The guards assumed stern facial expressions. Glaring at Zhang Fengxi, they neither moved from their spots nor uncrossed their spears.
"We cannot let Your Highness through. Excuse our impudence."
The guards were prepared to fight, but Zhang Fengxi emitted no battle aura. He merely shrugged and then went to sit in front of the red-golden entrance gate.
The guards obviously did not expect such a development. They exchanged nervous glances with each other and swallowed hard in response.
Finally, they relaxed their stance. One of them spoke, "This... Prince Zhang Fengxi, you are making things difficult for us."
Zhang Fengxi arched an eyebrow at the guards.
"How come? You didn't force me to sit on the ground. I did this out of free will. No worries, you will not endure any kind of punishment."
The two guards were not sure about that. If Zhang Fengxi was evil, he could easily blame the lowly guards, telling others that he was being bullied into submission.
After some time had passed, one of the guards could not take it anymore. When a maid moved past the front yard, he called out to her.
"Little Ming! Is the Palace Master still awake?"
Zhang Fengxi craned his neck full of interest when he saw who it was. He recognized the maid with one look. It was Mingyu.
The beta maid stopped in her tracks and stared at the two guards. Her gaze then drifted to a stranger who was sitting on the ground like a beggar. Curiosity tickled her heart, so she climbed down the steps to take a look.
A gasp escaped her when she saw Zhang Fengxi's princely clothing and then the medallion that hung from his waist. The fierce tiger that was depicted on the medallion seemed to come alive. It emitted soft, golden light in the darkness.
"A prince from Longjing Palace?" she blurted out in shock. "What is he doing here?" she proceeded to ask the two guards, as if Zhang Fengxi could not hear her.
"I want to meet your master," Zhang Fengxi repeated his request.
Mingyu pursed her lips and straightened her back.
"Master is resting," she announced. "Your Highness, you are welcome to return tomorrow morning."
Zhang Fengxi shook his head.
"I will wait until he is willing to see me."
Mingyu glared at Zhang Fengxi.
"Your Highness, today is...!!!"
"... Your master's seventeenth birthday. I know."
"..."
"I just want to see him."
"What for...?"
Zhang Fengxi took a small brocade box from his traveling pouch. It was very small and could fit inside his hand.
"I want to give him a birthday present."
Mingyu and the guards eyed Zhang Fengxi suspiciously.
"If I take it, will Your Highness leave?" Mingyu asked.
"I will, but you must give it to your master. This is very important," Zhang Fengxi narrowed his eyes at Mingyu. "I will know if he does not receive it."
Zhang Fengxi's sharp gaze sent chills down the three people's backs.
"My master will receive it from my hands directly," Mingyu promised. "He can keep it or throw it away as he pleases."
Naturally.
Zhang Fengxi nodded. He put the small box in Mingyu's outstretched hands and left.
Mingyu watched the spiritual tiger disappear from sight. She gave both guards a polite bow before she headed toward Xie Jianyu's bed chamber.
"Your Majesty...?"
Xie Jianyu was not on the bed.
In fact, he was not in the bed chamber at all.
A long shadow was cast on the front porch, so Mingyu gingerly moved outside.
"Your Majesty...?"
Xie Jianyu was standing on the porch, admiring the full moon above his head with a cup of wine in his hand. Only that he was not the Xie Jianyu that Mingyu knew.
The crown prince had taken off all his alpha disguises.
That night, he was dressed as an omega. The long peach-colored gown that dragged behind his slender frame, the rose-colored silk sash, the fur coat, the dainty shoes...
His long, black hair flowed freely behind his back like a waterfall made of black ink.
As Mingyu stared and stared, she recalled a few lines from a poem collection that Xie Jianyu gave her some time ago.
"Under the moonlight, I drink alone,
I don't realize that the night is already late.
I just hope that this feeling will last forever,
And not let down my love."
Mingyu's cheeks turned pink in amazement.
She had never seen a more beautiful omega in her entire life.
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Author's note : Dear readers, MGS period for this novel will soon begin! You will get two chapters update daily starting from today (｡･ω･｡)ﾉ♡