397 Approximately three yearster.....


    In the inky darkness, a soft glow like that of embers brightened and dimmed constantly as the smell of smoke wafted in the air. Several cigarette buttsy on the ground like the person had been standing there for so long smoking.


    He had been watching the building opposite him his thoughts unknown. The look in his eyes was very difficult to discern. A figure suddenly descended from the sky andnded softly on top of the building as their mech vanished.


    Zi Han nced back and looked at his mother from the corner of his eye. She smiled at him as she patted his shoulder. “How many of those have you had?” she asked regretting ever letting him smoke in the first ce.


    Over the years another habit had manifested itself and that bad habit was smoking two to three packs when he was nervous.


    There were only a few things that made Zi Han nervous but still, it was very worrying. The first time he smoked this much was when Yi Chen was being ndered on StarNet and condemned for harbouring a criminal.


    Yi Chen was even taken to court by the state and stood trial for the crime of aiding and abetting Zi Han. How could they note for him? For years Zi Han had served at Yi Chen’s side so how could he not know his subordinate’s thoughts?


    Zi Han watched the trial through the surveince cameras. For hours he would sit in the dark smoking while watching the trial. Because the trial concerned the federation’s security it wasn’t broadcasted on StarNet hence Zi Han could only use this method.


    He wanted to do something to help Yi Chen but his mother did everything in her power to stop him. She told him that Yi Chen would have to fight this battle alone.


    Zi Han could only sit and watch his lover go through this alone. To calm his nerves he kept smoking which worried his mother so much.


    .....


    As expected, the trial ended with Yi Chen merely getting a p on the wrist. The court of prime ministers that were using him fervently suddenly turned mellow overnight. Their tune had taken a great turn.


    Yi Chen walked out of there with a six months sentence patrolling the deste star of the federation which was the hottest and most dry in the federation but because of its rich ore, it would constantly get attacked by bandits and interster pirates.


    It was obvious a deal had been struck behind closed doors or someone had ckmailed someone because Yi Chen walked out of there unscathed. The narrative on StarNet soon changed and calls to strip all military power from the Yi Family died down. Soon no one cared about this matter anymore.


    The second time Zi Han had smoked this much was when rumours about Yi Chen, the now Marshal, being in a rtionship with a model sh actress surfaced in full swing. Zi Han would have ignored it but the problem was that this woman was one of the Marshal’s admiral’s daughter.


    From this, he could see who was pushing the boat along the river. Zi Han almost lost his mind and in every contract, he took up he was especially ruthless and bloody.


    The third incident was when T, thete prime minister Ju’s mother, came out about her marriage to thete emperor out in public. She began to nder thete emperor’s name and ssh dirty water on the Yeoh family.


    Other than people speaking ill about Yi Chen, Zi Han also couldn’t tolerate anyone speaking badly about his family. They were already dead so what did she stand to benefit from ndering them? Zi Han had vowed to shut her mouth but the problem was that she was one of the most guarded persons in the federation.


    Under the orders of the Marshal, she was guarded heavily which made Zi Han even more annoyed. The two knew each other very well. Even without words, they would know what the other was thinking.


    Zi Han knew that Yi Chen knew he had intentions to ughter that nderous woman but what did he do instead? He guarded her heavily making it difficult for Zi Han to make a move.


    After waiting for more than a year Zi Han finally had the opportunity to kill her but he couldn’t help but feel nervous thus he was smoking on the rooftop.


    He took a long drag of his cigarette before throwing it on the ground and crushing it. He blew out a puff of smoke before saying, “This is myst one... For the sake of my grandmother’s face, I will cut out her tongue and make sure she will no longer be speaking even in the afterlife.”


    Zi Xingxi turned her face and nced into the distant lights of the city before saying, “You don’t have to do this. I can send someone else.”


    Zi Han chuckled lowly before saying, “I would feel more satisfaction if I do it myself. Besides, I can’t wait to outsmart the new Marshal.”


    Zi Xingxi didn’t want to get in between these two. Over the past few years, they hadn’t seen each other and Zi Xingxi was certain that they hardly spoke. When it came to matters of the heart she didn’t want to intervene.


    “You know he has been trying to find youtely. Why don’t you just talk to him?” asked Zi Xingxi a little worried for her son.


    Zi Han snorted coldly while tying his shoulder-length hair back. “If he really wants to talk to me he would try harder than that,” he said his tone harsh and unfeeling.


    Zi Xingxi didn’t speak after that. She pulled him into an embrace and pat his back while saying, “Mum wants you to be happy. Just remember that.”


    Zi Han nodded his head while swallowing down his emotions. He also wanted to be happy but how could he achieve that kind of happiness when his lover was away from him? His position made it difficult to have what others took for granted.


    “I know... I want you to be happy too,” he whispered wishing his father was still alive. At least his mother wouldn’t be lonely.