Dispite the small incident, they finally arrived at the small town where Prince Ching instructed his men to meet them.
They arrived first and his troops were no where to be found, so he assumed that they were either lost or being hold up with something.
The Inn in this small town is not big like most of Inn in the capital, but it is full of people, making the place incredibly crowded.
In the courtyard, there were numerous empty carriages, from different rich people in the town.
And in the far side he noticed the scort service's flag, flapping loudly as the wind whistles by.
"When did the mountain bandits engage in this kind of business?"
Ma Chunli asked curiously as he saw their flag with the design of their emblem.
Prince Ching give a descreet laughed.
"Who would be stupid enough to hire a bunch of useless like them?!"
"But there are two others and I guess they're—"
"They're particularly here because of us!"
"Huh?!"
Ma Chunli asked in confusion but Prince Ching did not bother to explain, he just followed him inside the Inn.
There's no more empty tables, inside the Inn when they arrived. So Prince Ching find a table at the corner and sat heavily, that's the only time he realized how tired he was.
"Young master, the room that you asked is already prepared, you can rest at any time now!"
He nodded. He choose to sit on that corner so he could see the people who goes in and out and particularly asked Ma Chunli to find a room with one window and without connecting doors.
A while ago when they intered he noticed that one of the man informed someone in the table and based on their action, Prince Ching concluded that they were already expecting him long before.
He smiled, this mess was all started because of the military seal that His Majesry had intrusted into him to be sent in the border. His presence is actually a decoy, a mere show! The package already flew and probably arrived at the border.
Since the carrier who carried the package was a three year old falcon trained by Great General Yan, Princess Ye's older brother.
Thinking of her makes him want to fly and go back in the capital. That's also the main reason why he's anxious and hates being held up.
The main reason why Prince Ching was sent here, is to investigate the magistrate in the next town but who would have known that someone was already ahead of time and determined to block them.
"Young master, do you want some wine?"
The attendant asked him politely but there was a trace of uneasiness in his voice.
He nodded and goes with the flow.
"Boss, how are we going to snatch the package?"
Prince Chinh heard someone asked. The one he called boss is rather big and ugly, he had the most upleasant face he had ever seen.
He look into their direction and they stared each other.
"We have to do it either way, we the scorpion escort group are top notch, what is there to be afraid?"
"But we have two rivals here!" another one said.
"The mountain bandits and the moon shadow!"
"Leave the useless one, but not the moon shadow, they're known to be fearless—and associated with the imperial family!"
The big man snort. "We don't have business with them, we just have to get the package and be done with it!"
"But who is the carrier?"
When Prince Chinh heard that moon shadow scort service is here, he felt at ease.
This two groups wont make anything stupid as moon shadow service is directly under his command.
He stablished this service secretly and this people were loyal only, to the one who bear the jade seal amongst the imperial family.
Most people knew that they were just a myth but for those who were in the scorting service, of course they knew them well enough to avoid them.
Prince Ching really hates trouble but trouble always come to him, instead!
He was sipping his wine while waiting for them to take an action. When he saw a woman entered, she was really familiar even in a distance. He recognized her on the outside but realized that something is off with her.
His attention was diverted when the big, ugly man from scorpion scort agency suddenly appeared infront of him, blocking his sight from the woman. But the next thing he knew the man fell down on the ground with the knife struck in his neck.
"What a nice show!"
He thought but wasn't surprised at all.
When the man fell on the floor, thats the only time, he saw the woman stood behind the man.
The people in the table stood up and stand on their guard but did not dare to move.
"Your High—"
Ma chunli almost exclaimed.
"Princess Ye?"
Ma Chunli asked her in surprised when he recognized her.
"Why are you here?"
She did not answered. She took a cup of wine and drink it straight, she cough and cough. Prince Ching furrowed his brow.
"Why are you here?" He asked coldly.
She smiled at him sweetly. "I'm bored so I sneaked out! I just happened to run in you here"
Liar. ! He thought to himself. how far did you run to see me here?
"Is that so?"
He smiled.
"Since you're here, why don't you joined me?!"
"Really?"
The woman smirked and it didn't passed in his eye without noticed.
"What wrong with you Ye?"
He smiled at her, the woman wasn't aware that there is something in his question.
"Nothing Im just tired—"
"Oh.!?"
