The Prince of Travelers

Become Emperor?

Li Xiang had just finished attending his class. The first thing that occurred to him once he reached the school temple grounds was Li An. He has not yet made any calculations with his closest brother. Today too, he will come to teach her a lesson.

“Eighth Prince and Third Princess moved to Aixin Pavilion. Let us take you there, Seventh Prince,” a low eunuch offers. Li Xiang immediately rejected the offer. As a prince who liked to wander in the palace, he memorized almost all the places there. So, finding Aixin Pavilion was not a difficult matter.

“Aixin Pavilion, huh? But ... why did Big Brother Huanran and that boy move there instead. It was a small house,” Li Xiang muttered to himself during the trip. When he arrived at his destination, he saw the maids were still busy laying out some items. The Seventh Rooster decided to pass them by just like that. He planned to enter through the back door he knew.

“I'm sure the hole is here,” Li Xiang walked while fingering the wall. He looked at the high wall carefully. His eyes scanned carefully the surface of the ground before him.

The sound of a cat helping him find the hole. Li Xiang smiled happily and thanked the little cat who stood in front of his secret path. He stroked it gently with anxiety. If only in the Eternal Happiness Palace could keep a cat, he would definitely pick up this adorable orange cat.

“Hai! Are you Miao-Miao?” a boy's voice sounded from above. Li Xiang turned his head and found the sister he was looking for was clashing at the end of a high fence. He looked up for a moment as he saw it.

“Miao-Miao?” Li Xiang did not understand.

The Eighth Prince jumped down from the fence. He immediately grabbed the cat that was being carried by Li Xiang. His eyes stared hard. He then interrogated the uninvited guest, “Who are you? Cat burglar?”

“What? I'm not a cat thief! I am Li Xiang, the Seventh Prince. You should respect your brother,” replied Li Xiang angrily. He did not expect to get ill treatment again once he met his first brother. He just wants to play with her. However, the actions of the boy were unacceptable.

“Hah, what is this hole? Since when is it here?” Li An instead ignored the Seventh Prince's snatch. He noticed a hole in the fence of his residence that looked quite large. At least fit to be able to pass a small child. If he knew there was a hole in it, he would definitely not have to bother climbing the wall to find Miao-Miao. “Hm .. This should be fixed immediately. If not ...”

“You ...,” Li Xiang's exclamation stops once got a cynical look from Li An.

“What?” li An asked coldly, then again accused Li Xiang, “You made this hole?”

“Not! This hole has existed for a long time,” explained Li Xiang who did not accept the original accusations. Hands clenched. He was eager to pin the head of his sister. No one saw them here.

“Miao-Miao!” Li An left Li Xiang just like that as her cat leapt up and re-entered Consort Ai's Residence through a small hole in her wall. Li Xiang stared for a moment. This was the first time he had been ignored so badly. The Seventh Prince immediately entered the hole to demand calculation.

“Xiang’er?” the sound of a girl welcoming Li Xiang so raised her head. He saw Li Huanran in the waistline in front of Li An. His face looked fierce, while Li An himself threw away his face, avoiding that fierce gaze while still holding his cat. Li Huanran also asked, “What do you do that teach Li An to come out carelessly like gini?”

“What?” Li Xiang again accused, “Not ak ...”

“Haduh ... Your clothes will get dirty,” complaint Li Huanran cut off the words Li Xiang who was about to deny. I don't know why Li Xiang couldn't argue after that. He can only obey the absolute orders of his brother, “Change clothes first there! An’er, you too. Give Miao-Miao to Mimi. You can't repeat this again.”

“Kakak Strange, you haven't answered my question. Why is Brother here?” li An asked coldly. He finished changing his clothes. With the book in his hand, the boy read on the bed while waiting for Li Xiang's reply.

“My name is Xiang. Don't call me Big Brother Weird!” sewot Li Xiang was annoyed. He borrowed Li An's clothes for a while. Fortunately, the size is quite good. His clothes he had been wearing were being taken care of by Li Huanran's ladies now.

“Iya, yes. Then, why is Brother Xiang coming here?” Li An changed his call towards the Seventh Prince. His tone also sounded softer. Doesn't sound annoying anymore.

“I ...,” somehow Li Xiang lost his purpose come here. Maybe because of that adorable cat. Or maybe it was because of Li Huanran's lack here. It could also be because of Li An's tone that changed subtly.

“Did Brother Xiang really want to steal Miao-Miao? Cannot. Miao-Miao was mine,” Li An's remark this time still made Li Xiang upset despite sounding soft and flat. The Seventh Prince did not accept continuing to be accused carelessly. “Lagian, who is Miao-Miao?”

