The Prince of Travelers

Residence in the Palace

“Our room is next to each other,” Li Huanran said with a sweet smile on the doorstep of the Eighth Prince's room. Before returning to the palace, he had asked his confidants to rearrange the layout of the rooms. In this way, it will be easier to meet Li An, “If you have nightmares at night, you can knock on my room.”

“I'm not a cowardly child. Hmph!” Li An closed her room tightly. Seeing that, Li Huanran only chuckled. It felt exciting every time he teased his little sister. Well, although it would be better if he smiled cheerfully.

While at the Eternal Happiness Palace, which was the great value of princes and princesses, Li Huanran always took Li An wherever he went. The girl was well aware that there was not a single person her sister trusted in this palace other than her. So, he hoped that Li An could remain calm while staying in the palace.

“Huan’er, is this the son of Consort Ai?” ask a thick woman. Li Huanran took Li An for a walk around the Imperial Palace in his first days. He visited almost every place, including the residence of his mother, Consort Shu.

“True, Mother. His name is Li An, the Eighth Prince,” Li Huanran replied as well as introducing Li An. The boy sat down politely as the Third Princess taught him. His face was slightly bowed. Her eyes did not look at Consort Shu at all so the woman commented, “What a cold child. Ah, no. Could you be nervous?”

Li An did not answer. He turned his back on Li Huanran who took over the answer. The Third Princess explained Li An's condition to her mother as she knew it while hoping that Li An would not be offended or objected to it.

“I understand. It was indeed something that was difficult to overcome, let alone no protector on his side,” Consort Shu talked about Li An's mother, Consort Ai. The woman knew what was really going on, but she did not expose it so deeply that Li An did not notice it. If only Li An understood that the Third Princess' mother knew the case regarding Consort Ai, she would definitely try to ask for information.

“We will visit again another time,” said Li Huanran as soon as he found signs of allure on Li An's face, “Thank you for the banquet, Mother.”

“Alright, I also know the Eighth Prince is bored,” Consort Shu looked at Li An coldly. The ring is much different from Li Huanran who is a cheap smile—or maybe it is so true without a mask. Li An did not care about that piercing gaze. His face was no less cold. Really makes Consort Shu interested, “Nak, before you leave, let me ask. Do you want to be emperor?”

“No will,” Li An replied briefly. It was the first sentence that came out of his mouth since he entered the Shu Consort's Residence. The highlight of his eyes contained seriousness as if to emphasize that he did not want to linger in this golden cage mahligai.

“Good then,” Consort Shu touched Li An's head while looking at her sharply. With all his heart, he said, “Then get away from the palace as far as you can and be whatever you want. I heard you wanted to be a scholar. Your dream is noble. Be a hero wherever you are.”

A hero is a great person who is a good influence on the surrounding. He takes the maslahat wherever he goes. The steps he took were not easy. There will be a lot of obstacles coming. When death comes, that's when the hero's duty ends. That's what Consort Shu meant.

“Thank you for Aunt Shu's advice,” Li An saluted her, but still with a cold, flat face. Consort Shu doesn't care. He did not even take Li An away with his daughter. When their existence completely disappeared, then the mother of the Third Princess was breathing long, then muttered, “Aixin, You have managed to keep her away from the palace. Too bad ... you remain a victim of this power intrigue.”

***

“We've been around for too long, I want to go home now,” Li An protested with annoyance. He had been following the Third Princess ever since. They paid a visit to the other brothers, from the First Prince to the Fifth Princess. However, it is still not finished until now.

“We still haven't met the Seventh Prince, Consort Zhaoyi's son. Please be a little more, “ pinta Li Huanran soft. He repeatedly persuaded his brother. According to him, it was very important for Li An to get to know his brothers and sisters more closely.

“Nmobile. I want to go home,” exclaimed Li An with a voice held back. He doesn't like to be flashy. There were many maids and eunuchs pacing around here. So, he emphasized his rejection with a sharp eye.

