2 "The Confusion"
I blamed my bad stinky luck again, I arrived at such a bad time to be alive. Indeed I didn't even know what problems were waiting for me quietly in the darkness of the future, but I knew if I am not wrong, the world I was seeing was going to be struck hard by the Mongols just two years later.
It was definitely a feeling that wasn't dropping me off the worries; and after knowing I am a prince here, I was kind of sure to be killed here, without being able to even find a girl in the eternal singleness of my life. but, it wasn't just the case bothering me- even the thought of being away from my family, friends, homeland was dreadful for a person like me. if added the thought of not being able to see them again, I would've almost dead inside.
I stood up, seized by the confusion, and unknowingly started walking across the room-
I felt something wrong, as I moved by the silver-edged mirror I saw my body.
.
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Is it my face?
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Is it my body?
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.
Captured in my thoughts, little I had realized that - the 'me' I was, wasn't 'me' now.
My ashen face was no more, instead, a whitened up, cheerful face was there- with long greyish strands of hair caressing my face.
Being caught off guard by the aura of my own appearance, I kept looking at my eyes, which looked more like a Chinese drama's lead actor.
Definitely! that wasn't only the startling factor here- my physical appearance and body- both had been transformed in such a way, that even I became jealous of my own new look.
Well confused by my appearance and structure, I pondered about my situation; still, my mind was in such a mess that can't give a proper answer to my situation-
So, after thinking for almost a whole one Incense burnout, I decided to screw my stupid mind and at least get the full knowledge of my situation here.
And because it is the 13th century, I have to go out and talk with others- if I am really interested in getting some information about this old world without the Internet, in which I was thrown into!
.
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I opened the big cupboard like furniture and got some damn good clothes on myself- As I came out of my quarters, I saw the cherry blossom trees spreading over the compound in full bloom which immediately caught my eyes, soul, and mind.
Spring was on its prime- A mild fragrance of flowers was everywhere. For a second, I cherished the moment standing there frozen like a rock.
As I turned my eyes from the courtyard to the right of the corridor, I saw a bunch of maidservants and Daifu staring weirdly at me, like I was telling them some plot of a Blockbuster Drama...
For a second, even I started to look at them in the same way as they were looking at me. But, this resulted in a dire awkward situation for all of us.
"What happened?", I asked in a confused voice.
To my surprise, within the next second-, they ran off with their 'feet over their heads' in fright and awkwardness!
As Daifu tried to run back too, I grabbed his back- stopping him in such a state, that his cloak came slipping into my hands, and he almost crashed to the ground.
Stifled laughter of servants was heard, and in shame- Daifu attempted to stand up as swiftly as he could, making me laugh suppressively for a moment. As I giggled, I also felt pity for him.
As he lept back on his feet and tried to maintain his posture back, I helped him to go back to my quarters and asked one servant to give him proper treatment. he went back, I had seen his pitiful face which was full of scars- you can speculate his face has seen much more pain than this.
His face had a prominent scar right next to one of his eyebrows, which I can identify as a cut left by a short dagger, maybe got in combat or an assassin would have left it.
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As I strolled to the front yard of the fairly big mansion, I saw Dai fu coming with a letter in his hands.
"Your Excellency, your Butler is ashamed to disrupt your morning. Lady Zhao has called you at her mansion!"
"L-L-Lady Zhao?...ok! got it.", I played to act according to the situation- even if, I didn't even know about who this 'Lady Zhao' was, But-
'anyways, I will take the risk...at least her name sounded fine to me-'
"Anyone! bring a Carriage here!", I ordered.
One soldier ran to take the carriage to the gate, I tried to start a conversation with Dai fu- trying to get information from him about what is happening in this kingdom. But, as I tried to say one word, the carriage came to the door, screeching with the sound of its wheels- abrupting the calmness of the surroundings.
As I entered the carriage, Dai fu got into the front. After all, he was the steward, and as he loosened the reins of the Carriage horses- I being unaware of the experience of travelling in a carriage, almost seemed to fall as the carriage moved against the inertia suddenly; But fortunately, I wasn't noticed by Daifu falling like that.
'I just got saved from being a laughing stock!'- I giggled inside, patting my own head as I got hold of a stable position in that 7 by 7 space enclosed by wooden and metal framework.
Well, it was moving faster than I expected- from the window of my carriage, I can see the lake and the lovely dawn-tinted Forest waning away from my sight, taking its calmness and redolence with it.
As my Carriage went through the narrow road cutting through the forest, the hills died out from my sight in the dark and cold forest, which spread at both sides of the path identically. Soon, the sound of the forest engulfed my ears- the chirping of birds, the furrowing air blowing by the leaves filled up the space left by the fading visuals-
But having nothing to do other than hearing the screeching of wheels, I decided to start a conversation with Dai fu- only he being soundless all this while.
