Love Sword

7

The sun is starting to rise in the East slowly but surely. The morning is warm with gentle breeze blowing back and forth.

'Right, just leave it there.'

Ruo An walked out of her chambers, fully dressed and decorated with valuable jewelries. She looked like an angel fallen from the heavens today.

'Your highness.'

Ruo An turned around to see He Chang standing behind her with a bottle filled with water.

He Chang has always been the one who fill her bottle for her whenever they go on long trips. Yesterday before setting out was no different.

This time, the princess breathed a difficult sigh and shook her head.

'Keep the bottle. I don't want you to keep coming to take care of me. I want you to take care of Xiao Ning and be near him at all times. We never know what traps awaits us in Da Dong. The last person I want hurt is Xiao Ning.' Said the princess.

He Chang paused, in a split second, the fingers around the water bottle squeezed tightly for a bit before loosening again.

'He Chang, this is my order! Don't let me ever see you come to attend to anyone other than Xiao Ning ever again.'

After saying so, the princess flung her sleeves and walked away with large strides, followed by a few maids and guards.

———

'Your highness, please eat slowly.' Said Lan as she watched her master gulping down a bowl of warm soup.

Xiang Ning who had fallen sick last night kept sleeping until dawn. He did not get the chance to eat dinner and so his stomach kept growling and asking for foods.

After his fever subsided, he regained his energy and began to start gulping down the foods given by the inn as fast as he could to fill his stomach.

The door creaked open and He Chang walked in.

'He Chang! You're finally here, come and help watch over his highness. I will go prepare his stuff.'

Lan quickly walked out of the room, leaving the two people inside together. Xiang Ning suddenly felt chilly from the cold-faced bodyguard who paid no heeds to him.

If he had said anything, he knew the man would probably kill him off right then and there.

Even if his status is a prince, he wasn't favored by anyone other than his jiejie. Even if the emperor doted on his daughter, Ruo An still has no influence if compared to his majesty himself. Killing Xiang Ning off would not make He Chang get any punishments.

Hence, Xiang Ning remained quiet and wiped his lips. He slowly stood up after cleaning his face and hands.

Glancing at the unperturbed He Chang, he gulped.

'T-Thanking Chang-ge for bringing me in last night.' Stuttered Xiang Ning with his eyelids lowered.

He Chang did not even make a sound and continued to stand while staring out at the view outside the window.

Xiang Ning lowered his expectations and smiled painfully. How could he had hoped for He Chang to even glance at him, compared to his talented sister, he was nothing.

———

After a long and slow journey, the parade finally made it to Da Dong, the strongest empire in China.

During the whole ride, He Chang trotted his horse beside Xiang Ning's carriage like a true bodyguard.

Lan felt quite apprehensive about it but did not think too much.

Xiang Ning heard the loud cheers and celebration outside as the parade moved in through Da Dong's gates.

The anticipation he was experiencing was way beyond what he had imagined. He felt a strong urge to open the curtain to see what is going on outside and just how big is the Da Dong capital.

Is it as beautiful and as advanced as what Lan-jie had told him?

Even if he wanted to lift the curtain to see, he still felt hesitant to do so because his jiejie had told him that this place is dangerous and that he should never appear in the public too much.

At long last, Xiang Ning threw himself back on the seat and heaved a heavy sigh.

Whatever, he can always see the capital later.

The parade finally moved in to the royal palace. The place is covered with red ribbons and decorations to honor the future princess consort of the empire's beloved third prince.

Ruo An walked off the carriage as soon as her sedan came to a stop in front of the main hall of the royal palace of Da Dong.

Guards lined up in a long line with red carpets for the princess to walk on.

Lan helped Xiang Ning get off his carriage.

Today he is wearing something that he usually couldn't even dream of wearing.

His first new hanfu with actual jewelries.

Although the hairpins and jade pendants are hanging off his body, they are still not of the best quality like Ruo An's. In fact, they actually look very shabby to be a prince's accessories.

At one glance, anyone could tell that Xiang Ning isn't favored by Chang'An emperor.

He walked timidly towards his sister who welcomed him with a big smile on her face.

'Xiao Ning is so beautiful today.' Said Ruo An slowly.

Xiang Ning could only smile a little and whispered a thank you towards his sister.

Ruo An darted her eyes around before whispering something to Lan who then nodded understandingly.

'This one understands, your highness.'

Ruo An nodded and then walked towards the main hall with the rest of the bodyguards.

'Your highness, you are to go rest in your quarters for now.' Said Lan.

Xiang Ning raised his eyebrows. Wasn't he supposed to accompany his sister into the main hall? Isn't it a tradition for the brother or sister to go greet the groom's parents with the bride?

'But...'

Xiang Ning hesitated and closed his mouth, not wanting to refute his jiejie.

He looked at the silhouette of his sister and the rest of the bodyguards and sighed.

'Okay, lets go.' He said.

To Be Continued...