The Prince of Travelers

Don't Come

“Far away! Sister still stinks!” drive Li Rouwei with a shrill cry, “Kak Xiang if you want to come here take a shower first. His house is Brother An who smells so bad whenever Brother Xiang comes here carelessly.”

“Hai, I rushed here because you have made trouble,” Li Xiang did not take the blame. After all, her body was not as desirous as the Ninth Princess had said. He had sniffed his clothes many times and smelled nothing.

“Sister, you can borrow my clothes if you want,” Li An offers while pointing at his residence. Li Xiang looked reluctant. Once again, he quietly sniffed her clothes before replying. However, just as he was about to accept the offer, Li Rouwei had already banned, “Don't! Later An's brother's clothes get dirty. Brother Xiang go home first! Replace at home!”

“What is your real problem? You kicked me out?” snapped Li Xiang annoyed.

Again Li Rouwei hid behind Li An. He also provoked his brother by throwing other taunts and returning to expel, “Tuh Kak was sensitive, but did not go too. Hus! Hus! Move there!”

“Rou’er ..!” Li Xiang pressed his forehead with his right hand, trying to ease the anger. Unfortunately, he could no longer be forced to be patient. The Seventh Prince ran over quickly to catch his mischievous little brother. With his speed already honed during training becoming a swordsman, he would definitely catch Li Rouwei easily.

“Wee ... Slow sister,” taunted Li Rouwei who had now moved to Li Huanran's side. When Li Xiang again intended to catch him, he ran while shouting with pleasure. His laughter soared into the air, enlivening the small, but beautiful Aixin Pavilion.

“Because of you!” li Xiang exclaimed as soon as he managed to catch his sister and held the girl up high. Li Rouwei was struggling. Both weak little hands lashed at Li Xiang's back. “Let me down! I am a princess, not firewood.”

“Try down by yourself,” Li Xiang was chuckled with satisfaction. As he released his younger brother, Li Rouwei challenged him again. They play chases in people's yards shamelessly. This is his brother's own house. That's how the kids play.

“They are very familiar,” Li Huanran said as she handed Yun Annchi back to her mother, Mimi. He sat back in the saung with Li An while watching the game of the Ninth Princess and the Seventh Prince who enlivened their courtyard.

“Well, it was like seeing two kittens joking. They like to bite each other and pounce,” reply Li An with a thin smile etched on his face, “How Rou’er looking for attention is also unique. He always managed to make Brother Xiang fall in his game.”

“Their relationship is very close, let alone those siblings,” muttered Li Huanran, “I and Brother Bei alone are not that close.”

“Clearly, Brother is not as aggressive as Rou’er,” Li An turned to his brother so they look at each other, “Kak will also rarely go from here.”

“Pfth ...,” Li Huanran unfolded his fan and chuckled behind it. Seen the cute little figure of his sister first in the body of Li An who is now. Time passes so quickly. That crybaby who sobbed every night was already a smart young man leading a great guild now. This heart so feel missed, “Soalya, there you are here. You will cry again if I leave. Hence, I cannot go.”

“Kakak always saw me as a child,” Li An pretended to complain, then placed his head on the cool jade table. He also breathed. There are many shadows of the work that he will carry tomorrow. Lazily. I feel like going back in time. A childhood where there was nothing to think about.

“You have always been my sweetest sister all the time,” Li Huanran flattened her fan so that she looked a beautiful smile charming on her lips. He also beat Li An with his fan. Consider it a retaliation for that one. Ah, no. Li Huanran did so to remind Li An not to carelessly sleep on the table. “Wake! Don't laze. You will be fat.”

“I inherited my mother's ideal gene, so Big Brother need not worry,” reply Li An origin. His head was hit again with Li Huanran's fan, this time harder so he was forced to get up. He saw a ladyboy coming to his sister.

“Prince Zhizhe's Son come here?” Li Huanran made sure his hearing was correct. Dayang nodded too. Without asking much more, the Third Princess also told the lady to immediately allow Li Chen to enter.

