The Prince of Travelers

Aged on the Boat

“Kak May-May! Point the boat right!” li Roulan said. Because they had been fighting for too long, the boat they were riding on was in the last position. Li Mei who was half in control of the boat replied to her chatty sister, “You were wrong. Don't be so strong. Later turn off distance.”

“Sweak brother. Look Xiu’er! He's been so far away with us. Eunuchs! Why quit? Quickly help the boat paddle!” Li Roulan was furious at an old eunuch who should have helped them to paddle this boat. However, since Li Roulan and Li Mei fought too much, the eunuch was unable to carry out his duties.

“Mr Princess ...,” the eunuch wanted to remind, but her words were cut by Li Mei, “Fast the paddle! We've been far behind. Ih ... Rou’er! It's all because of you!”

“Why Brother Mei keeps blaming me. The wrong brother. Point the boat right! Line we turn again,” Li Roulan sewot reminded. The eunuch who helped them was overwhelmed as well. He was only able to step back slowly while helping Li Mei and Li Roulan straighten the boat path. Unfortunately, every time he managed to do so, surely Li Mei or Li Roulan would deflect him again.

“Chen’er, we lead in front. Let's spirit! Paddle a little over here. Eunuch, even faster,” Li Xiulan commands his team well. They compactly row and steer the boat. Half the journey had passed and they were still well led in front.

“Really! I must have defeated Brother An,” Li Chen exclaimed in spirit. Actually, it's not helping at all. Despite carrying oars, the power is still too small to affect the boat.

Li Xiulan was not much different either. All this time, he had focused on keeping Li Chen from falling. The five-year-old boy moved too much to make his brother's heart almost dislodged many times.

“Sister Xiu, look! That's birds. It was a bird,” Li Chen pointed at a group of geese swimming in the lake. His body is too forward. Therefore, Li Xiulan had to continue to be on standby so that her sister would not fall. The eunuch who accompanied them also panicked several times.

“Sister is too slow,” taunts Li An with coldness. He and his brother face each other. Every now and then his face turned to Li Xiulan's team that had been far ahead. Nah! Actually, their distance is not too far away. Li An alone was too hyperbolized because she was sulking at her brother.

“Really? We will be faster if someone helps,” Li Huanran replied insinuating. Her sweet smile even joined Li An's makeup. He would really be very helpful if his angry sister went rowing.

“Why Brother does not accept eunuch help?” Li An questioned her brother's decision. From the beginning, he knew that his brother was cheating in the lottery. Therefore, he was not willing to help his sly brother.

“Not why, really. Calm down and be a good boy. Come on like this for your own good too,” Li Huanran continues to paddle patiently. Their boats were running little by little, but surely. Unlike Li Mei and Li Roulan's inconsistent, it was slow anyway.

“Huh! Isn't there something you want to say? Just tell me now that it matters,” Li An threw his face towards the white geese that Li Chen had seen excitedly. His eyes stared as cold as snow. He was not very interested in those beautiful birds.

“Wah …! Turns out you could be a sensitive child, huh?” Li Huanran pretended to be surprised. His hands are sore. He was tired from rowing for too long. Without saying anything, the Third Princess handed the oar in her hand to Li An. It was fortunate that his sister received the pair of wood without protest, but her eyes bulged sharply as if questioning Li Huanran's words earlier.

“You've been feeling the warmth of the family right?” Li Huanran began to mince words, “We will not be lonely if we have a family.”

“I am not lonely if the same mother,” cut Li An with a heart. Actually, Li Huanran did not want to offend Consort Ai's matter too quickly. However, since Li An mentioned it first, Li Huanran should make good use of it, “True, if we stay with the family we love, we will not be lonely.”

The mood was silent for a moment. There was only a breeze of wind blowing and the sound of splashing water being heard every time Li An rowed his boat. The brothers sitting in the boat looked at each other in silence. In their gazes there was sadness and sadness despite being covered in a schemer mask and a cold mask.

