The morning comes

The morning finally comes, following your another two; you do need to sleep after all. When you wake up, the servant is still sleeping beside you, no doubt driven to exhaustion by you. You put on your cloth and as if knowing that it's time, there some people moving outside the room. "Your Majesty" Meiyue calls from outside, "My lord is extending an invitation for you to join his breakfast."

You walk to the door and open it, halting to throw a glance at the bed, "Let her rest," you say, "she has pleased me for hours,"

"It will be done," Meiyue say before talking to one of her hand maids in another language. Satisfied that an arrangement has been made, you walk toward the dining room, accompanied by Meiyue, your guards and her attendants. "Just to clarify something: Xiangqi expected you to spend the time with me last night, correct? That's why you're here together with me?"

"Yes."

Meiyue didn't sleep with you but is trying to pretend that she did. You have an inkling of what she's about to do but it's of no consequence. Accompanied by her, the two of you reach the room only to see that Xianqi is waiting for you. Next to him is Shuchun, acting what cute around the man, as if trying to make a point to you... or more accurately the woman behind you.

"Your Majesty," Xiangqi greets you and you mimic his way of greeting. The four of you then take your place at the tablet. You look at the grains in the bowl in front of you curiously. Brown in color, the grains look rounded and soft.

"That is fried rice, Your Majesty."

"Rice." How interesting. You know about the grain from the Moor traders passing through the land and the only way how to cook it is to make gruel. Using the provided spoon, you take a scoop and put it inside your mouth. It's surprisingly delicious. Maybe you and Xiangqi can come to an arrangement about your cook coming here to learn from his.

"How was your night, Your Majesty?"

There it comes, the start of the political game. "It's a very pleasurable night. I really appreciate your hospitality."

Xiangqi raised his cup. "It's an honor."

"Therefore," you say before he could lead with his next sentence, "I would like to request for her to be given to me," you turned a bit toward Meiyue whose eyes widened in shock.

"Your Majesty!" Xiangqi uttered in surprise; of course your statement caught him by off guard but it's not an unpleasant one to him. That itself confirms your suspicion that he was planning to 'give' his wife to you.

"After using her, I deem that it wouldn't be proper for me to return her to you. Therefore I will take her. I will pay for her dowry, as well as the ransom for her maid. I trust this is satisfactory for you?"

"Yes," Xiangqi replied, knowing that you have the initiative.

"Then, that's that. I'll make the arrangement for the payment to be sent to you, but I will be taking the two of them with me today. Is it okay?"

The man nodded. With the deal concluded, the breakfast pass by peacefully, with the two of you making idle talk. Afterwards you return to your room, accompanied by recently divorced Meiyue. Once inside the room, she couldn't contain herself any longer and is about to say something when you hold up your hand to silence her. "You're hoping to interject after he offers to present 'you' to me and reveal that I slept with the maid, aren't you?" At her dumbfounded look, you smile smugly. As you have expected, she wanted to trade her future for the maid's. Noble but foolish.

"Your plan would have caused your husband to lose face and I imagine he will punish you accordingly. Even if you've prepared yourself, I don't want to play your game."

You have just concluded a deal with Xiangqi. To have such a thing happen will undoubtedly affect future dealing. "Since your... former husband seems adamant of getting rid of you so that he can marry that young girl, I might as well take you away."

"But you lied to him about sleeping with me!"

"No, no, no, my crafty lady. I did no such thing. I said that it was a very pleasurable night. That's the truth. I simply didn't tell him what really happened,"

"But it's similar to my plan," Meiyue protests.

"No. My plan satisfy everyone, including you. Sure, you miss your chance to humiliate Xiangqi but this is a better conclusion."

Meiyue sighs reluctantly. "You have a point there."

"Of course. A king has to be craftier than the retainer he has just recruited." You then **** a kiss on her, catching the recent divorcee by surprise. After a moment, she relaxes and the two of you kiss for a long time.

"And that for being such a tease last night."