Bab 38: Jiang Cheng-tasia
(A/N: really don't know the full story of Anastasia. forgive me about this XDXDXD anyways, i'm really sick rn and just went to the nearest computer shop from our house just to update. i want to keep my promise to my dear readers to update today, so... XDXDXD *0* anyways, please have fun with this chap of mine. kiyaaaaaaaaa!!! XiCheng!!!! *0*)
The night of the palace ball.
"Mother." Jiang Yanli called to her mother who's helped by Jiang Cheng to go down the carriage. "I'd go in first." She said.
Without waiting for Yu Ziyuan to answer, Jiang Yanli ascended the stairs.
"Ah Cheng." Yu Ziyuan called to him when they entered the palace. "You go and enjoy yourself. I'll be fine here." She told him as she sat on the chair, watching the dancers in the middle.
"Yes." Jiang Cheng answered and roamed around the palace. "Where will I go, though?" he asked and blew out air as he went out of the terrace.
He hugged himself when he felt the cold night air seeped through his clothes. He rubbed his hands and blew through it.
He slowly walked and stopped to watch the city lights sparkling afar the dark city, making them looked like stars in the night sky.
He smiled.
"Leave this to us!"
"No."
"But, we can't let you carry the tray – "
"You could – "
"We can't! Also... you will just create more work for us because you'd drop them – "
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. Please leave the kitchen and change your clothes now. The ball is already starting – "
A handsome young man carrying a tray full of bread stopped when he saw somebody standing in the terrace.
A guest. He thought. What is he doing here? And it's so cold – he thought and almost shivered when the cold night air blew.
He looked inside the ballroom. I can't pass there. He thought and looked at the tray filled with breads he wanted to sneak to his room for a midnight snack. He's eyes fell back to the lone guest in the terrace. This is the only way – he thought.
He was about to silently pass when he stopped after he saw his face.
"Sir!" JinGuangyao – the royal messenger, called, following behind him. "I tell you, your uncle will get mad if you won't stop fooling arou – eh? Sir?" he called when he saw he's gone.
He was about to sigh, relieved, when he saw the person he's looking for is walking towards a guest in the terrace. "Wha – " he said, wide-eyed, as his jaw dropped when he saw what happened next.
"Good evening, good sir."
He didn't dropped the tray - ! he thought, shocked, remembered the person's clumsiness.
Too late to stop the person, he sighed and left.
"Good evening, good sir." A voice called.
"Hm?" Jiang Cheng turned and saw a man carrying a tray of breads. A guest? He thought and looked at the man's clothes. He can't be. He thought seeing the man's simple clothes. "What is it?" he asked.
The man, who he just noticed is handsome, smiled. He raised the tray. "Would you like one, sir?" he asked.
Jiang Cheng looked at the delicious breads before him, the aroma wafting with the cold wind. "Err... but it still isn't dinner time." He said and looked inside the ballroom where the king – Lan Qiren, already giving a long speech.
The bread man chuckled. "Trust me, sir, the king will be giving a long speech." He told him and smiled.
Jiang Cheng grimaced, also feeling this'll turn out that way. "W-Well, thanks – " he said and took a bread. " – how much?" he asked.
The man stood beside him and put down the tray. "You're willing to pay?" he asked back.
Jiang Cheng's forehead knotted. "Although this bread may be delicious, but this wouldn't cost that much... right?" he asked and looked at the bread.
The man chuckled. "Well – " he said and smiled as he leaned down towards Jiang Cheng's face.
Jiang Cheng held his breath as his face flushed, seeing that man's handsome face so near him. Their lips are only an inch away from each other as their breaths mingled.
"W-what?" Jiang Cheng asked, his heart beating so loudly against his chest.
The man's deep and dark but surprisingly gentle eyes stared at him, looking as if it turned darker.
They turned when they heard a commotion inside the ballroom.
"Mom. Dajie-!" Jiang Cheng called immediately ran away, leaving the man behind.
The man smiled as he watched him ran away. "I won't let you (ran away), again." he said and turned to the man walking towards him. "Uncle." He called.
The man's face turned grim, seeing the commotion inside. They waited until the commotion ended.
The next day.
"Hmm~"
"... he looks energetic." Jiang Cheng said, surprised to see Ying-erella happily cleaned the floor.
"A-Xian." Jiang Yanli called. "Did something good happen?" she asked, smiling brightly.
Ying-erella turned to her, smiling brightly, too. "No way... it's dajie the one who must've something good happened – " he told her.
Jiang Yanli just laughed. Jiang Cheng sighed and shook his head, feeling a headache. But, not because of the two (JY and WWX), but because of last night.
