Kai Fangua's POV:
Taking in a deep breath, Kai Fanghua looks at the handsome man full of spite, ready for his next mission. Taking his fan, he covers his mouth, hoping to appear much more feminine and cute. However truthfully Fanghua was hiding a sinister smile.
He had a whole stash of special pills he could drug him with. Which one would be best. 'The pill of living death?' or perhaps 'The Rising of The Stick.' He smirks at that one. But no, he needed something with more effect, something more...humiliating.
'Birth of the Squawking bird?' Yes! That is the one! He had never had the opportunity to try it before but the man who sold it to him had boasted of its tremendous power. Smiling in anticipation, Fanghua discreetly reaches into the folds of his beizi as the man gives the stallholder his regards for giving him the book.
Unlike other pills that needed to be consumed, this one had to be crushed then blown onto the victim's face. If he really went through with this, he had to make a hasty exit and never return for the man will surely remember the face that caused him such humiliation.
Pouring the powder into his palm, he gets ready, his heart thudding. As the man finishes talking, Kai Fanghua pulls on the man's sleeve to get his attention. His handsome head turns towards him with curiosity, causing Fanghua to inwardly curse. You got this Kai Fanghua.
Just think of the money. The glorious money and the vengeance that comes with it. Vengeance for him taking away your precious book and spoiling your plans.
" Master... I have a secret I must tell you that is deeply worrying me. Will you please come closer," Fanghua utters with a quiet voice, his lips pouting. His brows furrow in confusion as he edges closer.
Fanghua purses his lips, moving his head towards the man's ear, pretending as if he was about to whisper something to him. He closes his eyes, trying to shut out his ever so beautiful face. A move he will forever regret. Just as he was about to blow the 'Birth of The Squawking Bird,' powder on his face, a sudden force crashes into Fanghua and he is sent flying sideways.
Winded, he rubs his back, wondering what on earth had just happened, only for a squawking sound to interrupt his thoughts. Was it successful!? He opens his eyes, only to be horrified at the sight that greeted him.
A woman was sprawled on the ground next to him, a dazed look on her eyes before squatting on her two feet. She then proceeds to dip her head back and forth, her arms flapping around her like wings. Oh pangu, oh pangu, oh pangu. What has he done.
"Squaaaaaawk. Squawk Squawk. Squawkkkk."
Her shrill squawking catches the attention of the many people around them as they start to chatter and point at her. It was only supposed to last around 2 minutes. He had failed and must immediately escape. Just as he was about to get up and bolt away, a strong hand pulls him up and he is greeted by a scowling face.
A handsome, scowling face. Oh no. He drags me away from the crowd and the unfortunate squawking girl to an isolated corner. Please tell me he did not realise.
"You..You tried to drug me?!' he asks with anger and disbelief, his eyes flashing red. Oh Pangu! Help. "Are you telling me that if that man had not bumped into you, I would be imitating that, whatever on earth tha-"
Slap. Kai Fanghua gulps, staring at the red mark on the man's beautiful cheek, feeling the tingling sensation on his fingertips. Did he just...slap him?! The man takes a step back, winded, dropping the money bag that was concealed in his sleeves to the floor. Yes! Before he could react, Fanghua grabs the money back and was just about to make a run for it. However, the man with the speed of lightning, grabs his beizi, pulling him back. Turning around with fear gnawing at him, Kai Fanghua in a state of mind with no rationality, picks up his skirt and does the only thing he could do.
"You-" The man growls before abruptly stopping.
And that was to lay a well-rounded kick to the man's private parts. Lifting up his skirt, he turns and bolts in the opposite direction, a smile playing at his lips as the man's aggravated cries of pain seem to drown out the squawking bird entirely.
***
Zhihuan Xie's POV:
Zhihuan stares in disbelief, cradling his cheek. Did she just...slap him!?
This was the first time someone other than his family and the royal physician, had directly touched his skin. And to be... to be slapped!? The nerve of this woman. He quickly recovers from his shock as he sees the girl bend down and quickly grab his chocolates! No! Not his precious chocolates, anything but that. With a fit of anger, Zhihuan quickly grabs the girl's clothes, pulling her back just as she was about to flee.
