XIAO SHUXIANG'S

383 - Regret II

Yang Ni took off her gloves, her facial features looking colder than usual. It was obvious that his heart was in a bad state right now.

"Why can't you find him?!"

"Prince, we've been trying to search every place in this Empire, but that girl we didn't find.."

"Then look for it again. Try harder and this time don't come back before you find him."

!!

The two bodyguards that were behind Yang Ni were shocked. In their hearts they wanted to complain, but the look on their prince's face meant they didn't want to hear any complaints. If it remained reckless, both of them would probably lose their heads this time as well.

"Prince, there are many more beautiful girls in this city. Why do you have to torture us looking for one person whose face we don't even recognize,"

In the hearts of these two guards rubbed their faces. They had actually almost reached the limit, both of them were very tired and almost crazy just because of a girl named 'Shu Xiang'.

The name is quite widely used by girls in the suburbs, especially around the port. The problem was, these two bodyguards did not have the sketch of the face painting of the girl their prince wanted.

Yang Ni had invited more than twenty of the best painters, but he had always been less satisfied with the results of painting the girl's face based on his memory.

He himself was almost on the verge of the boundary as well. Every servant he met - no one knew the girl. He asked Grandfather, but the Emperor shook his head and gave him a completely useless answer.

"How can I find you.." Yang Ni exhaled slowly and slightly massaged her forehead.

He continued to step up while being followed by his two bodyguards. Increasingly walking, Yang Ni began to realize there was a young man dressed in all white who looked foreign to him.

"Mn?"

Yang Ni's frown slightly shriveled, this was the first time he had seen the young man. He felt that the reason why the Emperor did not come to watch his brothers riding was because the Emperor was visiting.

Lan Guan Zhi was still standing quietly, his facial expression did not change even though the young man who was followed by the two bodyguards approached him.

With just a single look, he knew that the young man walking towards him was one of the princes. He then saluted and greeted the young man with a typical Eastern Continent greeting.

?!

Yang Ni replied to him like the respect that swordsmen always do. He had just noticed that there was a sword tucked in the left waist of this white-clothed young man in front of him.

From the words he heard, he knew that his Grandfather's guest was from a faraway place. Only, Yang Ni was a little astonished by the young man friend in front of her who was like she was hiding.

"Mh.. This Young Master.."

"…"

Lan Guan Zhi did not know what kind of response to make. He himself did not understand why his best friend was hiding behind him.

Xiao Shuxiang himself continued to hide his face, his expression like one trying to resist defecation. He tried to make sense for this young man who spoke to Lan Guan Zhi to not recognize him.

Yang Ni though spoke to Lan Guan Zhi, but she was still curious about the person hiding behind this young man.

"Young Master, I don't bite. Why do you have to hide?"

?!

Xiao Shuxiang now could not do much. He ruffled a little of his pony hair and then used it to hide his eyes and half of his face. She held onto Lan Guan Zhi's shoulder and then peeked at the young man who had just spoken to her.

!!

"Ghost..!"

Two of Yang Ni's bodyguards were shocked, but not so with her. He instead flickered with the thought that the young man behind Lan Guan Zhi was someone strange.

"So Young Master, what's your name?"

Xiao Shuxiang tightly held onto Lan Guan Zhi's shoulder and carefully mentioned his name. He assured himself that this prince he saw would not recognize him by voice.

Yang Ni had often heard the name 'Shuxiang' and lately he was busy looking for a girl with that name. He was almost crazy just because of a girl.

Although both eyes of Xiao Shuxiang were covered in hair, yet he could see the look on the prince's face in front of him and if noticed better-Prince Yang Ni was like a lack of sleep.

Xiao Shuxiang did not want to linger in this place, he whispered to his good friend and requested that they leave here immediately.

".. Let's go see Grandpa.."

"What's wrong?" Lan Guan Zhi felt his friend's behavior was a little strange, as if Xiao Shuxiang was agitated and did not feel uneasy.

"I'll explain later.. Let's go.." Xiao Shuxiang's voice was so slow, this action could bring out curiosity in the heart of his good friend.

Lan Guan Zhi saluted back to Yang Ni and apologized for not being able to talk any longer, ".. We have to go back inside,"

"I also happen to want to see His Majesty, let's go in together." Yang Ni smiled, he was indeed in front of the Hall of Court and was now taking Lan Guan Zhi to meet the Emperor together, Yang Chai Jidan.

!!

Xiao Shuxiang has failed. At first he had intended to avoid Yang Ni and felt that the prince was going somewhere else. But it was unexpected that this prince even wanted to meet the Emperor.

"I can't avoid it anymore. Sooner or later he'll find out.. He would definitely know.." Xiao Shuxiang's legs felt hard to step up and follow his good friend. She held her stomach repeatedly because she felt bad.

Inside the room, Yang Chai Jidan was seen hugging Yang Hao and Xiao WeiWei in turn. He was happy to meet his grandson.

