"No. I don't want to be in the army." Xian Wu hurriedly objected. He said, "Father, you can exclude me from the throne inheritment if you wanted to. I won't object to that. However, please don't make me join the army."
"This is final! You will be in the army starting tomorrow." stated King Xian.
"Hua-sama, look. Father is trying to force me to do something that I don't want to. Please advise him." said Xian Wu, while looking at the Empress Dowager with a begging eyes.
Seeing him like this soften the heart of the Empress.
"Xian Jun, you should not force your child to go to the army if he don't want to." advised Xian Hua.
"Mother...you should not spoil him too much. I decided this to make him strong. This is also for his own good." said Xian Jun. He did not understand why did the Empress Dowager always seems to have a soft spot for Xian Wu.
"Is that so. How about this. Let Xian Wu train under me. I can help him become stronger and better than being in the army. What do you say?" suggested Xian Hua.
"What!?"
All of the people in the dining chamber were shocked when they heard the Empress Dowager. They showed different reaction in their faces. All of the children including Xian Wu was in disbelieve when they heard what the Empress Dowager just said. However, more than half of the children got jealous of this kind of treatment.
Empress Dowager is one of the two Emperor level cultivators in the Xian Kingdom. Other than her, there is only King Xian as the other Emperor level cultivators. Being taught by such Empress is certainly the dream of every people in this kingdom.
"That...mother, are you sure about this?"
"Yes. Let him learn under me. It should be better than him being taught in the army. You won't object to this right?"
"I wouldn't dare to." said Xian Jun, sweating bullets when he saw the glint in his mother's eyes.
"That settled then." nodded Xian Hua with a smile.
"Err...do I have an opinion to refuse?" Xian Wu.
"What do you think?" Xian Hua smiled at Xian Wu, making him felt like being stared by a hungry tigress.
"...I will be learning under Hua-sama then."
"That's good to hear."
"..."
After that, they continued their dinner.
...
Early next morning.
A messanger from outside of the Xian Kingdom suddenly came to the Xian Royal palace. This messanger came from Zhu Kingdom, which was the neighbour kingdom to the Xian Kingdom. The purpose of the messanger coming to the Royal palace is to inform King Xian that King Zhu and his family are on their way to visit King Xian.
"Everyone, what do you think of this invitation?" asked King Xian.
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, this visit could be a good thing. That King Zhu might be interested in having a good relationship with our kingdom. For the records, all the previous king of Zhu Kingdom were kings that always pursue peace. So, their visit into our kingdom at the very least is for something peaceful." said the First Royal Advisor, Ji Lun.
"It also possible that King Zhu want to propose a marriage relationship between Your Majesty's and his royal family. There are some rumors that the current King Zhu send several princes and princesses to the other countries to establish marriage relationships." added the Second Royal Advisor, Ma Fubu.
The third advisor, Yip Si Kun only advised for some threat precaution. King Xian nodded after hearing those advises.
"Yip Si Kun, bring my command to General Jing. Tell him to escort King Zhu and his family. Also, remind him to be cautious, and don't let any unfavorable thing happen to those Royal family." commanded King Xian.
"Yes Your Majesty." Yip Si Kun then bowed towards his majesty, and retreated to do his task.
"Wait. Tell General Jing to bring Prince Xian Wu. That son of mine is too rebelious. Let him do some escorting for once. It should be a good experience for him." said King Xian. A smirk can be seen on his face. "Tell General Jing that Prince Xian Wu would be the royal representative to escort the Zhu royal family. This is my command."
The advisors sweat dropped at their King. Did the Tenth Prince have some conflict with His Majesty?
...
"Did my father really asked me to be the royal representative?" asked Xian Wu in confusion.
"Yes Young Prince." nodded General Jing, showing the command letter, which have King Xian seal on it.
Xian Wu pondered for a bit, then nodded. "When are we going to do the escorts?"
"As soon as possible."
"Then, let's depart today."
General Jing was surprised with Prince Xian Wu's response. "Young Prince, are you not going to prepare anything?"
"Preparation? Oh, wait a moment." Xian Wu run inside his chamber. A moment later, he came out with a back pack, and two dagger on his waist.
"I'm ready. Let's go." said Xian Wu.
"...okay." This prince is a bit...unique, thought General Jing.
Together with Tenth Prince Xian Wu, General Jing brought with him some elite guards. These guards consist of two Grand Masters, and twenty Master level cultivators. General Jing himself is a peak Grand Master level cultivator.
