Spring Once More

chapter 11

(Traditional Chinese cover scanned by Dairytea)

Chapter Eleven

I get out of the palanquin outside the prison complex. Since the guards received special orders from the emperor, they are already lined up in neat formation waiting for me. The head guard shows us the way while Xiao-Shun walks in front clearing the way.

As soon as my feet touch the limestone, I’m hit hard by rank air. Humanoid lumps are shifting around eerily beyond the metal bars. The guard smiles apologetically. “The conditions within are naturally unfit for Your Seventh Highness. This lowly servant already arranged them in a proper room. Right this way, please.”

He leads me and into a small compartment.The room is lit by a pathetic-looking oil lamp. A handful of men are guarding two people,one of whom is sitting on achair, the other on the floor.

The one on the chair I immediately recognize asPei Ruoshui. He doesn’t seem to have suffered much in prison. His hair is tidy,and his blue robe is practically brand new. There’s even a tea bowl on thetable. Seeing him makes me uneasy, but thankfully he shuffles obediently to a spot behindme after performing greeting rituals all without making a sound.

The brother on the floor is facing the wall asthough oblivious to my entrance. Needless to say, it’s the heroic tanhua who strangled the prince. If I remember correctly, his nameis w.a.n.g Rui. I’ve wanted to witness the glory that is Hero w.a.n.g ever since I returned from the Bridge ofHopelessness. But the truth of the matter is that I would be unable to say if he looks morelike a human or a bear, even if he were not greetingme with the back of his head. His whole getup would allow him to blend rightinto the Beggars’ Sect, with hair like a bird’s nest and a head like a chickencoop.

“My Prince,” reminds Xiao-Shun quietly. “Let us leave.” Iwave a hand, and he hollers, “Hark! Deliver the Prince and Master Pei to thepalanquin. Bring that one along, too.”

Death row service is nothing ifnot attentive, and they arrangetwo more litters for us. All three arrive at the prince’s manor safe andsound.

And that’s where the trouble begins. Master Peireturns to his quarters to rest, while a throng of servants gathers at the mainhall to receive orders from me, the prince, as to what to do with the w.a.n.gfellow. After some consideration, I give my command.

“Find a courtyard for Masterw.a.n.g to settle in, as well. Get him changed first, and we shall pay him a visitlater.”

I’m just wiping my mouth aftereating congee and mountain jelly when Xiao-Shun skips over gleefully and murmursin my ear, “My Prince, that fellow’s been cleaned up from head to toe. He’s inthe side chamber in the south courtyard. Would Your Highness like to go overnow?”

And since I’m dying to meetthe mysterious man himself, I nod without much thought. Xiao-Shun leads me downwalkways, past a few moon gates and into a secluded courtyard. He pushes openthe doors for me but stays outside. “My Prince, I’ve made it known to everyonein the manor that no one is to approach today. I will now take my leave.”

Without ever taking his handsoff the doors, he pulls them closed and hightails it out of there.

I shuffle into the room. Thereis a small living area, at the end of which is a screen. Beyond the screen areheavy curtains. I pull them apart and duck my head in only to be faced with agrand bed – on which lies a man glaring at me with venomous eyes.

“Chai, you sc.u.m! Kill me now!”

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Dairytea:

(w.a.n.g Rui...human or bear? O_o)

Chapter Twelve

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