Li Youcai - 596

Before leaving, Skymender had a few things he wanted to do. He had one day to do them.

After packing his normal bag, he made his way to the secret room in the library. He wasn't fond of using it in the daytime, but there was no way that he would leave without bringing some entertainment, especially with the long journey ahead.

He picked out nearly ten books he had not read before and stuffed them in a bag. Although it was only ten books, each one was huge and weighed more than ten normal books combined.

Some even had other volumes as big as the first.

It was extremely heavy, but Skymender managed to enter and leave the secret room without being spotted.

He was able to return to his room and place the bag of books with his packed bags. He then needed to pick out at least one servant to go with him.

He only needed to think for a moment before deciding to bring a male servant by the name of Li Youcai.

He was different from normal servants. He was not interested in currying favor with Skymender, nor was he too nosy. He was also exceptional at his job. 

Skymender could read a fantasy book right in front of him without Li Youcai sparing even a glance.

He seemed to barely care about his job at all.

In addition to all of this, he was quite skilled in combat. Before becoming a servant, he had been skilled with the sword, though not near the level of a Sword Master, as well as a very intelligent person.

All in all, he was too qualified to be a servant, yet was.

Skymender did not know why, nor did he care to ask. If he was Skymender's servant, then his father had surely done a deep background check on him.

Although Li Youcai was not scheduled to serve Skymender today, since most servants only worked five days a week, Skymender was able to easily find him. In the servant quarters, he had his own room.

Skymender knocked on it, and Li Youcai answered.

Before he could speak, Skymender was stunned to silence.

Li Youcai was dressed in a white robe and had long, black hair. For a second, Skymender nearly mistook him for a Main Character in one of his fantasy books. He did not usually look like this when working.

This only lasted for a moment, however. 

Li Youcai spoke. "Master Skymender? What are you doing here?"

Skymender responded. "I am going to the Imperial Capital tomorrow. I want you to be the servant I bring."

Li Youcai's eyes flashed. "Ahh. The Imperial Capital. I remember that…"

He seemed to fall into a trance for a moment before snapping out of it. 

"Apologies, Master Skymender. I would have no problem going with you to the Imperial Capital, but I'm afraid it may not be possible due to my past identity. Please, talk to your father before making this decision."

Skymender was surprised, but nodded and left.

He indeed did go to find his father.

Upon asking him about Li Youcai, Baron Sky had a complicated look on his face.

"Yes. Li Youcai. Back when I was in my early thirties, I spent a lot of time in the Imperial Capital. At that time, Li Youcai was also a servant, but not a servant of our Barony. He was a servant of the 4th prince."

Skymender was shocked. He had never expected that Li Youcai had been a servant of the royal family. 

"It was the royal family of the Ergen Kingdom. The 5th prince had fallen in love with a woman, and he confessed to her. She clearly hesitated, but stated that she had fallen in love with another man. The 5th prince was furious and demanded his name. After hesitating for a long time, she said "Li Youcai", the servant of his older brother. All of this happened within the Imperial capital. I believe the 5th prince was twenty at that time, while Li Youcai was only fifteen."

Skymender was stunned. "How did he end up serving the Sky barony?"

His father clearly hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Well… at that time, I found it hilarious. He was being hunted by the 5th prince's personal guard, but I protected him and eventually brought him here. As repayment for saving his life, he promised to serve the Sky Barony until he was forty."

"How old is he now?"

"He is thirty years old, just recently in fact." 

This stunned Skymender even more than the story. Come to think of it, Li Youcai had always looked young. But even now, he looked 20 at most. 

"So, can I bring him to the Imperial Capital with me?" Skymender asked.

Baron Sky thought for a moment before nodding. "It should be fine. It was ages ago, and the 5th prince should not be in the Imperial Capital anymore. Regardless, the 4th prince knows that he was brought here. Well, I suppose they aren't princes anymore, but still."

The confirmation was all that Skymender needed. He returned to Li Youcai's room and told him that he could come.

Li Youcai bowed and thanked him. "It is an honor to go with Master Skymender. Perhaps I can even show you around."

Skymender nodded.

That dinner, he said his goodbyes to his family and went to his room. 

He did not sleep much. He was awoken at around 5 am by his father and some servants. 

"It is time to go, Skymender. Tell Aunt Skyless that I said hi." Baron Sky said.

Skymender nodded and walked to the carriage. Behind him, his servants carried his bags.

With this, he departed towards the Imperial Capital. Guards and servants came along with him, and he was the only one being sent. 

After all, the Imperial Capital was not a safe place, even for lower-ranked nobles. At his young age, it was actually considered a bit risky, though he was much safer than any commoner that lived there.

The only person in the carriage with him was Li Youcai, who gazed out of the window with sparkling eyes.