CHAPTER 17 : WAITING FOR YOUR ARRIVAL
After finishing his inspection, Bai Xue Jian took out a small brown pill from a pouch he was carrying and fed it into Emperor Hui's mouth.
What he gave was an antidote that could eliminate various kinds of deadly poisons. Now finally Emperor Hui's life has been saved, just waiting for the Emperor to recover slowly.
Having finished his first mission, Bai Xue Jian then turned his gaze to the old healer who was still kneeling on the floor. His sharp blue jade eyes made the healer tremble even more and lament his fate.
"Forgive me, General Xue! I am only carrying out an order from Queen Qing Yun! This has nothing to do with me!"
The utterances of supplications were continuously recited by the healer. He still hoped to get Bai Xue Jian's forgiveness for the great crime he had committed.
"He! So quick to admit it!" Bai Xue Jian strangled the old healer's neck until his face turned red. Shortness of breath began to be felt, as if he would die in a matter of seconds.
"Ugh! Cough cough..."
But not long after, finally the strangulation in the neck was released. The healer controlled his breathing while holding his neck which was aching after being snarled by the war general, Bai Xue Jian.
"If you want to survive, then obey all my orders!"
Bai Xue Jian had no intention of killing the healer or directly imprisoning him. No matter how great the power in Queen Qing Yun's hands, it would be very difficult to overthrow just relying on a royal court healer.
Queen Qing Yun was so cunning and had a lot of power plays, what Bai Xue Jian wanted to do was to follow the flow of her game. Winning the battle at the end after the Queen was happy, that was the plan Bai Xue Jian would do.
***
On the way back to the Chunshi residence, Bai Xue Jian saw the horse carriage of the Crown Prince blocking his way.
Bai Xue Jian, who was not riding his horse and was just leading his beloved horse, was forced to stop. His face turned gloomy when one of the Crown Prince's bodyguards began to approach him.
"General Xue, His Majesty wishes to speak to you in his carriage," the bodyguard reported as he extended his hand and saluted.
Bai Xue Jian didn't answer anything. Still visible halfway open, he immediately pulled his horse and continued his steps again. Just glanced briefly at the soldier earlier but immediately continued without saying anything.
However, when his body was level with the position of the horse carriage, his steps stopped again. Bai Xue Jian moved her blue jade pupils slightly to the right and started to say, "The Emperor is fine, Your Majesty's better return to the Eastern Palace."
After saying that, Bai Xue Jian walked back with her beloved horse that Xiao Bai always called. Without giving a respectful greeting, he immediately left just like that leaving the man in the horse carriage.
Inside the horse carriage, Helian Chen smiled bitterly. His handsome face was rejected again and again, completely unable to attract the attention of the woman he loved.
"He doesn't even want to see me at all. He… It seems that I really have committed a crime in my previous life…" Helian Chen said with an anguished laugh.
Indeed the love Helian Chen had for Bai Xue Jian was very sincere. Even for the sake of his beloved woman, Helian Chen had not married or had a concubine in his Eastern Palace residence.
For the sake of Bai Xue Jian, Helian Chen who had been appointed Crown Prince was willing to oppose his own Mother Queen Qing Yun so as not to pressure him to marry. Whatever Helian Chen would do for a power struggle, as long as he didn't force him to marry someone other than Bai Xue Jian.
That's why Queen Qing Yun only put Sheng Qian Qian as her son's consort. Hoping to tease and melt his son's hard heart so he can forget Bai Xue Jian.
But love is blind and cannot be forced. Unable to stand it anymore, Helian Chen had clearly dragged Sheng Qian Qian out of the Eastern Palace and returned her to the Prime Minister's residence.
No other woman could replace Bai Xue Jian's position in his eyes and heart. Helian Chen even felt that he was not yet capable enough to coexist with Bai Xue Jian. Still trying hard to be a man who is able and is seen by his beloved woman.
"Back to the East Palace!" Helian Chen ordered the chariot driver.
The soldiers who were his security guards followed from the side and behind. Diving on the journey was silent but his mind was already elsewhere, namely imagining Bai Xue Jian in his arms.
***
Chunshi Residence.
"Xue Jian...!!! You're back!!!"
Bai Xue Jian's arrival was warmly welcomed by Helian Qi. The prince who was still having childish thoughts ran from the front of the hall all the way to the center of the courtyard where Bai Xue Jian was standing.
Bai Xue Jian who saw this shook his head and smiled a little. But in his heart he felt warmth because someone he loved was waiting for his return.
"Welcome."
Helian Qi smiled widely until showing his white teeth fence. His hands were folded behind his back and leaned forward to face Bai Xue Jian who was shorter than his height.
"Prince, what are you doing out here? Why don't you play?" asked Bai Xue Jian.
"Surely I was waiting for you to come home," Helian Qi replied still with a smile.
Instantly Bai Xue Jian's face turned red because of her husband's words earlier. That smiling Helian Qi was really so cute it made Bai Xue Jian feel very excited to see him.
"Okay, since you've been waiting for me then I'll give you a gift," continued Bai Xue Jian.
"Is that true?!" Helian Qi was getting excited and looking forward to what kind of gift he would get from his new friend.
Bai Xue Jian took out a pouch tucked away in his back belt. He immediately gave it to the already excited Helian Qi.
Helian Qi opened it and saw a happy expression on his face. The gifts that Bai Xue Jian gave were sweet candies of various flavors with different colored wrappers.
Of course Helian Qi felt very happy because he really liked sweet food especially sweets. He immediately took out a pack of red candy.
"Hmm… This is pomegranate taste…" Helian Qi said as he mashed the sweet candy that was in his mouth.
"Don't eat it all at once, okay? Your teeth will hurt if you eat too much candy..."