CROWN PRINCE'S CONCUBINE

658 Meet again

After a while, Luo Xiang was enjoying tea listening to Song Ma Yi’s story of what happened in that country.

“Young Master probably came from far away so doesn’t know what has happened so far. Since His Majesty King Yen Luo was seriously ill, the rules were now temporarily held by Her Majesty the Empress. Recently she issued a strict ordinance requiring all boys under the age of eighteen to stay out of the street, or else they would be taken to the palace to be used as slaves. Since then all the riches and sons under the age fled as far away from the capital as possible, even headed for Yue Yang. And, the palace also requires every citizen to pay taxes according to the number of family members they have. The amount of tax is tremendous, even people who own land will not be able to pay it plus the condition of their fields which are less productive. Young master, you may have seen many houses along the village road that collapsed or burned. All of this was done by the local government because the residents owed a lot of taxes.”

Bai Ying who was sitting on the bed listened intently.

“They are really too much, how could they do this to their own citizens?”

Song Ma Yi raised his head again to look at Luo Xiang, and then Bai Ying.

“Young master, there are rumours saying, that His Majesty King Yen Luo has, perhaps, already passed away,” said the man carefully.

His words made Luo Xiang look at him for a long time, then look at Bai Ying. King Yen Luo, is his great-grandfather, he is also his family.

When they were so calm and serious talking, there was a commotion in front of the house that sounded quite clear.

“Give it to me sir” the voices of the children gathered, then the voices of other adults.

.....

“Don’t rush, there’s still a lot”

Luo Xiang widened his eyes. Didn’t he hear wrong? Bai Ying also turned his head towards the door. Without thinking any longer, Bai Ying immediately rushed over to the window and peeked out of the house.

In the dim light of the oil lamps, he can see lots of beggar children following the three people in front while distributing food. Bai Ying widened his eyes, at the posture of the person in light-coloured clothes from behind, he recognized that posture very well.

“Older brother!” he exclaimed.

And the sound was loud enough to be heard by the righteous as he thought, Chen Ming who turned his head and smiled saw Bai Ying’s face from a distance. Beside Chen Ming, there was Xiao Hong, as well as Bei Yau who was seen distributing food to the beggars who had followed them all the way.

“Xiao Hong, Guard Bei!” Bai Ying exclaimed as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing now.

Bai Ying rushed out of the small house and greeted his older brother.

“Brother!” without thinking he ran and hugged her tightly.

“Brother Ming Ming, finally met you too, ooh Ying er missed you so much” cried Bai Ying who could not hide his excitement.

Chen Ming of course, more than anyone would love to be hugged by Bai Ying.

“Hehe brother, big brother misses you too, is Xiao Ying alright?” he asked.

The Crown Prince was already standing behind the two, reaching out his hand to tug Bai Ying out of his excited embrace.

“Ehem, Ying Ying”

With a bit of force finally, Bai Ying let go of his embrace, the Crown Prince held Bai Ying’s hand tightly with a sharp look at Chen Ming. Even though he is his brother, still, Luo Xiang wouldn’t let him take the change.

“Em, Prince Chen”

Bei Yau lowered his head in front of the Crown Prince.

“Your Majesty, thank goodness Your Majesty is fine.”

Luo Xiang nodded. Glanced at Xiao Hong standing beside Bei Yau. At this time the red bird should still be in Firebird mountain, which is very far away from here.

“Your Highness”

Not long after, the five gathered in the living room in the Song family’s small house. Song Ma Yi and his mother didn’t know what to do to welcome the guests who were striking in appearance with beautiful faces and clothes. They resemble rich people or even royalty.

Luo Xiang nodded his head at the old mother standing beside her son.

“Uh, madam, if you please we will only talk to your son, it’s late at night, and with your condition you should get some rest soon.”

The old woman turned to her son who was much taller than her, so she had to look up. Song Ma Yi was used to talking to his mother, who was small in stature, so he often bent his body so that he looked slightly hunchbacked.

The young man nodded.

“Yes Mother, you better sleep now, let Yi er serve our guests,” said Song Ma Yi in a gentle tone.

The woman nodded, looking at her son and the guests one by one. They looked not bad, their faces and clothes looked like respectable and modest people. What could happen?

“Eh, in that case, this old lady will excuse me first,” said the woman, Song Ma Yi helped his mother to her room.

“Be careful Mother, here, let Yi er help you”

Both of them walk out of the living room to their room which was only a few steps away.

Chen Ming who was sitting in front of Bai Ying looked around. The room was very small. Even if they spoke in a very low voice, people in the room would still hear them.

“Brother, have you run out of money? Why live in a slum and dirty place like this, can you sleep here?” he asked.

Bai Ying widened his eyes, and Chen Ming’s overly direct words could be overheard by Song Ma Yi and his mother.

“Big brother”

Xiao Hong also nodded, but he stopped himself when he saw the young man coming out of his mother’s room. Why did he have to join in on their conversation? Because he is a special young man. As what the bird sees in his red eyes.

Luo Xiang glanced at Song Ma Yi.

“Meet, him, he is Song Ma Yi.”

Hearing his words Chen Ming and Bei Yau widened their eyes, not Xiao Hong who didn’t know who Song Ma Yi was.

“Who?” he asked.

Chen Ming lowered one leg that he had crossed earlier. Take a closer look at the young man. Slightly black skin, tall body big, big eyes, sharp eyebrows. Well, who else if not Song Ma Yi, the great general of King Yen Hui’s accomplice?

“Oh, General Song”

Chen Ming’s words made Song Ma Yi frown.

“Eh, Gen.. uh, who’s that young master?” he asked because Chen Ming’s eyes didn’t even flinch at him when he said it.

Luo Xiang massaged his forehead, somehow they got involved with the pillars of Wah Ye, if this continue, wouldn’t this change the historical order? What could happen next? He looked at Bai Ying, the young man seemed to know what the Crown Prince’s gaze meant.

.......

The sun was shining very brightly.

The famously hot Pai Hua Plains were at the peak of summer at that time. Bai Ying and the Crown Prince slept together in their room. Meanwhile, Chen Ming and the others were in the living room. And, were unable to continue their sleep because the owner of the house, the old lady was already busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast for everyone.

“Heh, this is very troublesome,” complained Chen Ming who was forced to wake up from a fairly sound sleep because of fatigue on the cot in the living room. He just put his very tired head on Xiao Hong’s shoulder, the young bird doesn’t need to sleep.

“My Prince, just lean on my shoulder and sleep”

Song Ma Yi, who had just entered with a bundle of firewood, smiled broadly at his guests.

“Hehe good morning gentlemen, please pardon me to wake you up, you guys can continue sleeping, my mother and I will only use the kitchen”

Chen Ming pulled his lips. How could he continue to sleep while this person would be passing by there? He massaged his forehead.

“Heh”

The sun was getting hotter as the party prepared to continue their journey back to the city. Luo Xiang asked Song Ma Yi to buy a carriage for Bai Ying to sit inside. The best horse-drawn carriage, he said, but, the one in the nearest market that Song Ma Yi could reach, was only an old carriage that was more than half the size of the horse-drawn carriage they used for long trips. And, also, two emaciated draft horses, did all the things in this age, even the horses also live so miserable lives?

Chen Ming and Bai Ying just came out of the house getting ready in their clothes.

“Then, how did big brother find Ying er? What, because of the instructions given by His Highness the Crown Prince?” asked Bai Ying as he glanced at Bei Yau who was preparing a horse for the Crown Prince.

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