One evening, Li Jun and An Ye were playing in the gardens. Usually they will skip the stones and rocks but today they are playing something different.
"An Ye! Let's play a game. You hide and I find you. If I find you, you lose!"
"Okay. I'll hide!" An Ye ran back to the palace and he tried to find a place to hide. There were too many open spaces and that won't be a good idea.
"Hm. I'll hide over here." An Ye quietly went into Li Jun's chamber and hid under his bed. After a while no one came. An Ye waited for another moment. No one came.
"Does that mean I won?" An Ye thought as he climbed out. There were noises down the halls, maidservants were gossiping about something.
"Uhm, what happened?" Prince An Ye asked one of the maidservant.
"Prince An Ye, someone threatened the King. He received an anonymous message." The maidservant said. He was confused as to why would someone threaten him?
That night, Prince An Ye secretly went into the King's chamber. Good, no one is here, he thought. As he hid behind the curtains, he saw two shadow people. Who were they? What are they doing? The two people wore black cloaks, they suddenly appeared out of nowhere. An Ye gulped and wouldn't dare to make any noise.
The two people gave each other a nod and they were trying to find something. Moments later, An Ye peeked out, they found a small box that was locked. An Ye was too far away so he stood behind the curtains.
"Are you sure we can do this?" One man asked.
"Our Master said to confirm it." One female replied.
"Look, the prophecy. From five hundred years ago, a tyrant King will come out of Western Luo Province. Bloody chaos will follow. Must kill the next King from King Wang descendant. Only way to stop it from happening." Both looked at each other and went out of the room.
Prince An Ye saw the opened box and the paper inside but decided not to touch it. He quickly went out of the King's chamber and ran outside.
"Caught you!" Prince Li Jun hugged An Ye and wouldn't let him go.
"Finally you caught me! I was waiting. HAHA." An Ye laughed as he thought about the two people. Should he tell him? The King? No, they won't trust a child.
"Where were you? I was trying to find you everywhere! I even asked a servant and they didn't tell me where you were so I was worried." Prince Li Jun was disappointed.
"I was hiding in your room, under your bed." Prince An Ye smiled, "Don't worry, at least you found me. Look, it's already late, we have practice tomorrow. Go back to your room and rest." Prince An Ye waved bye to Li Jun and they went on their separate ways.
~
"Your Majesty! Someone has broken into your room! I found this lying on the ground." A eunuch gave the box to the King.
Both the King and Queen were shocked to find the writing.
"Find whoever did this! It's unforgivable." The King angrily clenched the paper and the Queen looked anxious.
"Yes, your majesty!" The eunuch bowed and went outside.
"Palace guards! Everyone come." They all bowed obediently.
"If anyone utters a single word, you will be killed. I will have no mercy." The King angrily stood up and left the palace hall.
"Yes, your majesty." They all said in synchronization.
"My Queen, come with me." The Queen followed the King as they went back.
"Don't utter a single word to our son." The King said.
"I will not. I will pretend nothing happened." The Queen replied.
~
Few days before Prince An Ye left, the prophecy rumor started to happen again. Everyone was talking about the upcoming bloodshed and the tyrant King.
"What's the uproar?" Prince Li Jun asked one of the maidservant.
"There was a rumor that a box containing some prophecy was opened by someone within the palace. We don't know who but apparently the King resumed the search. It happened three years ago. We didn't know why the King resumed it. Someone within the palace might've witnessed it. I heard it's someone we know." One maidservant replied.
"Someone we know? It can't be Prince An Ye, right? No, it can't be. Three years ago, I was sixteen. Wait... didn't we play hide and seek that time? An Ye said he was in my room but I didn't even find him that time. Could he be lying?" Prince Li Jun was suspicious.
"I better confirm it with An Ye. I want to know the truth about that night. Was it him to opened the box? Did someone else do it? Who was the witness? Why father resumed the search? There were so many questions unanswered." Prince Li Jun sighed and went back to his room.
He was unsure. Why didn't the King tell him? What were they hiding from me? Prince Li Jun thought about it but eventually gave up. As he waited for Prince An Ye to arrive, he hoped An Ye could answer some questions. If An Ye lied, he won't trust him again.
After thinking about it made his head spin, Prince Li Jun thought about Su Yin and he smiled, "Su Yin, Su Yin. You will be mine soon."
After a while, another anonymous message came through the open window. A bird delivered it.
"My King, Prince An Ye has joined the Dark Night Assassination."
"Dark Night Assassination?" What is this? Prince Li Jun was confused so he consulted a scholar.
After getting to the scholar room, several scholars were reading and writing in books. When they saw Prince Li Jun, they all stood up and bowed.
"No need. Please all stand up. I have a question for you all. What is the Dark Night Assassination?" He asked.
"My Prince, they are the most dangerous and the most elite group. They already killed many royalties in various provinces. Recently we heard a rumor, the next target will be our next King. I heard they knew about the prophecy. We weren't so sure so we didn't say anything." Prince Li Jun nodded, "Thank you, you may go back to what you are doing." They all bowed when he left.
"An Ye, you've been caught. What will happen to your beloved now?"