After profensation of new law called Law of primary human rights, included every thing mentioned by the empress with some additional changes, emperor Chi Long Xu got drown in mountain of work.
He worked all day to creat it as perfect as possible. He wanted his people to live better life through this revolutionary law. For some reasons working on this, having meetings with officials or political agendas were making him more refresh.
He felt as though he had found a new goal in his life. Earlier in his rule he wanted to become a good emperor for his subjects. He had now realized that all this time he did some partial things which didn't brought any confort and new hope for civiliance.
Now he had figured out what an emperor is and what he stands for. So he would do everything in his power so that his people can live peacefully and happily. And will become the best emperor in history.
He also felt grateful towards the empress, she opened his eyes and gave him a chance to be someone worthy for this title.
"Your majesty, commander Xin is here to meet you." Eunuch Xiao Lin informed of a guest's arrival.
"Send him in." Long Xu said looking at a journal in his hand.
"Greetings to your majesty." commander Xin entered in emperor's study and bowed in greeting.
"You may rise now. So what brings you here." Long Xu asked "Your majesty, I came to deliver southern boarders's field reports." commander Xin forward the reports to eunuch Xiao Lin who placed it in front of emperor.
"Hum. The boarders are finally getting better. Army did a great job in maintaining peace. Our enemy's attacks are also reducing. I am satisfied with your work." Long Xu praised their work while reading the reports.
"But it's strange."
"What's the matter, your majesty. Is there something wrong with these reports." asked commander Xin slightly panicked.
"No, it's perfect. It's just that, normally it would be general Mu who would present me with this but these days he is no where to be seen. Is he alright?" emperor asked with concern in his voice.
"No, your majesty. General Mu is perfectly fine. It's just that he is busy in some differant matter." commander Xin answered.
"What kind of mattter, is there something troubling him?" Long Xu inquired.
"What trouble? He is just lazying around." commander Xin murmured under his breath.
"Did you say something." hearing emperor's question all of sudden, commander Xin straighten himself "No, it was nothing. Your majesty, general Mu has some personal matters that seek attention, so he couldn't make his presence here." he carefully answered not to let his tounge loos.
"Okay, that's fine and you may go now."
"Yes, your majesty." commander Xin immediately left the place.
"These days more and more people are facing troubles." Long Xu said to noone in particular.
"Pardon your majesty." eunuch Xiao Lin said not catching his meaning.
"Just look at this, first Han Zhi and Long Xin were leaving their works and meetings and now general Mu also. What is going on exactly." Long Xu said in confusion not getting their reason for this behavior. He further said "Han Zhi and Long Xin they are doing this ever since empress's poison incident and general Mu after empress's rampage in court that day. Could it be this also has something to do with empress." he asked his attendant eunuch while connecting dots.
"Your majesty, pardon me for being a little gossipy but there are some rumors floating around the palace." eunuch Xiao Lin said as he cautiously further added. "It is rumoured that fourth prince and crown prince both mostly stays at the pheonix palace. They get there about seven or eight in the morning . Most of their time is spend with empress, leaving work for subordinates to be done. And now a days general Mu is also on the same boat as them." he spoke in same tone how a gossipy aunt would speak.
Long Xu frowned , not expecting this kind of behavior from his loyal vassals. "We are heading for the pheonix palace, immediately." emperor announced as he made his way out of the door.
............
Pheonix Palace
Long Xu reached empress's palace. He stopped guards from announcing his arrival. He was curious to see what do they do here all day long even to the instinct to neglect their works.
He stopped at the entrance of the garden where those four people were sitting around one table, eating manjus. He was feeling weird, unable to understand why those three abandoned their works to come here just to eat manjus.
He thought to approch them but stopped in his tracks as he heared empress's voice, which was more like a shout.
"Hey! that last piece of manju is mine, how dare of you to take it without my permission." Mika shouted as he tried to snatch it from Han Zhi.
Han Zhi raished his hand higher and said "How are you sure that it's yours. I don't see any mark of ownership here?" He flipped the manju over to check for any mark present.
"Cause I saw it first so it's mine." Mika jumped to take what belonged to him. But Han Zhi raised his hand even higher "I am sure I saw i before you did."
Mika ignored him and once again tried to take it yet still couldn't. "Stop with your futile tries, you know that I am taller then you. So why burdening your shrimpy body that much jumping." Han Zhi said proud on his tall self.
"How dare you call me shrimp. Wait I'll snatch it from you." Mika was getting iritated with each passing second. Both were bickering at each other, not giving even a slightest chance to other.
"Huh?" both exclaimed in confusion, having their precious manju missing from Han Zhi's hand. They turned around to find it and located it in hand of Xichan.
Mika imediately move forward and spread his hand towards Xichan saying "I knew you are only kind person here. Thank you for snatching it from that bastard Han Zhi for me. Now you can give it to me. I am dying from hunger."
At his words, everyone stared at him cause he has eaten almost twice the others had.
"You food monster, how much are you going to eat, huh? Xichan don't liten to her, give it to me. It's not even her's to begin with." Han Zhi also came in front of Xichan expecting him to chose him as they are friends.
"I think there is some sort of misunderstanding. Who said that I am giving it to you guys." Xichan said, catching them off guard.
"What you mean, just give it to me already." Mika was getting irritated even more.
"Why would he give it to you, he is my friend. Xichan stop playing and give it to me." Han ZHi said as if he is talking to a child to give him something.
"No I am serious. Watching you two fighting over single bun made me want it more. So giving it back to any of you is out of question." He moved the bun towards his mouth which was more then ready to devouer it.
"No." both Mika and Han Zhi shouted in union, grabbing Xichan's hand stopping it in middle.
"Let go of my hand."
"We won't."
"I said let go, damn it."
"We said, we won't."
Three of them were fighting over a tiny little bun not even giving slighttest opining to their opponents.
Looking at their actions, their attendants bowed their heads in shame. They can't look at their masters who are fighting for a single bun. They some what pity their crown prince. Such a fine noble character had to spend his time, no, waste his time on this kind of people. If not for the fourth prince's force, he would have been spending his time meaningfully instead of this.
Their pity and admiration of this crown prince stopped by a sudeen action that he took.
"Hum! it really does taste heavenly. I have to say I understood your reason for this patty fight you were having. Eating last piece of something that others were eagerly trying to have, does increase it flavor." Long Xin said, devouring entire bun in one go that he just now grabbed from Xichan's hand.
"Huh?" all three of them shouted, witnessing their precious being eaten.