Rest in a Demon's Embrace [BL]

Chapter 168 - A Blooming Flower

Luo Xiao had been spending the past few days at Jiang Yao's palace. He had been focused on cultivating and practicing alchemy with such focus that even his lover was tossed to the back of his mind.

In usual times, Jiang Yao would have been jealous, but due to the many rumors and chaos that had broken out in the noble circles within Cloudsoar City, the Seventh Demon Prince decided to strike while the iron was hot.

He understood very well that Luo Xiao was also busy, so he did not need to feel guilty for not accompanying him much recently, and instead he made his stance clear; he was not going to take over the throne of the Demon Empire, but he refused to let his fourth brother get the position as well.

Such words brought chaos and fear throughout the whole society, but many decided to use this period to gain benefits.

Since Jiang Yao had no intention of taking over the throne, it meant that he would hand it over to one of his brothers. It was already determined that the new Emperor would not be the Fourth Demon Prince, so which one would be picked in the end?

Many began to search for other princes to support, but they were all fearful that if they picked the wrong one, they would end up suffering more than they could gain.

The Cao family had already joined the Seventh Demon Prince's faction, and many thought that this might be the most beneficial place to show their support, but they were all refused entry into the palace to greet Jiang Yao.

To make matters worse, a handful of the princes had absolutely no interest in taking over the throne, and these noble families were starting to lose their minds in frustration.

One has to know that the Demon Empire was the strongest faction within the entire continent. It was also the most prestigious, and everyone wished to rule such an Empire, but these princes all refused the honor that was offered to them.

Such decision seemed completely stupid and hard to understand for the citizens and nobles alike, but they also did not know that the royal descendants had witnessed their father's tragic love life.

Although Jiang Yao was the seventh in the line of sons, many of the others had already gained memories by the time that the Emperor married his true love.

Unlike the other empresses, Jiang Yao's mother was gentle and kind. She did not discriminate against these princes born from other Empresses, nor did she feel jealous that their mothers had been sitting in the position that she had always longed for.

She had always shown them care and consideration, and all of them could feel her utmost sincerity.

They also remembered her undisguised happiness when Jiang Yao was born, but all this happiness and joy just made the loss feel even worse.

They witnessed their father go from a happy and youthful ruler to a silent and despaired elder.

He no longer paid much attention to anything, and he merely conducted his official duties with no care for anything else.

His children understood that while the throne was magnificent, such honor was not free. The cost that one had to pay for the prestige and might was often too heavy, and they would rather just live their lives in peace.

Jiang Yao was also feeling somewhat helpless when he visited his brothers one after another.

He tried to find the most suitable candidate for the new Emperor, but he never found anyone willing to accept the position.

Although Jiang Yao was stronger than the others, he did not intend to use his might to force these brothers as he understood their minds very well.

He even tried to convince his sisters to turn the Demon Empire into an empire ruled by women, but they merely laughed happily, and said that they had absolutely no interest in the hard work that was attached to the position.

Such resolute attitudes made things much harder for Jiang Yao, but he did not give up, and kept running forth and back for a few days.

It did not take long before the date of the auction had arrived, and Jiang Yao still had not found a new heir to the throne, so he had no other option than to put it aside for now and ask Luo Xiao to prepare.

"Jiang Yao, I have managed to refine a few complete pills after working very hard."

Luo Xiao was very excited as he looked at Jiang Yao with pride and happiness in his eyes.

Although Luo Xiao was not abnormally talented for alchemy, his talent was definitely great, and the pills he had created were also of a high quality.

Their shape was uniform, the medicinal herb scent was pleasant, and the shiny coat of the pill made it seem like a delicious snack one wished to gobble up.

Jiang Yao's eyes were full of affection as he looked at the excited young man in front of him.

He could not help but think back to the timid and traumatised young man he had first encountered, and how his journey to becoming more independent and confident had involved him.

He felt that the change that had happened to Luo Xiao truly made him seem like a blooming flower.

When he first encountered the young man, he was like a flowerbud hiding in the soil, not daring to show off its splendor, but after some time passed, he had slowly risen towards the sun, and now he proudly showed off his beauty. To Jiang Yao, it seemed as if the young man in front of him was in full bloom. He was the light of his life.