"Your Majesty.." Yang Ni called his grandfather. He walked while looking around for a moment and noticed every foreign face he first saw.

??

Hai Feng, Zhi Shu, and the Crazy Beggar Boy were curious about the handsome young man walking along with his two friends. They wondered about the identity of the young man. Merely, the three of them suddenly gasped when they noticed Xiao Shuxiang whose face was covered in pony hair.

Nyan's?

"Aahs.. Don't know Lan Xiao. Perhaps the cold air made your mother act silly," Xiao Qing Yan rubbed the head of the Moon Tiger on her lap, she noticed the all-black-clothed young man in front of her from top to bottom.

"Son, come and meet your Grandpa, Aunt, and Uncle.." Yang Chai Jidan asked Yang Ni to come closer, and then introduced the great-grandson to Yang Shu, Yang Fu, Xiao WeiWei, and Yang Hao.

The two bodyguards that were previously with Yang Ni did not follow him into the Hall of Court. They left and went back to look for the girl named 'Shu Xiang'.

Yang Ni was actually surprised to meet the figure that the Emperor had told her about all this time. He had heard many stories about Yang Shu and Yang Fu, so surely the news of his Grandfather's return was very encouraging.

Yang Chai Jidan had already done his best by taking care of his sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. All this time the clashes in his palace stemmed from the greed of his concubines.

They wanted the throne for their respective sons, no matter what filthy ways were done, even including instilling hatred in the hearts of their children.

The decision of Yang Chai Jidan to choose Yang Shu to succeed him as Emperor had made a huge shock in the hearts of the concubines, including the empress and the Mother of the Emperor himself.

The culmination of the deteriorating condition of the palace was when Yang Shu and Yang Fu escaped. Luckily, the Emperor had recovered and was able to cope with the situation. Until the end.. Time has changed everything.

The ambition and greed of his concubines would be swallowed up by their twilight years. One after another died, and a few were able to survive from studying cultivation. But for the concubine who was considered to bring bad, it was already removed by Yang Chai Jidan.

He was the Emperor who never hesitated to kill his concubines or children who were believed to bring trouble in the future. The way is so clean and without dirtying his hands at all. Yang Chai Jidan only had to give orders, and one of his concubines could instantly die without arousing any suspicion.

Currently, the state of his palace had been at a point full of peaceful and happy nuances. The great-grandchildren are often quarrelling, but not to grudge each other. Especially now, not a single one of his children has ambitions to occupy the throne.

Yang Chai Jidan was happy to have succeeded in providing a good education for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Especially now that his happiness is increasing with the arrival of the two sons who he had long missed.

"Xiao'Eru? What the hell happened to you?" Yang Hao was also jolted, his son's hair like it had just been hit by a storm - it seemed a mess.

"Xiao 'Er.."

"Aahm.. Ha ha's.. This was the latest hairstyle," Xiao Shuxiang's laughter sounded forced, his appearance clearly causing a sense of confusion to everyone in this room.

Xiao WeiWei shook his head slowly, his son's mannerisms were completely incomprehensible. He then walked and began to want to tidy the hair of his favorite son but immediately his hand was held back.

"Xiao'Er..?"

"Mom-Mom.. What did Mom do?" Xiao Shuxiang did not want Xiao WeiWei to tidy up her hair. If Yang Ni saw his face, he might end soon.

"You ask me what I'm gonna do? Of course, tidy your hair. You don't act like this, shut up and follow your mother.."

!!

Xiao Shuxiang was already beyond help. She had tried to resist Xiao WeiWei, but still her beautiful mother had tidied her pony hair until it was revealed.

"Please pay attention to Young Master Lan, you are friends with someone who has always kept up her looks. He looks very handsome and neat, so don't lose to him.."

"Mother.." Xiao Shuxiang felt this beautiful woman in front of him start to chatter. He is eager to say that he has always kept up appearances, but for now he needs to hide his face.

".. This sweet and charming son of mine.. You are adorable once~" Xiao WeiWei pinched gently on her son's cheek and not forgetting to give him a kiss, his son has grown up now.

!!

Xiao Shuxiang blinked a few times, the tip of his ear looking reddened. His reflexes just now were too slow to be able to avoid the attack just now.

Yang Ni had indeed been curious about the face of the black-clothed young man. But right now the beautiful woman standing in front of the young man was blocking his view.

Only after Xiao WeiWei turned around and sideways slightly.. Yang Ni could already see the face of this Uncle and Aunt's son.

"Ni'Erb.. You should consider him your brother from now on. Familiarize with her.." Yang Chai Jidan patted his great-granddaughter softly, he just wanted to talk back - But he saw Yang Ni's forehead shriveling.

!

Xiao Shuxiang could feel his forehead sweating, he tried to shift his gaze in another direction. It was clear that he was nervous at this time because he was constantly stared at by the young man standing in front of him.

