The Prince of Travelers

The Strategies of Li Huanran

“An’er is better, right?” madam Lu asked as she held onto Li An's tiny hand gently. His eyes stared at the poor prince. If you pay attention to more detail, it turns out that the child is very thin and small. When he fell down earlier, his cry was so loud that it sounded in the Main Pavilion.

Li An nodded slowly. Even though the wound was still sore, he could endure the pain well. Even though he was so small, he was a tough kid. It was very embarrassed when he was carried by the princess by Li Huanran earlier. If only he had not fallen to the point of pain, he would have rebelled violently when carried like that.

“Other times be careful, yes. Auntie will advise your brothers later,” Lady Lu touched Li An's forehead, making sure she didn't have a fever. He covered the little prince and told him to rest. Before going out, Mrs Lu peeped at Li An's crown and whispered, “An’er, remember that you are also our family. Wherever you are, you are still part of our precious family.”

Li An fell silent as she looked at Madam Lu's back which then disappeared behind the door. Now, he is again trapped in his usual solitude. A lonely, quiet, and reconciling solitude. No more her chatty brother bothering, let alone her annoying stalker ladies.

“Hah ...,” Li An let out his bored breath, then turned his sleeping position to the right. He felt something different about his solitude today. In fact, he usually liked the quiet atmosphere like in the Little Archive Pagoda before Li Huanran's arrival. Perhaps the attention that the Third Princess gave her had affected her. Although not wanting to admit it, Li An felt that it was true.

Li An was just a weak prince who had neither strength nor support other than those closest to him who were merciful to him. He was just an ordinary child born from the womb of a concubine. His mother also died after the accident. If only Consort Ai had not taken it in the cradle, she might have been lying in the burrow a long time ago. Then, why would the Third Princess bother to drag her to the Eternal Happiness Palace?

“Mother ...,” Li An's tears trickled as she remembered her mother, both Consort Ai and Concubine Hien. Although she does not know how her birth mother looks, Consort Ai often tells the story of the mother who loves her. Her beautiful parasites with narrow eyes, dimples, and ayu smile. His character is quiet, shy, and affectionate. So, the affection came to Li An with the oral Concubine Ai.

In the past, Li An had never expected the attention of anyone other than Consort Ai. He did not care about his half-brothers, let alone his own father who was busy with palace and state affairs. The estranged Pangerang preferred his calm and peaceful condition with Consort Ai.

However, Li An felt saturated and lonely now. Moreover, Consort Ai was already not by his side. After Lady Lu and her sisters left, she found an empty cavity in her chest. The cavities were warm as he gathered with them and cold as they left him.

Li An's tears flowed in silence. His eyes were tightly shut with time cruelly passing by. Her own face is squeezing. His soul wanders into the subconscious full of mysteries. No matter what dreams he had, the sun suddenly doused his eyes when he woke up.

“The sun is high. Do you still want to sleep again?” the soft voice of a girl rubbed Li An's ears. That sound is very special. A voice that has lately disrupted the peace of the estranged prince.

“Come, An’er. It's time you woke up,” Li Huanran patted Li An's cheek slowly, “Eat first here. You haven't eaten last night. What if you get sick?”

Li An instead threw away her face and pulled out her blanket to cover her face. He did not want to be bothered by his chatty brother. It was better for him to wait for Li Mei or for Li Chen to wake him up.

Li Huanran smiled bitterly. He remembered his brother who was like a rock when he was awakened. His hands were clenched and squeezed tightly. His wits run fast looking for a way to prank the slacker boy.

The Third Princess pulled out the blanket that covered Li An's face. There was no reaction, meaning that Li An had fallen asleep again. Li Huanran poured some fresh water which he brought with him Li An's breakfast into his hands. His smile expanded as he imagined the annoyed face of the Eighth Prince, his beloved sister.

Plaque!!!

Li Huanran pressed his moist, cold hand against Li An's cheek. At that instant, Li An gasped. He immediately pulled back the blanket. His face was tightly closed. His fingers tightly gripped the edge of the blanket so as not to be pulled again by Li Huanran.

