"Lan'er, let's go," I said, stepping out of the police chief's office, addressing Slan and her seven-year-old sister, S'yun, waiting outside. "Yun'er, you full?" Those damned thugs, to keep the girls from escaping, gave them one bowl of rice daily—two if they begged. Busy earlier, I had the station kitchen whip up food so she wouldn't starve.
S'yun, frail and sallow, likely sick, stood timidly behind her sister, nodding at me. "Thank you," she whispered, barely audible.
"No need to thank me—we're family. I'm your brother-in-law," I said, patting her head. "Brother-in-law?" S'yun, confused by the term, looked to her sister for clarity. "Heh, let me explain. Your sister and I are like your mom and dad, got it?" I said, eyeing Lan'er's flushed cheeks.
"Oh, got it," S'yun nodded, her cute realization dawning. Lan'er shot me a shy, flirty glare—gods, that look was too much. "Dummy," she teased softly, her voice dripping with affection, no trace of anger.
"Heh, Lan'er's too gorgeous—I keep zoning out," I said, scratching my head with a grin. "Smooth talker," she mumbled, embarrassed. The police chief stood quietly, watching his great emperor flex his lady-killing skills. Lan'er's shy charm even dazed him, and when she said "dummy," he thought it was aimed at him, snapping out of it in a panic. Steal a woman from the empire's founding emperor? Suicide. His awe for me hit unspeakable heights. Majesty's majesty—rumors of my charm and stamina (a hundred rounds a night, no less) were true. Man among men, top-tier stud! He struggled with three wives; I was a legend.
"Alright, no escort needed," I told the chief, turning. Geez, his stare—wolf eyeing meat—gave me chills. He's not that way, is he? Not scared, but the thought of being his fantasy? Shudder.
"Hm," I grunted, snapping him out of his daze. Realizing he'd slipped, with me eyeing him happily, he worried he'd goofed. "Should I arrange secret guards?" he asked cautiously.
"Nah, no assassin's stronger than me," I said, cocky but true. He blinked, remembering I'm not just emperor but the empire's top fighter, creator of our martial arts and mental techniques.
"Understood, sir." Lan'er and S'yun knew I was skilled but hadn't grasped my rank. The chief calling himself "subordinate" hinted at more than a typical boss-underling vibe. Who was Feitian, really?
"Feitian, what's your deal? The chief was so deferential," Lan'er asked, tugging my arm. "Guess," I teased, looking at her. "Dunno, but you're not just some official. There's tons above him, yet I feel you're special," she said, tilting her head.
"My Lan'er's sharp, huh? Fine, my full name's Makino Feitian. Ring a bell?" No need to hide from my beloved.
"Sounds familiar, like I've heard or seen it somewhere, but I can't place it. Good husband, tell me," Lan'er cooed, shaking my hand playfully.
Beaten by my own fame—or lack thereof. She doesn't even know her hubby. My rep needs work. After this case, even toddlers will know me. "Fine, you win. I'm…" I leaned to her ear, whispering, "the empire's emperor, Makino Feitian." Her ear tickled, but curiosity kept her still. "What, you're…" She gasped. I covered her mouth, or the whole town would know, and I'd get no sleep. "Just you knowing's enough."
"For real?" Lan'er asked, hoping it wasn't a dream, like a lover asking if you love her for reassurance. I nodded. She reeled—not a dream. From a girl nearly sold to an underground brothel to an emperor's consort in a blink. The shift was staggering. She'd thought I was just rich, not the world's top dog.
"What, stunned? Didn't expect to beg and snag an emperor husband, huh? Thrilled?" I said, smugly hugging her. I didn't foresee our romance becoming a modern Cinderella tale, sparking empire-wide imitation. Overnight, female beggars—none over twenty-five, all radiant—popped up. A savvy merchant (later revealed as Lan'er's backer) sold beggar outfits and gear, raking in cash. That day became the prime proposal date, girls donning custom beggar garb. All beyond my wildest plans.
"Ugly or not, you're my husband, heh," Lan'er shot back. Geez, this girl's no pushover. Why do my wives start sweet and turn fierce?
"Wait, you said you'd seen me before—what's that about?" I asked. "Nothing weird. Your name's on every imperial notice," she said. Oh, that.
"Darling, where'd you go? Ditching me? If you wanted to peep on my bath, just say so—I'd carve a peephole. Tell me, and I'll do it," Meilina wailed, rushing into my arms at the inn, pounding my chest.
She started acting, but somehow lost control, pouring real emotion into her fake tears. Her maids, Little Red and Little White, watched, starry-eyed. Their princess, a natural actress, diving so deep—worthy of the demon realm's top genius title. Hard not to admire.
"Stop crying, or you won't be pretty," I said, kissing the small horn on her forehead. Demon horns, half-flesh, half-keratin, radiate faint warmth, super sensitive. Meilina shivered. Lan'er watched nervously, floored—Feitian married a demon, humanity's sworn enemy? Too much. Best not think, or her head would spin. If she saw tailed Mimi, she'd conclude I love anything female.
"Who're they?" Meilina asked, jealousy flaring at Lan'er and S'yun. She couldn't help it—her heart was now this damned wolf's, making her happy or sad on his whim. Seeing the sisters, she felt not amusement but a woman's possessive envy.
"Heh, well, you seemed lonely, so I found you two sisters," I said awkwardly. "What, you jerk, don't love me anymore? Even a seven-year-old's not safe? How could you!" Geez, what nonsense. "Feitian, take me, but spare the little girl. I know you're pent-up." This demon girl's a real demon—words fail me.
