Swaying Gladiolus — IV

— [How to get yourself a wife 101: by Crown Prince.

Step 1: Compliment your wife's sword play.

Step 2: Don't forget to insult your wife's sword.

Step 3: Give a cunning smile and bribe your wife with gifts (this step is subject to failure since your wife may not be naive.)

Step 4: Get rejected unless you're the Crown Prince (Important: You must be handsome!)] +5

↳

— [Lmao, op wtf ㅋㅋㅋㅋ] +0

— [Why don't you just tell them they are ugly and they should not try to shoot their shot 2333!] +2

— [Instructions unclear, now I have a restraining order against me TT] +1

↳

— [Bro, what did you do? XD] +0

—› [Bro, I insulted my crush's sword.] +0

—› [Rip bro, no one can save you.] +0

Li Xinyuan lowered his gaze, eyelids fluttering as he struggled to contain his laugh. The bullet comments flashed past his eyes as he sat with his head bowed, fists clenched on his lap, shoulders trembling ever so slightly.

What the hell was wrong with these people? He wondered, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Most importantly, what retarded part of the internet did he miss in the pursuit of a successful career, segregated from the bullshit from people?

It was… Fun, never mind that they were having fun at his expanse.

At that thought, Li Xinyuan's expression cooled a little as he raised his head, eyes cast down, determined to not meet the Crown Prince's appraising eyes.

He looked up, just in time to see another batch of bullet comments float by.

— [Ahh! YuanYuan has a personality now!] +2

— [Yes! The Imperial Consort isn't just a pretty face in a passing mention anymore!] +2

— [The author is actually revising this novel, rejoice sisters!] +1

After the comments disappeared, a simple panel took their place. It had only one line written on it.

[Current Points: 21]

Tearing his eyes away from the floating double digit number, Li Xinyuan chose to look out of the window, making no move to break the silence between them.

The silence was not even suffocating, anyway. He could easily bear it. Not to mention that the earlier debacle left him feeling a little mentally exhausted.

Killing people, humans, was not an easy thing. It never was. Nor will it ever be, perhaps. But this was the life Li Xinyuan was partially destined for since he had been reborn (read: transmigrated) into a character who was bound to be surrounded in a life full of blood, of people, of enemies. And then he himself took on the path of a doctor under the tutelage of the Divine Phoenix which also meant that regardless of what he did, some people were bound to be after him.

If only for the name and the status attached to him, and that too without taking into account his own fame as a doctor.

Li Xinyuan heaved a sigh, what a tough life to live. While musing to himself in the depth of his own mind, the surgeon froze a thought coming to his conscience unbidden.

He was destined to marry this man — who right now was — sitting right across from him. He was destined to become the Crown Prince's 'wife' and later — upon his ascension up the throne — his 'Imperial Consort'.

Oh, fuck. The palace, the harem… They were another can of worms altogether.

He was screwed, wasn't he?

Li Xinyuan ducked his head, twisting his slender fingers as he grimaced. Out of all the possible characters… The person he shared his name with just had to be someone married to the Crown Prince, even if only in name, didn't it?

Fuck.

Li Xinyuan was so focused on this little shit's handsomeness and the sheer power clinging to his skin, flowing under his flesh, that he forgot about the dangers of being associated with him.

Especially since Li Xinyuan was — technically — the female lead's rival for the man's affection. Okay, now he was doubly screwed, wasn't he?

Damn it.

…

Liu Mingyun heaved a sigh as he slowly started taking off his armour in the solitude of his own tent. His body ached, bone creaking and muscles incredibly sore as the blood and mucus of an unknown number of people clung to him.

It was disgusting. It was repulsive. But it was the life every single soldier in the Northwestern Frontier was living right now.

He gritted his teeth, slowly rubbing away the viscous fluid staining his hands. The water turned red as he wiped his hands, drenching the silken piece of cloth is cold water as he cleaned himself up.

The sight of innumerable cadavers flashed in the prince's mind, a heavy sigh rested on his lips as he sat down, joints groaning in protest as the servants tidied up the sullied armour.

In the war, deaths were a dime a dozen. Grief and desperation reeked in the soil soaked with the blood of many. Cries echoed in the vicinity, pain and misfortune permeating every grain of sand.

There was nothing he could do. To bring peace wars must be fought, deaths must be faced and braved through.

Everyday his men lost their lives, their final pleas heavy on his shoulders, a duty he must fulfil when he returned. Their bodies were to come with him, wrapped in the splendid flag of the nation, placed inside a coffin crafted carefully just for them.

The true grief was not just in the deaths of those men, but in the knowledge that ultimately their deaths were far more luxurious than the lives they had led once.

The true grief was not in just their passing by in the mournful wails of their family members, their mothers, fathers, their wives incoherent in the shadows of their loss. Worse than those wails were the confused inquiries of those who had children. They asked for their father. They asked if they would ever come back.

The answer. No, their fathers would never come back.

Liu Mingyun bowed his head, a tight knot forming in his chest as he bit his lips, wondering if he should feel fortunate to be a royalty — hence his safety came first — or unfortunate that his position brought him the duty of delivering such pain at the doorsteps of those who suffered the losses.

Then, he took a deep breath, changed out of his dirty clothes as the sun went down, hiding itself behind the tall mountains as the lamps lit all over the Frontier.

The atmosphere was heavy, drowned in the misery of the lives lost today.

Before he knew it, clad in black robes and hair pulled back loosely, the Crown Prince had found his way to the part where the medics resided.

As he strode through the narrow path, crimson eyes narrowed, groans of agony resounded in this place, accompanied by the gentle reassurance from numerous doctors, those in pain were being treated.

This was a relief.

The Crown Prince heaved a sigh of relief, his back straightened a little, as if an invisible weight was lifted off his back.

The weight of the deaths he had been carrying with himself since the day he'd arrived.

His feet carried him, as though possessing a mind of their own, through the darkness, through the pain wafting in the place.

At long last, he stood, silent and humble. His heart was as heavy as it had been for a long time, but when he stood in front of this tent, it felt lighter.

Just a little lighter. Perhaps it was the sense of ease, the comfort brought by the knowledge that yes, there was someone who understood his dilemma.

There was someone who didn't judge him or look down at him for being emotional.

Liu Mingyun took a step forward, calloused hand almost hesitantly reaching forward to part the curtains blocking the entrance.

When he stepped through the makeshift door, dim light entered his eyes, gracing his shadowed form as he took a deep breath and blinked.

Against the feeble, flickering light was a familiar silhouette of a man, slender but firm, bowed over a book.

He seemed to have not noticed Liu Mingyun's arrival. For a moment, the Crown Prince felt relieved. He wished for the silence to last a little more.

After a long moment, Liu Mingyun opened his mouth, slightly chapped lips parting as a string of words spilled out.

"Specter of Blood Moon."

The silhouette jolted ever so slightly before the man turned around, head snapping towards the door, eyes wide and mouth speaking before his legs could lift him.

"Your Highness…" Li Xinyuan began, only for his words to die a premature death in his throat. "... Are you well?" He asked instead.

Liu Mingyun stepped closer to him, reducing the distance between them. For a moment he hesitated, then with a shake of his head, he replied.

"This Prince wishes he could answer you with an affirmation, alas..."

Li Xinyuan's breathtakingly beautiful face softened, the golden of his irises warmed until they resembled molten gold.

"It is not wrong to feel otherwise, Your Highness. Not at times like these."