Chapter two
Where do I start? Ah yes, let me start here.
The harem was in an uproar with the princess missing.
"Princess!"
"Princess."
"Princess."
"Princess."
Everyone called out for her. She was no where to be found in her palace nor the areas surrounding it.
Soon the emperor order for the entire harem to searched yet there was still no news of the princess.
"What would the princess just disappear on such a day? We are just done with the harvest festival and she disappears like this?" The emperor lamented to his advisors and to the guard. He was clearly distraught and worried. His precious little princess was missing after all.
"We're sorry your Majesty but we couldn't find the princess anywhere. We don't deserve to live." The royal guard apologize and bowed down to his knees before the emperor and his soldiers follow suit.
"Die? I'm looking for my princess right now and you're asking for your death? What good will it do to me? Will it find her for me?" The emperor scolded distastefully. "Focus on finding my daughter, if you want to repay this country for your life then find my fairy for me." The emperor ordered.
"The empress must be worried sick now. For goodness sake it's night and the moon is already on the sky shining brightly." The emperor continue to lament.
The royal guard rose to his feet.
"Thank you your Majesty, I shall take your leave and I promise to return with the princess or I'll leave the palace." The royal guard assured the emperor and turned to leave.
"You're not very smart, right now you should be leaving the harem or at least order for the gates to be locked." One of the advisors spoke up and the royal guard stopped in his tracks.
What he said got the emperor's attention and he wanted to understand what he meant. "Councilor Zhu, tell me what you mean by that? The nobles that joined in the festival in the harem are leaving right now."
Councilor Zhu turned to the emperor again and bowed, "Your Majesty, this festival is done every year in the palace and food is given to the poor for five days."
"I know that councilor, get to the point." The emperor spat out distastefully.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. What I'm trying to say is that the princess is probably kidnapped by those who came in in the pretence of celebrating the harvest and taken the princess." The councilor explained.
"What!" The emperor rose from his seat immediately. His eyes widened and fear was written all over his face.
"What did you just say happened?"
"I'm not sure about it your Majesty but this is what I think happened. The princess is known for escaping security everytime and maybe she was taken while she was unprotected." The councilor added.
"What, why? W..why her?" The emperor stuttered.
"I'm not sure your Majesty but it could be because she was an easy target and she's dear to you."
"You heard what the councilor said general! What are you still doing standing there? Close the gates!" The emperor shouted his ordered as if the royal guard was far from him.
"Yes your Majesty." He turned to bow to the king and give the councilor a quick glance to see his facial expression before turning back to leave.
But before the soldiers could reach and pass the order, minister Zhu's wife had already left the palace.
"Hurry up my son is waiting for me at home." She hit the palequin and ordered.
Someone opened the window of the palequin.
"My lady, I just heard shocking news." The servant announced.
"And what is it?" Minister Zhu's wife asked curiously.
"Sir might not return from the palace tonight." The servant said.
"What! Why is that."
"Because the princess is missing and everyone is looking for her."
"What!" She asked dumbfounded and shock was written all over her face.
"It's true my lady, I heard they were searching for her before we left."
The Lady thought for a while. "Well if she's in the harem then nothing bad will happen. They'll find her sooner or later." The Lady concluded then shut the window.
*****
The palequin came to a halt inside a huge compound.
"Welcome my Lady." A servant greeted and opened the door of the palequin and she stepped out graciously.
"Mother you've returned!" The Lady turned around and saw her son smiling at her from the porch.
"Why aren't you sleeping yet, Bolin?" She asked as her eyes fell on him. He was dressed up already to go to bed but he hasn't. "And why are you out like this?"
"Mother you worry too much." He dismissed. She carefully and slowly walked closer to him.
"Come on now, let's go in."
"Wait, what about Father? Isn't he going to return?" The boy asked.
"He will come but late, the princess is missing so his support is needed in the harem okay." His mother explained.
"Oh I see... Then good night mother, sleep well." He bowed down slightly then smiled at her before sitting on the porch.
His mother was shocked. "What are you doing?" She asked.
"Waiting for father. There's something he promised me and it can only be done today and not tomorrow or else I'll wait for next year." The boy explained.
"No. I cannot watch you wait like this for your father when it's already dark. You need to sleep so you don't fall sick." His mother objected.
"But you can watch your husband break his promise?" The boy asked instead.
"Bolin."
"Don't worry mother, I won't wait for too long. I'll go in and sleep but please let me look at the moon a little longer."
"Bolin... This cannot be done, listen to your..." The Lady tried protesting but the young master cut her short.
"I'm so sorry mother but you know I don't and won't listen right?" He gave her his cutest puppy eyes and pouting his lips.
The Lady chuckled.
"Where did you get this from?" She laughed. "I'll go change and be with you shortly." She announced then walked in with all the servants leaving the young master alone.
He sighed in relief. "Father you better not forget about what you promised." He said to himself then stared at the moonlight in silence.
Suddenly some noise came from the palequin and something fell out.