And so the conversation between the Royales ended after which the Prince bowed at left.
Upon leaving the King's chambers, he called his personal guard - Li Yu; they had grown up together in the place, therefore, they were as thick as thieves.
"Li Yu, Father has allowed me to go to Town, though on condition that the Royal guards accompany me. But i do not want to be like a guarded rabbit, that will be so annoying. So I will sneak out without the knowledge of the guards".
"Your highness, that won't be a good idea. What if the king finds out?"
"he wouldn't, now come quickly"
After the short dialogue, the Prince changes his attire into something less royal and orders his guard to do same. Then they avoid the guards that had been stationed at every corner to get out through the underground tunnel that led to the outskirts of the Town.
The royal guards had received orders from the kings to accompany the Prince and so they assembled at his chambers. They waited and waited but the Prince did not seem to be coming out.
'could he have changed his mind about going to Town?, that will actually be a good change of mind' the chief guard of the group soliloquized.
When they could no longer keep waiting at the door, he stepped forward, knocked politely on the door, stepped back and waited for a response.
One minute... five minutes... ten minutes... twenty minutes...
Silence. No response.
The guard looked sideways at the others, then repeated the process. This time, he decided he wouldn't wait twenty minutes before opening the door himself. He stepped forward to open the door.
Fatefully, there was a creak sound; someone was opening it from the inside.
"Your highness" he immediately bowed as customary
"It is I, court lady Li" an old lady stepped out of the room; contrary to their expectations
"aiyo, court Lady Li, I am here for his highness... Please announce to him"
"his highness is sick and cannot receive you, please come back another time"
"but... his Majesty has assigned us to accompany the Prince. But he is sick? could it be that the king doesn't know he is sick?" the guard was clearly confused
"Chief Guard, his highness is indisposed and the physician would soon be here to attend to him. Please be on your way..."
"what sudden illness..."
"please" the old court-lady seemed firm
With that, the guards pulled out from his pavilion and headed back to their quarters.