His voice was rather sardonic. She doesn't look tired at all.
"Chunli asked the owner to give one room for Lady Ye!"
But before Chunli could approach the boss alreadly come rushing.
"I'm sorry young master, but we're full today as you see outside!"
Good! he said to himself.
"Then let her stay with me—"
"But young master, what about me—"
Ma Chunli was about to say something when he shut him up with an imperious gazed.
"Fine!"
Ye'er said that makes Chunli drop his jaw.
How did the two of them become close like this?
He wondered to himself. all he knew is that the two of them could not even sit in one place, and if they saw each other it always meant war!
Prince Ching sat silently as he was sipping his wine, he ocasionaly took a glance towards the woman who sat opposite to him.
He smirked.
The sun was already kiss the earth goodbye and the dark of the night started to spread as the moon slowly shine upon the world of fools and dreamers.
"I miss you!"
He muttered to himself only to realized that someone else had actually said it.
He raised his eye brow and smiled at her.
"I'm glad you miss me!"
He said but actually there was a remorse feeling that he felt inside. If ony she could tell me those words!!
"I'm tired. I'm going up!"
"Alright! Chunli please send Lady Ye into my room!"
"No—"
"Ok!"
Her sentence was cut when Chunli answered.
Though he hesitated at first, but still he agreed.
Later, when Prince Ching intered in his room, he already felt that everything moves in motion according to the plan of whoever wants to disposed him.
His vision was starting to get blurry. He smiled and took off his dress while the woman helps him, he almost shout at her but stop himself.
"Come sit here.!"
She said flirtatiously.
"I'm going to make you relax!"
She whisphered into his ears, he smiled. He sat heavily on the chair closing his eyes as the woman was masaging his shoulder.
The woman thought he already let his guard down, she slowly removed the pin-like knife that she hides in her hair.
Prince Ching felt relaxed. if only. .only!
He suddenly open his eyes and catch the woman's hand right on time. It was half a heart beat away from his neck and the pointy end of her weapon almost touch his skin.
"Next time, rehearse your acting skills properly!"
He said coldly and flip her hand and toosed her in front. The girl stood up and give him a kicked but he dodge it in his right arm. Then, he grab her leg and give her a slight pushed in her chest.
"How did you know—"
The woman asked him confusedly, as she bend one of her knee and spit the blood, she suddenly felt hard to breath.
There was fear written all over her face! Prince Ching smirked.
"Your acting is quite good— as for your appearance, you do look exactly like her"
"Then why?"
You can't fooled my heart, you bitch! he almost yelled that words into her.
"You can copy anything in this world but you can't copy someone else eyes!"
He yelled at her, his voiced roared like a thunder and all his temper suddenly burst.
"If its her, she wont simply approached me, like the hell you did! She won't come to me that easily, you know why? Its because the moment she'll sees me she would rather avoid me!"
There was bitterness in his voice, he wanted to be near with her badly but why she would rather wants to be with his younger brother?
The woman jerked. there was fear all over her face as Prince Ching's voice was full of fury. It was as if he wants to snap her head and be done with it.
"How dare you use her to fooled me?"
Prince Ching's hand was already clutching the woman's neck. His eyes burnt with fire, the looks in his face was the scariest thing the woman had ever seen in her life.
"You think it's because you look like her, I would not dare to kill you?"
He then grab the masked in her face to reveal her real identity.
"Your Highness—"
Ma Chunli burst into the door and stood like a statue as he witnessed what happened. The girl was chooking, and base on the color of her face she was already in the brink of death
"Your Highness!"
Ma Chunli hold his arms and pressed it softly. Prince Ching seems to wake up from his nightmare but his expression never changed.
"Get her out of my sight before, I changed my mind!"
He said grimly. Ma Chunli emmidiately carried the woman out without questioning him. She was already half dead and the reason why he didn't kill her it's because she's a woman after all.
He realized one thing, even if Ye'er would choose someone else to be with her, atleast she won't do something as despicable as this.
Her eyes will always show the emotion she had inside, she's the most honest and simple person he ever knew.
Thinking of her makes him want to explode in anger, whoever behind this scheme will surely pays the price!
Ten times more! he said clenching his hands tightly.
Ye'er must be his biggest weakness but one thing they don't know is that she is actually the source of his strength.