Chapter fifty-two: Silent war

Few days later, prince Song woke up from his bed with an exasperated groan. Sitting up on his bed he called out to his guards. They came in ,bowed and greeted him.

He sized them up and yawned. "Buddies, how many times do l tell you not to stand outside my door waiting on me?"

One of them made to reply when he cut him short making him swallow his words. "We are friends here not master and servants. I want them to see us as one entity, nobody will try to murder me here, don't make me repeat myself again...is that clear?"

They nodded in acceptance and he dismissed them to do the different tasks they are assigned to do. He quickly washed up his face and teeth and sped out of his room. His leg is totally healed making his sprint faster and more comfortable.

He looked around and tiptoed to the room of his ' Seohwa' taking care not to be caught by that grim looking man named jae joon. Dude beat him up when he caught him writing poems for her and he doesn't want a repetition.

Observing his surroundings, he saw that the ladies have all woken up and has started their tasks of weaving and knitting, while others are roasting something over the fire. Only one of them is missing and that's his girl. One of the women turned to collect something and their eyes met.

Oh my god! that's Seohwa's mother. The one woman that makes his heart pound, well out of fear. Subconsciously, he believes the woman hates him for no just reason. Her tone of speech is very soft except when It is used to address him. Her eyes sparks fire whenever it is laid on him. She even asked him why he is still there when it is clear that he is completely recovered and should be on his way.

Swallowing the lumps forming on his chest, he greeted her and picked up a fishing net pretending to go fishing. She looked at him , nodded and averted her eyes continuing what she was doing.

He released a shaky breath and ran away. A magnetic voice caught him when he was catching his breath and like a magnet followed it to find its source.

Hiding behind the small wall, he peeped and saw her spreading something on the sun , singing too.Her voice so melodious and angelic, he could give up anything to have her sing for him everyday.

Lost in his world, he forgot to hide and exposed himself. A cold metal rested on his neck jolting him back to the presence. He made to berate whoever it is that is playing with a sword till his eyes fell on his mortal enemy, Jae joon.

"Brother, l was just looking for you , to give me some pointers" he smiled trying to look as cute as possible , his heart jumping up and down in his chest.

Jae joon ignored his act and dragged him to the centre of the square. Yoona looked back and saw what happened and let out a low laugh.

Spying on me again dude? Hmm , what's up with this guy anyway ,she murmured in her mind not even sparing him a second glance. Done with spreading, she left them to play a little.

Prince Song nearly puked blood when he saw her actions (Heartless girl , she couldn't even save me from this monster ) .The word monster barely registered on his mind when a wooden sword was thrown at him. (Dude! I was in the middle of something when you interrupted you know) he screamed in his head while accepting it.

They balanced themselves in a martial arts stance , putting themselves in the mood. Prince Song swore to use his maximum strength and knowledge and defeat him to redeem himself from his earlier humiliation.

"Ready?" but Jae joon answered with the swing of his sword. He dodged and swung his sword aiming for his stomach but Jae joon's sword ended on his chest sending him reeling back.

He got up and ran towards him again , very fast but slow in Jae joon's eyes who has been training everyday. He kicked out his sword and placed his own sword on his neck leaving prince Song speechless.

"If this was a real battle, your head would be rolling on the ground" Jae joon straightened his back , looking coldly at him.

Prince Song refused to give up and challenges him to another duel with the use of their fists alone.He knows he stand no chance against him. The guy is incredibly strong and fast making their spar look like a child's play.

His opponent accepted gladly and asked him to attack first.

"Why"? he shouted while running in offensive using his elbow to hit on a sensitive part of his body but Jae joon blocked his attack with his own elbow while using his legs to kick him away. "Leave her alone".

" Why should I leave her alone?" He got up this time aiming for his leg but Jae joon easily leaped out of the way and elegantly threw a blow connecting his lower jaw.

