Chapter 17; Feelings

Ming Liguan had harbored a crush on Ming Huan since childhood. As little Liguan showed him her bleeding finger, she whimpered,

  "Brother Huan! Boohoo," seeking comfort from the boy she adored. Little Huan, with his curly hair and chubby cheeks, was a picture of kindness and charm.

  "Don't worry," he reassured her, gently cleaning the blood, treating the wound, and skillfully bandaging it. Walking to the garden, he plucked a delicate pink rose, offering it to her as a gesture of consolation.

 "It's alright, good girls don't cry," he murmured softly, placing the flower behind her ear. In that tender moment, as the rose adorned her hair, Liguan felt a wave of contentment wash over her. She smiled, her heart full, as she slowly returned to reality from her past memory. 

Ming Mian slammed his fist against the table in a fit of rage, his breath coming out in heavy, frustrated puffs. They had been so close, almost within reach, but everything had been ruined by those fools.

 "Mian'er, don't worry, we will get her sooner or later," Liling comforted him, her voice soft and soothing in the midst of her anger.

"I'm sorry I failed the mission. I deserve punishment," she confessed, her tone heavy with guilt and self-blame. Liling picked up a priceless carved Jade, her fingers tracing the intricate design as she inspected it.

 "You don't deserve punishment, you deserve death," she declared coldly, her eyes flashing with anger as she brought the Jade crashing down onto the floor, shattering it into a thousand pieces that scattered across the floor.

"You were this close, so close. How could you fail?" she rasped, her voice laced with disappointment and frustration. The intensity of her emotions palpable in the air as she stood before her, a mix of shame and regret clouding her features. As she pondered the situation, a sudden realization struck Liling.

 "Wait, how is it possible that Ming Yuan and Ming Huan weren't affected?" she mused aloud, a frown creasing her brow. It dawned on her that the duo had likely abstained from drinking the wine at the banquet hence why they remained slightly affected by the tune influence.

"Lay low for now. We will strike when the iron is hot," she instructed calmly, her mind already formulating a plan of action. The other person nodded in agreement.

   "Your highness," Hui cufen respectfully handed the report to Ming Huan. His brow furrowed as he scanned the document.   

    "The Demonic Tunist, Suyuan?" he questioned, turning to Ming Yuan who nodded in confirmation. Dai Yu  added, "We are yet to find the Mastermind behind these troubling attacks."

Ming studied the intricate design on the report, a nagging familiarity tugging at his memory. Suddenly, a vivid image flashed in his mind – the assassin's stealthy arrow.    

   "This design..." Ming murmured aloud, recognizing the signature mark.

 "It's the same design as before, but slightly altered." The both princes exchanged a knowing look, the pieces starting to come together in their minds. "Iron welder," they whispered simultaneously, a feeling of dread settling over them. It seemed that the enemy was far more cunning and dangerous than they had initially anticipated. Dai Yu continued to deliver the unsettling news to the two princes. 

  "This weapon was purchased on the black market," he stated gravely. "No blacksmith in Chang'er has seen this design before or has it in their possession." Ming Huan and Ming Yuan exchanged a somber glance, the gravity of the situation weighing heavy on their shoulders.

Meanwhile, at the Fragrance Residence, Mei Xiang, a cunning strategist, shared a knowing smile with Zhang Lin.

    "As expected, the pieces fell into place," she remarked coolly after reviewing the report. With a sense of calculated determination, Mei Xiang continued, 

 "Let's see how useful their resources are in finding the Iron welder." She exuded a quiet confidence as she awaited the unfolding of events, her sharp mind already strategizing the next move.

In the courtyard, Ming Julian  honed his sword skills with precision and focus. As he practiced tirelessly. Fury burned within Ming Julian as he remembered lying helplessly, vulnerable and unable to defend himself. The image of his own immobile body, akin to a lifeless corpse, filled him with a deep sense of shame and frustration. He despised the feeling of inferiority, of being dependent on others for rescue. Yet, in that moment of powerlessness, he grappled with conflicting emotions of anger and self-recrimination, longing to prove his strength and independence to the world. The very notion of weakness and vulnerability grated against every fiber of his being. At sixteen years old, on the cusp of adulthood, Ming Julian felt the weight of expectations pressing down on him. Old enough to fend for himself, old enough to take on the responsibilities of a man – perhaps even to marry.. . A sudden memory of Zhang Lin flashed before his eyes. Recalling the moment they had lain side by side during a recent event, a fleeting touch of skin between them sparked a rush of warmth in his cheeks. Ming Julian's heart quickened at the memory, his thoughts momentarily consumed by the image of Zhang Lin and the unexpected intimacy they had shared.

Lost in his thoughts, Ming Julian was startled by Wang Dan, who rushed to his side. 

 "Your highness, are you alright?" Wang Dan's concerned voice broke through Ming Julian's reverie, pulling him back to the present. 

"Scram!" Julian's voice was sharp, laced with embarrassment. He didn't like being seen in such a vulnerable state, but Wang knew his young master well.

 "Urh!" Julian stormed off, his frustration palpable, leaving Wang to shake his head and follow. 

Meanwhile, Ming Yin, cloaked in the shadows of the starless night, crept towards the nearest exit. Before he could slip away, Bao Lin emerged silently behind him, a hand gently resting on his shoulder.

 "Where are you going, young master?"

Ming Yin jumped, startled by the sudden appearance. "Yaa!" he whispered, his voice laced with fear and mild irritation. "You scared me!"

"Didn't I tell you to cover up for me?" Ming Yin hissed, annoyance edging his voice.

     "But your Highness..." Bao Lin began, but was cut off.

"Hide!" He whispered, pulling Bao Lin behind a nearby shrub, just as the patrolling guards rounded the corner.          "I can't leave you alone, it's my duty to protect you."

    "C'mon, this isn't my first time going out unprotected," he muttered back, peering cautiously around the shrub for any sign of the guards.

    "Nor your last," Bao Lin murmured, her voice laced with a mixture of worry and exasperation. 

Just then, a shadowy figure slipped away from their hiding spot, disappearing into the darkness.

"Did you see that?" His Highness whispered, his voice tight with urgency. 

   "Your Highness, it's not safe out..." Bao Lin started, her concern evident. 

"Let's go," he cut her off, his tone brooking no argument. He tugged her along, his grip firm, as they hurried away.