He shivered when he remembered what happened. Only when he got home he realized how scary that man is. Although handsome, but that man is weird. He thought.
"Dajie." He called. "I'll be going out." he told her. "And don't call him that – " he said, referring to 'A-Xian'. " – you're not following the script." He told her.
"Did we ever follow any script?" Jiang Yanli asked, then laughed when he frowned.
Jiang Cheng sighed and left, didn't know a new headache will find him – which is related to last night.
At the town.
"Good sir, please buy - !" the woman selling scarf said.
"These will look good on you - !" the man selling accessories said.
"Good sir, good morning. Please buy these breads – " a voice said behind him.
Jiang Cheng stopped and froze. Wait – he thought. The voice sounds familiar - ? he thought and slowly turned. He felt all of his hairs stood up when he saw the handsome man last night.
"You - !" he said and immediately took steps back, a meter away from the man selling breads.
Like last night, the man is holding a tray of breads.
The man chuckled. "I'm glad the good sir remembered me." he said, delight in his eyes as he looked at him (JC).
Jiang Cheng frowned and looked at the man suspiciously. "Are you following me?" he asked and took another step back.
"Ahahahaha. What if I do?" he asked back.
Jiang Cheng's eyes went wide and he took another step back. But, it was a stable behind him. He held his breath when he felt the doors opened and his body fell.
But, before he could, strong arms held him by the waist and swapped their positions. In the end, it was the bread man who fell on the hays, Jiang Cheng on top of him.
The people exclaimed and many onlookers came.
"Oww..." the bread man groaned, his back hit the hays.
Jiang Cheng's eyes went wide. "Are you alright?!" he asked, worried, as he checked his limbs for wounds.
The man's brows raised seeing his worried face. He smiled, then chuckled. "I am fine – " he said and stared at his (JC) face. Seeing you get worry for me and all that... I will be fine. He thought, but didn't voice out his thought.
He just smiled brightly at him.
Jiang Cheng's face flushed when he saw his smile. He immediately got off of him and stood up. He fixed himself. "I – I see – " he said and cleared his throat as he looked away, blushing.
He saw his bashful face and he smiled. He stood up. "You still remember the bread you owe me last night?" he asked.
Jiang Cheng looked at him.
He smiled. "Now you owe me another one." he said.
Dark lines covered Jiang Cheng's face. He followed me just because I owe him?! Scary, indeed - ! he thought and gulped, his face paled. "W-what do you want?" he asked.
He looked at him. His smile vanished when he saw his pale face. "Are you alright?" he asked, worried, and raised his hand.
Jiang Cheng's eyes went wide and he flinched.
He stopped, seeing the scared look of Jiang Cheng. His face went serious. "Sorry." he said. "It seemed like I scared you. Forget the bread and what happened just now – " he told him and turned. "I won't follow you anymore. See y –" he said.
But, before he could leave, something tugged his sleeve.
"Wait!" Jiang Cheng called.
He turned to him.
"I – I - " Jiang Cheng said.
But, before he could continue, a splash fell on him.
"Oops. Sorry, sirs!" the coachman said and bowed. "My horse is ill-tempered – " he said.
Jiang Cheng's face turned red up to his ears and neck. He didn't dare raise his head.
"... you need to change your clothes." The handsome man told him.
"Mn." Jiang Cheng just nodded, his head hung low as he let the man pull him away from the onlookers.
The man called for a carriage and let him inside. He doesn't know how long they travelled until he fell asleep.
"Mn..." he groaned and slowly opened his eyes. "Where am I...?" he asked and rolled on the bed.
When he felt something warm, he immediately hugged it.
"I'm glad you're hugging me and all, but – " a voice said. " – that makes me want to kiss your cute sleeping face – "
Jiang Cheng felt his whole body froze and, like he was burned, immediately jumped down the bed. The handsome man's voice rang around the room.
"Oww..." Jiang Cheng cried when he fell on his butt. "Who the hell are you?" he asked and glared at the handsome man wearing only a robe.
His smooth, tanned skin can be seen on his chest where the robe is opened. Jiang Cheng looked away, his face burning.
Seeing his reaction, the handsome man grinned. "Seems like I can't hide it anymore from you." He said and sat up, his robe slipped on his smooth shoulder. "I am the first prince – the Crown Prince, Lan Xichen." He told him and smiled.
Jiang Cheng felt his head expanded. The first prince?! He thought, shocked, as he looked at him, wide-eyed. "Y-y-y-" he said, don't know what to say. His face is flushed red.
