Wolf King And His Fox Consort [BL]

"My mother is free to include whatever she sees fit on the dowry chests," Chu Yun said, fanning himself aggressively.

He was sitting on a moon window\'s ample sill, overlooking a perfectly manicured courtyard and trying to use the calming sights and scents of nature to distract himself from his impending doom.

It wasn\'t working because stewards and servants kept barging in to ask him for his opinion on this and that.

"The betrothal gifts from Zui have arrived, if his Grace is pleased to see them," the steward tried again, his voice thin.

Chu Yun closed his fan with a flick of his wrist and smacked it down on the wooden sill beside him. "No, I\'m not pleased. I\'m not pleased about any of this!"

The steward lowered his head in consternation. "This servant spoke out of turn."

Chu Yun realised that the poor steward was not at fault for his abysmal fate, and apologised to him. "Just add all the betrothal gifts to the dowry. Everything directly gifted to my parents should stay."

"It will be done as his Grace says."

Just as the steward was about to leave, Chu Yun asked, "Any news on my brother\'s arrival?"

"His Grace should be arriving tomorrow."

Chu Yun nodded in acknowledgement and dismissed the steward. Chu Hean was away visiting his ailing former guqin teacher when the imperial edict arrived, and while a letter was sent right away informing him, the journey to the Prince of Jiang\'s estate was long.

Omegas were valued and appreciated in Xin, no expense was spared in their education and refinement. Since he was a child, Chu Hean had the best music and painting teachers in all the country. So much so, that he went to the royal palace, from time to time, to have classes with his fellow omega cousins.

If there was any silver lining in Chu Yun\'s current predicament was that at least his brother was safe.

It was common knowledge in Xin that the Zui dogs liked to brutalise their omegas and treated them no better than breeding sows. It was a popular joke around Xin that only the dead spent more time on their backs than a Zui omega.

Imagining his elegant, articulate and talented brother reduced to such a fate was enough to make Chu Yun sick.

In Xin it was very unusual for an omega to have more than three children. On the other hand, it was said that in Zui omegas were forced to breed until their bodies gave out.

And to think Chu Yun was about to be forced into a lifelong union with such a barbarian people...

These days his poor mother could barely look at his face without bursting into tears, to say nothing of his father that had already lost a visible amount of weight in the span of less than a week.

---

Chu Hean\'s arrival brought a downpour with it. The sound of hooves splashing on the wet ground alerted Chu Yun of his brother\'s arrival before any servant announced it.

When the carriage stopped in front of the wooden steps leading up to the reception hall, Chu Yun was already there to welcome his brother.

Chu Hean jumped down the carriage without waiting for a servant\'s help and rushed to his brother\'s side, uncaring of the rain.

"What dreadful news," he said, as Chu Yun clapped him on the back and led him inside the palace. "I still can\'t believe royal uncle has decreed something like this."

Chu Hean\'s expressive peach blossom eyes were filled with consternation on his brother\'s behalf. His lips looked redder than usual, as if he had been biting them in worry.

Now that Chu Yun found himself in the role of having to assuage his brother\'s worries, he actually felt a little less alarmed about the situation. Chu Hean\'s presence was like a calming bath after a hard day of sword practice. His sweet scent of pomegranates and plums always put Chu Yun at ease.

"Don\'t worry, your Dage won\'t be easily bullied by those Zui dogs," Chu Yun said, squaring his shoulders. The wedding seemed inevitable, and he didn\'t want his brother to worry while he was away.

They were about to walk into the main hall so Chu Hean could greet their father and Chu Yun\'s mother, when a harried servant ran in.

"Your Grace, there\'s an envoy from the Zui ministry of rites at the gate!" The servant looked as if he\'d seen a ghost. As everyone else, he\'d heard many rumours about the wolves of Zui; about how they were a barbaric and ferocious people, but had never seen one of them before.

The envoy outside, and his delegation were the first Zui people the poor servant had ever laid eyes on, and the fright almost sent his soul straight to the underworld.

Chu Yun\'s betrothal gifts were all first sent to the royal palace for inspection, and only afterwards delivered to the estate of the Prince of Jing by a retinue of Xin soldiers.

The sight of the Zui banner flying from the carriage outside the palace\'s doors was beyond unexpected.

"Have they stated their business?" Chu Yun asked.

The servant lowered his eyes, looking at his feet in embarrassment.. "Answering his Grace: the envoy is here to teach his Grace all the appropriate Zui wedding rituals and customs one must follow when marrying into the royal Zui family."