Jin's POV

"Sian, you can't marry the one you've chosen...." Sian's eyes widened as the Western king whispered. "The woman you've chosen will not be able to balance your yang energy. In that case, if I give the magic stone to you, it will destroy everything." He sighed, "But it has become extremely necessary to keep the stone in a safe place, which is your kingdom, as soon as possible..."

Sian didn't look much surprised by his statement, "There has to be another way, right?" Sian asked.

"There is one way...you can marry my daughter..." He proposed.

Now I understood why the other kings were giving him marriage proposals. But I know that Sian will never accept a bride from another kingdom for this would make him submissive to the other kingdom.

Sian smiled, "Well, thank you for your kind proposal, Wang...but I would prefer a queen from my own kingdom. Hence, I shall look for a new queen, and if I don't get one within the next 48 hours, I shall consider your proposal."

The Western king nodded with a smile, "Very well, Sian."

As the Western king went inside, Sian looked at me, "I am afraid that you and the other knights will have to receive the other guests from here onwards...I have more important matters to attend to."

"We will take care of everything here, your majesty", I bowed.

"Eunsang, follow me", Sian said and Eunsang followed him inside.

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3rd Person POV

Sian went straight to the dungeons where master Lee was tied up in heavy chains. His clothes were torn and there were bruises all over his body....there were whip scars and burn marks on his skin.

"Did he open his mouth?" Sian asked the guards.

"No, your majesty....we tickled him till he lost his consciousness...but still he didn't utter a single word." The guards said while bowing.

Sian clenched his jaw and ordered, "Wake him up!"

The guards splashed water on Master Lee's face and he woke up with a gasp.

Master Lee coughed and looked at Sian, "Oh Sian...I must thank you for the bare minimum amount of food and water you provided me with.....that was the perfect amount for me to meditate all day and create a balance among my internal energies when I had nothing else to do....hahaha." The old man looked perfectly fine and stronger than before unlike what his physical state was portraying.

Sian glared at him as he continued, "Oh, and did I mention that your guards tickled me so much that I became tired of all the laughter and had a very good sleep after a long time? Trust me....it has been ages since I laughed so open-heartedly....hehehe..."

Sian smiled, "I am glad that Master liked my hospitality...and as you might already know, I am getting married...hence I was thinking that master would grace me with his presence for tonight's dinner. It would be a private dinner...only you and me."

Suddenly master lee's expression darkened, "If you are thinking that by inviting me to your dinner, I will be impressed and tell you the way to balance the yin and yang energies, then you are wrong."

Sian laughed, "You're getting it wrong, master. I have already accepted King Wang's proposal of marrying his daughter to balance out the energies...hence you need not worry about it. I was just trying to compensate for what I have done till now and was trying to treat you with a good dinner before releasing you from this dungeon."

Master Lee narrowed his eyes at him as he continued, "I was also hoping that you would officiate the wedding but seems like you're unwilling to do so...no problem...Eunsang let's go. I shall release master Lee after the wedding ceremony."

"Wait!" Master Lee said.

"He is definitely up to something.....what if he murders the would-be-queen after getting the spiritual stone?! I shall be with him to keep an eye on him." Master Lee thought to himself

"Master? You were saying something?" Sian asked with a smile.

"I shall accept your offer!" The master said.

"Wow! So lucky I am...Eunsang, bathe him with herbal water, treat his wounds, give him nice clothes to wear, and bring him to my private dining room." Sian ordered.

"As His Majesty wishes." Eunsang bowed

On the other hand,

After a long day, the knights returned home tired. But they were happy to see their mother waiting for them with a delicious dinner.

"My sons, how have you all been?" She asked.

"Uhh...I guess physically we are fine but mentally I can't say!" Yunki replied.

Lady Cha sighed, "I understand...I heard everything from the servants. That is why I have prepared a delicious dinner for you all to deal with all the stress you all are dealing with.

"You're the best, mother." Jimin hugged her.

"Words can't describe how much I needed this..." Hosung settled down followed by the others.

"How was your trip with father?" Namjun asked.