“Kakak An, Brother Huanran, long time no see,” greet Li Chen familiar. The boy is also growing up now. Paras are handsome. There was an aura of a scholar emanating from him, just like Li An. He had just finished from his class and had immediately slid here upon hearing Li An's arrival.

“You're still short,” taunted Li An with his annoying smile—at least in Li Chen's eyes.

“Hmph, I'm still growing. Just look at it later! I'll be taller than Brother An,” grumbled Li Chen. His height was indeed still far below that of Li Huanran. His growth was a bit slower as he preferred to study at home, while Li An who was his rival had always been forced by Wang Hongli to run and practice breathing every afternoon since he was seven years old.

“Omong empty, from the first you also said you would beat me,” Li An reminded his cousin's determination in the past. However, that determination was not also a success because Li An was too fast to develop in his academic world. “Should, you focus first on the second level exam, then re-weight it to make me a rival.”

“Just look, I will win in the end,” Li Chen insisted.

“Iya deh, yes,” Li An replied resignation. In fact, he had never considered Li Chen as his rival since he had been tutored by Yun Jili, the Silver Fox Master from the North. It was so unbalanced for him. So, he decided to give up, “You just won, okay? From now on, you're the winner. You're better than me. You're a smart, kind, wise kid.”

“Do not decide haphazardly,” Li Chen did not accept it. Maybe he wants to win that victory. It is more aptly called innuendo than surrender of victory. “I will give you the proof. Brother An don't underestimate me.”

“Iya, definitely,” Li An replied in a relaxed, but serious tone.

“How are you doing May-May?” Li Huanran changed the subject between his two younger siblings. Li An and Li Chen looked at each other at the same time. They have been together since childhood. Li Chen replied, “Kakak Mei is fine. He said his life in the new family was very happy. Her husband and relatives were very good. Oiya, Brother Mei is greeting Big Brother Huanran. He said, hopefully soon can mate.”

“May-May is very attentive,” Li Huanran unfolds his tightly grasped fan, hiding a bitter grin on his lips, “What about the twins Rou’er and Xiu’er? They're in the capital, right?”

“Yes, Big Brother Roulan and Big Brother Xiulan are in the capital. They rarely come out of the house,” explains Li Chen, “They will definitely be happy if Big Brother Huanran visits.”

“Of course,” Li Huanran flattened his fan, showing the sweetest smile, “I will definitely come. Ah, I'll probably accompany them as long as An’er goes later.”

“What's up? Who called me earlier?” Li Rouwei suddenly appeared between Li An and Li Chen. Li Chen was shocked by his arrival. Prince Zhizhe's son had just realized that there was another princess in Aixin Pavilion. He also only realized Li Xiang's whereabouts shortly after.

“Ah, not Rou’er you kok, Adik dear,” Li Huanran stroking Li Rouwei head, “But Li Roulan princess Prince Zhizhe.”

“Iya,” Li An replied. Li Rouwei again asked, “Why is Chen-Chen coming here? Want to make trouble too?”

“Hai! Don't call me Chen-Chen. You little girl who doesn't know manners,” protest Li Chen, “I'm much older than you.”

“Hmph! Likes me. I'm the emperor's daughter, you're the prince's son,” Li Rouwei turned her face away from Li Chen, not liking his presence. Then, he climbed onto Li An's lap and ate a pastry comfortably on it. “Kakak An, When does Brother leave?”

“Not yet to know,” replied Li An honestly, “Ayahanda the emperor has not given his orders. Maybe Brother Xiang knows better.”

“What do you want? Want to ride with An-An?” tanya Li Xiang who just joined in saung, “No. You cannot go to the North. There's danger. An-An, don't let him come with you.”

“I know. I have rejected it earlier,” said Li An, “Couple sure he does not come.”

“Huh …! Basic Sister chatty!” li Rouwei's protest was not happy. He also seduced Li An, “Kakak An, let me come along. I'll be a good princess. Roe’er promise, really. Brother An don't listen to brother chatty.”

Puk!

