Little Scar

As the man let his guard down, BeiYau rushed to charge attack from behind,

"Whossh!"

His long sword almost hit the man's hand but the man quickly dodged while carrying BaiYing in his hand. BeiYau charged another attack but that man used BaiYing's as a shield. Left no choice, BeiYau drew his sword back.

"No!"

LuoXiang joined in the attack, but the figure dashed towards the tree while carrying BaiYing into the dark area.

"YingYing!"

LuoXiang dashed towards the tree towards the valley and chased the man, BeiYau followed.

"Your Honour!"

The chase ensued. It was pitch dark, but Luo Xiang's careful eyes were trained in any situation. He would not lose them while BaiYing at his hand.

"Damn it!"

His drift lightly overtook the man and attacked from the front. While BeiYau and his men followed from behind and attacked simultaneously. The man had a little trouble dodging LuoXiang's attack but he turned his body and used BaiYing as his shield, again. But LuoXiang can't be fooled for a second time, as the man turned around with BaiYing, LuoXiang accelerated the pace and grabbed the kid, pulling his hand from the man. At the same time, BeiYau has a chance to ambush the figure and kick him hard to the tree trunk.

"Ueukk!"

Blood spurted out when BeiYau's long sword stabbed the man's right chest through the tree trunk, he vomited blood. Can be seen from his wet black mask that the man was already deeply injured. But BeiYau did not stop just there. The figure pulled the sword out of his chest, stomped on the tree trunk, and dashed away.

LuoXiang landed on the ground with BaiYing. He shouted at his guard.

"Bei! Caught him alive! I want to know who is the mastermind behind him!." LuoXiang exclaimed.

BeiYau who's now perched on top of the tree trunk nodded. He and his trained men quickly pursued the figure who was already covered in wounds, where could he run with severe injuries like that?

"Chase him!" Exclaimed BeiYau.

The few chosen guards stay to protect the Crown Prince.

LuoXiang lowered his body to check on BaiYing, and stroked his cold cheeks, his pale face with his eyes closed tightly.

"YingYing"

BaiYing didn't move, LuoXiang hugged him and carried him back towards the palace quickly.

... ...

"Byusssh"

Splashing water, warm and scented with flowers filled the bathtub prepared for concubine Hua that morning. Regardless of what happened last night, BaiYing woke up without remembering many things that happened. He tried not to remember them, better enjoyed the bath he loved so much every morning. 

Outside the chamber, Yan and Bi lowered their knees to see who'd entered the door.

"Greetings Your Majesty"

The Crown Prince raised his finger to stop the maids who greeted him. Don't let BaiYing, who's enjoying his bath, know about his arrival.

"Your Majesty, concubine Hua has just taken a bath," said Yan.

LuoXiang tugged at the edges of his lips. 

"Leave us"

"Yes, Your Majesty"

Without hesitation, he moved toward the door with his two hands behind his waist.

The maids could only glance at each other, His Majesty the Crown Prince certainly is more than anyone who can enter the room while concubine Hua is taking a bath.

BaiYing blew the abundant foam in his hand. The scent of soap and the therapeutic aroma of dried flowers and herbal leaves which are good for the skin and body calmed him, it really pleasant feeling. The bath he loves the most because it is when he can be alone and enjoy the most precious time. But, someone opened the door, BaiYing's eyes widened. He told his maids that no one could enter while he was taking a bath. Then who had dared to disobey his orders?

A figure behind the partition appeared, piece by piece of layer clothes being removed while taking his step closer. Then that person appeared without wearing his top, he was LuoXiang, who approached by only wearing his wide trousers. BaiYing's eyes widened. Gulped.

"Y-Your Majesty"

BaiYing still stuttering when the Crown Prince entered a large bath, which was big enough for the two of them, he smiled at BaiYing's face, he looked so surprised did not expect him to appear there.

"Your Majesty, I am taking a bath now."

"Yes, I can see that, so?"

BaiYing held his breath, bloated his mouth big. Then, just let him do whatever he wants then. He doesn't care.

LuoXiang pulled his lips and smiled, he wet his chest and neck with water that only soaked up to below his chest. LuoXiang scooped up water with his two wide palms and wet BaiYing's shoulders and neck.

"Come here, I'll rub your back, no one has done it for you right?"

BaiYing complied when LuoXiang's hands turned his back and faced him. The man grabbed the sponge and used it to rub BaiYing's innocent smooth back. BaiYing admitted, that it felt quite comfortable, he longed for this. Don't know how long since someone touches his back. His maid used to help him back at home, now, no one was allowed to do that again since he disguised himself as a girl.

LuoXiang rubbed BaiYing's smooth back with a beaming face.

"Did you sleep well last night? I had to go to work this morning, so couldn't stay with you until you woke up. But I make sure BeiYau and others stay close. I do the job in front of the room"

BaiYing nodded.

"Emm, It's good, I didn't even feel anything last night because I was too tired."

LuoXiang rubbed BaiYing's shoulder, up to his neck where the wound from the sharp sword last night still bled. BaiYing slightly moaned when the wound was hit by the soapy water.

"Akh"

"Forgive me, does it still hurt?" LuoXiang leaned his head forward. Lowered it around the young man's neck, and kissed the wound. BaiYing stunned.

"Your Majesty" It was a little ticklish actually.

"Forgive me that I couldn't protect you. That man almost took you away from me"

LuoXiang kept rubbing BaiYing's back below his waist.

"Who are they? Why are they so brave to sneak into the Crown Prince's palace?"

LuoXiang thought about that too, how easy a professional assassin to enter the palace and the Plum Pavilion. They haven't got the main reason from those guys because they all shut their mouths tightly despite being threatened with death or whatever. No one could shake their stance.

LuoXiang stopped his hand at BaiYing's left back, it was probably not far from his heart, a rather long scar, a sword stab scar. LuoXiang touched it, even though it only left a faint and almost gone, but the wound almost took little BaiYing life.

"YingYing!"

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