The Emperor's Order – Take Care of That Stupid Prince

Bai Xianyu, the general stood tall in the throne room, her eyes fixed on the Emperor seated on his golden throne, with a serious face.

She was used to facing bloody battles, countless enemies, and conflict that pushed her ability to limits. But today, the orders that came from him were different...unlike what she had ever imagined.

"Who do you want me to protect?" her voice sounded flat, almost incredulous.

The emperor, who was known for his wisdom, but today looked somewhat uneasy this time, he placed his hands on the palace table and nodded slowly. "Prince Zhao Renshu."

That prince….Prince Zhao Renshu? A prince known not for wisdom or bravery, but for his legendary foolishness?

From the moment he was born, he seemed destined to be the laughingstock of the entire palace.

Bai Xianyu stared at the Emperor with a blank expression, trying to process what she had just heard.

"Prince Zhao Renshu? The one who always creates chaos every time he opens his mouth?"

The Emperor smiled calmly, but Bai Xianyu could see the lines of tension on his forehead.

"Yes, you heard correctly. He is my younger brother, and he is currently in danger. You know that there are many enemies in the palace. We have to protect him, but…" The Emperor paused, as if searching for the right words. "I cannot entrust this task to just anyone. Only to you, Bai Xianyu, can I trust with his life."

Bai Xianyu swallowed hard. This is not an ordinary command. This was a mission that was not only risky, but also...exasperating, because Prince Zhao Renshu was known for his unrestrained stupidity. She couldn't even begin to imagine the ordeal of guarding him.

"But, your majesty…" Bai Xianyu tried to suppress her frustation.

"That prince...he is a threat to himself. I would rather return to the battlefield than babysit a creature like that."

The Emperor chuckled, though his laughter carried exhaustion.

"I know he's not the ideal choice. But you are the only one capable handling whatever chaos that he may cause. I know this is not an easy task, Bai Xianyu. But there is no other choice."

Bai Xianyu closed her eyes. "How am I supposed to protect someone who doesn't know how to protect himself?" She thought.

However, as a soldier, she knew that orders were orders.

Even if her heart resisted, she could not defy the Emperor.

"Very well," she finally answered, her tone more even than before. "I will protect him."

The Emperor smiled and nodded in satisfaction.

"Thank you, Bai Xianyu. You are my only hope now."

***

A few days later, Bai Xianyu stood in Prince Zhao Renshu's private quarters.

At outside, the autumn wind blew the golden leaves falling to the ground, but inside the palace, the air temperature felt colder than usual.

Bai Xianyu glanced the room, searching for the prince in question.

"Prince Zhao Renshu," she called firmly, trying to get the attention of the owner of the room. "Come out, I'm already here."

However, there was no sound, except for the sound of water gurgling from the wine jug in the corner of the room. Bai Xianyu stared at the urn, and a worry began to rise in her heart. "He wouldn't have..."

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps could be heard from behind the curtain.

A man with messy hair and a carefree grin emerged, facing Bai Xianyu. His big, innocent eyes gleamed as if he had just woken up from a bizarre dream.

"Oh, General Bai!" Zhao Renshu greeted with a cheerful voice full of enthusiasm. "You came to help me with my problem, right?"

Bai Xianyu looked at him with a frown. "Problem?" She asked cautiously.

Zhao Renshu beamed. "Of course! I've been trying to paint something on this table, but I think I need help. Drawing is harder than it looks, don't you think?"

He gestured toward a table cluttered with paint, paper, and... a drawing of a tree that resembled something a toddler might sketch.

Bai Xianyu stared at the painting, holding back the laughter that was about to come out. "This is... a painting of a tree?" she asked, trying to keep his facial expression serious.

Zhao Renshu nodded vigorously.

"Yeah, I think it's pretty cool! But, maybe I need a second opinion... What do you think should be to the left of this tree? I thought about adding birds, but I was afraid they would look more like chickens."

Bai Xianyu exhaled sharply, feeling torn between frustation and despair mixed in her heart. "You know Prince, right now we need to focus more on your safety, not drawing birds or trees. This palace is full of enemies."

However, Zhao Renshu chuckled instead, ignoring Bai Xianyu's anxiety.

"Oh, that's no problem. I'm sure everything will be fine. Besides, who would want to attack a stupid prince like me?" he said, in an almost unbelievable lightness.

Bai Xianyu stared at him, almost losing his temper. "You don't understand this situation. You are not only stupid, but your stupidity is a threat to yourself!"

Zhao Renshu laughed, as if he heard the best joke in the world. "I know, I know. But my life is very exciting, isn't it? Don't worry about me, General Bai. I'm always safe, even though I often make a mess."

Bai Xianyu stared at him for a moment, feeling a headache coming on. She felt like she was talking to a child who knew nothing, but the problem was that this Prince Zhao Renshu was not a child. He is the successor to the throne who should be wiser and more careful. But in reality, he more often invites disaster with his stupidity.

However, despite that, Bai Xianyu knew that her duty was to protect this person no matter how difficult it was. "We'll start training tomorrow morning," she said, deciding to change the topic. "We must prepare you for any eventuality. I will teach you how to survive in this palace."

Zhao Renshu nodded with a big smile. "Okay! But can I still draw birds after the training is finished?" Bai Xianyu sighed silently. It seemed like this task would be more difficult than she had imagined.