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Chu Yun bit the inside of his cheek so hard he tasted blood. His uncle kept looking at them from behind the desk as if he had already won.

A few weeks into their marriage, Chu Yun might have accepted the proposal with glee, even after acknowledging he was being used as a pawn -- after all, his loyalty was to Xin. To his people. But things weren\'t that simple now, something like this would directly harm the common people of Zui, impact their livelihoods. 

Even if Xiao Zai reduced taxes after he ascended to make up for the difference, it wouldn\'t be enough. It was the kind of thing that would stain his reign forever -- his first act as a King being the subjugation of his own kingdom in a one-sided agreement that didn\'t benefit his nation in any way.

It made him seem greedy for the throne -- capable of anything.

And while Chu Yun wanted to promote eventual trade agreements between Xin and Zui he wanted them to benefit both parties equally. 

Moreover, something like this would only aggravate the tension of the border towns between Zui and Su, leading to an even greater exodus of the beta population.

There was no way they could accept a deal like that.

But on the other hand, they couldn\'t afford to let Xiao Zai\'s father go forward and take it. Chu Yun was unsure of the exact terms he had negotiated with his uncle, but the risk of him using it get rid of them, and any support they had managed to wrangle in the months between was too great.

Chu Yun chanced a look towards his grinning cousin, looking as stupid and cruel as ever. Maybe if they refused his uncle\'s proposal they wouldn\'t make it out of the room. And what to say of his parents outside?

There was a good chance a great deal of his uncle\'s personal guard was stationed just outside the gates of the Prince of Jing\'s estate.

Chu Yun looked up into Xiao Zai\'s eyes, trying to convey to him that he was going to need to trust him -- a great deal.

"We accept," Chu Yun said, still holding Xiao Zai\'s gaze.

A muscle jumped in Xiao Zai\'s jaw and he closed his eyes, blocking out the sight of Chu Yun and the room as a whole. The apple of his throat bobbed as he swallowed drily, but after a time he nodded as well.

"Excellent," his uncle said, raising from the chair, the long sleeves of his golden robe brushing the wooden table top. "We can call in your father to draft the contract for us." He smiled. "He always had exquisite calligraphy skills."

Chu Yun returned the insincere smile. "I\'m heartened by Uncle\'s haste to ensure his word is binding, however, I\'m sorry we can\'t say the same."

He looked up at Xiao Zai for a moment, the corners of his lips turning downwards. "Since his Second Highness isn\'t King yet, I\'m afraid Royal Uncle would only be signing a non-bidding agreement with a Prince."

Chu Yun shrugged. "At the very least that would only show treasonous intent, on his Second Highness\' part."

His uncle\'s smile stayed in place. "Even so, it would show that his Second Highness was a man of his word, no? Something to ensure our agreement was binding -- for both parties."

"Except it wouldn\'t be. Something like trade revenue profits can only be determined by a nation\'s sovereign, what authority would the Second Prince have to concede something like that?" He shook his head. "No, I\'m afraid that we\'ll only be able to sign something like that, after his Second Highness becomes King."

The King of Xin didn\'t look surprised by Chu Yun\'s words, but he did click his tongue in impatience.

"Perhaps I should just take his Majesty the King of Zui\'s very generous offer." His gaze hardened. "Maybe some investments aren\'t worth the trouble."

Chu Yun didn\'t let anything show in his face. His Uncle\'s manipulation strategies were obvious, but he was a greedy man -- Xin prospered despite him, not because of him. And due to a robust civil servant system that placed only the most competent individuals in administrative posts.

He wanted Xiao Zai to take the agreement, because in his mind it would only be a matter of time, until the continuous drain on Zui\'s coffers, and natural resources, turned them into a vassal state of Xin. By Chu Yun\'s calculations, something like that could happen as soon as his Uncle\'s heir\'s reign -- if he got his way.

