บท 38: First Love: Mo Xue (38)

"Big Brother, I'm here."

The ger cheerful voice bring forth a jovial smile on his cousin's face. But... It didn't last for long when the latter choked on his tea when he realized his little cousin's husband is tailing from behind.

"Your Highness, I didn't know that you'll be coming too."

He bows in salutation while secretly eyes the one that was standing at the window. He notice a slight changes on the latter's features, but he failed to comprehend what it means.

"This Prince received an invitation from his bride just moment after the court ends. You all have an appointment to meet today?"

This sentence bring the delegate's attention back. He finally notices that he have accidentally spilled the secret about the Prince acknowledgement about this meeting, but the ger doesn't seems to notice it. A sudden relieve wash over his heart, as he blame himself inwardly.

"I want to tell you last night, Xue Er. But you..."

A wide grin swipe across the delegate's face upon seeing the bashful look of his little cousin's face. The ger's pale skin is now flushed embarrassing, with pink necks and huffing cheeks. The other man, smiling sadly, bows in salutation.

"Greetings, Your Highness. Greetings, Consort."

"You may rise."

----------

Pity him.

From a high ranking family heir to... a what now?

"Assistant to the palace's clerk, host."

Sigh.

"Hee Hee, come have a seat. Big Brother have ordered the best tea that they have. Come, have a taste. See, I have ordered some snack as well. The manager said that these snack paired well with this tea."

The Prince brings me to the table and I can see my cousin is waving his hand, gesturing to the other man, inviting him to take a sit on the round table. The table is quite big, being able to sit six, but somehow, the poor man is sitting at an exact opposite of me.

Sigh. The one that once was strong and prideful is now slouching in defeat. I truly pity him. It is not his fault, but... we can't exactly choose which family to born in, right?

The Prince poured me some tea. Thanking him, I smiled while inhaling the refreshing steam, sipping it, savouring the deep floral taste of the said tea.

"What tea is this, Big Brother? Flower tea?"

"It's the seven coloured hibiscus tea, Hee Hee. It is nice, right? How is it compared to the golden flower tea back home?"

"I'm not sure. I haven't drink it that much. Royal Mother forbids me to, saying that drinking it to much will make my skin turns yellow." I answer with a fib, feeling a tad lazy to scourge the original's memory.

The Prince keep his silence, serving me with snacks and such by my side. Munching on some sweet green bean pasty, I mull over on how to start. Perhaps... The straight forward way might be the best after all.

"Xue Er," I starts, trying to gain his attention, "I asked Big Brother Jun to bring Noble Son Shen to meet me today for a reason. Can you... listen first, before saying anything?"

----------

The ger blink his eyes, seeking permission and understanding from his husband while the subject of their discussion turn stiff at the opposite side.

"I promise, my dear."

The ger let out another smile before turning his attention forward. He seem reluctant at first, biting his lower lip, before finally opening her mouth.

"Noble Son Shen, if I may enquire, where is your second brother right now?"

The ger sported a nervous look while his husband and his cousin unconsciously holds their breath. They both stare at each other, sending unknown signal with their eyes.

"My second brother is now his way home, Consort. He should be arriving anytime soon."

The noble son answers as best as he could, feeling puzzled as to why the ger wants to know about that. He eyes the ger, the one that he love, a tad longer than necessary, drinking his features and committing it to his memory.

"Noble Son Shen, pardon me if this will sound a bit rude, but... can you please watch over your second brother when he gets home?"

The ger proceed to express his worries, saying how he have seen the second son of Shen dwelling within the Prince's courtyard, visiting his sister, and how he would stare at him intently and smirking at him. The ger repeatedly say he's sorry but he clearly was afraid of the man, thinking that perhaps he would want to seek revenge.

Noble Son Shen awkwardly smile, agreeing with ger's request, stating that he will try his best to explain to his younger brother on what really happen and will dissuade him if the latter wants to seek revenge. Deep down, the noble son was disappointed, thinking how low have his family's reputation have fallen, even his younger brother had been seen as a possible proprietor of an unknown future.

However, he knows, he can't blame them, especially the ger. He himself knows about his younger brother's infamous reputation within the city. Untimely, he also wonders if his younger brother have any negative notion towards the ger when he comes home later. He unconsciously vows in his heart to protect the sweet ger...

Even if the latter won't be having him in his eyes.

---

"I've told you before, Your Highness. My little cousin is a smart one. He warns me about the second son before and now he clearly asks for cooperation from Noble Son Shen. I think, he might already know much more."

"You mean, about the princess?"

Later that night, after tucking his bride to sleep, the Prince slip away and goes to meet the cousin. They discuss about what happen earlier at the tea house, as they're both puzzled over the ger's keen sense.

"Yes, Your Highness. Don't you remember, how he stubbornly insist on wanting to handle the princess welcoming banquet and wanting to be the one in charge of everything? Your Highness even told me how he wants to be the greeter. That time, we were both thinking that was just jealous. What if..."

"But how did she get any of these information? He arrives here alone. He didn't even bring any maid or servant. This was stated in the peace treaty, the condition that the Emperor and the King Of Silla agreed on." The Prince interject, unable to believe that his sweet bride is able to handle such espionage.

The cousin went silence for a moment, before continuing, hushly.

"My cousin is still the Prince of Silla, Your Highness. The royalties have their own sets of their trusted man, much like to your shadow guards. Who can guarantee that His Majesty, my uncle, didn't sent his best man to guard and to help his beloved son?"