically, tears streaming.
Daneen swallowed back the small smile rising....she had only scared him intentionally so he would allow the examination. He hid his face in both hands, drowning in shame. There were only few people he could ever allow to see him like this....Daneen, Dowager Ruyan, his Mah and the late Juan.
Daneen couldn't speak further; she stood slowly, drained by sympathy. Anyone else would be screaming loud enough to shake the palace, yet Zhan was enduring through tears and shaking. He deserved to cry.
She stepped outside, finding Dowager Ruyan waiting.
"Momma," she said urgently, "this is serious. We need a physician immediately. The boy is in real pain, there're so many
...he need stitches."
Dowager Ruyan closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again. She had already understood what was happening from the moment she instructed Zhan to sit, and she did it purposely so Daneen would realize the situation and help him. The herbal mixture she ordered to be prepared was intentional....if Zhan was truly in pain, he wouldn't be able to stay still.
"Daneen, this is a highly confidential matter of the Beiping Empire. He cannot be taken outside, and you know King Yibo himself would never allow someone to check him. You must be the one to take care of Zhan properly."
"You're right, Momma," Daneen replied quietly, "but it's been years since I practiced anything as a doctor. I don't want to make a mistake."
"There will be no mistake, daughter. I trust you completely. That's why I am proud of you."
Daneen swallowed hard, fighting the sting of tears. Being reminded that she was once a distinguished doctor always reopened an old wound she wished she could forget....a scar she knew would never fully heal.
Her voice trembled slightly.
"I'll go to the clinic and get the equipment."
With that, she stepped out. Dowager Ruyan watched her go, her own heart tightening. She loved Daneen deeply.... perhaps more than any of her children.... but always held herself back from showing too much, afraid of dividing the family.
Later…
Daneen worked meticulously on Zhan, who cried uncontrollably in pain.... and that was even before the pain-relief injection touched him. When she finished stitching, he began shivering from chills, his head pounding as if it might split open.
Dowager Ruyan stepped out to give them privacy, but she sent in a special broth and a steaming cup of fortified milk, along with more herbal mixtures to be used during warm sit-baths.....they would aid healing quickly. She knew this battle was only the beginning, and Zhan was now right at the heart of it.
Because if there was conflict ahead, King Yibo was known never to lose....especially when challenged. And once provoked, his fury was unmatched.
Daneen cleaned the bathroom thoroughly, though it was already spotless since they had not spent the night there. She didn't change the long t-shirt Zhan still wore....it belonged to King Yibo and was the only thing large enough to cover him properly.
She helped him onto a pile of soft pillows, though he could barely sit upright and leaned heavily to one side. She fed him the hot drink and the meat broth patiently.
"Mamy, I'm full… My mouth tastes bitter… I just want to sleep…" Zhan whispered weakly.
"No, sweetheart. Be strong. Once you finish the milk and take this soup, I'll give you the last injection and you'll sleep peacefully for as long as you like. Just endure a little more, alright?"
With gentle coaxing, Zhan began drinking slowly while Daneen fed him pieces of the tender meat.
That was when King Yibo walked in.
He entered in clothes, radiating quiet authority. His scent filled the room; the presence he carried transformed the air itself. Every movement held composure and controlled power. Behind dark glasses his expression was unreadable, yet his aura was overwhelming.... unmistakably the one and only King of Beiping.
Both Zhan and Daneen froze. Neither dared to look directly at him.
After greeting Daneen with calm dignity, his attention settled on Zhan.
Dannen excuse herself out.
He moved closer to the bed and removed his glasses slowly, revealing sharp eyes.
"Good morning, Mr. Yibo-Zhan. Or should I say… Wang Xiao Zhan?"
His voice was low, steady.... almost hypnotic.
He reached out, lifting Zhan's chin gently with two fingers, tilting his face upward. The tone of his voice alone sent a tremor through Zhan. Embarrassment and fear flushed through him; tears gathered in his eyes and he shut them tightly.
"Please open your eyes… my life," King Yibo whispered, his face inches from Zhan's.
Zhan didn't even realize when King Yibo had leaned so close.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