Love Sword

16

During these last few days, He Chang and Xiang Ning shared the least amount of interactions, much to Xiang Ning's disappointment.

While eating his dinner, Lan poured some more warm tea for her master.

'Your highness, do you want to go for a walk? You've been trapped in the pavilion for so long since you've arrived. Maybe go and enjoy the royal garden for a while?' Asked Lan.

Xiang Ning nodded, it was nighttime, naturally the higher ranking people would not be walking around aimlessly. Most likely, he would not bump into that scary crown prince again.

After finishing his supper, the prince stood up with Lan. They both walked out of the pavilion when a figure jumped in front of them, disrupting their path.

'Where is your highness going?' Asked He Chang, his eyebrows furrowed.

'I just want to go for a stroll.' Said Xiang Ning, avoiding He Chang's intense gaze.

'Please go back inside, it is not good for the body to stroll around in the cold night's wind.' Said He Chang.

Although his words appear like he has some concern for Xiang Ning, his ice-cold tone says otherwise.

Xiang Ning pursed his lips. For the first time, he felt wronged by He Chang. He really could not understand this man's thinking patterns. How could he possibly want him to sit around in the pavilion all day? Is it because he thinks that if himself goes out and cause trouble, it will make his sister lose face?

Xiang Ning smiled a self-deprecating smile. Naturally, he would worry about his sister so much.

'You don't need to worry too much. I won't go far and I won't cause trouble for jie jie.'

Saying so, he walked past the stunned He Chang with Lan following behind him.

He Chang sighed, his chest tightened. That was the first time he had seen the boy's undisguised displeasure towards himself. Before, even if he felt wronged, he would definitely hide the displeasure without showing it to him. Fearing that it would cause him to dislike.

His words from a few days ago must have hurt the boy's feelings. For the first time, he felt guilty towards the little prince.

———

'Your highness, the lantern festival is drawing near. Before the royal banquet, your highness must attend the festival in the northern part of the empire first.' Said a minister.

This minister does not appear to be too old, nor does he have the vigor of a young man.

The crown prince, with his silver mask still on, nodded while walking in the royal garden.

'Minister Fuo reminds me. We should prepare a parade then. Notify the northern king that I will attend the lantern festival there.' He said.

Minister Fuo nodded and bowed before taking his leave.

Crown prince Li Jun continued to walk with a straight face, his mind wandering off.

The banquet is near, it is almost time for a good show to start. He will snatch the dagger from that bodyguard and then his goal will be accomplished. Leaving this boring main city to the borderlands again does not seem like a bad idea after retrieving the only treasure he came back for.

After all, staying in this royal palace with royal affairs to deal with and loud shouts of greedy ministers is really sickening. He wish he could just fly to the peaceful borderlands again.

As he walked towards the royal pond where their are beautiful pink lotuses blooming on the clear blue water, a beautiful face appeared in his mind.

That day, when he had met him for the first time. He was in a fit of anger. That pavilion originally used to be his mother's. In fact, the emperor of Da Dong has another offspring which is a prince but this prince is a bastard prince that not many people know about.

Those who knew would not share a second glance at him as he was birthed from a lowborn commoner whom the emperor took a temporary liking to. Of course, his status could not be compared to those of the other princes whose mothers are daughters of high-ranked ministers and nobles. They have a strong footing in the imperial harem and their words are more powerful than his mother's.

He grew up being bullied and mistreated by even the lowliest servants of the imperial palace. Growing up, he was nurtured by his mother and taken care of by only his mother. He blackened early and matured quickly. His martial arts prowess and intelligence was far superior than kids his age. As puberty hits, his appearance also changed from a skinny meek young boy to a strong and lean young man.

Because his other sons disappointed him, the emperor turned his attention to this abandoned prince and picked him as the candidate of the throne. After teaching him and training him in the arts of ruling the world, he introduced this young man to the world as the heir of Da Dong's dragon throne as a final test.

The young man surely did not disappoint him, he managed to shut down all the rebels and protests and secured his title as the crown prince successfully.

After that, the crown prince's mother passed away due to an illness and the pavilion was left empty since then.

He would always visit that pavilion whenever he has time to reminisce the old times of him and his mother. Who would know that on that fateful day, he would meet an intruder who dared to go into that small pavilion without his permission.

Turns out, it was the prince of Chang'An. The famous foolish prince who was a good-for-nothing.

That young man was surely a fresh new meat. He had never seen anyone so unique. He has the beauty that could rival even the goddesses. He was surely the most beautiful creature the crown prince has ever laid eyes on.

His fit of anger blinded him and he could not stop himself before hurting that young man.

Thinking about it, he felt a little regretful at his actions.

He turned around to see a white figure approaching. Considering his careful nature, the prince leapt onto the branch nearby to watch the person.

As he came into view, it was clear that this is the little prince of Chang'An that he had thought about just a moment ago. What a coincidence.

The little man's beauty is unmatched even when he only has a simple light blue robe on with no unnecessary jewelries. His skin was as white as snow with lips as red as rouge.

He slowly knelt down beside the pond and put his slender white fingers into the water. The fishes in the pond slowly approached the tempting white finger and began to nibble on it.

The youth giggled, letting out a voice equivalent to the finest guqin music in the spring. His smile was as beautiful as a full moon, intoxicating anyone who sees it.

Li Jun's hold on the branch tightened a little as he continued to watch the little beauty immerse himself in the fun with the fishes.

He thought to himself, maybe this imperial palace is not as boring as he thought it will be.

To Be Continued...