“Cats. Brother can't take my cat. Find your own cat there!” Li An raised his voice as soon as Li Xiang snapped at him. He put down his book, then got up from his seat and stood firmly before the Seventh Prince. His eyes looked intimidated. However, it had no effect on Li Xiang.

“Hai! You guys don't fight!” Li Huanran came suddenly to the surprise of the two princes. He rushed in when he heard the sound of his sisters starting to make a noise. Fortunately, he arrived on time. Otherwise, perhaps Li An had already hit each other with Li Xiang by now.

“He was ...,” Li An was unable to finish his words because Li Huanran snapped at him to shut up. The girl nagged again, then told them to get out of the room after being satisfied to speak. He breathed a sigh of relief because this little conflict did not arise.

“Well, as brothers, we should look after each other and be familiar. Please enjoy the tea,” Li Huanran successfully made his two sisters gathered in the garden saung. A warm snack and tea was prepared there. This is the perfect time to re-knit the relationship between the Seventh Prince and the Eighth Prince that yesterday had not been well-established.

“Sister Xiang, you still haven't answered my question. Why is Brother coming to my house?” Li An repeated the same question. Li Xiang could not answer right away. His initial intention was to show his power and teach Li An a lesson. However, naturally he could not say it now because Li Huanran would immediately kick him out if he said carelessly.

“I ...,” Li Xiang still has trouble answering. He glanced at Miao-Miao who was eating in front of the Eighth Prince with his leisure. Before he could make the cat as an excuse, Li An had already accused him again, “So I really want to steal my cat right? I told you, find your own cat there!”

“Not!” Li Xiang spontaneously denied. Hands clenched. He was eager to hit the boy who was carelessly accusing him of it

“Eh? Xiang’er likes cats?” Li Huanran entered the discussion. His soft voice cooled the atmosphere. He noticed Li Xiang's interest in Miao-Miao. So he asked to be sure.

“Hm .. I don't know. Maybe?” Li Xiang adjusted his tone with Li Huanran. His voice was not as high as before. She can have a casual chat with her more mature sister, “But .. The Eternal Happiness Palace forbids us to have cats. Why is this boy keeping a cat?”

“Name An. Please call him right. Aixin Pavilion was his asset. So, he is free to have anything here as long as it is not forbidden objects such as tools of war, star maps, and the like,” explained Li Huanran. He stared at Li An for a while. The boy being talked about was even more engrossed in his own book world while playing with Miao-Miao with a piece of rope.

“What? Isn't the pavilion just for adults? Why would he get it?” Li Xiang was envious. However, after paying more careful attention, he was sure that his place in the Eternal Happiness Palace was better. This pavilion was too small for him.

“I where care? Just let this little pavilion be his. The entire Tang Empire will be mine when I become emperor later,” Li Xiang patted his chest, punching his great confidence. Instead of getting praise, he instead got a loud jolt from Li Huanran on his forehead.

“Your ambition is huge. How will you compete with First Brother later? First Brother already has many achievements, while you are still a boy,” critic Li Huanran. That's fact. Currently, the First Prince, Li Zhang was Crown Prince Tang. His position grew stronger thanks to Empress Eminen being by his side.

“Look at it later! I will definitely be better than First Brother,” Li Xiang remains ambitious. He also took a cookie. As he was busy enjoying his snacks, Li An suddenly said, “What good is it to be emperor? Is Brother Xiang not afraid to sit there?”

“Hah? Why fear?” Li Xiang did not understand the direction of his sister's question. However, he still felt shunned. Li Huanran shook his head without comment. Surprisingly enough such a question can come out of the mouth of a boy who has only turned six, but as if he has tasted the sourness of life.

“Kakak bo ...,” Li An's head first got Li Huanran before he could finish his sentence. He glared at the Third Princess. The face of the brother who did not feel at all guilty made him so annoyed.

“What?” Li Xiang was curious, then Li Huanran replied, “You should read a lot. That's what An’er.” means

“Buk ...,” Li An wanted to deny, but again fell silent due to the grin and sharp gaze Li Huanran told him to shut up. He was reprimanded by his brother, “An’er, you must be smart to keep this or your life will not calm.”

Li Huanran pointed at Li An's mouth. He also gave a long lecture until Li Xiang saturated with hearing it. Throughout the Third Princess nagging, Li An played with Miao-Miao while still listening.

“You understand?” Li Huanran closed his tirade.

“Iya,” Li An replied briefly. His face was flat as if he did not care, but he pondered completely inwardly. The boy could understand his brother's message to keep the word. He also remembered how Li Xiang almost hit him because he had accused and spoke carelessly earlier. After a long silence, he said to Li Xiang who was still eating a snack voraciously, “Kakak Xiang, I'm sorry.”