Li Huanran's hand also gripped the blanket. He was upset because Li An did not wake up as well and even more stubborn. His cynical smile was still on its heels. Quickly and forcefully, he pulled Li An's blanket and threw it on the floor. Not enough until then, the Third Princess also shouted, “Hai, Boy! Wake up before I splash you with water!”

Li An remained reluctant to press. He now uses his pillow to cover his head. Whatever happened, he did not want Li Huanran who he first saw upon awakening. He promised in his heart, if his annoying brother left, he would wake up from his complaint. Nah! Obviously it's just empty omomg in his selfishness alone.

Li Huanran's narrowed eyes grew even more narrow with annoyance, but his hideous smile did not disappear either. He also pulled a pillow that covered his sister's head, then actually poured a glass of water on the face of the lazy boy. His frustration seemed to spill with the water he poured. However, he did not expect that his decision had been fatal.

Li An did wake up immediately after that, but she woke up with a deep cry. A splash of water entered his ear. He immediately got angry and blamed Li Huanran for it, “Bad brother! My ears are hurting!”

Li Huanran was also surprised to see his sister's cry. He really didn't mean to do that. Spontaneously, he pulled Li An in his arms. His hands patted the little prince's back to calm down immediately. Then, he laid Li An on his lap while saying soft words.

It was fortunate that Li An calmed down quickly in her brother's lap. If he cried for longer, Li Mei would definitely come and blame Li Huanran. The Third Princess was lazily arguing with her most chatty cousin right now.

“Still sick?” li Huanran asked softly. Her smile was beautiful. The gentle girl stroked her sister's head affectionately. This was his most powerful nurse to make Li An a henchman.

Li An did not answer. The crying in his eyes was still clear. His face was sullenly full of annoyance. However, the hue of that anger omen faded away slowly. His eyes were back closed. The attention-hungry little Li An felt warmth and tenderness in his chest. This was the soul he had yearned to fill the empty cavity in his chest since yesterday.

“An’er, wake up. Breakfast first. If you are still sick, you can sleep again, ” said Li Huanran while encouraging his sister to sit down. His feet had been tingling for too long overstretched his sister's head, but he had no intention of complaining about it at all.

This time Li An immediately woke up. The look on his face was no longer irritated, but rather cold. He looked at his brother for a moment lazily. Seeing that, Li Huanran also touched his forehead violently. Li An reflex covered his forehead that was flicked by the older brother. His gaze returned sharp, but his cheeks were bulging so that it looked adorable. Li Huanra laughed gigglingly at that.

“Nah ... well .. eat first,” Li Huanran was about to feed the breakfast he brought for his sister. Li An refused and threw away his face. However, the Third Princess continued to force him with a demanding smile. Li An reluctantly accepted the bribe.

“Kakak Huanran, is that lazy boy awake?” li Roulan's voice sounded from outside. Shortly after, Li An's room door opened. It was fortunate that the Eighth Prince had already finished his breakfast. Otherwise, Li Roulan would definitely make him a mockery.

“Revelation. How's it? Already done?” li Roulan asked in a annoying tone. Li An did not like to reply to such a thing. To answer to his most cynical cousin, he walked out without giving Li Roulan the slightest face.

“Hai! Answer if asked!” li Roulan was annoyed. Unfortunately, Li An had already disappeared behind the door. Li Huanran also patted the girl on the shoulder while smiling warmly as if encouraging. He went out and asked his lady-in-waiting to clean up Li An's room. After this, he should immediately prepare to execute his next plan.

...***...

“Why is Brother Huanran here?” li Mei asked with her loud cry. His gaze looked sharp as if he was dealing with a great rival. He was blatantly showing hostility towards Li Huanran. They are on a vacation right now. There was a beautiful lake they wanted to visit.

The Third Princess only had a small smile behind her red fan. He laughed at Li Mei's lazy-hearted displeasure with his presence. In comparison, his face was thin-like to Li An when Li Huanran made him cry a few days ago. What adorable faces of children.

