章 12: Self Defense

Because of his "life-threatening" injuries that the Odd Sisters successfully fabricated in intricate stories to the palace, everyone labeled their king as a brave, but foolish young man who'd risk everything for Jin. Also at the command of Little Sun, Dragon was going to take a month off from daily council, leaving Pan Yue and the Royal Queen's handpicked officials to govern.

Of course, the three approved supervisors were often easily persuaded by Pan Yue who could as smoothly twist the Queen's words, so the power balance ultimately was even. This troubled the court factions and tipped the power distribution yet again, but as their "puppet" emperor gained recognition, there was little they could do except wait for the next opportunity to mobilize.

Little Sun already knew Dragon was going to gain much attention if he so happened to come back alive, so at the temple that night, she prayed that he'd get hurt enough to look like he did something, but not die. Much unlike Hazel who was only worried that Dragon might actually injure her precious 17th's body.

For his one month break from royal duties, Dragon thought he could leave the palace walls, ride his horses, train, do archery, and other stuff of the sort, but Dragonfly forbade him from anything he liked except visiting the harem to find chess partners.

"Dragonfly, Dragonfly~ if this is what it means to visit a harem, why don't we rename it to 'Chess Club?' That way Pan Yue doesn't have to sneak in as a girl all the time," the bored emperor said to the maid refilling another pot of tea while moving a piece across the board, only to have it thrown out by Little Sun.

Dragonfly shook his head. "Give Little Sun some respect for tolerating your lack of skills. Have you ever beat her?"

The emperor slouched forward and put his chin on the table. "Give me two brains and I still can't," he said, wracking his head.

The girls surrounding him laughed, Hazel particularly because that was too literal of a statement.

"Lord Emperor, would you want to practice your penmanship instead? Your hand-eye coordination doesn't seem to be completely gone with the wind," One suggested.

"Oh wait sis! Dragon doesn't know how to read or write!" Three and Five burst into laughter, holding their stomachs and enjoying a different pain from what the illiterate ruler was feeling.

To this, Dragon slumped even further into his seat. The things he could do in his current state were all things he couldn't beat a child at. This was indeed humiliation to a man with a warrior's soul.

Then he had a brilliant idea.

"Little Sun, let's do what you and your brother did at night all the time!"

A look of distaste appeared on his younger sister's face before clicking her tongue. "Because of my understanding of your tactless character, I can assume what you're saying. But for innocent bystanders, your words are far from appropriate and very misleading."

Dragonfly asked curiously. "But seriously, what did they do?"

"I'll show you!" Dragon exclaimed, all reenergized and tugging Little Sun's hand forward to the indoors.

He opened the grand bedroom where the white mattress was so big and round it could fit ten soldiers. Dragon beckoned his assistant to follow as he climbed onto the colorful bedsheets.

The rest of the girls, though disgusted by his sudden eagerness, couldn't help their curiosity and follow into the harem corridors where no man other than the real emperor ever set foot.

"If you try anything different from what I'm expecting, I will mutiliate you," Little Sun threatened from underneath the body of her Teng Long Ge as she eyed his junior.

[Sasuga* my Little Sun…couldn't make me anymore proud.]

Dragon let out a merry chuckle before nodding and going on all fours, hovering his body over Little Sun's smaller frame.

"Ladies, different opponents have different weaknesses. Little Sun, from this stance, what can you deduct is different from your brother's?" Dragon asked, his stern eyes staring straight back at hers.

"Weaker arms, weaker legs, lack of proper balance, and injured chest which I can easily push off like this," the girl feigned a shove.

Dragon nodded. "Perfect. Now imagine Pan Yue who has similar structure to me but not injured."

"We wouldn't want to push him off," Three said aloud and the rest of the female audience nodded in agreement.

The emperor didn't find it funny at all especially when his darling sister found humor in it as well.

"A man is still a man no matter how beautiful. If he wanted to pin you down, he can do it, injured or not," Dragon proved easily as he pressed his bandaged chest against Little Sun who was stuck on the mattress with her wrists bound in one hand.

Little Sun got ready to aim for his crotch, but Dragon was a split second faster and used his longer, stronger leg to block hers before scooting in closer, infiltrating the privacy she thought she could protect.

"Little Sis, you are beyond smart with the board, but for real combat, rely on instinct. Yes. I am a man. If I am Pan Yue, your kick is fantastic. But for me, my chest is injured. Tuck in and with force, extend your leg and aim for the bigger target. Try."

Teng Consort performed as told. Dragon ended up blocking with his arms that released her wrists, not expecting her to really try kicking that hard.

"I get it! How'd I do Long-Ge?" Sun beamed, evaporating all Dragon's worry.

He nodded in approval like a master to a proud disciple before signaling for Consort Hazel to come up next.

"First of all, I don't see why I'll ever be in this position with a man other than Lord Emperor," she emphasized the word. "No one should ever dare even lay a finger on me but him."

Dragon nodded. "Okay, Dragonfly do you want to try?" he got up and helped the head maid up the bed.

Hazel's face turned tomato red at Teng's lack of concern for her, not even spending a minute to dwell on the fact that she outright rejected him. And then he moved on just as quickly to the girl who wasn't even a consort!

The half-dressed emperor positioned himself over Dragonfly just like he did to Little Sun however this time, he placed himself in between her legs rather than over them, showing yet another possible way of attack.

"Hey Teng Long!" Hazel called, arms crossed. "Stop messing around."