“Hm? Why?” Li Xiang looked over. He quickly forgot his problems with others. Li An just stared at him flat. In the Eighth Prince's heart, he still considered his closest brother a fool. However, he kept repeating his words, “Sorry.”

“Good, you guys should be on good terms. No matter what the circumstances, we are still brothers,”Li Huanran clapped her hand once happy sign. He smiled sweetly, then continued the conversation to another topic. When the sun began to lean towards the western horizon, Li Xiang decided to go home. He returned to the Eternal Palace of Happiness without having had time to fulfill his wish. He even forgot about it.

“Aren't you asked to meet the emperor's father this afternoon? You don't want to get ready?” li Huanran asked after escorting the Eighth Prince away. Li An just looked over. Her astonished expression seemed to ask, “What are you doing now?”

“I'm not a girl who needs all day to dress up and do hair. I'm going to the Small Archive Pagoda now,” Li An finally replied. He got up and handed Miao-Miao over to Mimi. Then, he stood pensively weighing.

“Hm, right,” Li Huanran as if just realized that his sister did not like to give herself, “But, instead you will be late if you go there now. The Little Archive Pagoda was a bit far away. You should leave early if you want to go there.”

“I want it to be, but there are people who nag right from morning,” Li An said.

“Wah ... that person will not nag if you become a sweet and obedient child,” reply Li Huanran with a sweet smile. He is in a ready-to-glare tongue fashion. Unfortunately, the Eighth Prince was a cold-headed child. His words made Li Huanran not to speak at length.

“I want to rest in the room. Don't bother me,” said Li An, then just leave her brother.

...***...

“This is the handwriting of the Eighth Prince handed over by Librarian Ma,” an old minister handed a neatly-woven stack of papers to Emperor Yung Wei, “They are First Dynasty rhymes. He copied this rhyme because he accidentally damaged the book he borrowed.”

“He reads writings like this? Does he understand the contents?” the Emperor asked Yung Wei after briefly examining the volume his minister of trust had submitted. His index knocked on the table many times, waiting for an answer from the minister.

“Laughs Ma said, The Eighth Prince is very active in asking. Indirectly, he studied at the old scholar,” explained the minister, “I have never met him. However, if what Librarian Ma said is true, I believe the Eighth Prince will become a great man when he grows up.”

“Well, I hope all my descendants can become great people. Well ... although I myself still can not be as good as my father during becoming emperor. He was a great general, while I always lived behind my desk with a mountain of affairs,” Emperor Yung Wei put down a copy of his son's book. He looked up at the sky outside the window. The birds were flying freely.

"You are Emperor Yung Wei the Great. Your achievements are not inferior to the previous emperor," comforted the minister sincerely. Emperor Yung Wei was drowning in his thoughts. He also tried to guess the mind of the sad-eyed emperor.

If contemplated again, life became emperor was not as beautiful as imagined. Despite having many children, concubines, and possessions, as well as power, everything will be lost when death picks up. His life was never truly free. There was a huge responsibility on his shoulder. Time was not willing to compromise, especially pity with him who was always busy taking care of the country and its breadth stretched from the eastern horizon to the western horizon.

“When my children grow up, they can definitely replace me so I can retire quietly right?” Emperor Yung Wei asked himself, then looked at his minister to ask, “The son of Aixin has more intelligence than his brothers. Minister Liu, do you think he will be able to bear the burden of the emperor?”

“I'm sure he can,” replied Minister Liu simply. He was the minister in charge of the imperial administration. Therefore, he is familiar with Grandpa Ma who guards the Small Archive Pagoda, “However, I am afraid the Eighth Prince will not accept it.”

“Why is that?” Emperor Yung Wei frowned.

“Librarian Ma always told me that the Eighth Prince hated power. He has written many history books. So, I believe he hated the throne for understanding with the red ink inscribed on him,” Minister Liu argued. He was the uncle of Empress Eminen. As the minister closest to Emperor Yung Wei, his words could certainly influence the emperor's decision.

“Hm .. who knows? I will ask him myself later,” Emperor Yung Wei smiled faintly. He invited Minister Liu to leave. After his office came back empty, he let out a long breath. Hard work still haunts him, but he can't wait to meet one of his most distant sons.

In the hallway, Minister Liu walked over with a gloomy face. He immediately returned to his office to write a letter. After his letter was sealed with a special seal, he asked a trusted courier to deliver the scroll to the Liu Family. The core of the letter is only one, “Supervise the movement of the Eighth Prince!”