Once everything was in place and Yibo had seen King Mo Yi off to the final screening area reserved for high-ranking officials, all that was left was for the King to pass through.
Yibo's eyes followed his father as he walked away. Though his heart felt heavy and conflicted, that didn't stop the deep affection he felt for him. His mind swirled with thoughts.
His father was a just man, someone who never took life too seriously yet held firm control over his own affairs. Yibo wish his father is the one deeply involved in everything concerning his life...so unlike his mother, who acted as though everything she did was justified simply because it was for her son. That blind affection… When would things ever change?
Yibo sighed and tried to look away from the space where his father had just disappeared.
And then....he froze.
His eyes landed on someone...someone so unexpected, his gaze narrowed sharply in disbelief. He squinted, needing to be absolutely sure he wasn't imagining things. He instinctively took a few steps forward, drawn by a mix of shock and urgency.
It was Zhan.
He stood at a checkpoint, handing over his passport. He was wearing a long, Italian-made jacket...elegant and attention-grabbing. Despite the jacket's volume, it was easy to make out the outline of his pregnancy through the fitted t-shirt underneath. Zhan's focus was fully on the officer checking his passport, unaware that someone was watching him intently.
Yibo's breath hitched as he realized what this meant. Zhan was about to pass through. If he did, Yibo might not see him again. Where was he going? What country? He had no idea. That thought alone made something snap inside him.
Without thinking, he pushed forward with urgency and determination, ignoring the crowd between them. He wasn't even sure he'd reach Zhan in time, but he couldn't just stand there and let him disappear.
People turned to stare as he moved through the terminal with reckless abandon. Many recognized him immediately. They knew who he was. They knew his status. And yet, there he was... acting completely unlike himself. But Yibo didn't care. His only concern was reaching Zhan. He needed to speak to him. He needed to be sure of what he was feeling.
Just as he caught sight of Zhan receiving his boarding pass, the crowd swallowed him up...gone, just like his father had vanished a moment before. Yibo's chest tightened with frustration. He moved to cross the restricted line, but security quickly intervened, surprised and concerned by his sudden action.
They stopped him with questions, but to Yibo, their voices were nothing more than the sound of time slipping away. His breath came in sharp bursts, and all he wanted was for them to move aside so he could reach Zhan.
Then...he felt a firm hand on his arm. It was one of King Mo Yi's senior aides.
That touch grounded him.
He turned, and the aide bowed respectfully before speaking in a low, calm voice meant for Yibo alone.
"Your Highness, all eyes are on you. Whatever it is, try to maintain your composure...for the dignity of the Tianjin royal house… and to avoid upsetting the Queen."
The words struck like a stone in Yibo's chest. He let out a slow, heavy breath, as though releasing a mountain of emotion. Every part of him wanted to push through the crowd and chase after Zhan. He didn't care who was watching. But something about those words...about where they came from inside him...stopped him.
"Seeing him here at all… is already a kind of victory. It's a light. A sign you're on the right path to finding him again."
With that, the security officers gently guided him to a private room where he was offered a seat and some space. They handled him with care, sensing that whatever had just happened was more than it appeared. And then, quietly, they asked what was troubling him.
Yibo paid no attention to the refreshments laid out in the grand office. His entire focus was on the officer reviewing the passenger list for the flights that had just departed. Only two planes had taken off recently, and two had landed. Still, Yibo felt like tearing the screen from the desk, as if that would speed things up. His hands were clenched tightly, his thoughts racing, and he had to constantly remind himself to calm down and take things step by step.
Minutes passed before the officer finally looked up from the screen. He glanced at Prince Yibo and then at his superior sitting to the side. With formal respect, he announced, "There is indeed a passenger named Zhan on the second flight that just departed. In fact, it seems to be the only person with that name on board."
"Which country was he headed to?" Yibo interrupted before the officer could finish his sentence. To him, any further details were pointless....just a waste of time.