“Aduh!?” Li Rouwei was suddenly struck by her brother. The blow was hard enough that it made his head really hurt. He sobbed, then cried loudly in Li An's lap. However, Li Xiang was unwilling to believe him at all.

“Big brother!” exclaim Li Rouwei while crying, “My head hurts.”

“Heh, you think I believe the same fake tears,” Li Xiang's speech made Li Rouwei even louder crying and snapping. He exclaimed to drive Li Xiang away, but the Seventh Prince would not leave until Li Rouwei came with him.

Li An also sighed. He also became a victim because Li Rouwei had moved a lot since then. The girl's little hand had poked her head before throwing something at Li Xiang. Li An also used her brother's style to win the Ninth Princess. He hugged Li Rouwei carefully.

The little girl's face was turned away from Li Xiang in order not to see him again. With a gentle pat on his back, Li Rouwei's condition gradually improved. Li Huanran also sighed. He also advised Li Xiang to be more sensitive to his sister's emotions.

“He really cried,” reprimand Li Huanran, “You should make up with him later.”

Li Chen was silent in the midst of them. Since then, his existence seemed to thin out, even disappearing. He was the only person who did not understand the direction of the talks of the princesses and princes in this Aixin Pavilion. The camuda simply observed and decided that Li Xiang was the real victim here. From the start, it was Li Rouwei who made trouble first. Well, but the girl was small and very selfish. Can be given a little understanding.

“This is related to the problem in the Northern Region,” Li Huanran replied as Li Chen asked, “Li An and Li Xiang will probably be sent there.”

“Wah, Northern Region? I've never been there. Can I come with you?” Li Chen was interested. The troublesome person also increased by one. With compact, Li An and Li Xiang refused, “No!”

“You focus first on your education,” Li An reminded, “Do not think to the Northern Region it is the same as the streets. There is still turbulent until now.”

Li Chen had bid a few times. But he was still rejected. The camuda did not force it any further. Unlike her more mature self, Li Rouwei had a brilliant idea to stay with her at all costs. Li Chen would also enter into his stratagem.

...***...

“Sit all of you!” the decree of Emperor Yung Wei after a while received the respect of all his ministers and commanders, including senior princes and his adult children. He also started this much-anticipated general meeting.

“Aginda Kaisar,” a commander from the House of Nobles Song spoke up, “This is the most opportune time. The Tang Empire will have an easy victory in the Northern Region this time around. The Left Kingdom has also been waiting under our command.”

No one is against. Basically, all noble families wanted annexation over that Northern Region. Especially families who have a military background. They could not wait to sharpen the sword.

Even so, the discussion still flows. The ministers explained their estimates regarding the results of the war this time. From the worst to the best. As long as there were no outside variables, the Tang Empire would still profit on either side of political, economic, or military hegemony.

“Hah. We can't miss this opportunity, ” Emperor Yung Wei gave the green light. He appointed a few generals to prepare the army. Ministers and diplomats are also prepared to launch their ambitions. This was an ideal that the previous emperor had wanted for a long time. They will enlarge the territory of the empire.

Li An and Li Xiang actually took part in this expedition. Li Xiang will go directly to the battlefield with the generals from the noble families, while Li An will be assigned with several scholars and ministers to condition the area around there. They will negotiate a lot with the Left Kingdom later.

“Hopefully this war passes quickly,” murmured Li An in the evening. As usual, he looked up at the sky from inside his room. The sky was bright and beautiful. It is hard to believe that there will be a war soon.

Li An laid her body on the bed. However, he could not close his eyes either. Various problems filled his mind. Had he not received a call from his father, he should have been in a town close to the Northern Territory by now. His union there encountered various obstacles. It is clear that this has a lot to do with the condition of the Northern Region which is in turmoil.

“Hah ... what should I do later?” li An complained in the middle of the silence of the night. He stared at the dark ceiling of his room, hoping to go to sleep soon and forget all these problems for a while.

But he still could not sleep. He decided to get up and go outside for a little night breeze. Fortunately the moon is bright tonight. The light is so charming to spoil the earth.