“An’er, the place is near. I promise...this is the last one,” persuaded Li Huanran with his unperturbed narrow eyes against the Eighth Prince's piercing gaze. They looked at each other in silence for a while until Li An said, “Did Big Brother think I didn't know the number of my brothers? Where could this be the last?”

“Wah .. You are indeed smart. We will continue the rest tomorrow after this one,” Li Huanran smiled sweetly. He insisted on inviting Li An to meet the Seventh Prince. Too bad to go too early, while the prince's room is in plain sight.

“No!” reject Li An firmly. He turned and just wanted to leave. However, Li Huanran restrained his shoulders without caring about the boy's objections. Just as they were about to make a fuss again, the door of the nearest room suddenly opened. Come out a child who was about two years older than Li An.

“Who is noisy in front of my room?” snarl the boy. He glared sharply at Li An and Li Huanran. Instead of feeling guilty, Li Huanran instead smiled casually as usual, then greeted, “Hai, Xiang’er. Finally, you came out too.”

“Oh! Brother Huanran apparently. Long time no see, brother. Hm? Who's the kid?” Li Xiang pointed at the sour-faced Li An. His facial water was not as turbid as before and even seemed plain. Li Huanran also introduced, “Dia Li An, Eighth Prince. Your first brother.”

“Really? I heard the Eighth Prince is a strange child,” said Li Xiang carelessly. The Seventh Prince said that without a second thought, let alone paying attention to Li An's drastically changed expression after hearing it. He even got acquainted with the familiar style after that, “Yah .. anyway welcome! Meet me, I'm Li Xiang. Let's play sword after this.”

“Hmph! I don't want to be here anymore. Brother Strange play alone,” Li An brushed off the grasp of the Third Princess. He ran before he was arrested again. Not too far away, he wanted to visit somewhere.

“What did you say!?” Li Xiang exclaimed in annoyance. He did not expect to get a joke from his newly met brother. All this time, no one dared to act recklessly towards her like that. Everyone will be respectful to him even the old ministers.

“Xiang’er, you shouldn't have told her that. He is not strange, but sensitive to the surrounding environment and strangers. Hah ...,” Li Huanran took his breath away. He has put a couple of ladies in various places. So, the Third Princess was able to figure out where the boy was going. As long as it was still around the palace, then it was not too much of a problem. He will soon be following after this.

“Kakak fierce! I will complain to your mother,” Li Xiang even threatened. He put on a strong face of power-ass. However, Li Huanran did not care at all and replied casually, “Please. Aunt Zhaoyi would not take care of a trivial matter like this. Do you still not understand?”

“Hmph! He's nothing compared to me. I will be the emperor in the future. Just look at it later!” Li Xiang turned away from the Third Princess and directly returned to his room. He knew what Li Huanran meant. His mother was an ambitious concubine. The last time he complained, he was angry. After all, he didn't really intend to do that. As a prince who aspires to become emperor, he will try to overcome his own problems.

Li Huanran turned outside and caught up with Li An. He is led by a nearby ladyboy to a recently empty complex. The girl then frowned, “Yeah, it's only natural that she came here. Mimi, prepare some tea and snacks. I want to see something that makes my sister unable to forget Aunt Ai.”

“Hamba thank Your Highness Princess,” girl called Mimi bowed respectfully, then went to prepare tea and snacks requested by her employer. Meanwhile, Li Huanran walked into the compound that his sister had visited.

It was a small complex that was arguably simple for the size of the Eternal Happiness Palace. There was only one garden with a saung in its courtyard. The plants have begun to wither and are not maintained. Wild grass grows everywhere.

“Do you want to stay here again?” li Huanran asked as soon as he saw the Eighth Prince in the garden saung. The boy was writing something. Although not very neat, but very good for the size of children his age.

“Are you guys going to allow it?” Li An replied in a flat tone. He did not turn away from the paper. The brush continued to dance carefully, painting a word that could gradually begin to be read. The hanzi script reads “Ai” which means love.

“As long as you have a guardian accompanying you, then it doesn't matter,” Li Huanran smiled warmly. This time, Li An turned her head with a gaze that was still flat and cold. He was stunned for a moment to see the expression of his brother who always looked friendly.

