The curse from the past [Bonus chapter]

"Why did His Majesty silently listen to Xiana and let her stay here?" Empress Yunxian questioned Emperor Zhenji.

"What could I have said? Princess Xiana wants to fulfill her promise to the Crown Prince. It is a matter between two young people," Emperor Zhenji said and picked up the cup to drink the tea.

However, before he could sip the tea Empress Yunxian took away the porcelain cup from him and plonked it on the table. "I want the Emperor to tell me why he is so happy about Xiana around my son. Are they both already in love? Did the Crown Prince tell His Majesty the truth about what he is hiding from me?" Empress Yunxian asked her husband. This time with a stern tone.

"The Crown Prince told me nothing. He is silent about why he returned after seven years with a princess of the neighboring kingdom. I asked the Crown Prince about it, but he said he would tell me someday," Emperor Zhenji cleverly answered. He could not tell the Empress about Licheng as the truth only their son was supposed to tell everyone.

"Your Majesty, my eldest son never listened to me. However, he listens to the woman he has helped in some war. Earlier, when I asked him to send Xiana away, he ignored me. My heart hurts seeing this side of my eldest child," Empress Yunxian said and lowered her eyes.

"Give Licheng time, my beloved," Emperor Zhenji said and forwarded his hand to the table. He grabbed the tea cup and sipped it before his wife could snatch it. "The tea from your hands always rejuvenates me," he said and smiled at her.

Empress Yunxian ended up smiling. The sweet words from the Emperor's mouth would always turn her mood better every time she would be angry or upset.

Empress Yunxian lifted the teapot and poured tea for herself. "I want Licheng to listen to me as well. He met Xiana only a few days ago, yet he has gotten so close to her," she again brought the conversation to Licheng.

"Licheng loves us. When he feels right, he definitely will tell us everything. Why doesn't the Empress show faith in our son? She knows his nature. He hardly talks about him. He talks rudely with Xiana too. But she is kind of different from us. Empress Yunxian will not believe how Xiana hit Licheng with a broom in the morning," Emperor Zhenji said and started laughing. He bit his tongue when he saw the sharp gaze of the Empress at him.

"She hit the Crown Prince?!" Empress Yunxian was not only shocked but furious too.

"Aye, they were playing together. There is nothing serious about it," Emperor Zhenji calmed the Empress down. But she did not listen to her husband this time.

"No one can hit the Crown Prince. Why was I not informed about it?" Empress Yunxian decided to ask Eunuch Jize later about it when Emperor Zhenji held her hands.

"My beloved, calm down. As I said, it is between two young bloods. Don't you want to see your eldest son getting happy in even smaller things? Xiana is making him feel that. Since you love me so much, then you should forgive Xiana this time and not say anything to her," Emperor Zhenji requested her and somehow succeeded in convincing the Empress.

"Fine. For the Emperor, I will let this incident go," Empress Yunxian said and told him they should finish their tea.

~~~~~~~

Licheng sent a bowl of hot vegetable soup to Xiana. He did not want to catch her cold and told the servant to make sure she would drink the soup.

He himself could not go as he got the message that the five martial warriors had returned. He was in the pavilion, situated in the middle of the garden where those five came to see him.

Licheng understood from their expressions that they failed to fetch the document.

"Crown Prince Licheng, we met the Spirit Medium Master Tao," the second martial warrior, Wu Jingyun said.

Licheng's eyes grew bigger to hear him.

"He asked the Crown Prince to come himself," Wu Jingyun said.

"Hu Jiumo and I tried to go inside in the night as the Crown Prince had suggested to us," Hu Fei stated, "but there was a barrier. We could not pass it through. We believe it was made by that Spirit Master."

"It was tough for us to believe that the Spirit Medium still exists," Li Shiyi asserted.

"Only he is the one alive," Licheng stated and thanked them for their help. "I will go there tomorrow," he said.

"His Royal Highness mentioned that he could not enter the shrine," Shen Daoren reminded him and gazed at him with inquisitiveness. He expected an answer from Licheng.

"Because of the curse from the past which I got as I failed to protect the phoenix from getting sealed," Licheng told them.

"And this curse is still with the Crown Prince!? Even in this life?" Wu Jingyun asked.

Licheng nodded at him. "That's why Xiana is here. She neutralizes the effect of the curse on me," he said. "I wonder if Master Tao knows about her or not," Licheng murmured and knitted his brows together.

"How does the Crown Prince know that Xiana is his cure?" Shen Daoren questioned him.

"I just know," Licheng didn't want to give an explanation on that part. "You all should take a rest. You have worked hard for me," he stated.

"Licheng, why did you return to the palace? You should tell us the truth," Hu Jiumo said. "We all are martial brothers, that's why I am not using the title for you," he added.

"The phoenix is sealed here. The demon will return here only to create havoc not only in our Empire but the surrounding kingdoms too," Licheng asserted. "Xiana needs to get trained before that. She needs to activate her core energy which she is not aware of," he stated.

"I have decided to find out about the demon. If you allow me, I will begin the search for him," Wu Jingyun opined.

"I will tell you after I see Master Tao," Licheng answered. He asked them to be patient. The five martial brothers nodded their heads at Licheng and asked him not to be worried.

"The three stars will align in early winter. I need to free the phoenix before that," Licheng told them. The seriousness on his face was followed with confidence. This time he would not lose and would make sure everyone around him remained safe.