“Why did you laugh?” li Mei protests are loud. He knew that the girl sitting in front of him was laughing at him. Li Huanran also clenched his red fan. Laughing, smiling cynically. He gave Li Mei an answer with an eye-to-eye look.

Li An who was sitting beside Li Huanran let out a long breath. He looked away from his chatty sisters. Actually, he wanted to chat with Li Chen. However, the youngest from Prince Zhizhene's Palace had already fallen asleep by leaning on his elder brother's shoulder.

The commotion in Li An's horse carriage quieted itself. Li Mei finally fell asleep tired of arguing with the Third Princess who was more mature than him. He slept holding his sister's head. Her calm face looked even prettier than when she was upset.

The drowsiness of Li Chen and Li Mei quickly spread. Li An yawned widely with her eyes almost closed. Li Huanran stroked his head. With one more touch, he placed Li An's head in his lap. Li An's consciousness still had a faint-heartedness back then. After Li Huanran chanted a melodious poem for her, she fell asleep.

“Hah ...,” Li Huanran took a soft breath seeing his sisters falling asleep, “His turn to be children. They are very innocent and at will. There's nothing for them to worry about. If only I could hope, I wanted to be a kid forever.”

The horse carriage shook as it stopped at its destination. The harsh shock made the children wake up. Li Huanran immediately helped Li An to get up, while Li Mei instead nearly pushed Li Chen off his lap. Li Chen did not fall.

“We have arrived. Come quickly down,” Li Huanran opened the train door. He also came out first. Li Roulan and Li Xiulan who had left using another carriage had also come down. They immediately approached the Third Princess and whispered to each other. Sometimes the three of them laughed together, then nodded at each other.

“As per the one we agreed yesterday, we will race boat now,” Li Roulan spoke up after the children of Prince Zhizhee Palace came out all, “The team has been divided. I'm with Xiu’er, Brother Mei with Chen’er, and An’er with Brother Huanran.”

“Wait! I want his team replaced,” Li Chen raised his hand and exclaimed loudly, “I want to be with Brother An. We are both men. We will definitely beat you.”

“True, we have to repeat the draw ...,” speech Li Mei stifled. There was something he wanted to say, but he felt it could not be conveyed. Li Roulan cut him off in an annoying tone as usual, “What is Brother Mei? What Big Brother insistent want to be with An’er like youngest sister.”

Li Mei did not dispute it. However, his face looked annoyed. He said, “I don't care who, it's important An’er not be with Brother Huanran.”

“Eh? Why that?” Li Huanran obviously could not accept Li Mei's submission.

“Because Brother cheated. How could Big Brother always be with An’er after three repeated draws? Brother cheated, right? Why now!” li Mei protest is disheartening. He was very sure of his guess. The third princess must have cheated to take Li An from Prince Zhizhe's Palace.

“Fright!” inner Li Huanran in heart. He smiled cunningly and covered half his face with a fan, then said, “That's my luck. Anyway, what's the problem if I sit down with my sister?”

“Ih …! Anyway the draw should be repeated!” force Li Mei.

“Hais .. alright, Me’er,” Li Huanran quickly relented. Li An who was the center of the matter was just watching lazily in the waiting area. Even so, he still watched how the draw went. After repeating three times like yesterday, a new team member appeared.

“Ck! In fact, I have agreed with the results of the previous draw. Can't Big Brother protest a lot?” li Roulan asked in annoyance. He sat on the boat with Li Mei who was just as upset. They started blaming each other and arguing as usual.

“Tak nothing, Chen’er. Although not with An’er, you will still win with me,” Li Xiulan rubbed Li Chen's head gently. Li Chen nodded as well. It seemed, only the two of them were serious about winning in this race.

“We will not lose, really. Although not with the rower eunuchs like them, we can arrive soon enough. Leave it to me,” Li Huanran patted his sister's shoulder with a confident smile. Li An simply replied to him with a lazy look. Therefore, again his forehead was flicked by Li Huanran.

“Kakak!” Li An exclaimed in annoyance. He also sulked and refused to help his brother to paddle. However, it was not a big deal for Li Huanran. As long as his plan went smoothly, he did not mind to paddle until the end.