“Bookingly,” Li An was about to ask her something that had stuck up her heart for a long time, “Why does Big Brother always follow me? What's in it for Brother?”

“You are such a sensitive child,” said Li Huanran after a small laugh, “Materially, of course I have not benefited anything from you.”

Li Huanran sat down beside his sister. His carefree and always smiling face now made Li An remember something. However, something that is still not clear, only a sense of nostalgia that warms the niches of his heart.

“However, politically, I can profit from you,” continued Li Huanran while shuffling his sister's hair with one hand. Li An did not shake the hand of the Third Princess who stroked her ship. He only frowned, not believing in Li Huanran's argument, “Where might Big Brother benefit from me? Surely Sister only dreamed.”

“No, no. I really benefit from you being weak and indifferent. Hais ... brothers and sisters to the point of pity on you,” Li Huanran's remark made Li An throw away face. He doesn't need that kind of pity. To him, it was enough that they did not bother him like this one girl.

It was then that Mimi came bearing Li Huanran's order. The Third Princess greeted him with pleasure. In contrast to Li An who seemed to object because the sauage table was so full of sweet snacks favorite of her brother.

“Currently not yet. However, if I continue beside you, I can be more free to stay away from the palace just like you,” Li Huanran said casually, “Originally you know, if reincarnation really exists, then, I don't want to be reborn as a princess of the royal family.”

“If Brother also chopped the same palace, why do you insist on bringing me here?” Li An played a cookie in her hand. He flipped through the cake and pressed it until it broke. After that, he ate it.

“Because it was an order from the emperor's father. Every prince and princess should be educated in the palace, including you. After the age of 12 years, then you can choose what focus you like. If you are smart, you can solve it at the age of 10 years, but it's a rare case,” explained Li Huanran at length, “Let's calm, I make sure you live peacefully while in the palace.”

“Hah? Didn't brother say I was just staying for a while in the palace?” li An Protest. He also took Li Huanran's promise at the Prince Zhizhe's Residence. Third Princess even spread her fan and cover half her face, “True, but I just said I would help you to ask the father of the emperor. The decision is in his hands later. Prepare your best excuse to persuade her so that you can immediately return to the arms of cousin Mei.”

“Hah? What does Brother mean? You traitor!” cibir Li An's. Li Huanran even laughed a little . He also recounted his experiences at the Eternal Happiness Palace. He has loved his suffering a lot. Whether it was scolded by Consort Shu, quarreling with other brothers or sisters, until it received praise from the emperor's father. Li An who looked at him so could not focus on continuing the hanzi calligraphy he made.

“Eat him, definitely not bad if we stay here. If you don't want to have too many servants, then it doesn't matter. I will arrange it easily,” Li Huanran's story back to the starting point of the discussion, which is to stay in the empty Consort Ai's Residence now. Li Huanran was worried because it could be this complex will be converted if not immediately claimed. “So, how? Do you agree to stay here with me, An’er?”

“An’er?” li Huanran asked once again because Li An's gaze wasn't focused on him. He followed the boy's gaze towards. When his gaze reached there, he heard the voice of Li An, “Cat. That's cat.”

Li An ran from his seat, approaching the skinny orange-haired beast. Both hands also grabbed a small kitten that infiltrated the courtyard of Consort Ai. Li Huanran smiled gently looking. He found out that his brother likes animals like cats.

“You want to take care of him? We won't be able to bring him into the main complex of the Eternal Happiness Palace,” Li Huanran approached to take this golden opportunity. Li An who was busy playing with the little cat also gave a solution without turning her head, “Sister said he wanted to stay here right? Brother set it yourself.”

“No, we must ask the emperor's father equally today,” Li Huanran's plan went smoothly, but he would not let Li An laze around so he had to work alone, he said, “Ayahanda also wants to see you soon. Come with me later.”

“Hm, alright,” Li An origin replied. He brought his new cat into the house, while Li Huanran asked Mimi to get him a paper and pen. He wrote something down, then asked the girl to deliver her letter to Consort Shu.