15 HE, THE KING (1/2)

The Crown Prince's Last Days

A month had passed since I last saw the Crown Prince. Eunuch Han had also stopped coming to my residence.

It was due to the news that the King had became gravely ill and the Crown Prince had been tied up with official matters, mostly related to the Ming – which had built up armies to attack the frail nation.

General Sun, the commander of the nation's army had been seeing went back and forth to the Main Hall and the army camps in the North Border, probably discussing progress of any plans they had came up with and I prayed not a single bad news entered the Main Hall.

I was reading a book in my room when Court Lady Song interrupted with a whisper. She was serving the evening tea for me.

”Your Highness,” she whispered.

”Why are you whispering?” I asked in a whisper as well.

She came closer, ”I think that we are in the verge of war,” she said while looking at the front door.

”Few of the noble men had left here with all their families, leaving their houses behind,” she added.

”Where did you hear this?” I asked.

”Eunuch Han told me,” she said. ”The Crown Prince had formulated negotiation strategy with General Sun but it was said that the Ming denied every proposal and insisted the Crown Prince to surrender the crown to them.” She paused and poured me the tea. ”But there's no need to worry, if the Ming wanted to attack us, they would have done so a long time ago. They just wanted to pressure the young prince since His Majesty had been ill.”

”Then why are you whispering?” I asked.

”I don't want the Palace Maids to hear us, they might exaggerate and start to panic,” she said.

”You are not afraid?”

”I believe in the Crown Prince, Your Highness,” she looked at me, ”And you should too.”

I nodded, ”I do.”

Later that night I heard a multiple taps on my window. I went to open it and I saw the Crown Prince was standing outside with his hands full of small stones. He threw away all the stones and waved at me.

”Hi,” he said with a smile. ”Come out.”

I grabbed my outer garment and draped it on top of my bedclothes. I wrapped a shawl around my neck and took an extra shawl.

The Crown Prince was wearing his robe. Maybe he just came back from the Main Hall since I could see Eunuch Han and few Palace Maids stood at the distance, probably on their way ushered him to his residence.

I stood in front of him and resisted the urge to hug him. It has been a month since I saw him and he looked a bit thin. I examined his face. A trace of tiredness was transparent.

”Long time no see,” he said and his breath foggy.

I wrapped the shawl I brought around his neck, ”You might get cold,” I said.

We sat at a gazebo in my residence. He took my hand and wrapped it with his both hands.

His face was serious, ”I have something to tell you,” he seemed reluctant to say the next few words. He paused for a few seconds.

”His Majesty is gravely ill and the Ming is planning a revolt – these things you probably knew.” He sighed and continued, ”I will go to the North Border tomorrow...”