Chapter 20: The Fire's Warning

Jian Li stood frozenly still in his chambers, with a heavy scroll in his hands, mumbling words under his breath beside the warm candle.

"Hidden treasure as they were, four selected lived.

Different lives beside tradgedy.

Bound by misfortunes, they will meet.

Four bright colored stars

Faces the moon

Ripe as time,

They will eventually weep.

If you are one with the four,

—"

His vision blurred, his insides twisting and gave him a very unsettling feeling, quickly making him dizzy. The words of the poem that was written neatly in the beautiful scrolls crumbled away, and his muffled reading voice was fading in the background, everything slowly melted to darkness until nothing was seen in his vision.

With just one drip of water, everything became muted.

From the silence, the loud and deafening scream that sounded very muffled made a bone chilling strike for the Prince. A sight of someone from underwater surprised him, his head was dipped under a body of water and was yelling on top of his lungs as the gargles of air bubbles smothered his face, a face of a man he couldn't recognize whose.

The sight in front of him left him confused, dumbfounded, shocked and dazed, until a man's voice, so close to his ear mumbled something so soft that it was mostly inaudible.

"Uncover.. secrets... palace .. Li.."

The man's gentle but insistent voice faded, and inside his vision, quick flashes of candles, pearls, and hands appeared, stirring his head even more. "We beg for your grace!" Yelled tens of thousands of people inside his head deafeningly, causing him to gasp and sit up, jolting him out of his sleep.

"W-what!..." his breathing unstable, he tried to catch his breath, staring at the chamber's white walls. Realizing it was a dream, the Crown Prince heavily sighs, massaging the area between his eyebrows. ".. What was that..."

"Is everything alright Your Highness?" Aren moved beside his bed, making Jian Li jolt once more. Aren laughed softly, carrying clothes on his arm, excellently wearing his full white attire.

Jian Li looked up, his personal attendant's face warming his terrible morning with a pure, cresent eyed smile, setting the boy in peace. "...It is, im alright."

Aren waved for one of the servants behind to fetch a glass of water for the prince, of course quickly obeying him with such grace. "I took notice you've been having much disturbing dreams these past few days.. graces, even near the coronation. Talk about bad timing." Aren sighed, making the veiled attendants hold the prince's garbs to choose which would fit Jian Li.

"...." Jian Li didnt say anything, by just remembering some of his dreams for the past weeks was enough to put his head into a swirling void. He just shifted his eyes and went out of bed, the attendants fastening a white cloak around him.

"How is the preparation going, Aren?" Rubbed the Prince on his head then crossing his arms while he headed for the balcony. He felt his body suddenly being weakened, he raised his brows as the strength suddenly went back to his knees once again. 'What was that?'

"As expected of our young king, your ways of holding the coronation is perfect. Its such a wonder how you're able to organize such event. How excellent you are." Complimented Aren brightly while Jian Li just shook his head.

"I may have been eaten by my anxiety if i stayed sitting around in this small room, waiting for a crown to fall on top of my head, while people in the corners of my kingdom starves." His cloak danced along the morning breeze, then he heads back inside once more.

"Of course. You are diligent, im so happy to serve you little Li." Called Aren by his personal nickname to his little brother Jian Li whom he guarded and baby-sat. Ever since the prince could recall, both of them were together since he was young. His first memory on his childhood was the very bright smile of a swordsman kneeling infront of him, declaring his oath to stand and protect the small crown prince Jian Li in front of King Hongwu. It was Aren in his youth, a very handsome man clothed entirely in white, who keeps his sword concealed behind his back as a habit. Despite his youth, this man was able to become one of the Jian Kingdom's four elite knights.

"Im very grateful with your work." Jian Li bowed to his servants, mostly to his all day guard, Aren. Jian Li then inhaled softly, lifting the flamboyant crown with his fingertips and placing it on top of his head.

Aren then stared proudly at the once thin courageous boy, who now grew up to be an off- charts, excellent type of man with a true and kind heart for his people. "Then, how about a light breakfast Your Highness?" Aren smiled, knocking on the doors from the inside as notification for the guards to open the chamber doors.

