Yan Hao looked incredulously at Yan Wang. He had a dark suit on and he seemed to have been out of slumber for a while already. His eyes were cold and his essence was oppressive as ever.

All the members immediately knelt with their heads down except Yan Ning who looked at Yan Wang bewildered. Yan Hao pulled him to the floor and he knelt.

All the members unanimously said:

"Your Majesty."

Yan Wang looked at them and walked leisurely to his throne. All the council members kept their heads down as they waited for the king to allow them to stand.

But Yan Wang didn’t say anything and his eyes were locked on A-Xuan who stood between the two huge doors.

He narrowed his eyes glimpsing at A-Xuan and said expressionlessly:

"Come."

He looked as A-Xuan seemed to hesitate. He just stood in place biting his lips nervously. All the council members wanted to look up to see who he was talking to but didn’t dare.

When he came in because of his big frame they couldn’t see who was behind him but they didn’t hear any footsteps and felt curious.

Yan Wang asked threateningly:

"Are you disobeying your king’s order?"

All the council members sucked in a breath. Yan Wang watched as A-Xuan walked in apprehensively and knelt to his side.

"I wouldn’t dare."

Yan Wang ordered:

"Stand."

A-Xuan got up and stood to his side. Yan Wang looked at the council members with cold eyes and said:

"Council you may stand."

They all stood up and looked at the king. Yan Hao looked at his son outraged. When A-Xuan met his eyes he immediately looked down scared out of his mind. Yan Wang watched as his body trembled slightly.

How can he be so strong and be this scared of his father? Yan Wang looked at Yan Hao and sneered:

"Uncle is there something you would like to say?"

Yan Hao immediately put on a smile and said:

"Yes nephew, I’m truly grateful that your bright slumber has ended."

Yan Wang’s eyes immediately turned sharp.

"I’m your King first, don’t forget it."

Yan Hao felt like he had been slapped but he still said humbly:

"I won’t your majesty."

Yan Lo looked at his brother with a smile, Yan Wang turned and gave him a small one. Even though there are usually conflicts between brothers in royalty they are none between the two.

Even without the rule that only the first son must be king Yan Lo had never wanted to rule.

He didn’t even want to be part of the council either but Yan Wang asked him as a favor so he accepted. When Yan Wang fell into bright slumber he was glad he accepted or things would have been much worst.

Over the years the decisions the council made became more and more extreme and if it hadn’t been for him they would probably be at war with the humans again.

Yan Wang turned and said:

"You may sit."

Every council member sat and looked at the king. One of the ministers said:

"Your majesty I am happy that your slumber has finally ended."

"Thank you, uncle."

The minister was truly happy to see him, ever since his slumber he’s been trying to rain in the council with Yan Lo and a few other ministers. Yan Wang knew he meant what he said, he’s always been loyal to him and his father.

Yan Hao coughed and asked:

"Your majesty, you met my son?"

Yan Wang looked at A-Xuan who still had his head down like he didn’t dare look at his father.

Yan Wang turned and said:

"He’s the one who ended my slumber."

A-Xuan immediately lifted his head and looked at Yan Wang. Yan Wang met accusatory eyes, he could also sense fear. Is he that scared of his father? Yan Wang gave him a mocking smile.

All the council members were shocked. They all heard the rumors about A-Xuan’s mental instability ever since he was a kid but if that’s the case how could he get past the guards and break through the seal of the imperial chambers?

Yan Ning was furious. That cheap brother of mine dared to use his essence to wake Yan Wang instead of giving it to me. But every night he still received his essence he could feel it.

They all could feel that he’s still a vampire then that would mean he’s stronger than he and his father ever thought. Then he can still receive a significant amount of his essence. He looked at his father who seemed to understand the same thing.

Yan Lo looked at A-Xuan worriedly and asked:

"Xu’er are you alright?"

He is genuinely anxious, he always cared for him.

