The Emperor Chases His Wife

Chapter XV

CHAPTER XV: The Trees Have Eyes And The Bushes Have Ears.

In a tree over the gate of Nian's courtyard, four young men had been watching the scene while carefully hidden in the shadows. When they had arrived, they'd been absent minded, ignoring the two on the roof and keeping an eye on the patrol walking around.

Every once in a while, one of them would send Direct Audio spell in a disguised voice to one of the guards on patrol and the guards would converse shortly before steering turning in another direction, away from Nian's courtyard.

Eventually one of them grew bored and had discreetly tuned into the conversation on the roof. The conversation was a little shocking and he'd signaled to his companions to quietly eavesdrop.

By the end of it, their jaws were hanging and an egg could be fit into their mouth from how wide it was open.

Never in their life had they ever witnessed such a play!

These four men were the four personal guards of Prince Li.

Leng Lei, Leng Dian, Leng Mu, Leng Yun, four brothers who were secretly handpicked by Virtuous Lady, Chu Ruo, to guard the prince throughout the ventures of life.

They were known throughout the continent as the Messengers of Li and whenever they made a public appearance with Prince Li, their faces were always covered by a mask hence no once but Prince Li himself knew what they looked like. T

hey had been at the Prince Li's side since he was a young child so they were well aware of his likes and dislikes.

One thing was for sure; he hated being touched...with a fierce and terrifying passion!

These men had witnessed Liuyun slice off the arm of a well respected general when said general mistook him for a common kid in the street and tired to shove him out of the way to make space for the procession of the military returning from battle.

Liuyun's violent actions had shocked the crowd and the general was furious but upon knowing who it was he offended, the general kowtowed until his head split open and his skull was nearly cracked.

Now, this same ruthless teenager was with a girl.

Not just talking to her, he had been kissing her.

And she slapped him!

She actually had the audacity to slap him.

They couldn't believe it.

Lei had been the first to snap out of his shock and react.

He was twenty-four and was the first of the four to be chosen. For this reason, he was usually the one to follow Liuyun around anywhere he went and was as stealthy as a fox. You wouldn't know he was here unless he made himself known.

He could be a normal man stopping at a vendor's stall to admire the products for sale when Liuyun was walking through the streets as publically Prince Li or he could be a common personal bodyguard accompanying a rich young master when Liuyun was in disguise.

Regardless of the appearance Liuyun took up, Lei was always at his side and he was the closest of the four to Liuyun.

After Nian slapped Liuyun, Lei was the one who gave off the murderous aura and had placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, ready to act if Liuyun needed him to. Seeing Liuyun's casual waves of dismissal, he calmed down and flopped back down onto the branch he was sitting on.

When Liuyun had left the palace and set out for the Great Merchant's Manor, the four of them had followed after him. Liuyun was well aware of them, even though they had kept a respectable distance, and didn't acknowledge them or give any sort of clue that he knew they were sitting in the tree, all eyes and ears.

In fact, he didn't even tell them to keep the area clear of guards. They simply did it without a word.

Nian couldn't sense them since her internal force was too low but out of precaution, Mu had set up a Wizardry Barrier around them to keep them invisible and conceal their spiritual force.

If anyone with a spiritual talent of four or more was to walk by, they'd be unaware that the trees had eyes and the bushes had ears.

"What a brave girl." Dian commented after recovering from his shock. "Isn't she afraid of High Highness taking off an arm or a wrist?"

"That would be a shame." Yun added pitifully. "I heard that she was an ugly looking girl but she's actually not that bad. Now to be a good for nothing and lose and wrist..."

"High Highness seems to have taken a liking to her." A thoughtful expression crossed Mu's small face. "Do you think she'd the one?"

"Knowing High Highness, he wouldn't leave the palace and travel to the Great Merchant's manor if the girl wasn't worth the trouble." Lei pointed out.

The other three nodded their heads in agreement and continued watching the scene.

Time seemed to have halted between the two on the roof. Neither of them moved and there was silence, only the sound being the wind rustling through the trees and the light sound of their breaths.

Both of them were frozen in shock.

For Nian it was due to her actions.

She slapped a prince – not just any prince, a prince who wouldn't hesitate to disfigure a person for invading his personal space, a prince who was known for his cruel and blood thirsty ways.

For Liuyun, he simply couldn't believe that someone was actually brave enough to hit him.

The stinging feeling on his face was new to him. Slowly, he released one of her wrists and used a slender finger to touch the abused skin on his cheek.

He must admit...the girl had quite a swing!

The grey in his eyes darkened into a diabolic storm, unusually cold and intense and Nian grew a little fearful.

What on earth was she thinking? Slapping a man like that! He was going to kill her!

A soft sound came from Liuyun. At first Nian was sure it was the wind but then the sound came again, louder this time.

Was he...