13 The Condition
Chen Liqin glared at the line of young girls totaling about 20 people who were saluting him. It had been more than a week since his coronation but not until three days ago that he had known about the recruitment of his harem's members.
His secretary, Liang Hu, approached him in a cold sweat. He realized that Chen Liqin had been furious since knowing this fact.
Liang Hu whispered cautiously, "Your Majesty, please speak a few words to greet them."
Chen Liqin was pulled back from his mind. He had already infuriated and wanted to run toward the mastermind of this recruitment, but not only would his dignity fall in front of his people, but he also could not vent his anger because the mastermind had not back to the palace.
With great authority, he told the girls a bit of nonsense and sent them away.
Another group of girls arrived and he had to told the same nonsense again. Yesterday and the day after yesterday, he had to deliver this nonsense too and the more times he said it, the angrier he became.
So, after the third group left, he escaped from the throne room.
"Yo—Your Majesty! There is still another group coming in an hour," Liang Hu said hastily but the emperor had gone.
Liang Hu let out a tired sighed. With a handkerchief, he wiped off his sweat.
'I hope his majesty heard what I have said….'
*****
The former emperor Chen Guang had gotten back to the palace when Chen Liqin was talking nonsense to the second group of girls and was enjoying his tea in his private room with his beloved wife. The door was suddenly opened violently that he almost choked on his tea.
"What are you doing?!" he exclaimed angrily.
However, Chen Liqin who opened the door was even angrier. He did not even pay respect to his parents.
"Liqin, where are your manners?" Chen Liqin's mother, the former empress, Yan Mei reprimanded in a soft voice.
Ignoring his mother, Chen Liqin exclaimed, "Father! Did not you already agree to my relationship with Ming Yu? Why are you doing this to me?!" His face was completely red with anger.
Chen Guang had predicted this so he calmly took another sip of tea before replying, "I let him in but I did not say that I have given up to have you marry someone and produce the next crown prince."
Chen Liqin's hands were tightly clenched, very tight that if his nails were very long, his hands would surely be injured. "For the God's sake, Father! You know I don't like girls! How can I have an intimate relationship with them?" he shouted in frustration.
If he were not a man who obliged to be always strong, he would have burst into tears and knelt in front of his father, begging for him to stop this nonsense.
Yan Mei, who always thought that her son had known and agreed to the idea about harem, glared at her husband. But, she did not say anything because as a woman, when the men were talking, she could not interrupt.
"You have to try, Liqin!" Chen Guang ordered as if it was very easy to do.
Chen Liqin pulled his hair in frustration. He had realized his sexual orientation since a teenager. There was no way that he could change this after reaching the age of 25! It was absolutely impossible!
"No Father! I cannot! I already have someone I like."
Chen Guang did not say anything. He had made up his mind.
"Father, I beg you to send all of the girls back or they will really become spinsters!"
However, Chen Guang still shut his mouth tightly.
Yan Mei could not take it anymore. She and her husband had decided to accept their son's sexual orientation since Chen Liqin came out to them a few years ago. She still could remember her son's happy face when they show their understanding and support. She did not want to become a parent who betrayed her son so easily.
She gently tugged her husband's sleeve. "Your Majesty, we had promised," she warned.
Chen Guang understood what she meant. They did promise each other that they would not force their son to produce offspring but that was because he was positive that he could solve the illegal human trafficking problem before handing over his throne to his son. However, the fact now was he could not solve anything and even getting further from the truth of the case.
Until the case was closed, he had to prevent his brothers and their offspring to take the throne from his son.
"Father!" Chen Liqin urged.
Chen Guang thought hard. He considered all of the pros and contra before finally said, "I will let you stay with that man and won't force you again, if…."
Chen Liqin, who was already happy, was disappointed when he learned that there will be some conditions.
"…You have to solve and catch the mastermind behind the illegal human trafficking auction case. I will give you all of the information I had obtained so far. As long as you have not succeeded, I won't send the girls out from the harem."
This was a tough condition. His father even spent most of his tenure investigating this case and could not solve it yet. This was like asking Chen Liqin to surrender and chose to produce offspring.
However, he could not let this rare opportunity go. His father was always firm in his decisions and rarely gave him another chance to change his mind.
'If I did not accept this condition, it will be the same as asking myself to produce offspring now!' As long as there was a way out, he would grab it.
"I will do it!"
Chen Guang smiled in satisfaction. If the case could be closed, he would never get in the way of his son's love affairs again. He swore!
After Chen Liqin left the room, Yan Mei pinched her husband's arm furiously.
"I could not believe you! You really forced our son without discussing anything first."
Chen Guang stroked his arm gloomily. "I feel sorry for Liqin but this is for the sake of this country's peaceful life."
*****
After nearly three days of travel, on the evening of day three, the horse carriage carrying 20 girls including Shao Chen started to enter the palace gates.
The excited girls began to open the window and looked around in awe. Shao Chen also took a look and his eyes immediately lit up.
The palace courtyard was very vast and there were many large, luxurious, and awesome buildings. Shao Chen's brain began calculating the possibility of large amounts of money owned by the emperor. His saliva almost dripped again but soon, he swallowed it and shook his head.
'No, Shao Chen! You came here to take revenge! Yes, revenge against the emperor with….' He was stunned. His eyes widened in realizing his stupidity again and again!
'What should I do to get my revenge?!' His mind was in chaos state. With great anxiety, he wanted to ask Feng Meifeng, who was still staring outside the window in awe, about this matter.
But, the soldiers thwarted his chance. The carriage stopped and they were urged to get off.
The sky had already given off its orange tinge. They had to be fast before the night fell so that they could be able to pay respect to the emperor before officially joining the harem.
The 20 girls were neatly lined up and then started to follow the two noblemen who had judged them before at the registration. They entered the main building in the palace which was the widest where all of the official activities were carried out.
The main building was very luxurious with gold as far as the eye could see. If Shao Chen had not been so anxious about his revenge plot, he would have flooded the building with his drool.
"The last group had arrived!" One of the guards shouted before allowed them to enter the throne room through the heavy magnificent door with a big furious dragon craved on it.
Behind the large door, a very wide and magnificent throne room filled their vision. Even though the hallway was remarkable too but this room was on a different level.
The girls were amazed because they had never seen this kind of luxury.
When their gaze fell on the elegant figure of a tall man clad in sparkling gold-colored ancient clothes, their hearts immediately screamed. Their faces flushed with excitement at the good-looking man who might become their future husband.
That man was of course the Emperor, Chen Liqin.
"Stop there!" Liang Hu ordered the girls when they were still a few meters from the throne altar.
