474 I Beg Of You (1/2)
On the spur of the moment, Hu Dengxiao forgot where he was. There were guards stationed outside of the private study. The nickname he had for Yu Zhen could only be uttered in private.
The Crown Prince shot his friend an irritated glower before slamming the doors to his private study open.
”Where else am I supposed to be?” he snapped.
Hu Dengxiao hurriedly ran after his friend like they did in their youth. Even now, he could still remember it.
Lu Tianbi walked a step behind the Crown Prince, making small jokes as Hu Dengxiao trailed behind them with a bounce to his footsteps. Despite being the last in line, he was still excited to see them, for they were his only friends.
”Wasn't Your Highness supposed to be in a meeting with the Emperor? Did it conclude so quickly?” Hu Dengxiao asked whilst closing the doors behind him.
He glanced at the small hallway that separated the first entrance from the second one that actually led to the study.
The Crown Prince paused for a brief second before continuing to walk to his desk. He took his seat, revealing the dark, gloomy expression on his face.
”If you brood so much, no one will like you, Your Highness,” Hu Dengxiao warned with an amused smile. He was familiar with the Crown Prince's permanent glower. It was as if nothing in this world pleased the Crown Prince.
”Good.”
”I still think it's a miracle that you were able to capture the heart of the Crown Princess, Your Highness,” Hu Dengxiao said and snickered. He noticed his friend touching the first parchment of the stack.
”Here, let me grind the ink for you, Zhenzhen!” Hu Dengxiao cheerfully said as he skipped forward, eager to help.
Yu Zhen pressed his lips together. His friend was in a great mood. But at the expense of Yu Lingluo. It wasn't Hu Dengxiao's fault. Even so, Yu Zhen was still irked.
”Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, the Crown Princess's autumn and winter clothes have arrived! We had the new closet brought to your bedroom yesterday when no one was in there, Your Highness.”
Yu Zhen's finger twitched. ”You know the rules.”
Hu Dengxiao's shoulder slumped. ”Y-yes… But you wanted to surprise her. The only way to do it was putting the closet there when no one was around, that way—”
”Your Highness, there is an urgent issue!” a voice called from outside of the door.
”Come in!” Hu Dengxiao called out, wondering what could be so important for a person to sound so stern, but worried.
Yu Zhen tensed. What could be so urgent this late in the afternoon? Did the Emperor finally pass? From their discussion this morning, Yu Zhen was certain the old man was hanging onto the last thread of his life.
”The Crown Princess has been drugged!”
Yu Zhen flew out of his chair. He stood up and stormed toward the soldier that entered the room. Not a second later, the soldier dropped to his knees and cupped his fists, bowing low.
”Drugged?” Yu Zhen viciously repeated in a voice barely above a whisper. He yanked the soldier by his shoulder.
”By whom?” he growled.
The soldier could not look the Crown Prince in the eye. He did not shake in fear, for he no longer felt such emotions.
From a young boy, he was bred for war. Bred to kill. Bred to protect the Crown Prince. He had trained from dawn to midnight, with only meals as break time. But his life history was not unique or uncommon, for there was an entire squadron who did the same.