Chapter Text
Mobei-jun was not impressed, to say the least. He was forced still in his position, not daring to move a muscle, and his face went from one expression to another very quickly, but Qinghua was capable of understanding that even his King wasn't sure what to feel.
This worried Shang Qinghua very much. Did he hate that much the thought of having a child with him? Was he that disgusting to look at now that they knew he was carrying his child?
He thought that at least, his King would feel obliged to care for them, but if he was disgusted by the mere thought…
Alright, maybe Shang Qinghua could still get out of this strange situation!
He could lie his way out!
" Haha – my King, I'm sure he just misread my Qi flow. Don't worry!" He tried to lie, but just as he said this, his King frowned.
He really had a furious expression, lips tight and eyes harshly set on Shang Qinghua. This left the human silent.
Still, his King clenched his first, and did not even look at the healer before talking with a cold tone. "Leave us. Return when I'll call for you."
The doctor gulped. "O-of course. Consort Shang. My Lord. " He bowed to both of them, and quickly left.
Again with the Consort Shang thing! Shang Qinghua was not sure how to feel. Was he that stupid not to realize he was considered a consort all along?
No, it couldn't be! He was stupid, he knew that much, but not that stupid. (cucumber bro would agree to disagree but still!)
His King had demonstrated in the last few months his interest in him, sure, but how could he give him such a title without Shang Qinghua even knowing? And then, why exactly would he do that? He hadn't tired out of Qinghua yet, but he had many eligible and proper demon suitors he could choose from. No reason to choose Qinghua, and no reason to have a child with him too.
It was going to be half human, half demon, right? He was a pathetic excuse of a cultivator, and while Mobei-jun's genes would be strong enough to prevail, it was no excuse to force him to have a child he seemed to not want.
But nonetheless, his King came closer to him, and frankly agitated he grabbed Shang Qinghua's wrist. He squeezed his eyes, glancing from Shang Qinghua to his hand, and after a full minute, he settled his eyes on his belly. He had felt his Qi flow, and his double heart beat too.
His King took a pause. "My Qinghua is with child, after all." He murmured, clearly angry. Sitting up next to Shang Qinghua, he had this look that told his human one thing: he had fucked up.
Qinghua gulped. alright ! He knew he had angered his King, but he also had no idea how to comfort him. What exactly was he angry about? The baby? His blatant lies?
He tried to put his hand on his King's, but Mobei-jun took his away, not touching him.
Ouch .
"Why did Qinghua try to hide from this King." He inquired, not even looking in his direction.
Shang Qinghua looked at him, trying to not cry. "Hide what– hide the baby ?" He questioned, not sure.
"Yes." Mobei-jun clenched his firsts.
A pause. "Ah…" The human brought his hand on his lips, really trying to figure out what was the right thing to say.
He was going to ruin their thing, eh?
Mobei-jun seemed to have enough, and he ordered him around, raising his voice slightly. "Talk if you have something to say!"
Shang Qinghua did not falter or flinch, he was not scared of his King at this point, but he was scared of disappointing him.
Looking down he responded. "This servant thought it best not to force his King into a child he may not want–"
" A child– I may not want ." His King forced out, incredulous. He spat out more, clearly stressed by the whole ordeal.
"What exactly of my behavior over the last few months indicated that I did not want a child with you!–" He got up and gestured with his hands.
Shang Qinghua looked away. "nothing–" he whispered, but not enough for his King to hear.
"What did you say?" His King hummed impatiently.
Shang Qinghua raised his voice too. If his King could raise his voice at a pregnant person, he could raise it at his King! "I said: nothing! You did nothing to indicate that you may not want this child!" He argued back, frustrated.
Realistically, he knew the risks of dual cultivation. And he was sure his King was aware of it too, since he turned almost all his dirty talk about putting a baby in him–
But he did not think his King would get angry knowing that Shang Qinghua thought him frivolous on this matter.
He only thought it natural! Shang Qinghua was not a husband, let alone a consort! It was egotistic and very egocentric for him to think he was allowed to carry his King's heirs!
That was a job for nobility, or at least for someone who had something to give to the possible children of his King.
He tried to ignore the fact he was carrying the children of his King in his body right at that moment, it was a dangerous thought to have.
He may want more, more from his King than he was allowed.
Mobei-jun finally looked at him properly, and groaned, clearly still angry, but guilty of having raised his voice.
He took a pause, trying to calm down. "This Mobei-jun is not sure why his consort would think him unwilling to have a child. " He muttered, and– consort ? Ah, not Mobei-jun too! It had to mean something, right?!
"One does not fuck someone that many times a day without– the intent, at least." His King murmurs, and sits next to Shang Qinghua again, probably expecting him to tell something, but instead he's confused as to why the title.