"I'd like that, Aren." Jian Li nodded, his boots clacking when he exited the chamber. "Thank you."

Aren stood from behind and bowed, "Yes, Your Highness."

*

The heel of Jian Li's boots sounded fastly along the hallways, his servants following right after him, with Aren lagging behind as he was dumped by Jian Li a pile of books (since the women servants cannot lift heavy books, Jian Li takes advantage of Aren's knightly strengths.)

Spotting the King, Jian Li immediately headed for him and bowed, skillfully pulling out a scroll from his hold like it was a toy for him. The King knitted his brows then sighed at the sight of paper. "Father. I have a project to propose-"

"Jian Li?" The King wanted to get out of the smell of paper, his entire mind overworked.

Jian Li opens the scroll and shows it to his father, laying it open. "Last week, I was informed of minor damage to the unstable bridge connecting the marketplace and villages. It would be much better for the community if we could fix it immediately so that travelers would not be inconvenienced while passing. I noticed we have numerous funds collected; why not use them to fund our budget for rebuilding our bridges? Im also aware that this has been on the notice for a long time; I'm curious as to why no one is taking action, despite the fact that this is an issue for the wellness of the people. Additionally, I noticed a few errors from the-"

"—Jian Li..." Cut in his father that made him stop from his words.

Hongwu sighed, "Your coronation is right at your door. You've performed more actions in and around this palace than I have; take a break. When you are king, you can accomplish more..."

Jian Li then stood firm, his sharp eyes meeting his father's, then saying, "I want to mend this kingdom, to strengthen the pillars that will carry it even higher."

Then Jian Li added, "No matter how large or small it is, this kingdom has numerous flaws in its functioning father... there are so many things that can be changed! Even as crown prince, I have even the slightest authority to make even the most insignificant changes to this kingdom. Pardon me, but breaking the law of crown princes does not count if I am not showing my face, does it?" Jian Li fiercly replied that made the king sigh in loss of speech.

He called. "You are to be assured of your throne. You will certainly be a fine king for this kingdom." Hongwu tapped his son's shoulder, assuring him some warmth somehow.

"I am very honoured to received those kind words from you, father." Jian Li bowed, his face not even moved one bit. As if he already is solidly sure to himself that he will make an exceptionally excellent king. And that it was absolute that he trusts himself that he can confidently be one hell of a king.

"Rest, my son, let your father do the work for his remaining reign."

Jian Li nodded at his father, understanding that he may have bothered his rest. Quickly trying to leave, he and his servants bows. Bidding his father goodbye. "Have a nice morning."

"I am sure that the future rests safe in your hands."

*

"You are the servant of Jian Li yes?"

A deep and sensual voice called out to him from behind. Aren stopped walking at the hallway and turned around; A very tall man stood in front of him, next thing he knew, the second prince of Jian Kingdom, Jian Morfran was right in front of him, dressed in very extravagant clothes, and his crown resting on top of his head. Looking very prince-like and highly dignified.

The servant was startled, but he still managed to greet the Prince politely. "How long have you known about the fact that this elder brother of mine, Jian Li was the reason behind my mother, the queen's death? and that Jian Li, is actually adopted and fostered by the King? Mmh?" Slyly with his rough voice he said, Aren furrowed his brows in confusion with his words.

"Your Highness?" Asked away Aren, then Morfran walked towards him, unconsciously, Aren backed off, trying to counter the prince's strange actions cautiously, his senses as a former knight coming back as he felt a strong aura of anger raging in inside Morfran's eyes.

"Letting this stranger pretending to be a crown prince... How long have this palace been deceiving me?" The Prince leaned in, the tremendous pressure in the air had made the back of Aren's throat go numb. The attendant crumpled the paper reports in his hold, sensing a strong smell of the intent to kill. Aren tried to step even further to breathe and talk formally, but the Prince had already cornered him and got ahold the poor servant's chin with only his right palm, squeezing Aren's cheeks and locking his eyes to Aren's. Morfran clenched his own jaws, while his hot breath fanned the white cladded man's face closely as he whispered to him, "Answer me, my very darling Aren."