They then travelled hastily for four days to reach the the East Border of the Xian Kingdom, where the Zhu entourage will be escorted. They then waited for another day for the other parties to reach the Xian East Border.
On the day the Zhu family reached the border, Xian Wu could see from the top of the border, a team of warriors guarding a grand carriage. The carriage has a flag on display, with the word 'Zhu' on it.
"Open the borders gate. I want to meet them first." said Xian Wu.
"Young Prince, are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm the royal representative, remember. I should be actively meet them first."
"Fine. Open the Gate!" shouted General Jing.
The gate was opened by the guards on duty. Xian Wu then rode his striped horse and moved to meet the Zhu entourage.
"Greeting to the Zhu royal family. I as the Tenth Prince of the Xian Kingdom, Xian Wu welcome the Zhu royal family to our kingdom." said Xian Wu, holding his fist in a greeting gesture.
The Zhu's warrior who stood in front of the carriage rode to the side, to give a way for the carriage. From the carriage, a beautiful woman in a luxurious dress comes out with a maid and walked towards Xian Wu.
Seeing this beauty, Xian Wu's eyes sparked in excitement. He then got down from his horse and also walked towards the woman, who he assumed to be a princess of the Zhu.
"Nice to meet you, beautiful princess. If I may ask, to which Zhu princess am I speaking to?" asked Xian Wu.
The beauty looked at Xian Wu in surprise. A moment later, she smiled sweetly.
"You may call me Princess Meng." said Queen Xing Meng.
"That's a beautiful name. As beautiful as the person." nodded Xian Wu. "Your highness, Princess Meng, I am here under my bastard father...I mean as his majesty, Xian King representative to escort you and your royal family towards the Xian Royal Palace." explained Xian Wu.
"...bastard?"
"Ah! I was misspoken just now hahaha. My lady, Princess Meng, allow me to escort you towards our Palace. If my lady not mind my rudeness, would you like to ride the horse together with me?" asked Xian Wu politely, trying to change the topic.
"Tenth Prince!" shouted General Jing who also walked toward the Zhu entourage. Is this prince trying to seduce that princess?
"How rude of you..."
"Stop!"
The maid on Queen Meng side was about to attack Xian Wu, but was stopped by the Queen.
"It will be my pleasure to ride a horse together with you Prince Xian Wu." said Queen Meng, smiling sweetly at Xian Wu.
Hearing the words from Queen Meng, General Jing was shocked, while the maid just sighed but did not say anything to prevent the Queen.
"Thank you for consenting to my rude request, my lady. Shall we go now?"
Xian Wu was delighted and hurriedly thanked the Queen. He then gestured for the 'princess' to follow him and ride his horse. Queen Meng nodded and followed Xian Wu.
With Xian Wu and the Queen riding a horse in the lead, the group then travelled towards the Xian Royal Palace.
...
Night time.
A group of a masked people arrived near the Xian East Border. Before they reached the border, they stopped a kilometers away from it.
"Ji Chao, are you sure that that Queen Meng used this way to travel towards Xian Royal Palace?"
"Yes Third Prince. I already bribed one of the elite warrior in her entourage to spy on her, and give away their location." said a masked man beside the so called Third Prince. "Look. That is the bird that the warrior used to send information." said Ji Chao, pointing his finger to the sky.
A green bird with a red strip on its head was flying toward them with a small rolled paper on its feet. A few second later, the bird landed on Ji Chao's shoulder and chirped. Ji Chao took out the paper, unrolled it and gave it to the Third Prince.
After the third prince read the paper, he nodded and smiled.
"Lets make a camp here. We will ambush Queen Meng and her entourage here. Ji Chao, wrote a letter and send it to that spy of yours. Tell him to convince the Queen to use the same way to travel back to the Zhu Palace." commanded the prince.
"Yes Third Prince." Ji Chao and the group of masked men saluted, and did what the prince asked.
Meanwhile, Xian Wu's group stopped their journey to rest for the night. The warriors and the elite guards cooperated and made a clearing to place their camps. Xian Wu on his own set up his own tent. Although he was a prince, his tent does not look as one for a prince. Its color was plain to the eye. However, in the inside, it look simple and nice.
"My lady, Princess Meng, would you like to stay in my humble tent?" invited Xian Wu.
General Jing facepalmed when he heard the prince invitation.