Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Fate

(PRINCE JIN)

My heart is still pounding even after I got inside my own room in the Prince's wing on the Palace. Manchu and Yong were behind me. Yong close the door of my room.

"My Prince," Manchu called me in a worried tone.

"I am fine," I turn around to smile at my guards. "I just can't believe that I went toe to toe with her Majesty."

"It was long overdue, my Prince. I am proud of you." Yong smiled back at me.

I sighed, "I worry about Guo though," I said before walking and sitting on the edge of my bed. I stared up at my guards. "He gave me that charming smile of his and then lied to me that nothing is bothering him. He drank two bottles of mulled wine last night. That is no simple celebration. Guo has a problem he wanted to drown in alcohol and forget about."

"And his apology to you last night," Yong added up. Clearly thinking like me, "It feels like it's not an apology for drinking too much. I wonder if he did something to wrong you, my Prince?"

"Guo has a sensitive soul," I said to my guards. "He may act like he is carefree but Guo is a bright boy. He picks up on things and ideas easily. He took them to heart and he agonized about them. He cares for our younger siblings. He feels responsible for them. I wonder if there is something to worry about Cai and Han?" I frowned when I think about my other two younger siblings.

"What should he worry about the Princess and the Third Prince? They are with the Emperor, with enough guards to battle a battallion. They are fine, your Highness." Manchu said while pouting a little.

I nodded, "You are right. Me and Guo, who were left here in the Palace, are in more peril than Cai and Han. I just can't help wondering what is bothering Guo's mind."

"We are all wondering, your Highness. But it will be better if you will lay down first and rest some more. Maybe sleep for an hour or two. Sleeping while sitting down beside your brother's bed cannot be comfortable." Yong reminded me.

I nodded and stretched my body again. "Yes, sleeping like that is not restful. You and Manchu too, you rest up as well. You did good by staying with me in Guo's room to guard him." I smiled gratefully at my guards.

Manchu snorted, "If there is a mystery going on, I think it involves the missing guards of the Second Prince. I think someone is lying. The Empress is not aware that Prince Guo's guards left him. But she did recovered from her surprise fast and agreed that she called the guards away,"

I frowned at that, "If it is not the Empress who called Guo's guards away yesterday, then who did?" I clenched my teeth. "I will never forgive those guards for leaving my brother unattended. What if something worse happened to Guo? He got drunk, what if he fell on a stair and..." I shiver with the thought. The flooring and stairs on this Palace are made of marbles. Hard marbles. If Guo fell, that unforgiving hard floor won't show mercy on him.

My younger brother's life got in peril last night yet no one was there to guard him. That's unforgivable. Guo is a Prince. He should always be protected. There's few of us Royals running around in this Palace. We have to protect each and every member of our Royal family.

"Maybe I should inform General Wang about this." I said before looking at my guards. "He is in charge of protecting the Capital and the Palace. If something were to happen to Guo, General Wang will surely be blamed for it." My future father in law will be in hot water if a Royal got hurt on his watch.

"Maybe, that will be for the best. Let's warn General Wang about Prince Guo's guards," Yong nodded in agreement. "But rest first, your Highness. You won't function well today if you are tired."