"What was the all about Father?" Aval asked his father once they came back, "Why was that bandit bowing to you?"

Alice asked as well, "Yes duke, please answer the question why were those bandits bowing in front of you?"

Philip was shocked as well, What was going on, was this some sort of plan of Duke of south and Dule of east to annihilate him and other nobles? that's why they weren't attacked, but he was and Ralf and his son are dead?

"Was this your plan?" Philip asked, and everyone looked at him, you want to kill us all and take the profits?"

Alice's eyes widened. "Father, what are you?"

"You want us dead, your traitors."

Callum spoke, "Calm down, we did nothing we have no idea who is behind this."

"Then why did they bow to you and why did they not attack you but they came after me?"

"We don't know," Dennis answered.

Philip was enraged and didn't believe them at all, "liars I will expose you, I will expose you all."

Callum was angry as hell, "AND DO YOU THINK THAT YOU WALK-OFF? YOU ALSO SUPPORTED US."

Aval and Alice were in disbelief, "What are you all talking about?"

Dennis spoke, "Your father who is appearing to be all righteous in reality helped us fund the bandits and sell salves and rob the villages."

Aval stumbled back and Alice was in shock as well.

Philip was so furious that he was about to say something but stopped saying when Yibo walked in followed by Yanli, "Duke Callum and Duke Dennis you both have to answer the royal court and why did those people bow to you, and as for Count Phillp and you two I hope you three are okay.

If you guys ever need my help then don't hesitate to come to me." He then went closer to Alice and Aval and said in a slow voice "I admire both of you... I hope you can make the right decision... "

After saying that Yibo just walked out of there, however, the fear of death was already planted in his heart.

Yibo smirked once he walked out of there, one more attack and Philip was going to break.

~~~~~

The sound of cheers resounded in the room. Everyone took a sip from their glass.

"Wow, what a day it was," Haoxuan spoke.

"Perfectly splendid," Zhan added.

Yibo was smiling as well enjoying the victory

Cheng added with a smile, the genuine and happy smile that he rarely shows, "With the number of nobles and Merchants killed, this matter is going to royal court soon... and no one can stop it this time."

Yibo sighed, "Half of the nobility are on the side the help that we provided the merchants turned them to our side as well."

Yanli smiled, "A lot has happened this year,  and we have come so far the public opinion has changed, and more and more people are supporting us, a major noble house whose heads we have appointed are on our side."

"This year is going to end, "Zhan said, "It was an eventful year, and everyone here let's applaud ourselves we have all worked hard."

Everyone clapped, and the whole night they drank and enjoyed.

After a while when Yibo tried to stand up he stumbled back, however, Zhan held his hand.

"Are you okay?"

Yibo looked at him for some time and then looked at his hand, "Actually no, how about, you help me get to my room?"

And so Zhan walked him to his room, and once they reached Yibo's room it was dark and the only sour of light was the moonlight coming from the huge window.

"It's quite late..." Zhan said, " I should..."

Before he could complete his sentence Yibo had one hand around Zhan's neck and his finger on his lips, "Shhh..."

Zhan gulped because of their closeness, It has been such a long time, such a long time since they were so close.

Zhan can't even remember when they had even hugged the last time, and now all of this felt as if it was the first time, and Zhan wanted to tie his hands around the drunkenly ethereal man standing so close to him.

But he had to control, after all this is not the man he once desired Yibo is a changed man, and most of all he was a father now.

"what are you doing duke?" Zhan asked while he appeared as if he wanted to pull back to separate himself from Yibo his body made no effort to do that.

Yibo smirked, "You said that I am not yours anymore... hence I am giving you a chance."

Zhan's heart seemed swarm of butterflies tickling his heart to such an extent that it had stopped beating.

"A chance for what?"

Yibo had both hands around Zhan as he leaned forwards, "A chance to... make me yours..." with that he closed the deal with his lips as he attacked them with Zhan's.

It was just a lip to lip touch but for Zhan, it was something that made his entire world stop and made his mind think that no one existed other than them right now, right here just them together and alone.

Yibo broke the kiss and moved back, "I gave you a chance up to you take it or..." before he could complete his sentence Zhan smashed his lips against his, and then no one knew what really happened.

Zhan pushed Yibo towards the bed and the two fell on it before Zhan broke the sinful contact between their lips and said, in a heavy voice, "I would be a fool to let that chance go... Yibo."

Yibo smiled, "That's more like it."

With that, the two kissed again and lost themselves to the feelings of love, lust desire, and passion...

Author's note: Lol not a very nice way to end a chapter, you can curse all you want. I know I deserve it but I had to tell you that I will not write smut in the book. BUT... After the book ends I will write extra chapters that will only and only smut.

How is this idea?