Noticing his urgency, the officer answered immediately.
"Chongqing."
"Chongqing?" Yibo echoed to himself, confused. If he tried to dig too deeply into why Zhan would go there, he knew he'd only be fooling himself. The truth was, he barely knew who Zhan really was...certainly not enough to guess at his intentions or origins. There was only one thing Yibo was sure of: he needed to book the next available flight to Chongqing, no matter the time or day.
But Chongqing was vast. It wasn't some tiny town where you could just step off a plane and expect to run into someone you knew. If Zhan arrived there, where would he go?
The overwhelming uncertainty made Yibo want to dismiss it all from his mind, but the ache in his chest told him otherwise. He would spend every last breath searching for Zhan if he had to....even if he had no idea where to begin. Still, logic offered one small hope: Zhan's family home. That might be the only place solid enough to anchor his search. It was a lead...however faint...but better than nothing.
And so, with resolve, Yibo rose to his feet. He thanked the staff with all the grace of royalty, then walked out of the office, his heart set. Whatever happened next, he would face it. But one thing was certain...he had to find Lanhui. She would lead him to Zhan's parents' house. He couldn't accept the idea of losing someone so vital, someone who had come to mean more than words could say. His eyes had seen the truth that his mother had tried to deny. What else was there to wait for?
Even now, when he remembered Zhan's face....and the baby in his belly...something heavy stirred inside him. He was the man who once claimed to be Zhan's husband…and the child who shared his blood... The weight of it all felt unbearable.
Once back at the palace, Yibo avoided everyone. His sole focus became locating Lanhui... wherever she was within the Tianjin royal domain. He had completely forgotten the matter of leaving state affairs to the Prime Minister, Xielin's father and him, as assigned by his father. His mind was elsewhere.
It took an entire day and night before Lanhui was secretly brought to him, hidden from sight. He didn't want the Queen hearing a word of this before it was done... he didn't want any interference. He needed to resolve this himself. Once he succeeded, then they could talk.
From the moment the guards brought her to his private quarters, Lanhui could barely keep her composure. Her body trembled; her heart pounded. She knew her time was up. She hadn't forgotten the Queen's warning...stern, sharp, and final. After she was removed from the palace, she had hoped to vanish quietly. But now, if Prince Yibo wanted answers, she knew she wouldn't be able to resist his authority...not even for a second.
They reached Yibo's chamber in the deep blue hush of evening. The guards left her at the designated place, and she waited in silence, anxiety gripping every part of her.
The sound of Yibo's footsteps alone was enough to send shivers down the spine of anyone nearby. It wasn't just presence...it was something in his blood, something commanding and undeniable. People often speculated about it. Some claimed he was trained in mystic arts, others whispered about rare beasts in his diet that gave him power. But no one doubted the effect.
Before he even spoke, Lanhui sank low in a deep bow, offering her greetings with trembling lips, eyes downcast. He said nothing, only gestured for the room to be cleared. In a blink, it was just the two of them.
He stood tall, his eyes locked on her for a few quiet seconds. Then, he asked the question that had brought her here.
"If you answer me honestly, without lies or secrets, then you will walk out of here free. Cast out all fear, and give me the truth. That's your only way forward."
She nodded rapidly, still trembling.
"May you be well... may your days be long... may His Majesty grow in honor... may the Queen be in good health… I swear, whatever you ask of me...I will obey."
Yibo exhaled deeply, composed, then asked, "You're the only one who knows where his family lives. So tell me... where is his parents' house?"
Even though he didn't explicitly mention a name, Lanhui knew exactly who he meant. At that moment, she felt like she needed to rush to the bathroom...she could barely hold it in. Even without being warned, she knew she couldn't lie to him or play games. She was fully aware that she'd long passed the point of no return.
"He's in the So…so District," she stammered, nearly trembling.