My flushed, speechless face set all the women laughing, even S'yun. They say three women make a play; I've got two plays here. Poor me.
"Nana, meet Slan and her sister, S'yun. Lan'er, this is Meilina, with her maids, Little Red and Little White. You're family now," I introduced. "Lan'er and sister greet Sister Nana," Lan'er said, bowing wisely. "No need for formalities—we're family," Meilina said, graciously helping her up.
"Little thief, you really eyeing Yun'er? Can't wait a few years?" Meilina teased. I nearly fainted. "Nana, that's not it. You and Lan'er are sisters, Lan'er and Yun'er are blood sisters, so you're all sisters," I said weakly.
"Heh, I'll let you off. But next time I catch you flirting, no mercy," Meilina said, acting the strict matriarch. "Oh, defying your husband? Let's see how I punish you," I said, pulling her close, kissing her earlobe hard. "Okay, Feitian, I won't do it again," Nana giggled, begging mercy.
"Alright, everyone's tired. Time to rest. Which lovely wife's joining me?" I leered at my beauties.
"Don't look at me. Go pamper Lan'er tonight," Meilina said, bolting with her maids. "Lan'er," I called softly. "Mm," she replied, head down, shy. "Brother-in-law, I wanna sleep with you too!" S'yun piped up, shocking me.
"No way," I said firmly, risking her feelings, but I couldn't let a kid face that pain too young. (Per the classics: "Damn, you're shameless, thinking every girl from three to eighty's mad for you. I'm pissed—gonna make you marry an eighty-year-old virgin!" Feitian: "Big bro, my bad! Beauty clouded my judgment!")
"Why? I always sleep with sister," S'yun said, confused why she couldn't join. "Well, Yun'er's a big girl now, a good kid, and big girls sleep alone," I explained, avoiding deep stuff that might mislead. "But brother-in-law's a big person—why don't you sleep alone?" Geez, kids today are sharp.
"Fine, you can sleep with us tonight," I surrendered. "Yay!" S'yun bounced.
Kids crash fast. "Yun'er, asleep?" I whispered to Lan'er in my arms. "Not yet," she said, trembling, knowing why I asked. My hands slid to her soft chest, kissing her face. "Mm, mm," she squirmed, her body heating fast. I slipped off her top, revealing two adorable bunnies. "So beautiful," I marveled—perfectly petite, a handful each, a divine masterpiece.
"Tian-ge, I'm so hot," Lan'er said, overwhelmed, her first time, letting me take charge, panting. Her cherry lips exhaled like orchids, stoking my desire. I leaned down, tasting her chest's twin cherries. Gods, pure bliss. Lan'er felt like she was floating, strengthless, instinctively pressing my head to her chest.
As I moved downward, aiming for her lips, I froze—two bright eyes stared, fascinated. S'yun, awake somehow, killed my vibe. Lan'er, sensing trouble, turned and saw her sister's wide eyes. Though S'yun didn't understand, Lan'er blushed, mortified, trying to turn away, nudging me off. Her hard nipple grazed my chest, sparking a shiver.
"Yun'er, why're you awake?" I asked, embarrassed—caught by a kid. "I heard sister's voice, thought she was sick," she said. My perfect night, ruined by sisterly concern. "Brother-in-law, were you drinking sister's milk? Hungry?" S'yun's words slayed me. Talk about the wrong pot to stir. Even my thick skin burned.
Stumped, Lan'er and I froze, time stalling, only heartbeats echoing in the quiet night. "Yeah, brother was hungry, so I drank sister's milk. I'm full now—let's sleep," I said, hastily dressing Lan'er, praying S'yun wouldn't ask more. Facing her was tougher than war.
"Mom said grown-ups don't drink milk," S'yun pressed, relentless. Kid's too curious. "Not quite. Adults drink cow milk sometimes, so it's not true we can't. Would you let brother starve?" I asked. She shook her head. Poor me—Lan'er pinched my waist for comparing her to a cow, and I had to play nice, teaching my little sister-in-law with no complaints.
"If you don't want brother hungry, neither does sister, so she fed me," I said, exhausted. "Alright, no more questions—sleep. Tomorrow, we're going to brother's house." I patted her head.
"I wanna drink too," S'yun mumbled, nervous we'd refuse. "Go ask sister—brother's out," I said, passing the buck, drained.
"Sister," S'yun tugged Lan'er's hand, eyes pleading. Lan'er cursed me inwardly but couldn't scold her sister. She bared half her breast. "See, brother drank it all—none left." S'yun, skeptical, sucked the nipple, finding nothing. Convinced I'd hogged it, she glared. Lan'er soothed her. "I'll buy tastier cow milk tomorrow, okay? It's late—sleep." Finally, we rested.
"Morning, little sister. The thief didn't bully you, did he?" Meilina and her maids greeted us in the living room. "No, nothing happened," Lan'er said, blushing. Her radiant glow screamed otherwise.
"Nana-sister, last night, brother drank all sister's milk—I got none," S'yun huffed, ratting me out. "Yun'er!" Lan'er scolded, mortified. As expected, Meilina and the maids froze, then burst out laughing.
"Yun'er, Nana-sister's got milk—brother hasn't touched it. Ask her later," I teased. Meilina's eyes blazed, face red, chasing me with mock fury…
Reader's Corner: Yo, readers, Feitian's juggling wives and dodging kid questions like a pro! Think S'yun's innocence will keep tripping him up, or will Meilina's jealousy spark drama? And who's the traitor among the officials? Drop your bets in the comments—let's see who's got the sharpest take!