Chapter 4: Friendships, Palaces and Qipao's

Hao Yuxian stared at him wide-eyed, shocked that he could make such a request. 

"Your Highness, I..."

It's not Yueying's fault for not knowing this but in The City of the Moon, a lowborn becoming friends with a member of royalty was seen as taboo though there was no actual law that said they couldn't. Although he was very handsome, Yuxian had always been treated with disrespect and scorn by the members of the royal house even though he had never done anything to them that'd even make them feel that way. Yes, he was a lowborn, but he was also the very person who was in charge of keeping the members of the royal house safe until recently when he was given the task to protect the future emperor alone.

Putting that aside, Hao Yuxian knew that it wouldn't be possible for them to be friends, but he found it very hard to tell Yueying. Maybe it was the way he looked at him so kindly, or maybe it's his innocence on the matter. Whatever it was, it was making Yuxian have second thoughts on the matter. Still, he chose to tell him about the "No Friendship between Low-Borns and Royals" custom in the City of the Moon.

"Your Highness, you may not know this but the friendship you wish to establish with me is seen as taboo by royals, so I have to reject your offer. This servant sincerely apologizes."

Yueying looked at him for a moment be he parted his lips to speak.

"Well, I reject the rejection of my offer."

"..."

What the hell??

Is that even possible???

Yuxian was struck speechless and almost started to question Yueying's intelligence. He didn't even have the chance to speak when Yueying spoke again.

"I really don't care about some custom over there. Out here, you can be friends with anyone you wish, even if you only just met that person 10 minutes ago", he continued, "Regardless of whether or not I'm going to be an emperor, I still wish for you to be my friend."

Yueying was very resolute on the matter for some reason, more resolute than he'd ever been in his life. Yes, he was a clumsy, emotional and indecisive person, he truly possessed a heart of gold, far more valuable than any jewel or diamond. He always believed that people should be friends with each other because of who they are and not because of their status [ M: Go off Yueying ToT <3]

After hearing all this, Yuxian stared fixedly at him, unsure of what to say. Truly, he wasn't sure if their friendship would go far, he still...wanted to go at it. In all his twenty-five years of life, he had never come into contact with a royal who was so nice and actually put aside their status to be friends with a lowborn. It was simply unheard of!

So, he had a dangerous thought. Maybe, this could work, maybe he would be friends with him.

He smiled at him, unfamiliar warmth filling his eyes.

"Then it would be my pleasure your majesty."

A couple days later, Yuxian and Yueying were on their way to The City of the Moon. Li Yueying had packed up all his stuff, said goodbye to everyone in the village and left with Hao Yuxian as his guide. On the way there, he was both nervous and excited, so much that he forgot he wasn't going there as a tourist and was actually, if all goes well, going to be in charge of this place. He only remembered when Hao Yuxian called him 'Your Highness' which he started to feel a little awkward at. I mean, Yueying found it a bit uncomfortable that a 6'3, well-built twenty-five-year-old man, kept calling him, the sixteen-year-old boy with zero muscles whatsoever, your Highness. Though nothing could help this as he had tried to get him to stop but to no avail, Hao Yuxian was dead set on calling him that.

"I have to, your Highness", said Hao Yuxian.

"Why?", said Yueying as he pulled a long face. "I'm perfectly fine if you call me by my name, I feel that title isn't well suited for me."

Hao Yuxian simply shook his head and sighed.

"I'm afraid I can't do that your Highness, but if it would better this situation, I could address you as 'Young Master' instead?"

Yueying readily jumped at that idea and nodded profusely.

"Yeah, that's okay with me. Anything but that"

Yuxian, "Does it really bother you that much?"

Yueying, "Well, it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. I just don't know how I'm going to deal with it when hundreds of people start doing it as well."

Li Yueying pulled an even longer face as he sighed. Hao Yuxian looked at him, a bit worried. During their journey he'd realized that all this royal business must me hard in him. He was only sixteen years old; his life had barely even begun and now he had to become the ruler of a place he once called home but had no memory of? Surely, he must be having a hard time.

Yuxian was about to give him a few inspirational words, trying to make the best of his situation, but before he even got a word out, he was stunned speechless. Yueying had somehow managed to get stuck in a mass of thorned vines with only his head sticking out. 

"Yuxian...", he started as he sweat rolled with a sheepish look on his face. Yuxian quickly snapped out of it and rushed to help him. 

"Young Master!", he shouted. "How did this happen??"

Yueying replied with the same sheepish look, "I'm not so sure myself."

Yuxian quickly got him untangled and Yueying stood up. Though he fell back down much quicker as he yelped in pain. On his body were several cuts and scratches obviously from the thorns. Hao Yuxian quickly helped him to his feet to which Yueying was grateful for. 

"I'm fine, just a little...I mean a lot of scratches here and there--ouch...", Yueying wasn't able to finish his sentence as he felt a sudden pain shoot up from his leg. Looking down he saw that there was a lot of blood on the clothes near his calf. He rolled his pants leg up and saw that there was an especially long and deep "scratch" on his leg which meant that clearly, he was far from being fine. Yueying widened his eyes as he saw the injury before looking slowly towards Yuxian with a sheepish smile.

"Well, I guess I'm not completely fine, huh", he said. "Yuxian, I feel a little faint, I--"

Yueying closed his eyes and fell towards the ground. Luckily, Yuxian caught him before he hit the ground...back first? I don't know, but he really did fall backwards so technically he fell "back" first.

Anyway, Yuxian carried him in a way that I can only think to describe as princess-style though it's a bit unbefitting of Yueying, he is the emperor to be, so I'll describe it as "emperor style" for his sake o(*￣︶￣*)o

Furthermore, Yuxian carried him all the way to the city of the Moon which was the capital of the country of Yutu located in China [M: yeah, well duh] and once he passed through the gates, he was welcomed with the beautiful and enchanting scene of Moon City. 

It was a large and bustling scene with merchants selling all sorts of goods, from perfumes to trinkets to delicacies from foreign lands. But that was only just a part of it. 

On the streets were people dressed exquisitely in the finest silks and fabrics, all exuding an expensive, haughty air. The men wore fine robes that put out a sense of strength and proudness. The women had made up faces and complicated hairstyles that shot up to the sky. Their Hanfus had beautiful designs and patterns of birds, flowers and other beautiful things. 

Though there were many handsome and beautiful people in the crowd, Yuxian was still far more handsome in comparison [M:YESSS, THAT'S MY SON!!.·´¯`(>▂<)´¯`·. <33]

Putting that aside, people swiftly proceeding to stare at Yuxian and Yueying and whisper amongst themselves, though the bustling never ceased.

Hao Yuxian ignored all the strange looks and walked towards the home of all royals--Moon Palace. At night it looked resplendent under the light of the moon. The space it took alone was around the same size as a small town. It's white jade walls and golden roofs shone with unmatched radiance. It's red gates looked as solid and immovable as Mount Tai. There were several jade statues of rabbits jumping around, they looked to be having fun. 

This was something that Yuxian was used to, after all, he lived here. He neared the gates which were immediately opened by the guards on duty. They greeted him by stamping their weapons, a long staff with a moon-shaped head, on the ground twice. Yuxian simply nodded and told them to be at ease after which he continued to walk on towards the palace steadily. He had just reached the entrance when they were suddenly flung open and out walked a woman wearing a red, exquisite qipao and holding a hand fan. She adorned herself with various jade accessories. 

Though she wore a smile on her face, there was something poisonous about it, especially the look she had in her eyes as she stared down at Hao Yuxian. 

"Welcome back, Yuxian"