"You-" He growls, only to stop as he sees the woman lift her leg in a very unladylike manner. What on earth was she do-. Zhihuan heaves over, falling onto the floor as a pain so immense shakes his body. He cries in pain as he grabs his private parts, rolling on the floor and covering himself in dirt. The pain slowly subsiding, he wipes a stray tear away. PREPOSTEROUS! How dare this woman! Slapping him was one thing but to inflict pain on his precious royal jewels! And she had stolen his chocolates which he had waited for 6 years. 6 years!!
The Crown Prince being swindled and attacked by a woman? Outrageous. Groaning, he gets up, pushing through the hoards of people. He scowls. Where exactly was she? Eyes darting from one person to another, he quickly glimpses her in the far corner, slipping away. He must catch her! Half running, half limping, he chases after her.
Dust billows around Zhihuan as he runs faster, ignoring the pain that was gnawing at him in his groin area. He could see her properly now. She seemed to be having a hard time running with her clothes, discarding her ornaments onto the dirt as she ran. How strange. His anger fuelling him, Zhihuan bolts, maneuvering around the people and catching up to her. He grabs onto the hem of her collar as she squeaks in surprise. Just as he was about to confront her, she screams out. "Someone! Help me. This man is trying to steal from me."
Zhihuan smirks. Do you really think someone will come and help you, you thieving snake? His heart drops when he suddenly hears the thundering sound of many feet. He gapes in surprise as he sees about 20 soldiers run up to them. They must have been patrolling nearby. Well, it is not like they will arrest someone without any proof.
Zhihuan's mouth drops open in shock as they immediately point their spears and swords towards him. They take one look at the beauty with dazed looks before turning towards him with anger. Wait what!? Ah of course. In their eyes, they see a beautiful woman who is forcefully being held back by an angry man. A woman whose clothes and hair are disheveled. And that beautiful woman was calling for help. Their help.
"Wait. Let me explain. She-." He freezes as one soldier points his sword towards his neck, grabbing his arms, constraining him, and taking his sword. Zhihuan growls in anger as they shove him to his knees, once again causing his groin area to thud with pain. They dare touch him in such a manner!? "Do you know who I am! I am none other than you're-" He shouts out in a fit of rage before stopping.
To think he had almost just given away his identity when there were so many onlookers watching them. People who could be assassins, spies or overall contain a hate towards the empire. How idiotic of him.
"You're what?" a guard sneers at him, a few teeth of his missing. Zhihuan was really detesting at that moment how his father had never revealed his own sons face to the outside world in fear of assassination.
"None other than your worst nightmare." Zhihuan smirks, his expression suddenly changing. He twists out of their grasps, letting out a swirling kick, which caused the guards holding him to come crashing onto the ground in a fit of cries.
He pulls out a soldiers sword from his sheath, parrying the swords that came at him, before bolting in the opposite direction. At that same moment, as if in slow motion he caught a glimpse of the thieving girl slipping away, a victory smile on her face as she shakes his precious sweet bag in his direction. She then turns away before disappearing into the crowd.
***
Present time:
"Thief!," the soldiers bellow out as they begin to chase him, their swords out. Zhihuan swears under his breath as he runs through the market streets, dust billowing around him as he skids across the dirt, taking a sharp left.
He maneuvers around the large mass of people and loose chicken occupying the streets, finding it a very difficult task. Out of breath, he once again takes a sharp turn, jumping through a market stall selling dried fish, ignoring the angry cries of the stallholder. Why is this happening?
"Capture that man!" they shout, the emperor's soldiers hot on his trail. Soldiers who had in fact sworn loyalty to him, the emperor's son. Glancing at a vegetable stall ahead of him, Zhihuan grabs a handful of vegetables.
"I'll pay you back mam," he shouts to the owner as he barrels onwards, not waiting for her angry protests. Why, one might ask? Why exactly was the emperor's son, the crown prince being chased by his own soldiers, as well as being labeled a thief?
He scowls angrily, the bewitching woman's face coming to my mind. All because of that snake of a woman. Using his anger as fuel, he pelts various bok choy at the soldiers behind him as he continues to run. He smiles as they soar through the air valiantly like a bird before landing on the soldier's face with a whack.
Their cries sounded like music to his ears. What an innovative weapon. As he runs, the anger surges inside of him. 'Just wait, wait till I get my hands on you,' Zhihuan vows, thinking of a certain woman with fiery red eyes.