Chapter 11

Troubles in the East

Danger. Not something Yifan is unfamiliar with. Being the Crown Prince, he had faced many dangers since the day he was born. However, this was a bit different.

Seeing this crowd of hungry and desperate people trying to break through the guards disturbs him. Yifan was chosen by the Emperor to lead the troops and supplies to the East to aid the citizens there. He expected dangers like bandits on the way, but those bandits were not even as dangerous as the people in front of him now. He didn’t need to be welcome peacefully, but he was hoping at least they would listen to orders and take their turns to receive supplies. One second he saw them eyeing him and the troops as they enter the area, the next second they had pounce on the guards trying to get their hands on the food. They would push and trample on each other to get what they want. All morality and logic gone.

Yifan looks down upon the horde of people from his horse. Watching as the guards slowly gets overwhelmed by the people. He wonders among this crowd of hungry monsters, who was really deserving to be saved. How can they hurt and kill their own people and people who are helping them? They have no regards for the laws or any kind of morality.

“Enough!” Yifan command loudly as he drew his sword and pointed it at a man near him. Upon seeing the Crown Prince’s sword, all the guards also drew their swords and pointed it at the citizens. They were overwhelmed because they didn’t want to harm the unarmed citizens, but they didn’t imagine this madness so upon seeing the permission to draw their swords, the guards were relief. The people stop trying to push forward and started to inch back away from the swords as the guards trying to get back in formation. “We are here to help by the order of the Emperor, I will execute anyone that causes further disorder and prevents the smooth completion of the assignment.”

“Where was the emperor when we had to watch our houses washed away and our loved ones died?! The royals and the nobles only watched and laughed as we suffer!” The man standing at the end of Yifan’s sword spoke up loudly.

Yifan glared at the man and he stagger back a step as he keeps his eye on the pointed end of Yifan’s sword. “You’re brave, I give you that. But bravery used at the wrong time will end very badly” Yifan said to the man then hit him in the chest with the flat side of the sword. The man fell back against the people standing behind him. Yifan sheath his sword and turn to address the crowd “I am Wu Yifan, the Crown Prince of China, and I’m here to help you. The food and supplies you see here will be distributed only to those who will obey and act orderly. Anyone that commits an unjust act such as stealing other’s portions will be executed on the spot. Anyone that push or shove others will get beaten and force to the back of the line.”

The citizens were shocked to learned that the Crown Prince was here in person to help them. They never expected to ever see a royal’s face in person in their lifetime. They thought that he was just the son of another corrupted officials sent here to put on a façade and make them suffer more than they already have. Although the Crown Prince seemed scary, but they were moved that he had personally came to help them. It proves the Emperor does care for all of his people even if they are an area that is far away from the capital city.

They all kneel and bow to Yifan “Greetings Crown Prince!”

Upon seeing the sight of everyone bowing down to him, Yifan felt something stir inside him but he can’t tell what it is. He motioned for the guards to proceed with setting up and distributing the supplies.

While the guards were distributing all the supplies they’ve brought with them to the citizens, Yifan went to investigate and took care of all the corrupted officials in the region. These officials had swindle money sent by the government to repair and built extra damp to prevent floods. They had pocket most of the money and used what’s left to buy cheap materials to build the damp. They’ve also forced the citizens into cheap pay labor and increased tax in the region for their own gains. Yifan had captured them and brought them before the people. The citizens were angry and threw rocks at the tied up corrupted officials. After awhile, Yifan gave the signal and they were executed.

On the day that Yifan and his troops is leaving to go back to the capital city, the citizens in the region all came out to send them off. Yifan lead his troops away in the chants of the people.

“Long live the Emperor! Long live the Crown Prince!” the citizens continues to chant until they no longer see the sight of the Crown Prince.

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On the way back, Yifan met with more bandits. He found it strange that there would be anymore bandits going after them since they no longer have any goods on them. He soon realized that these men were too skill to be bandits. Yifan and his troops did their best to fight off the assassins, and despite his good martial arts he still sustained injuries. At the end of the battle, Yifan lost more than half his troops but he was able to capture one of the assassins.

“Who sent you?” Yifan interrogated the assassin.

The assassin laughed out loud then said “Ignorance is bliss my Prince, maybe it’s best you don’t know anything.”

Yifan grab the assassin’s hair and pull his head up to face him “Who sent you?” Yifan repeated the question with more anger laced in his tone.

“The one that wishes to defend his throne” the assassin said then quickly bit down on the poison hidden in his mouth. Yifan free hand immediately flew up to stop him but it was too late. Blackened blood dripped from the assassin’s mouth and he went limp. Yifan let go of the assassin’s hair and straighten up. He glared at the assassin’s body as it hit the ground.

Yifan stood there, a bit shock at what the assassin said. He shook his head, disbelieving what he had just heard. It has to be a lie. His royal father was always stricter with him than to his other brothers, but Yifan wholeheartedly believed that it was because he was the Crown Prince. His father needed to be stricter to him because he’s going to become the Emperor in the future. While it’s true that Yifan can feel his father was cold towards him and show more favoritism towards Luhan sometimes, but to assassinate his own son is something he would ever believe his father is capable of. Yifan walk away from the dead assassin, rounded up what’s left of his troops and continue on his way back to the imperial palace.

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Baekhuyn step into the King’s room to submit his report for the preparation for the assigned mission, only to see the King passed out drunk on the table. Baekhuyn recalled the moment when a very excited Jongin ran past him earlier when he was on his way here. He let out a sigh as he can guess what will happen now that Jongin knew what the mission is. He placed the report on the King’s work desk and help the drunk King to settle in bed.

Baekhuyn wasn’t surprised because ever since young, whatever Jongin wishes to know, Jongin will find out. No matter what. But to get the information from the King’s very mouth by making him drunk...Baekhuyn doesn’t even know what to do with this First Prince anymore. The King will be angry once he’s sober and remember what happened.

After covering the King with the blanket, Baekhuyn back out of the room and close the door. As he turn around he saw Chanyeol standing a few steps from where he is. The two of them stare at each other for awhile before Baekhuyn put up a fake smile to greet Chanyeol “Good evening General Park.”

Chanyeol didn’t smile back “Good evening Advisor Byun, is the King in?”

Baekhuyn kept up his very obviously fake smile “He’s in but is not quite sober at the moment, probably best you come back in the morning.”

Chanyeol nodded and turn around to leave. Baekhuyn also turn in a different direction and left. Neither of them spare each other another glance.

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“Sir!” Jun called out as soon as he saw Xiumin stepped through the door.

Upon hearing Jun’s voice, Xiumin’s immediate actions were to slam the door shut as fast as he can with one hand and threw a dagger towards Jun with the other.

When the dagger grazed his neck, Jun immediately realized what he did wrong. If Xiumin had applied a bit more force to the throw, Jun would be lying in his own pool of blood by now. He immediately kneeled down to beg for forgiveness “Please forgive me, I shouldn’t have overreacted!”

“Get up” Xiumin commanded and motion for Jun to retrieve the dagger that had lodge itself in the wall. “One more blunder or if anyone ever found out, I will personally bury your corpse in the backyard.”

“Ye..yes, I will remember to be more careful in the future” Jun said as he shakily handed the dagger back to Xiumin.

“What is it?” Xiumin asked as he took the dagger from Jun and hid it away in his clothes.

“A message! We finally received a message from him” Jun said as he pull out a small piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over to Xiumin.

Xiumin immediately took the message and open it up to read it. After he finished reading it, he placed the paper over the candle’s flame and let it burn to ashes. He then turned to Jun and said “They’re coming. Go pack up, we’re moving to the capital city.”