" as for today's news. The emperor of the Yin Yang City has succumb to an incurable illness. A source said that they are currently in pursuit of the missing crown prince. We reported before that the crown prince had run away and the imperial family don't know his whereabouts. We will keep you-" the news broadcaster said on the T.V.
Yuki switch off the T.v and sat on the sofa lazily. Politics isn't her thing. But in order to be updated she has to know some actions her enemy had been doing.
" how long you will stay in hiding?" Yuki glance at the handsome man. His thick brows furrowed together. A look of concern is written all over his face. His father is sick? Incurable? Any of this are true? Or they just did this to lure him out from hiding?
"i can't be certain about what's really the situation of my father." he seriously said. His head is covered with bandage and his lower lips was cut open. Anyone who see him would definitely think he had a good beating by some mobsters.
Yuki who happened to had just returned from the underworld felt something tugging the hem of her dress. When she looked down she saw a man badly beaten and almost left to die. She saw her situation similar to the young man in front of her. She didn't hesitate to help him. Left with no choice she hypnotize one of the staff from an ordinary lodging house. She treated his wounds and fix all the broken bones.
' not even having a medical ability. She successfully treated the man.' she rubbed her nose and felt proud of herself. The young man was unconscious for several days. And during those days she summoned her subordinate. A young clad whom she had beaten before. She have him investigate the identity of the person lying in bed.
"what the crown prince doing in a narrow and dark alley. Badly beaten up to be left to die." she mumbled to herself. "who have you offended?" her eyes narrowed while looking at the unconscious young man.
It took almost a week before the crown prince had finally opened its eyes. Though still feeling weak. He still manage to sit. A young man in a black clothes was standing at the foot of his bed. As he move closer to him. The smell of medicinal soup assaulted his nose. He's so hungry that he want to pounce on the bowl that being carried towards him.
Upon receiving the soup..he barely blow every spoon he scoop and just keep digging it. He never felt so hungry in his life. After he left the palace. He never had any decent food.
" I really should thank you for helping me and saving my life. If it's not you suddenly appearing I would probably be dead now." the Crown Prince solemnly and sincerely said.
" with your countenance and your high status. Who would dare to beat you to that state?" Yuki frowned. Just after asking this a few dark creatures crawled from every direction.
The crown prince who saw all this. Felt like collapsing. He gulped hard with eyes wide open. He's sight keep changing from the dark creatures to Yuki. He wanted to scream. He wanted to say something but words were stuck in his throat. What made him tremble when he heard and see that she's talking to those creatures.
"- I see, good work you all." Yuki said with a meaningful smile and wave her hand to dismiss the spies she tasked to search.
"I think I have a better understanding now about your situation." she glance at the crown prince and gave him a look of pity.
For Ye Ruo, he never had receive that kind of look from anyone else. As a crown prince it's always full of admiration. For some reason seeing the look Yuki gave him. He felt trouble and unexplainable feeling starting to rise.
"what... With that look?" he asked.
" are you aware of concubine Ning.? Yuki ask directly.
" yes. She's the mother of Ye Lin my fourth brother." he explained. Still confuse. Why she suddenly asked.
" Ye Lin of Flaming Torch Industry?" Yuki asked again in confirmation.
" Yes, that's concubine mother Ning dowry when she got married to the royal family. And now being managed by fourth prince." he explained more.
" ha ha ha, tsk, such a small world. I didn't know you will be the one knocking on hells gate." Yuki laugh while having a malicious glint in her eyes. She then turned to look at the crown prince.
" this concubine Ning and he's son the fourth prince plotted against you. Tell me, the reason you run away from the palace, was it because you saw the empress being murdered. And being taken over by some entity to pretend to be her, isn't?" she explained while making her lips arch up. Still eyes glistening with malice.
" how.. How did you know? " the crown prince asked with surprised filled his eyes. That night he was sitting in the balcony of his study room when he spotted the Empress walking vigilantly towards the small forest going to the abandoned cold palace. He decided to follow her out of curiosity. He sneak behind bushes not leaving his eyes from the empress back. When suddenly the empress stops.
She look around and took out a dark shining stone. For unknown reason. The dark stone emitted a light and a figure of a woman appeared before the empress. They were talking in low voices first. Then suddenly he saw the woman that the empress had been talking to appear being angry. So angry that she slap the empress and with a wave of hand. The empress body just lay motionless on the ground. The next thing he saw made him tremble in fear, eyes wide open, the woman suddenly extracted the soul orb from the princess body and ate it. What made him more scared was that, after the soul orb was eaten. The woman became a mist and suddenly jump in to the empress dead body. After a few minutes. The empress body suddenly rose up.
Seeing what he shouldn't have, he kept trembling in fear. He almost peed on his brocade cloth when the empress line of sight went to him. And he saw the dangerous wicked smile the revive empress gave. He held his breath until the empress left. He sat there and cold sweat all over him.
When he went back to the palace. He still couldn't believe what he saw. Until next morning when everyone went to pay a visit for morning greeting. Seeing the empress sitting beside his father emperor. He again shook. He only gave he's greeting and hurriedly left. But before he got out. He heard the empress voice.
" I think Ye Ruo isn't feeling well, I should check on him later Your Majesty." the empress said with a look of worries.
"mhmm, do that. For a crown prince to feel sick. It should be treated." the emperor agreed. Not even aware that the empress smile evilly.