"I didn\'t say that we shouldn\'t draft the proposal, it\'s important to lay down the terms right away." Chu Yun clasped both hands behind his back and paced the length of the office, as if talking to himself and envisioning all this in his mind. "I\'m just saying there\'s no point in signing it before Xiao Zai is king."

There was a long silence in the room, and then his uncle finally sighed, "What are you suggesting?"

"Let\'s call father to write the contract, and uncle can sign it right away. We\'ll take it to Xin, and after securing the throne, and deposing the current King, Xiao Zai will sign it himself, with the title of King, as well as the royal seal."

The King of Xin didn\'t seem overly impressed, his lips thinning in displeasure. "And how will I ensure the signed contract gets back to me? It seems very convenient for you and his Second Highness to return to Zui while I have no guarantee that your end of the bargain will be kept."

Chu Yun nodded seriously. "Of course, I understand Uncle\'s concerns. How about this? Cousin travels with us to Zui, to ensure everything happens as expected, and then leaves right away, in possession of the signed contract, which Xiao Zai will sign in front of ministers and court officials, in his first act as a King."

Chu Yun\'s expression remained bland, as if this was a concession he had come up with at the last minute to silence his Uncle\'s complaints -- and not something he\'d been working towards since he began negotiating. 

He could see he had succeeded when he saw his cousin\'s eyes shine with victory. His small, shrivelled brain, probably thought something like this would get him a leg over his brothers. His uncle still hadn\'t named a Crown Prince -- despite his blinding greed he wasn\'t stupid, unlike his three oldest alpha sons. 

Part of Chu Yun thought he was just bidding his time until one of the alpha babies born last year were old enough to succeed instead.

Maybe his cousin thought so too -- or had been warned by someone smarter than him -- and saw this as the perfect opportunity of proving to his father that he was worthy of the throne.

"I can do it, father," he said, his voice almost shaking with anticipation.

Chu Yun loved it when people were predictable.

Finally, his uncle clicked his tongue. "Fine, but the mercenaries won\'t enter Haolin, and will remain in hiding in the nearby forests, awaiting Chu Ming\'s orders." 

He turned to his son with a grave look. "If at any point you believe the situation won\'t turn in our favour, or that his Second Highness," and here he pointed at Xiao Zai but looked at Chu Yun, "won\'t keep his end of the bargain, you retreat from Haolin and Zui, the money will stay with you at all times, only you can order the men to proceed. Don\'t let your cousin talk you into doing anything different."

Chu Ming nodded eagerly. "I won\'t disappoint royal father, I will bring great honour to Xin."

"See that you do," the King of Xin said, walking from behind the table, and walking towards the  office door to ask someone to call Chu Yun\'s father into the room.

---

The contract was written as an agreement of mutual aid between the King of Xin, and the King of Zui. Chu Yun watched as his uncle signed it, and then stamped it with his royal seal. He handed the contract to his son who rolled it up carefully and sealed it closed with wax.

"That doesn\'t leave your possession until his Second Highness signs it," he warned, his cold eyes fixed on his son\'s eager expression.

"Of course father, I will never lose sight of it."

Chu Yun and Xiao Zai remained quiet as this went on. Chu Yun\'s father who had written the whole thing according to his brother\'s specifications looked pale. Chu Yun did his best to ignore the worried looks he shot him from time to time.

Finally, the five of them exited the office. Chu Yun\'s uncle looked on at the cowed servants with a superior scowl. "I\'ll be on my way now. The mercenaries will be here tomorrow for the journey into Zui. I advise you to depart as soon as they arrive."

He left without a single look back at his own brother or sister-in-law. 

Chu Ming stretched his arms above his head with a smug smile. "Ah, I remember this estate had amazing hot springs. You," he pointed at a prostrated servant," show me the way."

Chu Yun watched him leave the hall with an inscrutable look that hid great inner satisfaction. 

His cousin didn\'t know what was about to hit him.