Back In Time (The Reincarnation of the Cruel Concubine)
Role of the prince
Zhou Xing Huan stared at the gray afternoon sky, as it was covered in a thick winter fog. But strangely, since his visit here, he had not seen the first snow that fell. The prince smiled slantedly, given the chaotic state of the palace. Though the palace should be preparing for the first snow reception and winter celebration, maybe this winter will be really upset.
"Are you sure the lady has gone to the border?"
Zhou Xing Huan let out a faint sigh, the prince turned around while flicking the white fan he used to carry. "Calm down, Your Majesty."
"How can I calm down?!" asked a woman who was sitting sweetly in the courtyard of the west hall. "The emperor did a massive search for the damn lady, if he gets caught, we're done" he lamented.
"Hahahahah." the prince laughed in the air, "Damn you said? Sure enough, he risked his life for this plan of yours."
"That's what he deserves to do." said the woman.
"He won't talk." Zhou Xing Huan said. Of course the lady would not speak if she was caught, because her family had become a guarantee. The prince had threatened him all out, he also gave the scenario that Yang Li had to do if caught, namely scapegoating someone. "After all, we can kill her if caught instead, just an ordinary ladyboy. That's the easy thing."
Yang Jia Li nodded, the empress sipping her green tea slowly. "We should just kill him, then dump his body into the sea."
"Later, Your Majesty." hold the prince. "If he doesn't get caught, I don't think we need to kill him."
Yang Jia Li rotated his eyeballs, the man before him was too gentle for an evil plan. The woman was initially astonished when Zhou Xing Huan wanted to be invited to work together, to destroy Wu Li Mei. Remembering how much he loved an Eastern Prince, with that beautiful grand concubine. The empress smiled slantedly, she placed the porcelain cup on the dish table.
Yang Jia Li got up, he followed the direction of the prince's gaze. At first glance, the handsome man looks to be staring at the lake, but if seen again. Actually he was staring at the grand concubine pavilion, which looked small from a distance.
"You still love him?" yang Jia Li's question sounded more like a statement.
"She's the only woman I love."
"Then?" Yang Jia Li frowned.
"Then what?"
"Then why did you follow my plan to destroy Wu Li Mei?"
Zhou Xing Huan was confused as well, she did not subconsciously accept Yang Jia Li's offer to cooperate. Though the love that grows in his heart, the longer the burning. The prince could never forget Wu Li Mei's cheerful, sweet smile back then, during their first meeting in the Hang Dynasty.
The memory of the prince drifted back, towards a dozen years ago when he was very young. He accidentally met Wu Li Mei in a river surrounded by many cherry trees, they bloomed beautifully in the warm spring.
"Aww!" squealing Wu Li Mei back then, the princess screamed as her footing on the riverbank rock slipped. But thankfully, there was a pair of hands holding her waist.
Wu Li Mei breathed a sigh of relief, almost having her white hanfu soaked in river water. The princess immediately turned her head, and she was surprised not to see the young man hugging her.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." said young Wu Li Mei at the time, the princess' natural beauty was really capable of drugging anyone who saw her.
"Aren't you supposed to thank me?"
"Eh," Wu Li Mei looked up, the young man before her was so sweet, from the hanfu weave he was wearing, it seemed like he was no ordinary young man. "Thank you for helping me, emmm, prince."
"No, no, don't call me prince." Zhou Xing Huan shook her head, "My name is Zhou Xing Huan, prince of the Ming Dynasty."
Wu Li Mei nodded, it was fitting that he was no stranger to that face. It turned out that they had met at a dinner banquet, hosted by his father, Emperor Wu Zhang Hao.
"Daughter? Where're you?"
"Hey, wait!"
Zhou Xing Huan held onto Wu Li Mei's wrist, that milky-white delicate hand felt cold as it touched her palm. What was even stranger was the unusual tremor in the prince's heart, a strange screen that made his heart drugged. Time seemed to stop when the black netra highlighted right in the bead of his eyes, the silent look of dew belonged to Wu Li Mei.
"What's your name, princess?"
"Li Mei, Wu Li Mei."
...****************...
After the incident of mercury poisoning in Zhou Xie Ling's herbal medicine, trade between countries began to be restricted. Emperor Zhou ordered a strict inspection of merchandise entering and exiting the Ming Dynasty, particularly in the capital.
Special units of soldiers were formed, members of which were skilled and trained soldiers on the battlefield. They have been equipped with qualified science to secure the country from mercury or other harmful materials.
"Is there any progress?" ask Emperor Zhou.
Commander Hao shook his head, he was the supreme commander as well as a confidant of the emperor. Commander Hao is appointed directly to the search for the princess pavilion lady who is thought to be carrying mercury poison. "The search has been expanded, Your Honor. But, there was no trace of that lady named Yang Li."
Emperor Zhou nodded, he sat on the throne while reading the scroll containing the winter preparation report. "Regarding the checkpoint?"
"Everything is going well, Your Highness" replied Commander Hao. "The checkpoints are spreading not only in the capital, but also other cities. So far no strange merchandise has been found."
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Eunuch Hao came and bowed respectfully.
"Rise!"
Eunuch Hao got up, the middle-aged man drew closer to the throne. He carried a golden scroll. "There's an invitation, Your Majesty."
"What's this?"
"Hang Dynasty dinner in the North."
"Definitely Hang?" repeat the emperor, "Country from Mei-er."
Eunuch Hao nodded, "Right, Your Majesty. The banquet was for the appointment of the crown prince to become emperor, replacing Emperor Wu Zhang Hao, the great concubine's father."
"Oh really? When?"
Eunuch Hao nodded, "The time is still two months away, but considering that Hang Country is quite far away, we should be prepared well in advance, Your Majesty."
The Hang Dynasty in the North, was a prosperous country in the northern mountain valley. The distance is two days if taken by horse carriage, that's also if there are no obstacles. Because the two countries were separated by a sloping mountain range, but stretched wide.
"I will tell this news to Mei-er" said the emperor.
"Are you going with His Majesty's concubine?"
Emperor Zhou nodded, "Of course, who else would I bring to Wu Li Mei's country if it wasn't that woman."
Eunuch Hao looked at Commander Hao for a moment, the two minds path as if the same. Namely, who will guard the palace if the two most sturdy pillars go. "Then what about the palace, Your Majesty?"
