After Kai departed, the air in the chamber felt heavier, as if something significant lingered. Lord Thor straightened his posture, summoning his guards with a firm voice.
"Guards! Fetch Rong Yue for me," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.
One of the stone-faced sentinels nodded sharply and hastened to obey, returning shortly with Rong Yue in tow. The younger man entered the chamber with a neutral expression, though the tension in his shoulders suggested he was already aware something was amiss.
"Father?" he inquired, tilting his head slightly, his dark eyes searching for answers.
Lord Thor's gaze narrowed, a sharp intensity radiating from him.
"Rong Yue, have you noticed Xing Li engaging in any unusual activities or interacting with outsiders? I ask this because of your close relationship with him."
Rong Yue's brow furrowed in confusion.
"As far as I know, Xing Li has kept to himself. He's never ventured beyond our household," he replied, trying to understand where this was leading.
"Incompetent," Lord Thor spat, his frustration palpable. "He imposed himself on Lady Song, damaging our alliance with the Qing Clan."
"What?" Rong Yue replied, his heart racing with disbelief.
Lord Thor's expression shifted, turning calculating as he leaned forward slightly. "I've caught wind of rumors about the Emperor convening a prestigious cultivation school in the capital, gathering noble sons from all seven kingdoms within the month."
"Is that so, Father?" Rong Yue queried, unease creeping into his tone.
His father's lips curled into a smirk, the kind that sent chills down Rong Yue's spine. "I heard it from Xing Li, who expressed a strong desire to be our representative at the school. Did you know about it?"
Rong Yue's expression darkened, a knot tightening in his stomach. "Ah, yes, I was the one who told Xing Li about it," he lied, forcing the words past his lips.
"As the older brother, do you have any objections?" Lord Thor pressed, his gaze piercing and unyielding.
Rong Yue hesitated, weighing his response carefully. "I think it's a good idea for him to volunteer," he replied cautiously, grappling with his own unease.
"His absence might quell the anger of the Qing Clan, and Lady Song would rest easier knowing he won't be in Yi Province."
After concluding his conversation with Lord Thor, heavy thoughts followed Rong Yue as he retreated to the solitude of his room. Once inside, he summoned Lord Ying, with an urgent tone.
"Bring second young master to my chambers immediately," Rong Yue called out to his attendants.
Minutes later, Lord Ying stepped into the dimly lit room, where the air was heavy with the scent of medicinal incense. Rong Yue was seated on a low stool, shrouded in shadows.
"Brother Rong, you finally summoned me," Ying said, a flicker of happiness sparking in his tone as he crossed the threshold.
Rong Yue's eyes darkened, the weight of unsaid words heavy in the air between them.
"Why did you do it?" he replied, his voice low and measured, laced with a bitter edge.
Ying's expression wavered, his heart pounding as he knelt before his brother, tears welling in his eyes. "What did I do wrong, brother?" The question escaped his lips as a whisper, fragile and desperate.
Rong Yue's gaze sharpened, drilling into Ying with an intensity that drew a tightening in his jaw. "Why did you impose yourself on Lady Song?" he reiterated, his voice rising, barely contained fury fueling his tone. "And now look where we are because of your actions."
The atmosphere thickened with tension, silence wrapping around them like a vise. Ying's gaze dropped to the floor, shame anchoring him there.
"I didn't mean to; I got mad because she was rejecting me," he murmured, a tremor betraying his façade of composure.
Rong Yue turned away, anguish weaving itself into his features as he clenched his fists at his sides. "Now, Xing Li is going away," he said, his voice heavy with anger that pierced the dimly lit room.
"Going away? Where?" Ying asked, confusion flickering across his face.
Rong Yue dodged the question, his expression shifting as a new thought crossed his mind. "Have you heard about the cultivation school that the Emperor is going to host?"
Ying's brow furrowed, and he shook his head. "I haven't heard anything about it."
"Then how did Xing Li know about it?" Rong Yue pressed, his tone sharpening.
"I just got this news from a friend, and no one else knows yet."
Ying's expression shifted from confusion to concern. "I—I don't know. When I spoke to him last, he didn't mention anything."
Rong Yue's eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into his gut. "It's too convenient, don't you think? He's well-informed when it comes to matters that haven't been public yet."
"But isn't that good that he's going away? I don't even want to see him," Ying said with desperation edging his voice.
"I told you to cripple him!" Rong Yue echoed bitterly. "What has your impulsiveness brought upon us? You've created an opening for him to slip through."
Silence enveloped them once more, the weight of Rong Yue's words settling heavily between the two brothers. Ying wrestled with guilt and frustration, knowing he had made a mess of things.
"What do we do now?" Ying asked finally, his voice a quiver of uncertainty.
Rong Yue drew a deep breath, his clenched fists slowly relaxing. "We need to find out how Xing Li learned about the cultivation school and make it so he can't go."
Ying nodded, determination sparking in his eyes. "Okay, I'll do it right this time."
With that, the door clicked shut as Lord Ying left, leaving Rong Yue to sit in the thickening shadows of his thoughts.
"You're all mine, Xing Li," he murmured, a dark resolve settling over him like a shroud.