Bai Xianyu, the general stood tall in the throne room, her eyes fixed on the Emperor sitting on his golden throne, with a serious face.
She was used to facing bloody battles, countless enemies, and battles that tested the limits of his abilities. But today, the orders that came from him were different...unlike what he had ever imagined.
"Who do you want me to protect?" her voice sounded flat, almost incredulous.
The emperor, who was famous for his wisdom, but this time looked a little awkward, placed his hands on the palace table and nodded slowly. "Prince Zhao Renshu."
That prince….Prince Zhao Renshu? A prince who famous not for wisdom or bravery, but for his legendary stupidity?
From the moment he was born, he seemed destined to be the laughing stock of the entire palace.
Bai Xianyu looked at the Emperor with a blank expression, trying to understand what she had just heard.
"Prince Zhao Renshu? The prince who always creates chaos every time he opens his mouth?"
The Emperor smiled calmly, but Bai Xianyu could see the lines of tension on the ruler's forehead.
"Yes, you heard correctly. He is my little brother, and he is currently in danger. You know that there are many enemies in the palace. We have to protect it, but…" The Emperor paused, as if searching for the right words. "I cannot entrust this task to anyone else. Only to you, Bai Xianyu, can I entrust my life."
Bai Xianyu swallowed hard. This is not an ordinary command. This was a task that was not only risky, but also...disgusting, because Prince Zhao Renshu was known for his unrestrained stupidity, she couldn't imagine what would happen when guarding him.
"But, Emperor…"
Bai Xianyu tried to suppress her anger.
"That prince...he is a threat to himself. I would rather return to the battlefield than look after a creature like that."
The Emperor chuckled, though there was obvious exhaustion behind the laugh.
"I knew he wasn't the ideal choice. But you are the only person who is able to withstand all the chaos that may be caused. I know this is not an easy task, Bai Xianyu. But there was no other choice."
Bai Xianyu closed her eyes. "How can I take care of someone who doesn't know how to take care of himself?" She thought to himself.
However, as a soldier, she knew that orders were orders. Even though her heart refused, she could not oppose the Emperor.
"Okay," she answered finally, in a more even tone than usual. "I will protect him."
The Emperor smiled, nodding in satisfaction. "Thank you, Bai Xianyu. You are my only hope now."
***
A few days later, Bai Xianyu was already in Prince Zhao Renshu's private room. At outside, the autumn wind blew the yellow leaves falling to the ground, but inside the palace, the temperature felt colder than usual.
Bai Xianyu looked around the room, looking for the figure in question. "Prince Zhao Renshu," she said in a firm tone, trying to get the attention of the owner of the room. "Come out, I'm already here."
However, there was no sound, except for the sound of water gurgling from the wine jug in the corner of the room. Bai Xianyu stared at the urn, and a worry began to rise in her heart. "He does not..."
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps could be heard from behind the curtain.
A man with messy hair and a face full of joy appeared, facing Bai Xianyu. His big, innocent eyes were as if he had just woken up from a strange dream.
"Oh, General Bai!" Zhao Renshu greeted with a cheerful voice full of enthusiasm. "You came to help me with my problem, right?"
Bai Xianyu looked at him with a frown. "Problem?" She asked carefully.
Zhao Renshu smiled broadly. "Of course! I've been trying to make a beautiful painting on this table, but I think I need help. Drawing something complicated is very difficult, isn't it?"
He pointed to a table full of paint, paper, and... a tree he had drawn in a very strange shape, looking like a human drawing.
Bai Xianyu stared at the painting, holding back the laughter that was about to come out. "This is... a painting of a tree?" she asked, trying to keep his facial expression serious.
Zhao Renshu nodded vigorously.
"Yeah, I think it's really cool! But, maybe I need a little help... What do you think should be to the left of this tree? I thought about adding birds, but I was afraid they would look more like chickens."
Bai Xianyu frowned, feeling anger and despair mixed in her heart. "You know, Prince, right now we need to focus more on your safety, not drawing birds or trees. This palace is full of enemies."
However, Zhao Renshu chuckled instead, ignoring Bai Xianyu's anxiety.
"Oh, that's no problem. I'm sure everything will be fine. Besides, who would want to attack a stupid prince like me?" he said, in an almost unbelievable lightness.
Bai Xianyu stared at him, almost losing his temper. "You don't understand this situation. You are not only stupid, but your stupidity is a threat to yourself!"
Zhao Renshu laughed, as if he heard the best joke in the world. "I know, I know. But my life is very exciting, isn't it? Don't worry about me, General Bai. I'm always safe, even though I often make a mess."
Bai Xianyu stared at him for a moment, feeling a headache coming on. She felt like she was talking to a child who knew nothing, but the problem was that this Prince Zhao Renshu was not a child. He is the successor to the throne who should be wiser and more careful. But in reality, he more often invites disaster with his stupidity.
However, despite that, Bai Xianyu knew that her duty was to protect this person no matter how difficult it was. "We'll start training tomorrow morning," she said, deciding to change the topic. "We must prepare you for any eventuality. I will teach you how to survive in this palace."
Zhao Renshu nodded with a big smile. "Okay! But can I still draw birds after the training is finished?" Bai Xianyu sighed silently. It seemed like this task would be more difficult than she had imagined.