11. Chapter 11

“He left ?” Zhao Yunlan says in disbelief, staring at the empty space that used to be his husband.

On the other hand: His husband! He’s so happy he could melt. He pulls out a celebratory lollipop.

His father is still staring at him in shock. “What did you do?”

“Why do you assume I did something? Or something wrong, anyway? You heard him!” He unwraps the treat and shoves it into his mouth, sucking on the sweetness and thinking of Shen Wei. “The treaty stands! My marriage to the beautiful Black Cloak Envoy is sealed!”

“...beautiful?” His father glares at him.

“Honorable! I meant honorable, not beautiful,” Zhao Yunlan says with a grin.

“Zhao Yunlan!” His father barks at him again, he’s becoming more like a seal every day. “One second you are insulting the Envoy and refusing to marry Chu Shuzhi and the next second everything is settled? How can you expect us to believe this?”

“Because the Envoy said so? Because I agreed with him?” Zhao Yunlan pulls his lollipop of joy out of his mouth and braces himself for the fight to start back up, but there is a clattering noise behind them.

“Zhao Yunlan!” Professor Shen Wei stumbles into the hallway, looking flustered and scared, glasses askew on his face. “I was locked in the office! I heard the Envoy! What happened?”

Chu Shuzhi actually trufax rolls his eyes and walks away, which maybe proves he knows who Shen Wei really is? Or maybe the time travel thing isn’t as effective on Dixingren? Zhao Yunlan will have to ask. He adds that to his Very Long List.

“Ask him!” Zhao Xinci snaps a hand wave at his son with an irritated look. “Apparently the marriage to the Black Cloak Envoy is on again!”

“It is?” Shen Wei smiles brightly like this is no surprise at all, and Zhao Yunlan wonders how the hell this man fools anyone ever.

“Yes! And! Bonus! We have leave from Brother Black to court, my beautiful, darling Professor of My Heart!” He holds his hands out and walks straight into a very startled Shen Wei, hugging him. He feels the familiar prick of dark energy against his nerves as he drags Shen Wei even closer.

“What?” Zhao Xinci and more than a few other people look horrified. “How? When?”

“None of your business, Dad! I, Lord Guardian of Haixing, have spoken!” Zhao Yunlan yells.

“Ah-Lan, please, we’re in public,” Shen Wei says, although he is laughing into Zhao Yunlan’s shoulder.

There is a heavy sigh behind him. “I expect a full written report, Yunlan. For fuck’s sake.” Zhao Xinci, who never curses, spits out the foul language and stomps off, terrified bureaucrats tumbling after him.

After a few moments, they are alone in the hallway, although Zhao Yunlan is not sure if it is out of respect for the Lord Guardian or because people don’t want to watch him make out with Shen Wei. Because that is what they are doing, right now, this instant! Kissing his beloved Envoy, who is standing there with his ridiculous sleeve garters and befuddled expression and hard, firm, lean body, is what Zhao Yunlan is all about right now.

Eventually, Shen Wei pulls back to look up at him, his expression turning serious. “We still have to perform the wedding ceremony officially, and you will need to travel to Dixing with me to meet the king.”

“My beautiful bride, I will go anywhere and meet anyone for you!”

“You are ridiculous.” Shen Wei shakes his head, but he’s also smiling, so Zhao Yunlan simply pops his lollipop back in his mouth with a smirk and leans in to whisper in Shen Wei’s ear.

“The sooner we can renegotiate the treaty, my best beloved,” he says.

Shen Wei grins.

No.

The Black Cloak Envoy grins, a smile so wide and ferocious that anyone but Zhao Yunlan would probably wet their pants to see it. Zhao Yunlan laughs. Shen Wei steps back, grabs Zhao Yunlan’s arm, and with the full strength of the Envoy drags him along behind him as he walks.

There is no escaping and no fighting it, and that makes Zhao Yunlan deliriously happy.

This whole arranged marriage thing might just work out after all.