"Dai Fu?", I stroked his back.
"Yes? Your Excellency!"
"..How much time we will take to reach lady Zhao?", I asked.
"about half an hour with this speed, should I speed up?"
"No, I am not in a need to, at least I am not in a hurry for now.", I reassured him.
"Are you sure your excellency?"
I was taken aback by this sudden inquest- "Why shouldn't I be ?", I asked.
Daifu, seeming to be annoyed a little, slowed the carriage a bit-"Oh! I thought you would want to make her clear about your yesterday's deeds.", he replied.
'what this Yun did yesterday? sounds like I am in trouble because of him...eh?'- I wondered. But, my intrusiveness didn't let me sit back on this puzzle-
"What deeds? I don't remember actually, c-can you please tell me?", I almost tried my luck taking the uncertainty of appearing ridiculous.
Dai Fu turned his head, staring with a confused and mischievous look at me-" Yun, you really forgot what mess you did yesterday?", he said with such a tone, I thought I got into suspicion or something, "don't joke again!"- he shifted back to the front.
"..I just don't remember clearly; Liquor is a bad thing indeed!", I quoted; trying to answer a question which I didn't even perceive of.
"Fine, It's okay! But, I don't think someone would forget such a mess even if he is drunk with the Mongolian Booze*", He chuckled with every part of his body being at a sarcastic note-" You soaked her up in yesterday's banquet! how can anyone forget how ashamed she was!..."
'What!?', I was alarmed-' Why Yun? Why? You also want to die single like me?'-I was annoyed as hell, I thought Yun was quite a womanizer with his damn good physique and status, but now it seemed that it was just only what I thought to be.
"...Actually it's not your fault, Yun"- Dai fu comforted me, as he saw the unsettling disappointment building upon my eyes.
"She was cracking mean jokes on you, and you just soaked her mistakenly when you tried to laugh when drinking", Dai fu continued-"She got that for what she did actually. But, It will be more agreeable if you apologize to her because by any chance if this matter goes public, your reputation as a General and Prince will be deterred."
'So, I am a general too- Woah! that sounded nice to me.'-I sighed, knowing the fact that besides being a prince, I am a war general too.
"Yeah...Dai fu, You are right! Sometimes it's nice to make some small sacrifices to get success."-I answered opening the letter Dai Fu gestured me to read-
'Spring and Autumn comes and goes,
The destiny of people changes with time,
The dynasties fall and rise,
As tides of war rise and fall against it,
Only the change remains the same,
The day and nights meet together at dawn.'
Reading this, I was sure this lady really wanted to tell me something here, with such nicely arranged words.
"What do you think Daifu?"- I asked Dai Fu, seeking a clue.
"Well, I really don't think much about that, but I know that lady has some connections with Crown Prince in Caizhou.", Daifu replied.
"In Caizhou?", I finally got the clue where I am exactly-"Does our crown Prince really wants to mess with me by the means of this lady Zhao?"I questioned Daifu with some daring curiosity, trying to find out about this Lady Zhao whom I was going to meet.
"Your Excellency, I know you were in the North for a long time, So it's natural you don't know who she is. Lady Zhao is really powerful in Caizhou, and over that, she is an ally of the Crown Prince, who just have taken your military seal when you were injured a week ago, by framing your incapability with this Lady Zhao."
"This lady is really so powerful?" with some curiosity, I asked.
"She is the wife of the Prime minister Lui Zhao, I had told you earlier; You are actually forgetting things like hell."-Dai fu replied annoyed by the question, responded.
I laughed at his comment and started chatting about the Country's status till we were at the gates of Caizhou.
During the conversation, I came to know that this crown prince Jin Wu long, is trying to confirm his position as Emperor by curbing the other's powers. But, since he is highly unfavoured by the Old Emperor who is now too old even to have control over his empire- Wu long has kept the southern court under his control;
And as I expected about the Mongols- They were raiding the western provinces, but for now, at least, are under control as Dai fu says.
For me- I have returned from the Northern expedition defeating three or four armies of Mongols and other tribal clans; But due to my illness, I was called back to Caizhou, and when I returned, I came to know that I was stripped off of most of my military authorities, by that Wu long and Lady Zhao is making amendments to the court.
So yesterday, I had invited Lady Zhao and some other court officials to my mansion outside the capital to persuade them to my side, and I had almost made it too, but at last, I messed it up by infuriating that Lady Zhao, and now I would have to persuade her back to my side again.
Getting this valued information, I was finally able to think of my current situation as a Second Prince and General, whose military authorities were just messed up by some people whom I even didn't knew, and because I wasn't in the capital for a long time, I nor influenced the Royal court, nor on the People either.
What bad luck I have got!
Ahh! (Sigh)