The title everyone seemed to have used with him by mistake at least once in the span of the last few months.
The title the first demon that Shang Qinghua thought of as Mobei-jun's lover, used by mistake with him.
Shang Qinghua might be clever, quick in his plans and very good at writing, but he absolutely was an idiot .
"My King… I might ask something that will– anger you." He replied instead, coming closer to Mobei-jun, even if he was going to anger him, he was used to having some kind of physical touch. He thought himself weak for this, and was wondering if it was the case of taking a step back, when Mobei-jun immediately took him in an embrace.
"Then Shang Qinghua should… should hurry up and tell this King."
Mobei-jun seemed to tense in the embrace, but still let Shang Qinghua stay in his arms.
To think that his King was probably still angry, and getting angrier by the minute, but still hugging Shang Qinghua just to calm him down, was a warm little thing. And it hit a soft spot in Qinghua's feeble heart.
He took a deep breath. "My King…am I– am I your consort?"
Confusion appeared first on Mobei-jun's features, then a brief angry frown, but after a good second, realization finally hit his face.
His hands trembled, but he did not let Shang Qinghua go.
"Did Shang Qinghua really not know…?" His King let out no more than a whisper.
Oh.
Oh .
Did he really hurt his King this much ?
His King… he– he had proposed . Shang Qinghua did not know when, could not realize, but it was clear that his King thought he knew .
He could only shake his head, mouth closed and eyes lowered.
He could swear to have seen his King flinch .
Silence covered the room, and Shang Qinghua did not know what to add.
He always had something going on, something to say, but for the first time he did not have anything to tell.
"If– if Qinghua is unwilling, this King will forget the celebration, and if Qinghua does not wish to keep the child, this King will arrange a healer to–"
Mobei-jun started to say– but Shang Qinghua refused to hear the rest of it!
"No! My King– I–" He started, feeling dizzy at the whole situation. And his King immediately noticed, and his grip on him tightened, while he passed him some spiritual energy.
"...Go slow. Tell this King what you want to say, just– don't hurt yourself anymore." His King muttered, eyes tired and wantering everywhere but his human.
It was the first time in his life seeing his King so… weak . Feeble, unstable by thinking Qinghua unwilling.
Was he thinking about– how he supposedly forced himself on Shang Qinghua?
Oh no .
"My King!– I wasn't, and I'm not, unwilling." He took Mobei-jun's face in his hands, and looked at him with tears in his eyes.
His King brushed him off, and how could Shang Qinghua think ill of him for this? He was probably thinking Shang Qinghua had not said anything about not being unwilling, for months .
"But. Qinghua did not know of my proposal. He thought me so cruel as to keep fucking him without taking responsibility ."
Shang Qinghua bit his lip. "This servant… no, this Qinghua did not even know he was being proposed to! He would have said yes anytime, especially if he knew!" He muttered, cradling Mobei-jun's chilly face with his hands.
Mobei-jun took a deep breath. "Qinghua, did you not realize when this King proposed?" A pause. "This King did not use the proper words, because he thought Qinghua had come to know of it and did not wish court before marriage."
"Ah…" The human muttered, and Mobei-jun kissed his forehead, with his cold lips.
"Think, Qinghua, think."
You're good at that, Qinghua . Went unsaid.
Barging into his Lord's chambers did not seem a good idea, but at that moment, Shang Qinghua really wanted to ask what he wanted to ask and say what he wanted to say to his King.
He shot the door open, and Mobei-jun was a bit startled. He shot him a look, eyebrows raised.
"Qinghua?" He muttered, and Shang Qinghua came closer, first clenched.
"My King, are you really that desperate?!" He muttered, raising his voice.
Apparently that was the wrong thing to say to his King, who visibly darkened.
Still, he seemed to be trying to control his frustration. He frowned.
"What. What is Qinghua blabbering about?" His King forced out.
"I'm– I'm blabbering? Me?!" He spat out, hands gesturing in the air. But seeing the confusion on Mobei-jun's face, Shang Qinghua almost stopped feeling so angry. He let out a soft sigh. "I'm not blabbering. I'm–!"
Ah. His King did not have anything to ask forgiveness for. They were just a servant and his king, if his King was kind enough for Shang Qinghua to fall for him, it was his problem and his problem alone.
But still…
"Qinghua." His king came closer, and lowered himself a bit to shake his shoulders reassuringly. "Qinghua is crying. Why?" He demanded, and Shang Qinqhua had to huf. You're the reason! He wanted to say, but could not.
He was really crying. Enough for Mobei-jun to notice, how embarrassing. For him to ruin the night with his useless feelings on the matter—!
"My King, if you were– if you were so desperate, enough to seek a human out. You could have just– just asked me." He whispered, turning his face away. He had to say it, it was killing him.