“Like migratory birds in season. They are compact heading in the same direction for the sake of mutual survival,” continued Li Huanran finally. His delicate hand grabbed the surface of the water in the lake. It feels cold and refreshing. “We are united in a great shade, shoulder to shoulder, bringing prosperity to the Tang Empire. This vast land is our responsibility as the Imperial Family. If we lead it well, peace will surely pervade this land of Tang.”

“Ayahanda the Emperor wants to see and meet you. He wants you to return to the palace and learn like other princes,” Li Huanran also said the core of the message he delivered after pacing back and forth talking about many things. Both of his hands patted Li An's thighs, presumably to believe in the sincerity he showed. The Third Princess hoped that the Eighth Prince would return with her.

“Not it .. the palace is not such a beautiful place,” Li An stopped rowing. Head bowed. He clearly remembered the books he read. The intelligent prince even confirmed his reading to Grandfather Ma. The old librarian confirmed the blood ink marks written in the historical record. The throne occupied by the current Emperor Tang was a chair that had held dirty-handed people.

“Indeed it is not that beautiful, so I want to invite you to change it for the better so that all the people of the Tang Empire can live in prosperity and peace sentosa,” said Li Huanran while touching his sister's crown. He smiled optimistically. Actually he is not that senationalist, but this is for the sake of completing his mission. After all, he stayed on to guide Li An to realize his dream of peace.

“What exactly did Brother expect?” li An asked in a soft voice. His head was still languid. She sits adrift on a boat with her annoying sister. His mind was swept away in the words of Li Huanran who was full of messages of kindness, but difficult to realize.

“Aunt Hien and Aunt Ai want you to live in peace. An’er, understand! I do not encourage you to become emperor,” replied Li Huanran honestly, “You want to become a scholar in order to realize that peace, then know that not only are you a person who is entitled to that peace. Everyone deserves it. Tang Empire deserves peace in all its pursuers.”

Li Huanran paused for a moment. His narrowed eyes looked at Li An lovingly. Her gentle smile brought warmth. It now strengthens his heart to realize that sacred dream, “An’er, the scholar is a great hero. Great people who bring change. You want to be a scholar, be a great scholar and stand beside your brothers to bring peace throughout the country.”

Third Princess also touched Li An's chest as if to reach her heart, “In your heart there is light. A great glimmer of hope that would illuminate the Tang Empire. It was as if I was seeing the light with my own eyes. An’er, have you felt it?”

“Aunt Hien once told me. When she conceived you, she had a dream,” Li Huanran now mentions the name of her sister's biological mother. He told me honestly because he had really heard it. At that time, he was still under ten years old. “Hien's aunt saw the light coming from the end of the ocean, also from the end of the continent. The light spread all over the place, into the houses, even the Eternal Palace of Happiness.”

“The light is warm and brings peace with it. Aunt Hien prayed that you would get it too, so the light entered her womb. He then saw the oceans, the great cities, and the vast fields that were illuminated by the light. Auntie said, you will visit there someday,” story Li Huanran stop, “Ah, sorry. Maybe there's a little different. That's what I remember so far.”

“Kakak is done?” li An's voice sounded cold so that it made Li Huanran's heart seem to be pierced by a dagger. The Third Princess was afraid that her efforts so far had become futile. If he failed, he was forced to request a mandate from his father to bring Li An back. That way, Prince Zhizheel must also urge Li An to return to the palace. However, Li Huanran did not want to suppress his little sister like that. Although he had only been together for a relatively short time, he loved her very much.

“I don't want to stay in the palace,” Li An's remark this time sounds colder and serious. Li Huanran gasped for a moment. The smile on his face turned into a tinge of sadness and disappointment. Li An had only seen her brother for the first time so. Normally, the Third Princess was always smiling with a carefree face.

“What are you really afraid of? As long as you are not too deep down the political stream, you will be safe sentosa,” Li Huanran is still trying to persuade. If only Li An did not know that his brother was good at arranging expressions, he would have immediately felt sorry for a moment.

“Blood,” Li An replied briefly. One word has described many things. The estranged prince stated that he was afraid and did not want to interfere with political intrigue, the seizure of the throne, and matters relating to it.