Yibo went silent, trying to place the neighborhood she'd just mentioned. He couldn't recall any such district in Beijing. He'd never lived a full civilian life in his city...how could he be expected to know all the neighborhoods in the country? Realizing it was a waste of mental effort, he cut his own train of thought short and spoke with finality as he turned to leave: "Be ready." That was all he said before walking away.
That night dragged on unbearably long, as if dawn might never come. Yibo lay awake, haunted by dreams and thoughts of Zhan, and of the child growing inside him...a child he had no doubt was his.
Unable to sleep, he called Xielin to tell him everything and to ask for his company the next morning when he would go to the house himself.
"Even if you hadn't asked, Prince, I would've insisted on going," Xielin replied.
"I'd prefer we take one or two cars from your family's fleet, not from the royal garage," Yibo added. "I don't want this getting back to Mom until I've done what I need to do."
"Understood," Xielin answered with full support.
***
No matter how prepared Yibo thought he was, what met him the next day hit like a cruel blow...by far the harshest he had ever received in his life.
Even in the car, Xielin kept glancing at him, unsure how to console him. Anyone who knew Yibo...his resilience, pride, and composure...would've been stunned to see how deeply shaken he now was after they received the news.
"Zhan left the country either yesterday or the day before," Xiao Yun had informed them from his sitting room. "No one knows where he went...or where he's going."
Even Xielin was shocked by the answer. Yibo was left spinning in a storm of thoughts.
How could a young man, not even a servant, just disappear without anyone knowing? Didn't he have a mother who cared about his whereabouts? What kind of father lets his child go off to another country without knowing where he'd end up?
Yibo's clenched fist slammed into the chair before him, his body aching with a mix of anger and heartache. It felt like someone had just informed him he'd lost something he'd planted and nurtured...a part of himself now torn away. A child that might never know who he truly was.
By the time they got back home, a fever had started to creep over Yibo. At first, Xielin thought he was overreacting, but it quickly became clear he wasn't well. Still, Yibo refused to let anyone tell the Queen. If she sent someone to check on him due to his absence the past two days, he insisted they report he was fine. The Queen, unconcerned, assumed his silence was simply the burden of responsibilities left to him and the prime minister by the King. Pleased, she smiled, feeling confident she had finally gained the upper hand over her rivals.
ZHAN
Zhan had cried at first...tears of joy over being reunited with family, overwhelmed by the love and support he and his mother were now surrounded by. Eventually, the tears dried up, replaced by awe. He found himself once again believing his mother was unlike any other...pure-hearted and selfless in a way rare in their world.
She had walked away from the comfort, wealth, and power of her family's legacy to live with his father...a man who didn't even come close to the wealth of some of their household staff. But she hadn't cared. She had chosen love, honored it, and made her choice with pride and dignity.
But did his father ever truly repay her? Did he give back even a portion of all she had sacrificed?
Everyone around him seemed to be buzzing with excitement over Zhan, as if they could barely contain their curiosity. He realized again how unique his mother was when he heard Aunt Anu grumble under her breath:
"So now you've all decided the son of Yunjun Jie is took my place, and you've gone and make me like some stranger? Just because of his resemblance of her?"
"Well, do what you want," she continue her teased. "But some one give me credit, because I am the one bring him here"
Zhan noticed the teasing tone was mainly directed at their grandmother... Thier father's mother... the last of her generation still alive. It seemed she had lived among them since they were young, and knew each of their stories intimately.
"If you think anything could make me stop supporting Yunjun's son...even after she's gone...then you don't know me at all," she said firmly. Her voice carried the deep sorrow of someone still grieving, not only for Zhan's mother but for Yunjun's father too. Everyone in the room fell silent, the air heavy with memory and loss. No one there could ever forget the passing of the father and daughter they had all loved so deeply.
