...
"You recouped my life!" The princess stated after fastening her guard's arm.
Fu Liu and some of the guards returned with a crossbow that was settled as a trap.
"No problem, your highness." Li Shu was wondering why did she bother to tend to her valet. They must stay loyal to her until their bloodstream waters the soil for her.
"We must move vigilantly." Fu Liu noted, keeping the crossbow to investigate more.
Following the path that the crows led them, they arrived at a cottage. As Li Shu guessed, it was a temporary station. They would have stayed here, in the heart of the forest near the neutral borders so the forces of either kingdom couldn't track them, although, there was a law breaker who didn't care to catch them even beyond the borders... Prince Wu Xiuying had no fear to face them, they were murderers and criminals. No mercy will be upon them.
"It is getting close to dawn if we don't leave now, we might face dark."
Chaoxiang murmured beside her.
"Let's leave, your highness. Here is dangerous at night." Wished the eunuch, asking her to come out of the cottage.
The princess who was holding a piece of fabric nodded.
"Alright, this is the only clue I found. They cleaned here."
Li Shu approached her; this fabric had a unique tissue. It didn't belong to her land at all. Besides, there was a mark down the left side.
"There must be a personal tailor who is making their clothes."
Fu Liu stated.
Putting the fabric inside her small satchel, the princess strode to her horse and climbed up.
Leaving the place, it took them two hours to ride none stop and when they got close to the bridge on the Xin river, the siblings decreased their speed.
"We live in the village near the bakery." Chaoxiang addressed them.
"Be here, tomorrow early in the morning with the first sun rays. I will investigate the tailors in this village and the nearby villages."
The princess demanded and they nodded.
Riding back to their house, they opened the door and faced the furious aunt Gu Ju, she was sitting in the middle of the dining room. Li Shu hadn't time to consume in an argument with this greedy woman. She sneaked to her room despite the starvation.
"Bring my food to my room, brother." She ordered before pulling the door. Getting inside, a few minutes later, the sun slinked down and he watched how his figure changed to its initial one.
"Why did you leave without me?"
The woman asked; half of her face had darkened.
Chao was supposed to be discreet toward his prying aunt. She used to poke her nose in every aspect of their moves which wasn't decent at all. During the past six months, they hardly excused Li Shu having the phobia of nights but what if this woman realized the mystery of the nights? Chao had to kill his aunt!
"Aunt Gu Ju, you sleep until noon, did you expect us to wait for you?"
The woman stood up and frowned. These two siblings were dubious, she had sniffed bizarre moves. Li Shu didn't let her get in her room during the night, calling it a phobia. Did anyone hurt this girl during the night? But she went into her room last night and the room was empty! It couldn't make sense. Perhaps, she turns into a beast during the night!
"I was exhausted today, go cook for yourself."
The inane behavior of this woman was driving him crazy. They were already in a perilous situation that improperly could retrieve.
"I should scuff her!" He whispered, his highness was in the danger of losing his future and this woman was worried about the number of her coins.
Getting inside the kitchen, he saw the big unwashed bowl of rice and soup. She had cooked for herself like always and didn't leave anything for them.
He cussed and began to wash a bowl of rice to cook. His cooking was delightful, fortunately, at least it could gratify his highness.
Inside the room, prince Wu Xiuying leaned back on the wall, recalling the princess's laughter, it made him sneer. She was satisfied with his behavior. He guessed right she wasn't a wicked person. But he trusted no woman, for being powerful, he should be away from them.
While thinking about her, he peered at the jewel and doubted if she had spelled this. But quickly rejected this, she was still fishy. His enemy. She was taking advantage of them. It was driving him mad that he could not read her mind. He couldn't predict her next moves.
Averting his head, his eyes fixed on the moving short chubby shadow, he stood up and picked up his sword, tilting his head. He didn't mind killing this naughty woman; she had been slaying his nerves. But could he do it?
He stood in the dark, well-covered in the shadow, watching the woman who entered the room.
Aunt Gu Ju wondered where the girl was when the mattress was already set, and no one was there. Her dress was fallen on the floor!
The cold steel rested on her neck, she winced and terror shimmered in her widened eyes, couldn't suppress the shiver in her hands. Stressfully, she began to clench her skirt.
"Haha, my darling Li Shu, I didn't mean to disturb you."
She was trying to conceal her fear under that elegant tune but no response came.
Sweating at the rush of blood in his heart, the prince swallowed, this stupid curse didn't let him finish this. It didn't let him use his sword. His heart was about to explode and the weight of his sword had become a misery to handle.
"Ah, you are angry! Okay, I am going to leave now."
The prince grinned bitterly, she better not look back if she wanted another chance to see the next rise.
The woman closed her eyes and rushed out, making sure the door was closed after her. She was definitely a beast over the night. This girl was insane, an arrogant wench that she couldn't mess with. Her brother was right, if she wanted to be safe, she had to be away from her during the night.
Moving his sword back to the sheath, he gazed at the hilt that had his family's emblem.
'I will come back, father. Just wait a little bit, you shouldn't leave me alone in this wild world. There are things that I want to learn from you.'
Yes, he wasn't only a man of steel and bloodshed, he wanted to learn from his father's experience to know all the kingdoms nearby, their knowledge, their culture, their weakness, the point of their power…
Standing there he sighed and turned to the moonlit that was coming inside through his small window, crossing the thin lace curtain.
"Sister, your food is ready," Chao asked for permission and the prince smacked the floor with the tip of his sheath.
Chaoxiang's eyes were on the sword in his majesty's hand. He put the tray on the table and walked beside him. The beads of sweat made his skin shine.
"What is this sword for?"
The prince's eyes were closed, but hastily his eyelids flattered up and sharply turned on Chao. He was now even more keen and vigorous.
"Your aunt was here and I wanted to kill her."
The captain sighed; he had seen the curiosity in her eyes.
"If you wish I will poison her."
The prince shook his head, "She didn't turn back," putting his hand up, his eyes rolled on his wrist, "I can't kill anyone because of this. My life all depends on your sword, Chaoxiang."
The curse of this jewel had limited his skills, he could break bones and necks but he couldn't use steel with the intention of sending someone to death's door.
"Did she see your face?"
"No, I spare her this time, but if she repeated her foolish acts, kill her."
Embarrassing, it was but Chao had no other option, to him prince Wu Xiuying meant family and life. The only one he had, the only one who he would give his life to.
"I will, your highness."
The prince leaned his sword to the wall and sat on the floor, picking his chopsticks said, "feral is the world, the moment night falls. Come here, Chao, we must eat to have strength."
He was heartbroken but also he was the best at hiding his emotions, although the wetness and form of his eyes could speak with Chao. Nothing could fill the gap of his loneliness. Even his mother was ignoring him since she told him she will talk to him when he has the crown on his head and not let his illegitimate siblings beat him down.
To prove himself, he swung his sword and slew his desires and wishes to fulfill the others' wishes, to prove to them that he was beyond others' expectations. He let his hands drink blood, his steel tear hearts, and his name brought a tremor to the body of his enemies. Chaoxiang took him under watch during the years he spent with him and today it was fifteen years since the day they met for the first time.
**
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