Mobei-jun hands stilled for a long second.
"Shang Qinqhua… Shang Qinghua knew?" His voice faltered for a second.
He sniffed, sighing. "It would be hard not too. You were too obvious, my King." He smiled, feeble and without too much humor.
"...too obvious? Does that mean–" he muttered, but Shang Qinghua distanced himself from his grip.
"Does that mean what?" He let out, breathless.
His King seemed very anxious. For a demon Lord, that is.
"Does that mean Shang Qinghua accepts?" He asks, with such reverence that Shang Qinghua is unsure how to resist confirming without knowing to what exactly.
He takes a pause, and he swears he can see Mobei-jun flinching.
"...Accept what?"
"My proposal." His King states, very quickly.
Ah… Oh!
Was he implying that–! Well-!
He flushed red, and took a step back.
"I– My King wishes to… with– with me?" He gulps.
Mobei-jun eats him out with his eyes. But he whispers softly. "Of course. Who other?"
Had Qinghua misunderstood his king that much?
He only thought himself worthy enough for a night or two, meanwhile his King was talking about spending the rest of their days together !
He had been so worried about losing his King that he had not noticed how important he was for him.
He really was an idiot .
He felt a salty tear fall onto his cheeks, and he realized he had been crying. His King wiped his face with his sleeve, but Shang Qinqhua really did wish to clear everything now.
"My King, this one has been so stupid!" He cried out, warming up in his King's arms.
"...Yes." His King confirmed. "Why does Qinghua think of himself so lowly? So disgusting that this King wouldn't wish to pass his days in his company?"
Shang Qinghua sobbed.
"This King only wished for Qinghua to be happy, having tried to make this place more than a home for him, but now…"
"This Qinghua would be– ah, still happy with his King." He wiped his face with his sleeve. "This Qinghua, he was not lying before, he would say yes now and then!"
Mobei-jun seemed to relax, and embraced him tighter. "...does this mean that– Qinghua wants to keep the child too?" Hope was clear in his King's tone.
Oh, he really wanted to.
He wanted to grow old with his King, get to work for him, and have children with him.
But he knew he hadn't been completely honest with his King.
"...of course. " He whispered, and left a quick peck on his King's neck. "Ah. But my King, this one has one more thing, and I'm… I'm not sure this King will be happy to hear it." He cleared his throat.
His King looked at him, unimpressed. "...pray that Qinghua tells quickly, so this King can breathe well again."
"This Qinghua… he was sure his King might have had… ugh – other lovers !" He let it out all in a breath.
"..." His King had to take a moment to not break something. "...other lovers." He deadpanned.
Ah. He was feeling embarrassed. "...Yes." He hid his face in his hands.
Ahh! So embarrassing.
His King groaned, and had to kiss him, to prove his point. The kiss was quick, but possessive . Qinghua felt his King's fangs on his lips.
" Ah !– My King!" He cried out, at the bite.
His Mobei-jun eyed him attentively.
"Does this king really have to prove he did not even think of other men, let alone women?" He got Shang Qinghua into his arms. "Even when you were not there. And this King touched himself, he was thinking of you ."
"But, my King… then, all those demons? That left your room late at night?"
A heavy sigh. "This King… was searching for demons that had information on humans."
"Huh?" Shang Qinghua was startled to say the least.
His King continued uninterrupted. "This King did not know much about human customs, and demon ones did not make you… happy . " He admitted. "I was getting inside information on– what humans liked, on what you would eat, what you would like as a gift." His King was– blushing.
Immediately, all those new clothes that kept him warm made sense. Along with the many jewelry, and the books, and the papers, and the– ah, you got the gist of it.
"My King… you–"
"I wanted to make sure you were properly loved." He murmured, softly. "But this King has failed to make you feel like the only one."
"My King…" Shang Qinghua kissed him on the lips, eyes sad. " My King, this one is the one who should have asked. "
"You thought me so cruel to have lovers while i– while I had you." His King muttered, angry, but not at Shang Qinghua directly.
"My King." Qinghua warned. "it's not a question of you being cruel, or believing you to be. It's me not believing me… worth it." He explained, tired.
"Then, it's even worse." Mobei-jun took his face in his hand, and kissed him on the forehead. Then, he hesitated a bit. "Would you… would you allow this King to start all over?"
Shang Qinghua could not believe his luck. To think his King was still willing to have him! After all the trouble he went through.
"My King– and the preparation you talked about!" The human remember!
"I was thinking of surprising you. I thought you might want to get properly married one day…"
"I want! I want!" He explained, very enthusiastically.
His king took a moment, and looked down for a second. "Then… allow this one to court you, and marry you?"
"Of course!" He embraced him, and softly sighed. "Of course."