"Good but I missed you all." She said, "I wish Jeongguk, Taehyun, and Soyoung were here with us tonight..."

Just as everyone was about to eat, a servant came in and informed, "The would-be-queen is waiting for the 5th master in the herb store."

Jimin frowned, "These royalties won't even let me eat in peace." He stormed towards the herb store while complaining about his condition.

As soon as he entered the store, Yeji smiled. Jimin bowed and asked, "How may I help you today?"

"I want a herb that would make my skin glow and make me look prettier during the coronation," Yeji said.

"This is the herb most of the women ask for when they come here...fortunately, this is the only herb I am aware of," Jimin thought to himself and grabbed a purple herb from the shelf.

"Dry is herb under the sunlight, grind it till it becomes a powder, and consume half spoon of it daily with any beverage. Do not consume more than that or else it will have opposite effects." He handed her the herb and in return, she gave him a gold coin.

"A gold coin?" He was surprised.

"Why? Is it more expensive? Or does this cost something else?" She gave him a flirtatious smile.

"I-umm...no it actually costs less. 1 silver coin is enough for it."

"Well, keep it. It is for helping me always....and I hope that when I become the queen, you'll still help me." She smiled and left.

Jimin rolled his eyes and went back to the dining hall.

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In the palace,

In the dining room, Sian and Master Lee were seated across from each other as the maids served them the food and wine.

"Shall we start?" Sian asked.

"How can I know that the food is not poisoned?" Master Lee asked.

Sian smiled, "Is master accusing me of poisoning his food?

"No....but there is always a risk that the king's royal food might be poisoned by his enemies and considering the fact that the palace is full of outsiders right now, that risk is higher."

"Master is right! I shall ask one of the servants to taste the food before we can consume them."

"Why a servant when he is the perfect person for this task!" Master Lee pointed at Eunsang and Sian clenched his jaw for a moment but then he smiled and said, "Eunsang...taste the food and the wine."

"Yes, my king!" Eunsang took his time to taste every item on the table, "I think the food and the wine are safe for you both." He bowed.

"I think now we can eat?!" Sian asked and master Lee nodded.

Sian took his glass of wine, "Let's raise a toast, master."

"I don't want to get drunk...." He said and started eating.

"God knows what he will do if I get drunk..." Master Lee thought to himself and started eating.

Sian shrugged and sipped his wine.

After a few minutes of silent eating, Master Lee suddenly snatched the glass of wine from Sian's hand....as he snatched the glass, some of the wine spilled all over Sian's clothes and whatever was left inside the glass, Master Lee poured that on his head.

"My king, are you ok?" Eunsang asked.

"Yes, Eun...don't worry about me," Sian smirked.

"Oh, it is so hot here...now I am feeling better." Master Lee said.

"My king, he is intoxicated..."Eunsang smirked.

Sian leaned towards master Lee and said, "Oh master you think that you are so intelligent. The drug was in your food..." He giggled, "And you know why Eun didn't get intoxicated? Because he only consumed the bare minimum amount...."

"Eunsang should consume more....it is necessary to eat well." Master Lee said while eating.

"Master....do you know who I am?" Sian asked

The old man looked at him, "You are the tyrant king whom everyone hates."

Sian smirked, "And who is he?" He pointed at Eunsang.

"He is your lover...you both are trying to hide your relationship and let me tell you this old man has hawk eyes....hahaha....and Eunsang, you're not good at hiding that love bite on your neck."

"I-" Eunsang was speechless as his face turned bright red.

Sian giggled, "He is fully intoxicated and now he can't hide anything...Master, who shall I marry to balance the yin and yang energies?"

"So...so....so delicious this food is." Master Lee started eating again.

"Ugh...Eun...take the food away." Sian ordered and Eunsang immediately took out the food.

"Master, listen to me... Who should be the queen so that the yin and yang energies are balanced?" Sian asked again.

"So....so...."

"Yes...yes tell me, master."

"So sleepy I am." He yawned.

"MASTER!" Sian cupped the old man's face, "TELL ME WHO SHOULD I MARRY?"

"SOYOUNG!"

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