22 22 - Remembering the past

Chao Shen is walking from the Imperial Court going to the king's study hall when he passed by the Xian Pavilion. The place is still sealed even though the owner of this residence passed away for six years now. Xian Pavilion is where Empress Meiying resides. She is the mother of King Ju-long. When King Ju-long is still a crown prince, he and Chao Shen would often sneak out to visit her. She is a very kind and loving woman. It is just sad that she was married to the previous king, whose ambition to gain more power than his wife.

Chao Shen took a deep breath, he remembered the time when he first took Lihua in the palace.

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"Remember, you are not allowed to roam around the palace. This is not the time to do it," Chao Shen reminded Lihua once again as they enter the palace. Lihua, dressed as a maidservant nodded as she followed him from behind.

After a few minutes of walking through different stone paths, where all the buildings looked the same, the reached the crown prince's study hall. There have been other maidservants standing outside the hall.

Chao Shen looked intently to Lihua for the last time before entering the study hall. The eunuch announced his arrival.

When he entered the study hall, the crown prince is already accompanied by two other nobles' son. Hao Li, the 1st son of the Minister of Music and Meng Chang, the 1st son of the Minister of Rites.

"Greetings your highness," Chao Shen bowed lightly to the crown prince.

"No need for formality," says the Crown Prince.

"Greetings to Master Li and Master Chang," he greeted the other two nobles as well.

"Greetings Master Shen," chorused the two nobles.

"I am glad that I have capable people to help me organize the hunting ceremony this year," says the crown prince. It is evident that he is surprised to receive the decree to organize the hunting ceremony.

"It is an honor to assist your highness," says Hao Li.

"We will do out best to help your highness," says Meng Chang.

"That's good then. Okay, let's start with the flow of the ceremony..."

The discussion and planning lasted for the whole day. Food was sent inside. Chao Shen realized that the crown prince is indeed serious about this first major task that the king gave him. He even employs the help of young nobles, this means that he wants to secure his position as well.

When the planning ended, both Hao Li and Meng Chang left the study hall first. Chao Shen and Prince Ju-long continued to chat as they sip their tea.

"It's good that those two agreed to help," Chao Shen commented.

"Well, they have no choice. Aside from I am the crown prince, they cannot avoid an imperial decree."

"Oh? There's a decree? Why I did not receive one?" he asked with his brows furrowed.

"Hahaha, I know you will help me even there's no decree, right?" he looked at him with meaning.

"Of course," Chao Shen answered. He looked at the tea on his teacup. Of course, he needs to show that he is willing to help this crown prince or else people may get suspicious.

"I wonder why the king suddenly decided to give you this task,"

"I wonder as well at first," the crown prince said thinking deeply. "but, then, maybe he is too guilty of neglecting my mother so he is doing this to make up for it."

Chao Shen looked at the young crown prince in front of him. They are almost at the same age but his face is filled with sadness and grief. He just lost his mother, the Empress, last year. And he knew how much he loves his mother. Maybe, just like the king, he is also guilty of not spending more than with her in the past. Chao Shen sipped his tea.

"It's good as well for you. At least you can put your mind somewhere else."

The crown prince looked at him and gave him a weak smile.

After a while, Chao Shen stood up and bowed to the crown prince.

"I'll be leaving now. My maidservant is new and somewhat stubborn and impatient. I hope she hasn't done anything yet."

"You're maidservant?" the crown prince suddenly got curious.

"Why?" he asked confused.

"Nothing, I am just surprised that you care about your maidservant."

"I don't care about her, I care about the mess she might have caused. I couldn't let her ruin my reputation."

"Okay," but it is evident on the prince's face that he is not convinced. "let me walk you out."

When both of them went out of the study hall, they saw a few maidservants waiting there.

"Who is your maidservant?" the prince asked rather excitedly.

Chao Shen's face turned dark and gloomy.

"She's not here."

Chao Shen and Prince Ju-long were looking for Lihua. Both of them knew that even though they have a position in the palace if the maidservant committed a grave mistake they cannot help her. For Chao Shen, Lihua is a very important part of their plan. For Prince Ju-long she is an interesting maidservant, a person that made Chao Shen care about someone.

Chao Shen's patience is being tested when suddenly they passed by the Xian Pavilion. He is surprised that they've gone this far without realizing it. He looked at Prince Ju-long to check his expression. The prince is looking longingly at the Xian Pavilion. His eyes are filled with sadness. He knew that since the death of the empress, the Xian Pavilion has been sealed and no one is allowed inside. He just stood there and gave the prince time to looked at the place where her mother lived.

Chao Shen is looking at the Xian Pavilion as well when suddenly, he saw a girl wearing maidservant clothes going out of the pavilion. She's going out carefully, her back is facing them. In that instant, he recognized her.

"You!" he said while suppresing his anger.

Prince Ju-long suddenly looked at him. Then, he followed his gaze and saw the girl as well. They saw how shocked she was when she saw them. The girl immediately ran towards them and kneeled down.

"This servant knows that I shouldn't have left without young master's permission. I deserve to be punished."

"At least you know that you deserve to be punished! Do you know that you committed a serious crime?"

Lihua looked up at him confused.

"I only left the study hall because I am hungry and I got lost on my way back. What serious crime I committed?"

Chao Shen slapped her that instant. He is afraid that Prince Ju-long will be suspicious if he is too soft with her.

"How dare you answered back!"

Lihua, who is shocked, looked at the other young man besides Chao Shen and she immediately get it. She bowed so low now.

"Please forgive me young master."

"Ayiee, don't be too harsh on her." says the crown prince.

Chao Shen looked at him surprised.

"But your highness, she trespassed in the Xian Pavilion!"

Prince Ju-long sighed before looking at him with a small smile.

"We cannot punish those who don't know. Besides, I don't want to have a different memory of this place." he looked at the Xian Pavilion again.

Lihua remained on the ground bowed. After a while, the prince helped her up. Both Chao Shen and Lihua were surprised by his action. Lihua doesn't dare look at him in the face.

"I just let you off and you don't want to look at me?" Prince Ju-long asked still holding her shoulders.

"I dare not!" Lihua immediately looked at him.

Chao Shen who is watching this on the side felt something inside his heart. He doesn't like how Prince Ju-long is this close to Lihua.

"That's good then." Prince Ju-long says smiling. He then looked at Chao Shen.

"Shen, I have an idea. Why not we eat first before both of you leave the palace? I don't want to give this young girl a bad impression of the palace."

Chao Shen saw the concern and panicked on Lihua's eyes but who is he to decline the crown prince's request.

"As you wish," he said quietly.

Prince Ju-long had a big smile after hearing this. He led the two of them back to his study hall.