Lan Xichensiled and walked towards Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Cheng immediately knelt. "I – I deeply apologize for my rude behavior towards His Highn – mm!" he said when Lan Xichen stopped in front of him, knelt and raised his head.
He lowered his head and kissed him.
Jiang Cheng felt his head exploded in embarrassment. "You..." he said, catching his breath after their kiss.
"Mnm~" Lan Xichen said and licked his lips as if tasting the sweetness of their kiss.
Jiang Cheng's head exploded once again. He's not only handsome, but sexy, too! He thought as he looked at the robe that's hiding only half of Lan Xichen's lean body.
"Wanyin." He called. "Do you want us to continue?" he asked.
Jiang Cheng looked at him and his face went serious. Lan Xichen's face is gentle as if he's begging for him.
"Your Highness..." he called. "Why me?" he asked.
More or less, he figured out that this is Lan Xichen's bedroom, and they're in the palace.
"I fell in love with you." Lan Xichen answered, staring in his eyes.
He remembered that time when he saw him standing alone in the cold terrace.
He stopped when he saw somebody standing in the terrace. A guest. He thought. What is he doing here? And it's so cold – he thought and almost shivered when the cold night air blew.
He looked inside the ballroom. I can't pass there. He thought and looked at the tray filled with breads he wanted to sneak to his room for a midnight snack. He's eyes fell back to the lone guest in the terrace. This is the only way – he thought.
He was about to silently pass when he stopped after he saw his face. He's... smiling? He thought and held his breath. He felt like the stars and the moon lighting up the surroundings of this man. Who is he? He thought.
He turned and his eyes fell on the empty side of the man. His chest tightened up, and he think he saw himself standing on the side of the man, covering him against the cold and at the same time hugging him.
"I'll protect you." Is what he'll tell him.
"Why?" he will ask.
He'd look straight into the man's eyes, his own eyes telling thousands of words he wanted to tell him, but could be expressed in only one sentence. "I love you." He'd answer.
He looked at the man and slowly walked towards him, his heart beating loudly against his chest. Just as he reached him and stood by his side only did he realize everything.
What he saw before is the future. The man's smile is more captivating than the sparkling light in the distance.
He will make this man his, and make that future that he saw come true.
Lan Qiren sighed as he walked in the corridor. Only the guards came back after they accompanied Lan Wangji to his quest on finding his 'wife'.
Not his nephew, nor even the messenger came back with the guards - who are clueless on where the prince, and even the messenger, went to.
His feet stopped when he heard voices coming from Lan Xichen's room. His face lit up. He came back! he thought and slowly opened the door to surprise him.
Though, only to be the one who will be surprised when he saw his nephew's bedroom. Everything's a mess – the cabinet, the curtains, the tables. Especially the wide bed where his nephew and his 'wife' is.
His nephew is riding his 'wife' on top while holding his wife's legs on his both sides.
His lit up face darkened and, with trembling hands, slowly closed the door. Why did I forget? He thought as he continued to walk down the corridor. Lan Xichen is the first one to tell him he found his wife! He thought.
"Uncle." Lan Xichen called as they wait for the commotion on Lan Wangji's side to stop.
"What?" he asked.
"I found my wife." Lan Xichen answered.
His eyes went wide and sparkled as he looked at his first nephew. "Really? Who is she? What is her name?" he asked, excited.
"He's really beautiful, more beautiful and more captivating than the sunset – " LanXichen answered as he smiled, as if he's not seeing his uncle and instead his 'wife'.
... 'he'? Lan Qiren thought.
Lan Xichen continued. " – he's so beautiful, yet he's so simple. He's humble, and he made my heart beat fast as if I'm dying... but, I'd die for him, since I love him – " he said.
Lan Qiren can't take it anymore. His face so pale, he fainted.
Lan Qiren brushed his hands on his pale face as he shivered at the thought. I wish I could forget that sight, too – he thought, remembered what he saw in Lan Xichen's room.
But, he's bound for another heart attack when he saw his other nephew waiting for him – together with his 'wife'.
I knew it. Lan Qiren thought, his face is blank. I'd die earlier than when I should – he thought.
He fell off the stairs, not caring about everything anymore.
Because of the Lan Clan's decline in royal blood (because the heirs are gays XDXDXD), a new royal family arose and surnamed 'Jin' – the richest family in the kingdom.
They established a new kingdom – just beside the previous one. JinZixuan – the king, and Jiang Yanli – the queen, bore a child named Jin Ling.
As another tale ended, another one will begin.
(A/N: that's right. This will have a continuation, and it'll be by the second generation! ^.^)
Status Power Mingguan
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Power 
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