Chapter 4 - A Mysterious Gift.

"Father, chill out. I believe that decree would lose its validity very soon." said the young man.

"How so?" Prince Ya asked with slight confusion.

"Father, don't you feel weird that Uncle Yi Xin hasn't returned to the Imperial City even now which he was supposed to reach the Imperial City three days ago at the latest?" said the young man.

"Well, there is nothing extraordinary about that. It could be due to the road condition of the snow mountain whatsoever," said Prince Ya with a shrug.

"No, father... Ah... Let me just go straight to the point. Just now, my secret messenger just gave me a big news that the emperor intended to hide from the public. Here's the letter from my messenger." said the young man as he pulled out a letter from his sleeve.

Prince Ya took the letter from his son, he opened the letter with a questioning and doubting look. However, as soon as he started reading, his expression changed. From the initial questioning and doubting to disbelief and eventually laughed out in joy as he was done reading the whole letter.

"Hahahaha! Zi Wei, you are really my precious son! What a bombastic news you got me here! Hahahaha! That bastard Yi Xiu, no matter how hard he was trying to hide this, he can't change the fact that the succession of the throne is finally going to be ours! Hahahaha!" Prince Ya exclaimed with happy laughter.

"Yes, indeed, congratulations, father," said Zi Wei.

"Oh... Hold on... Have you told your mother this good news yet? I believe she will be very happy to know this piece of news, which will be very helpful to maintain or even improve her health condition." said Prince Ya who sounds like an entirely different person when mentioning Zi Wei's mother, who is supposed to be his legitimate wife.

"Not yet, father, I am planning to tell her later after Zi Ji is back from the Imperial Academy. But father, don't you worry about mother's health, ever since she used the magic herbs you got from that legendary healer at the snow mountain top, her health improved every day, even Physician Zhang deemed that as a miracle," said Zi Wei.

"Mmm... You are right, I have noticed that as well. Hmm... That healer is really something... Hmm? Why are you standing out there? If you have something to tell, just come in." said Prince Ya as he saw one of his loyal retainers standing outside the door.

"Your Highness, we just received some gifts from the King of that small kingdom." said the retainer in a polite tone.

"Oh? That handicapped king? Haha! I guess even he had gotten his ears on that piece of news and starting to flatter me eh? Bring in the gifts." said Prince Ya who got slightly carried away...

***

Ben's farmhouse. The King's room.

Ben had just done giving the King a detailed body check and is now keeping all his tools back in his work trunk.

"Ah... Seriously... Ben, why am I not knowing that you have bought a farmhouse in the Qin Empire?" The King asked in a casual tone.

Although still looks a bit pale and weak, the King sounds quite alright.

"Tsk... I don't remember having any obligation to tell you all my privacy," said Ben with a slightly annoyed tone.

"Haha! Chill out, I was just joking." said the King with a slightly teasing tone.

"Cih... Well, this farmhouse was a gift from a Qin nobleman who asked for some medicine for his wife. Due to the strategic position of this farmhouse, I did not reject his offer." said Ben, who explained everything to the King nevertheless.

"Ah... Like I said, I was just joking, you don't have to explain anything to me... Hah... That joke aside... Thanks for bringing me back to life once again. It must be quite a hard time for you these few days, isn't it?" The King asked, he sounded quite concerned.

"Well, if you feel like compensating me, I would want some saplings of the fairy plants in your botanical garden," said Ben who low-keyly admitted that he was having a really hard time bringing the King back to life.

"Hah... I see, you are not going to tell me anyway, right? Well... It's alright. From the miraculous recovery rate of my body despite how deadly that venom is... I have pretty much figured it out. Tsk... Well... I am deeply sorry that you have to go through all those nasty processes because of me. Once again, thanks for bringing me back to life." said the King with a slightly stressful look.

"Ah... Even with that, the venom in your body hasn't been totally cleared yet, thus, don't thank me yet," said Ben who started making tea for himself as he had done keeping all his tools.

"Well, I have faith in you, Ben." said the King.

"Shut up, Chris. Here, a cup of oolong tea, if you want."

With a slightly annoyed look, Ben handed a cup of freshly brewed tea to the King and the King accepted that cup of tea with a smirk on his slightly pale face.

.

.

.

"Anyway... Do you still remember that 'gift' you prepared for that Prince Ya?" Ben asked.

"Yes, of course I do." said the King.

"Well, I just got Satoshi to send it for you this morning," said Ben.

"Oh! That's great! I wonder how will that old pervert react to my gift." said the King with an evil smile...

***

Qin Imperial City, Xian Ya Dian.

Prince Ya was busy viewing gifts from the King with his son and loyal retainer.

"Hmm... What a nice sculpture... If I am not mistaken, this red wood is supposed to be red sandalwood. Hmm... How wastefully luxurious... That small kingdom is really something, isn't it?" said Prince Ya as he carefully observed a tiger sculpture with an impressed look.

"Your Highness, that sculpture is just one of the many side gifts, according to the messenger from that kingdom, the main gift is inside of that black wood box." said the retainer as he pointed at an elegant-looking thirty centimetres tall black box that is placed on a display table.

"I see. Bring it to me," said Prince Ya as he carefully put down the tiger sculpture in his hand.

"Yes, Your Highness. However, according to the messenger, the king of that small kingdom requested that you need to open the gift box by yourself, My Lord." said the retainer.

"Ah... I see. A mysterious gift huh? Bring it to me anyway." said Prince Ya.

"Yes, My Lord."

Said so, the retainer bowed to Prince Ya before proceeding to get that black box to Prince Ya.

As soon as Prince Ya received the box, he first felt its weight with his hand then lightly shook it trying to figure out what was inside the box.

"This... Can't be a trap, right?" He asked, in a careful tone.

"Well, I believe no one has the guts to send a trap present this openly. Thus, rest assured, My Lord." said the retainer.

"Hmm... You are right I guess," said Prince Ya despite still having a dash of doubtfulness.

Then, he slowly opened and carefully peeked into the small opening of that mysterious box.

"Aaahhhh!!!"

In less than three seconds Prince Ya peeked into the box, he immediately threw the box away and screamed in terror...