Prince Zenki Zhen Yi

As Zhen Yi walked with his guards towards the tea house where he and his friends usually met, his thoughts couldn't help but wander to his father's sudden change in behavior. He felt a sense of frustration and resentment, as he had always believed that the first family was the only true royal family. His father's previous actions had only reinforced this belief, as all of his attention had been focused solely on them.

Zhen Yi had been raised with the belief that the second family was inferior to theirs, and he couldn't comprehend why his father had abruptly changed his behavior to treat them as equals. The affection that his father was now showing to Zhenyue, Mingliang, and Mengting was difficult for him to accept. It challenged the belief that he had been instilled with from a young age, that the first family was superior to the second family. This shift in mindset was proving to be a significant challenge for him.

As he approached the tea house, he couldn't help but wonder if his friends would understand his frustration.

The tea house that Zhen Yi and his friends frequented was an elegant establishment, situated in a bustling street of the castletown. The exterior was adorned with ornate wood carvings, and hanging lanterns provided a warm glow in the evenings. The entrance was a sliding door made of wood and paper, which gave a soft rustle as patrons came and went. Inside, the tea house was decorated with intricate tapestries depicting scenes of nature, and woven bamboo mats covered the floor. The walls were made of wood panels, with intricate carvings and beautiful paintings. The tea house had a peaceful and serene atmosphere, and the aroma of freshly brewed tea wafted through the air. In one corner, there was a low table surrounded by comfortable cushions, where Zhen Yi and his friends would often sit and chat while enjoying their tea. The waitstaff was attentive and polite, and the tea selection was vast, ranging from traditional Chinese teas to more exotic blends from distant lands.

As Zhen Yi stepped into the tea house, the soothing scent of various teas filled his nostrils, and the calm atmosphere of the place immediately enveloped him. The tea house was elegantly decorated, with wooden furniture and traditional Chinese artwork adorning the walls. Soft instrumental music played in the background, adding to the relaxing ambiance of the place.

As he made his way to his usual table, he was greeted by his friends, who stood up respectfully at the sight of him. "Your Highness," they greeted him in unison, bowing their heads slightly in respect.

Zhen Yi's demeanor was that of a confident and somewhat arrogant young man, befitting his status as the Crown Prince. He acknowledged their greetings with a curt nod, his piercing gaze scanning the room as if assessing the situation. Despite his aloofness, his friends knew him to be a loyal and protective ally, and they eagerly awaited his company.

"What's been going on while I was away?" he asked, his tone slightly arrogant.

His friends filled him in on the latest news, informing him that his father had discovered that Caiwu Zongjian, the head of finance, was actually innocent of the charges against him. It was Wei Ming, the Vice-Head of finance, who had been convicted and executed for his crimes.

Zhen Yi arched an eyebrow in surprise. "Wei Ming? I never would have suspected him. Nevertheless, it's good to know that justice has been served," he said with a hint of satisfaction in his voice. Despite his personal disdain for commoners, it could be said that Zhen Yi was always fair and just when it came to matters of the law. Although his father seemed to have undergone a change, it appeared that he was also becoming more active in the court.

Zhen Yi was relieved to hear this news, as for years, rumors about his father's behavior in court had tarnished the reputation of the royal family, leaving Zhen Yi feeling powerless to do anything about it. This recent turn of events was a welcome change, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride that his father was taking a more active role in court proceedings.

Zhen Yi turned to his friends and asked, "Have any of you noticed a change in my father lately? He seems to have had a shift in attitude towards the second family."

Zhen Yi's question caught his friends off guard, and they exchanged curious glances before launching into a discussion about the recent changes they had observed in the Crown Prince's father, Zenki. "There have been rumors floating around that your father started changing his ways when Zhenyue and Mingliang returned home," one of his friends said, prompting nods of agreement from the others. "It's like having them around has softened him somehow."

When dusk came after some more discussion about insignificant things, Zhen Yi, although still feeling a bit conflicted about the situation, bid his friends goodbye and started making his way back to the castle.

