Zhihuan glowers from his hiding spot with rage and quickly departs back down the stream to where Aarush was.
"Aarush! Do you have my mask," he calls, startling the poor Aarush in the process. The boy comes to him with an embarrassed look on his face, hiding something behind his back.
"Ah well, you see, I am not the greatest with my hands and ahh, I am quite ashamed to say I have not completed the task to your standards and ah-"
"Just show me Aarush." Zhihuan lightly snaps, running out of patience. Grudgingly, Aarush reaches behind his back and presents the mask he had made for the prince, his head hanging down in shame. Silence greets both of them
"What's that?" Zhihuan asks confused, staring at the strange brown mess in Aarush's hands.
"Ah well, that's the mask Zhihuan. See I told you it was bad! This is why I did not want to show you." Aarush says, his voice cracking as if he was about to cry, his face bright red with embarrassment. Flabbergasted, Zhihuan reaches for the brown object and brings it closer to his eyes. Strips of bark pulled together with two uneven holes for the eyes stare back at him. Two pieces of weed were tied to the ends to be tied around the wearers head. Zhihuan did not know whether to cry or laugh or both, but what he did know was that he had no time for this.
"Thank you Aarush, this will do. For now, go find the guards patrolling nearby and bring them here. Don't ask any questions and do what I say." Without a word, Aarush is gone, in search of the soldiers that had chased him. To think a crown prince was wearing shabby clothing and now an extremely ugly abomination on his face. Well, one must do what one must do to capture a snake of a woman. Oh, wait. It was a man now.
A determined look flashes across Zhihuan's face and he places the mask on his face, ignoring the rough texture of the bark against his skin. Soon after Aarush was back with around 8 soldiers. Glancing at them, Zhihuan wanted nothing more then to punch the soldier with the missing teeth and break some more, especially when the soldier glanced back at him with such disgust. Well, he could not really blame him. He must have looked like a lunatic with this bark abomination on his face. But still, he just really wanted to punch him.
"Who is this Aarush? Why have you brought us to this lunatic?" The missing tooth man drawls out, causing the other soldiers to laugh. Aarush glowers at them, ready to shout at him when Zhihuan raises his hand silencing them. From within his folds, he reaches in and takes out a gold seal with royal lettering on it. The one and only, crown prince's seal.
"This Bohai, is none other than the crown prince," Aarush states, a smirk on his face when he sees the shock and then the fear run through the soldier's faces. They immediately go onto their knees, bowing their heads on the dirt. Ah so that assholes names was Bohai was it?
"My deepest apologies," the soldier says panicked. "Please pardon my rudeness for I did not know you were the crown prince."
"So that entitles you to be rude to any other person? Please do not abuse your power and say what you wish. Hold your filthy tongue next time," Zhihuan snaps coldly, silencing them.
Bohai gulps nervously, sweat dripping as he stares at the crown prince's feet. Why on earth was the crown prince here wearing a ridiculous mask and shabby clothing? He was burning with a desire to find out but he was a mere soldier. How could he directly ask the crown prince such a question? Did the emperor know his son was here?
"Whatever happens today, no one must ever know that I was here. Right now there is a woman on the upper side of this stream who has greatly disobeyed me. Without asking questions, you must seize her and bring her to the palace with me. Is that clear," Zhihuan orders in a strong voice. The soldiers nod and get up, ready to go until the youngest soldier speaks up. Zhihuan recognises him as the one who almost stabbed him in the haystack, only to get frightened and fall onto his back.
"But but... I am sorry for speaking out of line, but where did you get that sword from your highness. You see, a thief we were chasing had that same sword," the nervous boy utters out. Bohai almost curses out loud due to his underling's direct question, until he sees the same word with the unusual engravings. Why, this is the sword he took from that darn thief? Why did the crown prince have it? Zhihuan freezes as he looks down at the sword he was holding. Gah! How did he forget! They not only took his sword back then but he stole it back by throwing dung at them. Of course, they would recognise it. Aarush just listens on in confusion, not entirely sure what was going on.
"Ah this sword? It is actually my sword, but an arse of a man came and stole it from me. Thankfully I was able to get it back and lock that man up with some help. So rest in peace, I have taken care of him." Zhihuan smoothly lies. They nod much to his relief and then together, they quickly go towards the direction of his sweet revenge.
***
Fanghua quickly gets out of the water, shaking his body to ring off any water droplets before soaking in the warm sun. The lovely smell of cherry blossom flowers fills the air as he inhales, slowly beginning to dress in his female attire. Once he was done, he takes out a mirror from his satchel and begins the grudging process of applying makeup. He then brushes his long, raven black hair before placing a few delicate ornaments made out of jade.
After he was done, he drinks another drop of a 'Voice of a Singing Angel,' and pats his clothes down. Fanghua was now ready. He will not fail. He needed some money immediately or he would be in some big trouble. Should he visit a brothel? Entertain some guests? Gah, why must he stoop so low for some money? As Fanghua was deep in thought, he suddenly sees something from the corner of his eyes and steps back immediately. A tall man dressed in a shabby garment was standing about 10 metres away from him. But what made Fanghua truly flabbergasted was the atrocity on the man's face. Some form of tree mask, very poorly made hid his features.
He was silently standing there, watching him which immensely scared Fanghua. Who was this lunatic? How long has he been standing there? Just when Fanghua was about to speak his mind, the man opens his mouth.