“It turns out we are the same,” Li Huanran back to smile, but very thin and bitter impressed. His face was slightly bowed, but his eyes remained staring at Li An deeply. He tried hard to connect his heart with the boy. “I'm also sick of the palace. If I could choose, maybe I would be reluctant to become the bloody daughter of the imperial family. It is better to be simple and to be. Everything is there whenever it is needed. Isn't that right?”

Li An did not answer. He still understood his brother's intentions. His reaction made Li Huanran sigh patiently and again said, “An’er, if you are not willing to stay in the palace, at least pay a visit to the father. If Prince Zhizheel deigns to keep your towers, then I can help you to persuade father.”

“Really? I don't have to stay?” li An asked to make sure. As long as he did not stay in that golden cage for long, he might still be able to accept her. For him, it is enough to stay away from political problems to live a peaceful life.

“Well, father must have understood,” Li Huanran promised.

“Alright, but don't hold me for too long,” Li An's terms are firm. Li Huanran hugged his sister for a moment. The boat swayed and scared Li An. They could just fall off that boat. It was fortunate that Li Huanran was able to balance it quickly. He also said excitedly, “Let's paddle together now. Lookie! Mei’er and Rou’er are already far ahead of us.”

“Hmph! Brother alone. Last time Brother said he did not need help,” Li An threw away face. It turned out that he was still a little sulking because of the problem at the beginning. Li Huanran also nudged it hard until the boy grumbled. In the end, they can go shoulder to shoulder to row the boat to the destination. But still they lost.

“Sister Huanran, I have a special gift for you,” welcome Li Mei while hiding something behind her back. He instantly appeared when Team Li An reached the end of the goal. His smile looked very suspicious. The girl who had not passed the age of ten was still lacking in controlling her expression.

“Hm? What is it?” Li Huanran nevertheless responded to his cousin's joke with a ploy ready to retaliate. If you fight with your mouth, of course he will win as usual. Her cynical sneaky smile was on her face with her narrow eyes.

“This! I give special love to Brother,” Li Mei showed me something she was hiding.

Kroook ….

“Kyaaa ..!” Li Huanran ran behind Li An while shouting hysterically. His sneaky tricks that he prepared to fight Li Mei fell out instantly upon seeing the big lizard in the tomboy girl's hand. The Third Princess even pulled Li An to hide. He hated disgusting animals like frogs.

“Eh? Though the cards are cute,” Li Mei smirked happily. He felt in the wind. Eventually, he managed to find Li Huanran's weakness. He should keep the Third Anti-Princess frog in Prince Zhizhe's Palace later. With a carefree face, she chased after her older cousin without caring about their status as noble girls.

“An’er,” Li Roulan's soft voice sounded from behind, “What Brother Mei has gone?”

Li An looked over. He saw Li Roulan, Li Xiulan, and Li Chen peeking from one place in the same. They are also afraid of frogs. Therefore, they were nowhere to be seen when Li An reached the end of the lake.

“Basic Brother Wicked. Just watch out later. I will complain to father,” grumbled Li Roulan with a sour look on his face. Both of his hands were angry. He was very surprised when suddenly a big frog jumped into his boat earlier. Fortunately, he reached the end of the lake. So, she was able to escape immediately before the frog jumped into her dress. Uh, Li Mei instead took him out of the boat without disgust.

“She came again,” Li An pointed to one corner. Li Roulan immediately faced the direction his cousin pointed. He hid behind the little prince as soon as he saw the frog Li Mei caught jumping up and down to him.

“An’er, An’er, remove the frog! Quickly dispose ..!” shouted Li Roulan hysterically beside Li An's ear. His voice was so loud that it deafened the Eighth Prince's ears. Li An immediately kicked the frog into the lake for the second daughter of Prince Zhizhene. After which, he brushed aside Li Roulan's hand which gripped his shoulder tightly and said, “Already. Don't scream all the time. My ears are hurting.”

Shortly after, Li Mei came up with a sinless face. He also asked the whereabouts of the frog he wanted to keep. Li Roulan looked at him sharply from behind Li An's body. The girl was still on guard maybe Li Mei brought another frog. After making sure his condition was safe, he scolded his outrageous eldest brother.