Suddenly, a boy in commoner's clothing collided with them, but continued to walk on without acknowledging the incident. Zhen Yi furrowed his brows and ordered the commoner to stop.

Ignoring his call, the boy continued to walk without acknowledging him. Zhen Yi quickly caught up to him and placed a firm hand on the boy's shoulder, causing him to turn around with a raised eyebrow. "If you don't want your hands anymore than feel free to leave it behind" the boy said, his tone laced with arrogance.

The boy's sharp features were accentuated by his chiseled jawline, and his piercing gaze seemed to bore into one's soul. His unkempt hair fell over his forehead in disarray, giving him an air of carelessness, but there was a certain allure to his messy appearance. He wore a simple, plain outfit that would not stand out in a crowd, but there was something about the way he carried himself that exuded a sense of confidence and power. Despite his arrogance, there was a hint of heroism in his demeanor, as if he had the ability to do great things, but chose not to because he found them beneath him.

The boy's attitude ignited Zhen Yi's temper, causing him to snap and command his guards to teach the boy a lesson in humility.

As soon as Zhen Yi gave the order, his guards swiftly stepped forward to teach the boy a lesson. But the boy remained unfazed and instead, a smirk spread across his face. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning crackled through the air and struck one of the guards, causing him to stumble backwards in pain.

Zhen Yi was taken aback by the boy's impressive skills, and a sense of anger and frustration began to rise within him. He was a crown prince, and he couldn't allow a commoner to show him up like this. Zhen Yi drew upon his own training in the Lightning element, a rare and powerful element, and attacked the boy with a burst of electricity.

But the boy was quick and agile, dodging Zhen Yi's attacks effortlessly. He countered with his own lightning strikes, and Zhen Yi found himself struggling to keep up. The boy's movements were almost too quick to follow, and his strikes were precise and devastating.

Zhen Yi's guards, who were watching the fight with wide eyes, stepped forward to assist their prince. But the boy was more than a match for them, taking them down one by one with ease. Zhen Yi realized, to his surprise, that this boy was not just any ordinary fighter. He was a martial master, and a powerful one at that.

Despite his conceit and initial confidence, Zhen Yi found himself struggling to keep up with the boy's lightning-fast movements. He was forced to draw upon his own reserves of power, and soon the two were locked in a fierce battle of lightning strikes.

The air crackled with electricity as the two combatants exchanged blow after blow. Zhen Yi's Lightning element was powerful, but the boy's skill and agility gave him an edge. Zhen Yi was bruised and battered, but he refused to give up. He poured all his strength into one final strike, hoping to take down his opponent once and for all.

But the boy was ready for him. With a quick dodge, he evaded Zhen Yi's attack and struck back with a lightning bolt that sent the prince crashing to the ground. Zhen Yi lay there, stunned and defeated.

"Is that all?" the boy asked, prompting Zhen Yi's face to turn red with anger, the boy than turned to one of the guards and asked him about Zhen Yi's identity. The boy, seemingly unimpressed by Zhen Yi's status as a prince, continued to interrogate the guard in a nonchalant manner. "And who might you be? A guard of the crown prince, I presume?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "And what is your esteemed master's name?"

The guard, feeling intimidated by the boy's confident demeanor, stuttered out a response. "Yes, I am a guard of the crown prince. His name is Zhen Yi."

The boy chuckled. "Zhen Yi, huh? I see. And what makes him so special?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

The guard hesitated, not wanting to anger the boy any further. "He is the son of the emperor and heir to the throne," he said finally.

The boy let out a low whistle. "The heir, eh? Well, well. I guess that explains the attitude," he said, glancing back at Zhen Yi with a smirk.

The boy's arrogant smile never left his face as he effortlessly hoisted Zhen Yi onto his shoulder like a mere sack of potatoes. He walked with a confident stride towards the castle, his grip on Zhen Yi unyielding despite the prince's struggles to free himself.