Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Summon

(PRINCE GUO)

I controlled my body to stop from flinching at what Yong, my older brother's guard, said. I was so startled by his sudden request to the Emperor.

"The two of you want to join Prince Guo is his travel? What about Prince Jin?" The Emperor frowned at Prince Jin's guards.

"Our Prince Jin will be under the Wangs' protection. General Wang will keep him safe." Manchu replied respectfully. "In truth, we feel that our Prince Jin won't need us anymore and we are happy for him. If Prince Jin won't need his guards, it means he is in a safe position already." Manchu smiled at my older brother. "Congratulations, my Prince."

"The two of you will really leave me?" Prince Jin look at his guards. "Why say this here? You both should have approach me first! What kind of disrespect..."

"If we tell you first, will you let us go, your Highness?" Yong asked. "Prince Jin, I know you will not let us leave easily...you are fond of us..."

"But if we can be bold, our Prince, your life will be boring now." Manchu added with a cheeky smile on his lips. "An apprenticeship under General Wang sounds...stagnant. Plus, you will have Wang Dao to look after you while he is still training before transfering to the Crown Prince's guards. You will be quite safe here in the Capital."

"So let us protect the brother you adore, your Highness." Yong spoke again. "Manchu and I will lay our lives for Prince Guo's safe journey until he come back here in the Capital. Trust us,"

"And what about Prince Guo's own guards?" The Emperor look at my guards who stepped up and bowed to the Emperor, "We would be glad to return to General Wang's army. We haven't finished our training under him. We still want to learn more under the great General." My more senior guard said.

That was easy. We all turned now to Prince Jin and awaits his decision. Yong and Manchu are his guards and more importantly, his friends. We have to get his approval before I can take his guards travelling with me.

"My life will not be boring, you know..." Prince Jin said defensively.

Yong and Manchu nodded, "But you will be safe. We will be useless to you." Manchu said. "And that is death for warriors like us."

Warriors? What warrior?! They are glorified guards...

Prince Jin looks at Yong, "Can you keep them both safe? Prince Guo and Manchu?" He sounded unsure. "You know Manchu needs the two of us to control him..."

"That is not..." Manchu stopped his protest when his eyes found the amused Emperor. "I am good. I am..."

"You are a headache." Yong said to Manchu before turning to back to Prince Jin. "But I can keep them safe. Don't worry, my Prince."

My older brother eyes his guards for some moments before he sighed and nodded. "Keep Prince Guo safe and I will owe a debt to the two of you," he said.

"No debt, my Prince. It will be our pleasure to keep Prince Guo safe and company." Yong bowed to his Prince.

"The same with him," Manchu bowed too. We all eyes him. Manchu shrugged, "What he said is too long," he pouted.

Prince Jin laughed and hugged his younger guard. "I will miss the two of you terribly." He said before looking at me. His eyes speaking to me.

I nodded my understanding. I will keep his guards, his friends, safe.

Before the Emperor dismissed us, he called me closer. "Don't forget to go to your mother and share your plans with her. So she won't worry for you."