My Husband Is A Stranger (BL)

Li Yuan was not a man who feared the unknown.

On the battlefield, he had faced chaos without hesitation, trusting his instincts and cutting through uncertainty with the edge of his sword. But this—this was different.

The wind had spoken. The water had trembled. And for the first time in his life, Li Yuan felt as though there was something moving beyond his reach, beyond even his understanding.

That was unacceptable.

He would find answers.

The Search Begins

Dawn had barely broken when Li Yuan summoned the imperial scholars. The grand hall was silent except for the rustling of scrolls and the faint scratching of ink against paper as the kingdom's most learned men searched for knowledge that had been buried in time.

"I want to know everything written about the gods," Li Yuan commanded, his voice firm. "Omens. Prophecies. Anything that speaks of voices in the wind or ripples in the water."

The scholars exchanged uneasy glances. One of the elders, Minister Han, hesitated before stepping forward.

"Your Majesty, the records of the gods are... scattered. Many texts were destroyed in past wars, and the knowledge that remains is fragmented at best."

Li Yuan's gaze sharpened. "Then tell me what you do know."

The minister bowed, then gestured to an ancient scroll resting on a jade stand. "This is one of the oldest surviving texts on the divine," he explained. "It speaks of a time when gods walked among mortals, shaping the fate of empires. But they vanished long ago, leaving behind only echoes. The signs of their return are said to be subtle at first—unnatural winds, voices in silence, disturbances in water and flame."

A chill ran down Li Yuan's spine. Those signs… they had already begun.

The minister continued, unaware of Li Yuan's thoughts. "There is also an old prophecy, though its meaning has long been debated."

Li Yuan leaned forward. "Read it."

The minister unrolled the scroll carefully, his voice steady as he recited the words:

"When the conqueror and the captive stand beneath the fractured sky, the gods shall return to claim what was lost."

The words struck Li Yuan like a blade.

"The conqueror and the captive…" he murmured, his mind immediately turning to Rui.

Could it be coincidence?

Or was fate weaving a path he had yet to see?

A Visit to the Forbidden Archives

Dissatisfied with the limited knowledge in the imperial library, Li Yuan made his way to a place few dared to tread—the Forbidden Archives. Hidden deep within the palace, this vast chamber held records so old, so dangerous, that they had been sealed away from history itself.

The guards hesitated as he approached. "Your Majesty, even you are forbidden from entering without—"

"Stand aside," Li Yuan ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The doors groaned open, revealing rows of dust-covered scrolls and forgotten knowledge. The scent of old parchment filled the air as Li Yuan lit a lantern and began his search.

Hours passed. Scroll after scroll, he sifted through faded prophecies and forgotten myths, his patience thinning as the answers remained elusive.

Then, finally, something caught his eye.

A weathered manuscript, its edges burned as if someone had tried to destroy it. He carefully unrolled it, scanning the delicate calligraphy.

"The gods do not vanish. They sleep beneath the world, waiting for the moment to awaken."

Li Yuan's grip tightened.

This was no mere legend. This was a warning.

Rui's Reluctance

By the time Li Yuan left the archives, dusk had fallen. The lanterns lining the palace corridors flickered against the evening breeze, but Li Yuan barely noticed. His mind was consumed by the weight of what he had discovered.

He needed to speak to Rui.

When he reached Rui's chambers, the door was slightly ajar, candlelight spilling into the hallway. Rui sat by the window, lost in thought, his silver hair glinting under the moon.

"You've been reading about the gods." Rui's voice was quiet but certain, as if he had expected this.

Li Yuan stepped inside. "You knew something, didn't you?"

Rui didn't answer immediately. His fingers traced the rim of his teacup, a small tension in his shoulders betraying his thoughts.

"I grew up with stories," Rui admitted. "My mother used to tell me that the gods were not gone, only waiting. But I never thought those tales held truth."

Li Yuan frowned. "And now?"

Rui's gaze met his, and for the first time, there was something almost like fear in his eyes. "Now, I am not so sure."

Silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words.

Li Yuan took a step closer. "If the gods are returning, we need to know why."

Rui let out a quiet breath. "And if the gods do not wish to be known?"

Li Yuan reached for him then, not in conquest but in something else—something unfamiliar even to himself. His fingers brushed against Rui's wrist, a touch meant to steady, not to claim.

"Then we find out anyway," Li Yuan murmured. "Together."

Rui did not pull away, but he did not move closer either.

Instead, he closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if bracing himself against something unseen.

"We may not like what we find, Li Yuan," he whispered.

Li Yuan exhaled, his grip tightening ever so slightly.

"Then let's make sure we're ready."