So did the original, when he died Yan Lo was the only person he wished he didn’t have to leave.

A-Xuan turned grateful eyes to Yan Lo. He smiled and said:

"I am don’t worry."

Yan Lo sighed in relief and smiled.

Yan Wang looked at the whole scene with cold eyes. Xu’er? Did he call his Baby V Xu’er? Even though he doesn’t like it he is grateful that he had him when he was in bright slumber.

He clearly saw the hatred of his uncle and Yan Ning when he said that A-Xuan was the one who ended his slumber. He also saw his hesitation to enter the council room as though he’s never been allowed before.

He obviously had a tough time. A minister asked curiously:

"A-Xuan how did you get through the guards and seal?"

At that question, A-Xuan seemed to panic and looked at the king pleadingly. Yan Wang raised an eyebrow and looked at him as if to say I’m also curious about that. He looked as A-Xuan narrowed his eyes at him with resentment.

He turned to the minister and said uncomfortably:

"I-I knocked the guards out every night and entered the imperial chamber to transfer my essence for two weeks."

The minister said:

"That’s impossible the guards are part of the imperial army they’re the strongest and you can only get through the seal if you’re as strong as the king and no one is."

Yan Wang leaned against the throne and said lazily:

"He was stronger than me before he transferred his essence to me but now we’re on the same level."

Every council member looked at him stunned. A-Xuan looked down immediately. Yan Hao was the most shocked.

How is it possible that his second son is stronger than the first? He was even stronger than the king. He looked at A-Xuan thoughtfully.

Yan Wang turned to look at Yan Hao and he immediately put on a caring face.

"A-Xu you should go back home since the council meeting has started."

A-Xuan started to move but Yan Wang immediately held his wrist asking:

"Why should he leave isn’t he part of the council? If I recall correctly the second son is allowed to join the council."

Yan Hao put on a helpless look and said:

"Your majesty it’s just that A-Xuan is different from other vampires."

He let go of A-Xuan’s wrist and said:

"I agree."

"No I mean he isn’t as sound-minded as the others that’s why he never leaves home."

Yan Wang looked at A-Xuan. His head was down and he had a painful look on his face. His hands were also tightened into fists. He seemed to be holding himself back.

Yan Lo said angrily:

"Uncle if he wasn’t sound-minded like you said he wouldn’t be able to sneak into the main palace for two weeks and end elder brother’s slumber."

Yan wang gazed as A-Xuan fists relaxed when he said:

"I agree with brother."

Yan Hao looked at the king not knowing what to say. Yan Wang said: 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"I named him my assistant, he’ll be living in the main palace from now on. Do you understand?"

Yan Hao was angry but he said submissively:

"Yes, your majesty."

The council meeting started again. The members filled in the King on what he missed those 60 years.

Yan Wang listened to all the ridiculous new laws and decisions the council made and sneered:

"Since I was in bright slumber you decided to hold back the vampires? The sole reason for the treaty was so we could cohabitate and exchange with humans but you all seem to think they’re a plague."

Yan Wang’s essence was released and all the council members started to suffocate. A-Xuan looked at his husband and felt heartache.

He fell into slumber to give the descendants a peaceful and more integrated future but as soon as he was gone they proved to the humans that they didn’t want to have anything to do with them.

It’s like they destroyed all the traces of his ruling, like everything he’s done and sacrificed for was for naught. A-Xuan knelt and said:

"Your majesty every law made can be unmade."

Yan Wang restrained his pressure and said:

"Stand."

A-Xuan stood up and looked at him with soft eyes. Yan Wang looked back with his usual cold eyes but he was touched and smiled at him.

He turned and furiously ordered:

"I want every law made ever since I was in slumber sent to my office."

They all unanimously said:

"Yes, your majesty."

Yan Wang got up and said before nodding at A-Xuan to follow:

"We’re done for today. Brother meet me in my office in 15."

He walked out and all the council members got up and bowed respectfully.