"Hm, I get it.." Yang Chai Jidan was aware with Yang Ni's facial expression, he then smiled and gently rubbed the back of his great-grandchild.

"Ni'Erb.. No need to try hard to think. Let Grandpa say it. The girl you've been looking for all this time is right in front of you,"

!!

Xiao Shuxiang was shocked upon hearing the Emperor's remark. He glared at that Old Bangka whose voice earlier could be heard so clearly. Yang Shu, Yang Hao, Xiao WeiWei, including Lan Guan Zhi were astonished.

Meanwhile, the Mad Beggar Boy, Xiao Qing Yan, Hai Feng, and Zhi Shu were just staring at each other and then shrugged slightly. They know what is going on here and prefer to be spectators.

"You didn't hear me..? The identity of the servant you've been searching for so hard that you didn't even sleep because of it is Xiao Shuxiang, your brother.."

"I.. Hear it,"

Either realized or not-but Yang Ni had been clenching tightly his hands ever since. Blood was even seen between his fingers and dripping onto the floor. It was clear that Yang Ni had injured his own hand.

"I don't believe this.. Can't be.."

!!

Xiao Shuxiang blinked, he felt very uncomfortable being stared at like he was about to be eaten alive. The problem is, why this Old Bangka dismantled his identity without any guilt at all.

"What a dare.. How dare he cheat in this place.." Yang Ni's facial expression was still the same as the one before, but not with the look in his eyes.

He was so upset that he could feel a fire inside his chest. Droplets upon drops of blood fell to the floor as the fingernails on his fingers injured his own hands.

Honestly speaking, Xiao Shuxiang actually wanted to protest. The look in the eyes of the young man in front of him looked like he was accusing himself of a crime. Though he was sure that he had never hurt Yang Ni, not even once.

"I shouldn't need this lump. I'm completely innocent. I never hit him, slammed him, let alone kicked him. So why should I-"

!!

Xiao Shuxiang's breathing choked, he had a hard time letting out words as he stared at this young man in front of him. He seemed to have become the center of one's hatred.

The Crazy Beggar Boy noticed Yang Ni and Xiao Shuxiang alternately. His facial expression changed when he saw fresh blood as if dripping from Prince Yang Ni's fist.

Xiao Qing Yan, "You saw it too?"

"Um, it seems like Shuxiang was involved in a non-trivial matter with that handsome young man. And I guess the two of them were also aware of it," the Mad Beggar Boy looked towards Hai Feng and Zhi Shu.

"Brother Xiao actually had a problem with the prince?"

"Sst, Hi Feng. Didn't you just hear His Majesty's words? Brother Xiao disguised himself as a woman and it made prince Yang Ni misunderstand. You must have known how it ended.."

Hai Feng blinked and began to pay close attention to his Brother Xiao. He knew his brother was very charming but there was no way someone would recognize him as a woman.

".. Brother Xiao has a manly voice and if you want to be honest, Hu Li is much more suitable to disguise himself as a woman. So it's impossible that the prince didn't recognize my brother in just one glance,"

"Hi Feng, did you forget? Brother Xiao is an Alchemist, he can make strange pills including those that can change the voice and raise the chest part. If the hair is parsed, a little polish, and the clothes are changed.. You won't be able to recognize her again,"

Zhi Shu continued to notice how Yang Ni was staring nigh at Xiao Shuxiang. He himself felt goosebumps as well as pain in his chest when he imagined the gaze of those eyes on him. He was sure he would not be able to live.

Yang Ni walked over and only stopped when he was right in front of Xiao Shuxiang. With her cold voice, she said she wanted to speak in private and that there should be no rejection.

".. I'll wait outside."

?!

Xiao Shuxiang looked at the prince who started walking away. He exhaled slowly and followed the young man, but only two steps - himself was stopped by Lan Guan Zhi.

"He's so mad at you,"

Xiao Shuxiang stared following his good friend's gaze. Lan Guan Zhi was looking at the fresh drops of blood on the floor, this made him sure Yang Ni's anger was at its peak.

"Xiao'Eru? Are you hostile to him?" Yang Shu asked out of concern that his favorite grandson had made enemies in his own family environment.

Yang Chai Jidan explained everything. About how Xiao Shuxiang disguised herself as a female servant until Yang Ni felt enchanted by it.

Xiao Shuxiang did not want to hear any shame about him until it was over. He chose his farewell and met the young man earlier who was currently probably waiting for him.

Outside the room, precisely in the sizable courtyard-Prince Yang Ni was seen gritting his teeth. His mind is so fucked right now.

"Shameful, very embarrassing. How can I.." Yang Ni really wanted to beat up the young man who had been deceiving him all this time. He did not think the girl he was looking for was the embodiment of a real man.

"Damn it..! Less Teaching..! He's shameless.." Yang Ni's breathing was irregular, he cursed and continued to be angry.

His eyes and facial expression seemed to mean that he would not let go of the person who had deceived him.

***