Every morning is a struggle for Jiang Chen.
His imperial aunt that he's living with now have this weird habit of waking up before sunrise.
He force himself to be alert every morning because of this. He cannot trust anyone inside the palace. Specially his imperial uncle's woman.
At first, Wei Yi Yi left him on his own as children need plenty of sleep to grow. But when she discovered that Jiang Chen is wide awake everytime, she thought that kids at ancient times really grow up faster than average.
Thus, without conscience she carried him outside to strengthen their bones.
"Reach that branch with both hands." Wei Yi Yi carried Jiang Chen and lifted him farther. "Hold still. I'm going to let go now."
"Eh?" Jiang Chen immediately panic when he felt his aunt let go. He felt his weight and he wiggle his feet; not feeling the ground.
"Come on now, lift yourself up." Wei Yi Yi thought that a monkey bar is a lot more convenient. A tree branch is too high and it might hurt griping it.
'Let's use what we got for the mean time.'
"I can't!" He felt himself slipping and heavier. "Imperial Aunt! Aunt I'm falling! Auntie! Auntie!"
Losing his strength, he let go. His imperial aunt was ready to catch him in the end but he still felt that scary tightening of his chest.
He bite his lips, refusing to cry.
Wei Yi Yi laughed till she felt her eyes watery when Jiang Chen burried his head on her neck.
"Why are you hiding for lil' one?"
Jiang Chen regret this everytime and just want to sleep in.
But his aunt continued to carry him outside with his blankets and he would wake up with the cold breeze of the early morning.
"Your highness, the empress instructed this servant to inform you that she will not be able to return for lunch." Xiao Wang Xi inform.
Eunuch Wang is a very young eunuch that's been serving Prince Chen since he entered the palace. He had seen and suffer all the schemes together with the prince since then. With just about a few years separating them, in his heart, Jiang Chen is like a little brother he must protect.
"Where did imperial aunt go?" Jiang Chen ask.
"This servant was not inform."
Jiang Chen expected this answer. He was just asking for the sake of it. Small pawns like them have no merit and was left to their own devices.
"Xiao Wang, let's return to Xian Feng Palace." He indicates for Xiao Wang Xi help him gathered their things and prepare to return.
He might not know what his imperial aunt is plotting against him but it was a proven fact that her place is the safest for him right now.
"There's no need prince. Her majesty left instructions for the head eunuch to accompany you."
Xiao Wang Xi heart felt sad whenever Jiang Chen needed to lay down his head and hide. Even though he is the oldest grandson of the late emperor; Even though his master is a prince of a first rank.
But the days where even servants abuse them will be a thing from the past! With the empress here, their days have been livable, Albeit her 'adventurous' ways.
Truely, blood is still thicker than water.
"Don't be fooled by that Eunuch." Jiang Chen said solemnly and walked back.
'It's a dog that wags it's tail to his owner but bare its teeth to others.'
He walk passed the imperial garden and left his foolish servant.
Juat before a turn in the corner, he saw a group of maids. Unconsciously, he stopped and stand to the side to give way.
Realizing his actions, Jiang Chen gripped his hand into a fist. He hated his self for having the title but not the power.
'I'm a legitimate prince of the imperial family!' he scolded himself.
"oh my, if isn't the little prince." One of the maid from the group notice the prince.
Looking up, Jiang Chen recognized the group. They are Imperial Consort Feng's maidservants. He's previous Moon Palace is a few walks away from the consort's palace.
These maids would go over and vent their stress at his own palace. Especially the one that greeted him.
Seeing the small prince glare at her but dare not do a thing, Shen Rou eyes turn playful.
"This servant haven't seen his highness for quite a while now. I wonder where are you playing now?"
Jiang Chen ignore her and turn around only to feel a tug at his colar.
It was prelude to disaster.
Shen Rou picked the bowl from the tray that another maid is holding. She then pour the hot soup towards Jiang Chen after tugging him. With a smirk, she then push the maid that was holding the tray towards the ground.
Porcelains braking could be heared followed by panic shouting of females.
"MeiMei!" Shen Rou shouted toward the small maid. She pretended to check her before accusingly look at Jiang Chen. "Your highness! How could you push a maidservant? Just how did she offend you?!"
The head maidservant stand infront of the small maid as if she was hiding her from danger.
"Prince!" Running from the back, Eunuch Wang saw the whole scene but too late to stop it. Before he could even come close to check if his master have any injuries, two maid from the group came to stop him.
He could only struggle as he look from afar. Seeing his master shaking from anger break Xiao Wang Xi's heart.