04 curses his luck

04's heart raced faster along with the quick long strides his legs took across the courtyard. While dashing past the courtyard, he noticed the curious onlooking crowd of servants who started gathering, murmuring about what had happened.

He could also hear the arriving patrolling guards trying to shoo them. His legs propelled him forward, dodging the nosy passers-by who gathered to watch the spectacle which went on in the guest quarters.

04 cursed his luck at being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He only wanted to grab some food to chuck down from a cook he knew. Looking through the audit reports again made him hungry.

Damn curiosity, he cursed at himself silently. He only heard shouts from the guest quarters and went to investigate. First on the scene with 05, who was checking through residential security patrols.

Both of them arrived only to see the Grand Prince's uncle, Chiyin, raving and shouting while waving hands at others to keep away from his makeshift workshop in the guest quarters. Hushiyi yelled for someone to get the residential physician while assigning 04 to report the matter.

Madness. Chiyin didn't look the part from his view, except for the unusually pale complexion. It looked as though all the blood drained from his face. And those eyes. 04 shuddered.

Yet, Chiyin's nonsensical blabber about a sword appearing out of thin air sounded insane. He noticed the more Hushiyi tried to reason with Chiyin, the more agitated Chiyin became.

But that wasn't 04's position to ask for details or reasons. He only did what duty demanded — to report the matter.

The guards stationed outside the closed doors to Yinyue's quarters came into view. 04 skidded from his sprint to a halt in front of them, nearly stumbling on the stone steps. He dragged his feet up the stone steps. His hands wiped the beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.

"N-need…t-to…r-report…," he panted out the words in between breaths.

"Something urgent?" The guard completed his words.

04 nodded and leaned over, resting his hands on his knees, taking deep breaths into his into his burning lungs while fanning himself with his hands. The guard went inside the quarters to report the matter.

04 rubbed his queasy stomach to stop the churning. Half digested food from his earlier meal rumbled and tumbled in his stomach.

He remembered the advice during his early days of heavy physical training — never go running or exert yourself after a meal. Especially when he is a glutton for stuffing himself with food.

The door creaked open, and he quickly knelt in front of Yinyue, stepping out.

"Get up," she commanded, and he did.

"Has something to do with that noise?" She asked before he could answer.

Her head turned in the guest quarter's direction. She furrowed her eyebrows.

"Yes," 04 replied and gulped down the rising food remains in his throat. "It's your uncle."

Yinyue took a step down towards him. "What about him?"

"The Imperial Prince has called for a physician. Your uncle has gone …um." 04 struggled to think of a more diplomatic way to report the matter. The words 'stark, raving, mad' didn't seem appropriate.

"He's been shouting and shoving people. The imperial prince also had to restrain him." 04 wiped the sweat off his brow. He played it safe by reporting what he saw instead.

"Okay, he went mad." Yinyue rolled her eyes. "Probably from whatever he did in the workshop."

04 really didn't care to assume anything. The risk of offending the Grand Prince stunted his curiosity.

"There's an item he kept repeating about — a sword," 04 added, wondering if it was a helpful detail.

"Take me there," came her swift response. 04 frowned at her quick reaction once she heard the mention of a sword. What type of sword would garner her attention?

He hurried to her side, only to catch a stare. 04 took a step back obediently. They went past the stark courtyard towards the growing noise and he looked up into the gloomy skies. It may rain today.

She took her time to stroll down the path to the guest quarters. Like a walk in a garden on a fine sunny day.

"LOOK…I TOLD YOU TO LOOK…THE SWORD IS THERE!"

Yinyue stopped and straightened her back upon seeing the small crowd of servants and hearing Chiyin's outburst. 04 felt a sudden drop in temperature. A few servants gathered there, noticed her presence and nudged their companions to sneak out of the crowd, away from her.

"I DIDN'T REALISE THAT I DIDN'T NEED SO MANY SERVANTS," she raised her voice at them after a moment of silence.

The remaining servants immediately scattered away from the scene like mice about to be caught by a cat. No one wanted to be punished for idling around the scene.

04 could see a line of guards with blank expressions who formed an obstacle to prevent anyone else from entering the scene. The resident physician, Laoyi, squeezed past the guards and bowed to her.

Before Laoyi could speak, she asked, "Poison or real madness?"

04 nearly choked at her question and coughed politely. He couldn't figure out if she was serious or being sarcastic. Best to take her seriously.

Laoyi looked taken aback by her tone. He blinked a few times and then replied, "Not poison from his pulse, but I don't know what caused his outburst. Stress perhaps."

"What's with all this rambling about a sword?" She glanced at Laoyi.

"Well, the imperial prince and I checked the area. No sign of any sword in the workshop. Maybe the fumes from the drugs he was mixing…I don't know."

04 admired how Laoyi skirted around, confirming if Chiyin was insane.

"Fumes?"

"Well…the scent is like any other medicinal store. I went in for a while and nothing out of the ordinary happened to me. Checked through what he was mixing. No poison or any signs of powders which could induce his symptoms. No dizziness, no headache, and I came out with no hallucinations," Laoyi explained, then paused.

"However, I'm an ordinary physician, not a poisoner," he added, alluding to Chiyin's expertise. "I can fix traumatic injuries but rare drugs…maybe I don't have enough experience…"

04 smirked, resisting the urge to applaud Laoyi for creating an escape route to avoid any blame later if he missed any key detail.

"He will not attack me if I enter?" She asked.

Laoyi only shook his head. "He didn't attack me, but it's hard to say."

"Hah." Yinyue walked towards Chiyin past the guards who made way for her. Laoyi exchanged looks with 04, who shrugged in response.