"Seize her," he commands in a dark, quiet voice. Wait what? He must have heard the strange person wrong. Who was he talking to? Why would anyone listen to this man? Before Fanghua could think anymore, soldiers appear from behind him, walking up to him. What on earth?! Fanghua could immediately recognize them as the soldiers who had chased the handsome man before via his command. Did they find out the truth? But then why were they here now? Following the orders of this obviously poor man. Too shocked to even move, Fanghua stands frozen to the spot as the soldiers come and grab him, forcing him to his knees as they tie his arms.
Bohai and his soldiers were equally confused as Fanghua. Why, this was the beautiful woman from before. Yet why was the prince ordering us to seize her? Just what did she do to him? Alas they were unable to ask questions and had to silently follow his orders.
The strange man suddenly turns on his feet and walks off. It was only when the soldiers started to force him to walk with them, after the strange man that is, that he snapped out of it.
"Hey! where do you think your grabbing? I demand an explanation! How can you seize an innocent woman without explaining anything?" Fanghua yells in anger. However the soldiers were just as lost as he was, and as a result stayed silent. Fanghua continued to yell and hiss and bite, but all his efforts proved futile. They were just much too strong. They were soldiers after all. However, he did not give up, even after a bag was placed on to his face, taking away his vision. It was then that the fear settled in.
Were they perhaps corrupted soldiers who were... who were going to rape him or something?! But nothing added up! They did not have to take him to a secluded area when they were already in one. And then theirs that strange peasant like man with the mask. Just who on earth was he. Why was he doing this to him. Panicked, he starts screaming and protesting, before something suddenly hits the back of his neck and darkness envelops him.
When Fanghua regained his consciousness many hours later, he was extremely confused. Where was he, what happened? It all suddenly came thundering back, causing his head to ache and for him to utter some curse words.
"Now now, it is not proper for a lady to talk like that," a deep voice calls out, startling Fanghua. Opening his eyes, he sees a blurry figure in front of him in a dimly lit room he could not quite make out. Blinking a few times, he sees the same masked figure from before standing a metre or so in front of him. Kai Fanghua's heart jumps out of his chest as he lets out a started scream. To his horror, he finds himself seated and tied to a chair, his hands bound behind him. Was this man really planning on raping him! But he was a man! Sure he looked like a beautiful woman right now, but but, he must find a way out of this!
Zhihuan observes the man in front of him carefully. He truly looked like a goddess, yet instead, he was a despicable man who not only stole his prized possession, framed and humiliated him but also gave a devastating blow to his manhood! How could one man do that to another man. Preposterous! He observes the man's long raven black hair and ruby red eyes and then his soft pink lips. Soft?! Gah why was he imagining them as soft?
His sudden fearful face takes Zhihuan back, making him feel like some sort of thug bullying a poor, innocent girl. No! He should not feel guilty. He is a man! Not a girl. He saw it with his own flipping eyes. The man's expression suddenly changes, his beautiful eyes flashing.
"You pervert!," Fanghua yells, his fear disappearing and now turning to rage. Zhihuan steps back, flabbergasted. Did he just call me... a pervert??
"You think you can get away with this, manhandeling a poor woman and taking her to god knows where! Just cause you somehow bribed some soldiers into following your command does not mean you will get away with this. Do you know who I am?" Fanghua lashes out, his voice piercing the silent atmosphere. Curious and not seeking to reveal himself just yet, Zhihuan decides to let the conversation continue. Was he perhaps the son of a high official?
"Then tell me, who are you?" Zhihuan states
"Why, I am none other than the princess! Once the emperor hears about how you kidnapped me, he will most definitely come and hunt you down before killing you. As will my elder brother the crown prince who dearly loves his little sister. He will not stop until even your manhood is completely obliterated!" Fanghua yells, hoping to evoke fear into his kidnapper's eyes. Staring at the man's ridiculous mask and then his eyes, he sees a blazing golden brown with specks of red and green. Why did they look so familiar?
Zhihuan chokes when he hears what the man in front of him had just said. Unable to contain himself, his body begins to shake before he is suddenly laughing, tears coming to his eyes. On any other occasion, Fanghua would have been shocked by how beautiful the mans laugh sounded to his ears, but now he was only horrified! This man was truly crazy! Slowly the man reaches for the weeds behind his head, untying them.
Fanghua holds his breath in anticipation, waiting to see just what face this man had. Slowly Zhihuan takes away his mask, sending a piercing stare towards Fanghua. Fanghuas eyes slowly widen in disbelief as the same dragon-like eyes from before stare back at him. It was the extremely handsome man from before! The one who stole his darn book and the one he had sent soldiers after. But now, under his command, the soldiers siezed him?? What on earth was happening?
"You...You," Fanghua stutters out, unable to comprehend the situation. The man suddenly smirks, a sinister smirk, causing Fanghuas blood to chill.
Slowly he comes closer and closer, till his lips graze Fanghuas ears.
"Why hello there, my dear little sister," Zhihuan whispers into Fanghuas ears, causing an array of goosebumps to appear on Fanghuas skin. Sister? Before Fanghua could even think, the dim-lit room is suddenly filled with light as if by magic. Luxury like he had never seen before greets Fanghua's eyes as he scans the vast room filled with marble, gold and exquisite tapestries and paintings.
Reluctantly, he brings his gaze back to the handsome man's face, his eyes suddenly drawing to his attire. It was different from the shabby outfit he was wearing before. A beautiful shiny blue greets his eyes with golden dragons embroidered on it. Blue and gold? Dragons? Was that not the color and symbol of royalty. Fanghuas heart suddenly drops to his feet as he gazes back at the man's sinister smiling face. It all suddenly clicked.
"Yes, I the crown prince, have been extremely worried about my dear little sister," Zhihuan utters, a wicked glint in his eyes.
Oh Pangu.