No matter how he tried to explain what it felt like to be with his relatives in Chongqing, Zhan knew words would never do it justice. The warmth, attention, and affection they showed him made Zhan forget every hardship he had ever faced. He often forgot most of the past... unless he was reminded by the growing movement inside him. The pregnancy had progressed remarkably, but he felt surprisingly fine, as though he had never suffered the severe morning sickness that once made him doubt he'd survive it.
After they completed the number of weeks they had planned to stay, it was time to head to Washington, D.C. However, the relatives tried to keep Zhan from leaving. Aunt Anu, however, stood firm: wherever her feet went, so did Zhan's. They argued back and forth, but she wouldn't budge. In the end, an elder finally said to let her be... it was clear nothing would change her mind.
No one could really blame her. She had been the one to bring Zhan back to them. It wouldn't have been right to challenge her now. Their elderly grandmother tapped her cane against her head and said with a wry smile,
"You stubborn girl. Still so headstrong and sharp-tongued. How could I not love Yunjun more?"
"Of course, Granny. I'm a child of the wild," Anu replied with a grin.
Zhan stood off to the side, quietly smiling, touched by the way they loved and teased one another. It still felt surreal to be so fiercely cherished, to have people competing just to show him kindness and wanted to keep him by thier side.
The world truly is a strange place. Every hardship really does come with its remedy. Somehow, Zhan had forgotten all the fear, the pain, and the threats he had once lived under. He now stood at the start of something new... a fresh chapter, free of all the scars he once carried in his heart. Though one wound remained: a scar so deep it could never truly heal or be forgotten...his pregnancy... The unborn babies.
He placed his hand on his belly, where the babies had grown more active in recent weeks. Every kick reminded him of the awe and mystery of life itself... how one human could carry another within them and bring them into the world. It was humbling, almost overwhelming.
✨✨✨
Three days later, they left for Washington. Zhan found the life there refreshing and comforting. It helped him forget even more of his past. He had the space and time to plan everything he wanted for himself and his future, after the babies was born.
He mapped out nearly everything... some plans lived in his mind, others he wrote down. He was determined to build a new future, shaped by his own terms. Though no one else knew, he had long since made a silent vow to himself: never again would he allow anything to tear his dreams apart.
PRINCE YIBO
All of Yibo's strength and courage had finally run out, just like his hope of ever finding Zhan again. He was sick... genuinely ill... with a kind of pain that gripped every inch of his body and soul. His heart felt constantly weighed down, as if something inside him was splintering. He feared that soon, something irreversible would happen to it.
His condition deeply alarmed the Queen. She placed a watchful eye on all matters concerning him. That scrutiny eventually led to the truth she hadn't expected...he had seen Zhan and was now desperately searching for him.
The Queen was shaken. She didn't know what to think. What was happening? Why couldn't Yibo move on from that boy? Why couldn't he just put it behind him and return to the life she had carefully prepared?
Her anxiety spiked when she recalled Qiantang's complaints from the previous week. Each time she tried to visit Yibo, he refused to see her. Every call and message she sent went unanswered. At first, she excused it as part of his illness and promised herself she'd smooth things over later.
What neither she nor Qiantang realized, however, was that Yibo had already made a decision. Deep in his heart, he believed that if he ever lived peacefully with another woman, it would be a betrayal...an unforgivable injustice against someone who had never wronged him. It would be like crushing the very future he once dreamed of.
These revelations left Queen Zhaiye unable to sit still. At exactly ten o'clock that night, she dressed and, accompanied only by her personal attendant, stormed toward Prince Yibo's quarters.
Her rage was boiling. Her heart thundered in her chest. She was ready to confront him head-on...this time, no restraint, no more games. She was prepared to cut deep, to gut him with her words, to tear through his resolve and leave no part of him untouched.
NB
Are you ready for the time skip? The future of those two wonderful persons? Then good luck. 🤞
And Happy Eid Al Adha To All Muslims Around The World. 🎇🎇🎇🕋🕋🕋
For the Eid gift 🎁 dauble update, the next chapter will come later on.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