The morning after Xiao Jun and Yun Long"s visit, the Crown Prince kept telling everyone that he had seen the "late" General Huo and his wife. All his advisers looked at him confused and his most trusted adviser, Adviser Liu, just smiled discreetly behind him. It was almost time for Prince Ling to take over.The Crown Prince sat on his chair, staring at the entrance, as if in a trance. He was wary, looking out for anyone who resembled the general in any way. The doors opened and he gripped the handles of his seat to only see Prince Ling walk in with a masked person, obviously recognized as Prince Hong, Yun Long, of the Suo Kingdom.
"Your Highness, Prince Ling and Prince Hong of the Suo Kingdom has come to visit." Prince Ling said, he got down on a knee and cupped his fists as Yun Long placed a fist over his chest, bowing his head slightly, a custom of the Suo Kingdom.
"Get up, what have you two come for?" the Crown Prince asked, frowning a bit, he never liked Prince Ling, nor did he really like this Prince Hong.
Prince Ling stood up and motioned for Yun Long to go forward, "Your Highness, I"m sure you remember hearing that my King and Queen are doing well in Suo."
"What about it?"
Hearing what Yun Long said, Prince Ning, the Crown Prince, felt his heart jump and he was suddenly filled with a sort of panic and fear. Yun Long smiled and he brought a hand to his waist, grabbing the handle of his sword. His actions caused the guards around him to pull out their own swords and point them at him. Pulling his sword out, he threw it in front of him. "I"m sure you recognize this very sword. Your father gave it to someone your Kingdom valued very much."
Around them, the advisers and ministers spoke among themselves, pointing and eyes widening.
Why, that was the sword of the young General Huo Yun Long!
"Isn"t that the sword that belongs to the young General Huo?" someone questioned, others nodded and spoke in approval.
Yun Long"s smiled widened and he turned to look at the ministers and advisors. "It seems you all think I"m dead."
Someone, Minister Hua, walked closer and he looked the other up and down. "What do you mean we all think you"re dead?"
Raising a hand, he brought it to the back of his head and pulled the strings of his mask while taking it off. Watching this scene, everyone was full of confusion until they saw Yun Long"s face. Oh that familiar face!
Gasps sounded throughout the room and Yun Long turned with the mask in his hands, dangling at his side.
"Your Highness, now you know why the King and Queen of Suo are doing so well. I must thank you for all you"ve done." He said, mirth laced in his voice as his eyes carried a coldness in it. Crown Prince Ning"s eyes widened and he stood up, "Impossible! He died long ago! Imposter!"
"Imposter? How am I an imposter? I can even tell you what happened that day. You see, I was held back and locked in a room, my wife had gone into labor early and my manor was even on fire. Yet, you still have the face to call me an imposter?" Yun Long laughed loudly, the sound bouncing off the walls.
Walking around the streets of Han, Xiao Jun had dressed herself in the clothing of Han, everyone looked in envy at the beautiful brocade on her skirt and admired the shimmering of her pendent. But upon closer inspection, you could see the Huo family emblem engraved into the pendent and on her hairpiece. Her face was covered with a very familiar mask, she was wearing the mask of Prince Feng!
She walked alone and suddenly, a man ran forward and grabbed her pendent. With quick thinking and reflexes, she grabbed his hand and twisted it, making him cry out painfully. Looking down at him, she gave a smile. Everyone crowded around them and clearly, they could tell that she was a girl, but that smile she gave managed to enchant those who stared for too long.
"You dare try and grab my pendent?" she asked, the man looked at the pendent, "M-Miss! Forgive m-me! It"s just t-that..."
"Just what? Speak clearly or else I"ll have someone else make you speak." Xiao Jun threatened, from her sleeves came a needle and she pressed it against his neck. A needle may have been small, but just the pain one brought was not little.
"It has the Huo family emblem! I a.s.sumed that I could take it and sell it off to make money..Miss wouldn"t mind, right? The Huo family is already wiped out."
Xiao Jun"s eyes darkened and glared at the other, "The Huo family was a great general family in Han. How dare you say that about my husband"s family!"
Husband....
Husband?!
Others gasped at what she said. Surely she was just jesting! The general"s wife had died long ago in the fire and everyone knew that he never had any concubines, nor did he have any outside women.
"This crazy woman thinks she"s the wife of the late General Huo!" someone yelled, laughing. Soon, there were a few others who laughed, mainly more of the better off people as the poorer people said nothing and stared at them as if they were crazy. The general had been a hero figure and whether or not Xiao Jun was joking was none of their concern, they just wanted to know who this lady was and why she wore the Huo family"s emblem on her.
Xiao Jun laughed and let the other man go before turning her attention to the one who had laughed.
"Crazy woman? Fine! I can be crazy! Let"s see who"s crazy after I take my mask off." she exclaimed. Untying the strings, she took the mask off, revealing her face to those around her. "I-It really is! It really is the General"s wife! Does that mean that he is still alive?!" the people asked, shouting and causing a ruckus.
As that happened, some patrol soldiers came over to see what the ruckus was but when someone said that it was the General"s wife and pointed to where Xiao Jun was, she had disappeared.
Wasn"t she just there?
Where had she disappeared to?!