The same day, hours before, early in the morning, the west-north fort, prince Xing Bolin's residence…
A white snake sneaked on the stone table, a stretched hand moved ahead and the snake crept up. The man put up his arm, and the small gorgeous but deadly creature began to creep and twist over his fingers. Bringing it close to his face said, "Look how wonderful her ruby eyes are."
'Your highness, your pet is strange!'
It should be the answer his man should have used but instead replied, "they are your highness."
The sunlight was coming to kill the mist, yet the light had a way to clear the green beautiful sight of the mountain. Prince Xing Bolin took a deep breath; turning back, he faced his man, "Did you realize where was she last night?"
"Yes, your highness, she was having fun in the streets and Tian tavern."
A wide smirk came after a chuckle, "So she had begun to trouble herself with new regaining life."
Caressing the snake's body, he trailed off, "Keep saying."
"They saved a child and some people who were wounded by the fire, she arrested the criminal and handed him to the criminal investigation department. After that, they faced a murdered man near the chancery. It seems the man they arrested was an assassin."
'An assassin?' He gritted his jaw, why was luck always strolling over Xing Huan?
The prince's expression darkened and pressed squeeze to the soft caress on the snake. The creature stiffened. The guard's eyes were on the reptile, he swallowed, not so sure to indicate that he was suffocating the poor snake. It changed his mind, now he realized that his master was more threatening than the snake, changing his mood over time.
"I have underestimated my sister; she is moving archly." He released the snake on the table and walked inside, "Is she going to survey over this case?"
The man followed, his snatching a look at the snake that crept away, running to hide before this shady man could catch it again.
"I heard her valets were preparing to march among the people and go to the chancery! The man who is dead was the accountant of the chancery, a famous popular man."
The prince's fingers curled into a fist and smashed the table, the ink inside the inkstone splashed on his hand.
'Xing Huan, you should not capture his attention more than this, he punished me for the hog hunt while I thought he would appreciate my achievements. It is all because of you being so soft, your sinister ambition always affected him.'
Prince Xing Bolin was sick of this patience word that his mother used to feed him with. He should grab his father's attention, his satisfaction.
"I must convince my father to leave this case to me." He turned away and headed out, the eunuch who was getting inside with a tray flinched back, losing control over what he was holding. Everything fell on the floor with so many noises. A mess spread on the wooden floor.
The eunuch was shocked gluing to the wall and his eyes fell on the wasted food.
"Follow me, useless Meng Fai. We are going to see my father; I have no time to waste on eating." Disappointingly, he shook his head at the mess on the floor.
Dashing out of his residence with his companies, he headed for the main palace, King Xing Yingjie was staying there having his mother as the new Queen who was sitting in the position after Queen Xing Ning, temporally. It was the king's decision as he didn't trust anyone. Neither of the concubines including Xing Bolin's mother could take his trust or perhaps his heart.
Stepping up the stairs, he stood behind the doors, asking the guards, "announce my presence, there is an important matter."
"Your highness is having his meal," the king's eunuch stated appearing from nowhere.
The prince's lips curved in rage. This man was Fu Liu's uncle. Fu family was the greatest supporter of the princess, they were the owners of almost half of the Mei reigns' grain fields.
"I said, let my father know about my presence, eunuch Fu!" he breathed savagely, hot air was streaming out of his head. He loathed that they were lowering him.
The eunuch walked inside, not arguing with the prince. The King knew how to answer this rudeness.
They were standing there for a moment, then eunuch Fu's voice came out.
"Please enter, prince Xing Bolin."
The prince shot the guard an aggressive glare and strode inside. They must learn to respect him before he would show his other side.
The king was in his black majestic robe with golden dragon needlework. His jet-black hair was tied up into a bun and the golden tiara shimmered as flames of fire.
He cleaned his mouth and put the tissue down beside his bowl. The prince bowed to him and waited for his permission to have a sit or speak.
"Father, please forgive my rudeness, I am here for the matters that last night occurred in the capital. It had shaken my heart."
The king's sharp dark sight rolled on his son, "It is not like I don't know there is no liking in your heart toward the murder cases! Let your sister solve this!"
The prince clenched his green robe, how could she be this rapid and inform the king? She would never make a free space for him to step into this arena.
"Father, let me help her, I can't endure such a disaster that happens to us. What if the case put my sister in danger?"
The king sighed; his son wouldn't go away before earning his permission.
"Alright, I leave it to both of you so don't disappoint me, you had already dirtied your name in brothels. Make sure you are not queering her attempt."
The king stated with disgust, that to him, it didn't matter how gorgeous those women were in the brothels, he loathed that his son was disseminating this toxic behavior among royals. He didn't like unwanted children that the royals might make with those women. This was why he held the harem. To have healthy women that belonged to the royals, not so many men.
'Really father? Do you think that I'm a piece of trash?'
"I promise, father! please trust me." He bowed again, 'just give me a chance to prove myself.' He thought to himself.
"Now, leave."
The prince paced back and joined his companions who were waiting behind the door.
"Now, I can eat, properly. Prepare a perfect meal, I am going to work hard."
The prince laughed cheerfully; his parents were going to be proud of him.
Back to the King's room, the eunuch called for the maidens to wrap the table and then turned to the king when they were alone.
"Do you want me to send guards to watch over the princess, your highness?"
The King shook his head, "No, let her come back to the right state, she had become weak lately. I missed her strong side."
His eyes rolled on the window, a bluebird was tweeting. Clouds were getting attached, tonight there was rain coming.
"You said, it is because of a maiden that she had found her mood?"
Eunuch Fu nodded, "Yes, your majesty, Fun Liu had no doubt and physician Lu admitted his words after checking her health."
"Good, so I will see her tonight, I must believe it when I face her, she hadn't come to visit me for the whole year, she must bear the punishment for her disrespect."
He stood up and walked to his work table to read the scrolls that had come from either department.
…
~Rearing to the chancery building…
"Brother, what had caught your interest up and dragged you here?" she smirked, 'your elaborated actions are getting disturbing.'
She knew the answer, it was to interfere in this case that she would solve and achieve their father's attention. He came alone not bringing Xing Deli and Xing Liling with him. He was after an achievement not sharing this with them. As she heard, after returning from camping, he quickly met King Xing Yingjie to show the number of his hunts.
"Father allowed me to assist you in this case, I will protect you as the elder brother, now let's get back to your conversation. What is the case he was working on?"
He stopped beside his sister, while the manager was waiting for the princess's approval.
Xing Bolin clenched his jaw, the respect he was receiving was way lower than his sister as a concubine's son. It wouldn't be unpaid. 'I will teach you all, how to respect me, what she does is all for the throne, neither of you can anticipate how cruel she is.'
Li Shu's eyes were on him, and the tightness on his jaw was showing that he was eating his anger. He might have tried to take this case but the princess was faster.
As the prince of Di, he had experienced such cases. His siblings were always the rock in his shoes.