Prince Song spat out a mouthful of blood but continued on , jumped up mid-air sending his foot flying and Jae joon met him mid-air with his own foot jabbing his stomach sending him flying back hitting the table with his head."She is not meant for you!"

Yoona that came to watch them saw him sprawling on the ground with blood all over his face and screamed. She brought him up while looking at Jae joon who sneered at him coldly and ignored them both.

On his way out, he sighed and advised Yoona to stay away from the boy.

Prince Song wincing in pain saw her holding him and smiled. "What are you doing here?"

Yoona wanted to spank him for being stupid. But she doesn't understand what happened, last time Jae joon had just beat him up without inflicting any injury so what happened today? Prince Song saw her face and chuckled ,so she do get worried? (Should I allow Jae joon to beat me every day so that she can hold and look at me this way?)

"Why would you keep fighting Jae joon, your head is bleeding badly with your mouth" she shouted while pressing on the bleeding spot.

"You should have seen the other guy" he joked but that got him a disapproving look that kept him quiet.

A doctor rushed in and started to clean his wounds and bandage him up. Yoona gave him a confused look and he smiled ."Jae joon sent me"

___________________

The empress dowager strutted towards the crown prince palace, her maids bearing snacks and fruits. Grinning from ear to ear she kept on asking if they missed anything but her servants kept smiling at her while assuring her everything is fine.

At his gate she was about to check on the food again when a piercing hurtful voice rang in the air.

"Empress dowager Myung, what are you doing here ?"

Her back stiffened a bit before she relaxed herself and turned with dignity to look at her.

"Empress Min, what is wrong with a grandmother visiting her grandson?"

She huffed and walked towards her , bowed reluctantly while eyeing the trays they are covering with cloths.

"I hope the dowager empress is not bringing food for my son... the palace is known with a long history of poisoning"

(Is she threatening me with the fact that I might poison her son?) " Empress Min, the food will be tasted by the tasting courtmaid before being presented to My Soon" she smiled at her.

"My Soon? since when did my son become 'my Soon ' to you" she growled.

Empress dowager ignored her and walked inside ordering the eunuch to announce them both.

"Empress dowager Myung and empress Min is here to visit you your highness!" the eunuch bowed while announcing.

The empress dowager asked him to announce again this time using grandmother instead of empress dowager. The eunuch did as told and the crown prince rushed out from his room bowed before them both and took the arms of his grandmother leading her inside.

The empress mother nearly cried when she saw the preferential treatment and called out to his attention . The crown prince posed a question at her and she nearly stumbled upon her feet.

"Are you here as the empress or as my mother?"

"Of course am here as your mother" she trembled.

"Then where are your own tray of food ? Grandmother clearly brought something to give her grandson, where are yours?" he challenged her.

She stammered till she decided to give up but the crown prince was not done with her. "Your Majesty, l suggest that if you have something to tell me you should send your servants, an empress going personally to give a message to someone not the emperor will not bode well for your dignity" he held unto the dowager's arm tightly and led her inside.

The empress stormed out to her palace. Once inside she ordered that paper and brush be brought to her. She wrote "Prime minister, your right to trading salt has been revoked , give it to the crown prince".

The letter was dispatched and she slammed her fist on the table. "Old hag, how dare you try to take my son away from me? ... I will deal with you personally"

The crown prince was busy enjoying his cookies and apple when the dowager interrupted him.

"My dear, having war with your mother might be good for some times but don't prolong it. She loves you alot and will always want the best for you eventhough sometimes it might be destructive... Pardon her whenever she wrongs you , she might not admit it but she suffered a lot trying to get the emperor's attention" the dowager said while peeling an apple for him.

The crown prince that stopped chewing his food to listen to her resumed his eating ,but nodded at her to show he understood.

The empress dowager sighed, she might not like the empress, but that doesn't mean she will try to destroy her relationship with her son. Only a fool will try to destroy a bond that was created right before birth by heaven. No matter what, "A mother will always be a mother".