Changling woke up bright and early as usual. His eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep as he looked ahead. Turning onto his back he saw that the room was overly decorated and not his usual room that he shared with Qinghe.
Getting up and pushing the sheet’s off him, he stretched his arms and back. Standing up, he walked down the steps and stretched his body when he landed flat on the floor. Because it was summer, it was warm early hours of the morning.
Pulling on a crimson outer robe and shrugging it on. Walking out of his room he walked through the unfamiliar hallways. He was lead by his nose towards the kitchen where Rucheng was brewing orange lotus tea and making breakfast.
He smiled at his sister when she looked up at him. Rucheng smiled back at her brother, “Sleep well oraboni?”
“Mn,” he hummed, “I didn’t know I was so exhausted, did I miss anything?” he asked accepting the cup of tea from her.
She nodded her head, turning back to the pot of boiling bone broth, “Yes, orabonim came to make sure you were settled in. The emperor will be arriving for breakfast. The empresses’ attendant came over, the empress wants you to visit her. The crown prince will be coming over after noon and Mr Hwan’s son was here but I sent him back. He’ll return in the evening.”
Leaning against the wall he nodded his head, “Make the same breakfast as usual. I won’t be visiting anyone, if they want an audience, then they should make the effort to visit me.”
“I’ve prepared the bath for you and a set of clothes,” she said with a side glance.
“Thank you, how did you sleep last night?” he asked her.
“It’s not my bed so it was uncomfortable,” she answered with a sigh.
“When thing’s settle down, bring me the account books of A Thousand Lanterns, from all three branches and have the twins send money to our other business and find out what really is the situation within Gaya,” he said as he kissed her cheek and walked off to the bathing chamber.
As he was washing Rucheng came in, closing the door behind her she said, “The emperor is here.”
Changling answered her with a heavy sigh. She chuckled then left letting Wu Yong know that he’ll be out soon then went back to the kitchen too plate the food.
Returning to his room, he dried himself off and pulled on a pants. Shrugging on a robe he walked out with his chest still wet and his hair handing over his shoulders. He walked out over to the pavilion barefoot where they’d be having breakfast.
Wu Yong turned his head when he saw Changling approach and smiled slightly. Dong Woo was beside him along with his eunuch who looked at Changling disapprovingly.
Stopping at the pavilion’s entrance, he looked at Wu Yong who stood up. Reluctantly he bowed and smiled, “Your Majesty, welcome.”
“No please,” Wu Yong reached out and stopped him. Changling removed Wu Yong’s hands from his shoulders with a smile then sat down opposite him.
Rucheng brought the dishes out. Wu Yong looked at the food in front of him. He hesitantly reached out to grab the vegetables. There was a bowl of bone broth for both of them. A plate of vegetables, a plate of carrot noodles, lamb meat and grilled fish.
Before Wu Yong could take a bite of anything his eunuch stepped forth and started tasting the dishes, “What the fuck do you think you are doing?” Changling asked annoyed.
The man paused and said, “Testing for poison.”
“And my fifteen year old sister wants to poison him why?” Changling asked amused.
“Eunmin it’s okay,” Wu Yong dismissed him. He placed the chopsticks down and stepped to the side.
Looking at Changling, Wu Yong started eating and started, “You should be twenty years of age correct?”
“Yes,” he answered lazily while bringing the bowl of bone broth to his lips and started drinking it.
“Dong Woo tells me your name is Changling, how is it spelt?” he asked with genuine curiosity.
Placing the bowl down he picked up his chopsticks, “My father spelt it, Changkuai linghun, Chang and ling – carefree soul.”
Wu Yong’s body stiffened hearing him refer to Yifan as father. Calming his anger, he smiled at Changling, “Why did Yifan name you thus?”
Changling chuckled remembering the time he asked his father the same question, “I asked that old man the same question a few years before I found out that I was biologically your son. His answer made no sense back then but I understand it now. He said that originally I was named Wuqing for the sake of it but the more he wanted me to hurry up and come out of my mother, the eager he was to teach me how to walk and have fun – to be a carefree soul. What was funny about the whole situation was that my aunt said, when my mother’s water broke and she went into labour, she cursed my father by name and said she would never let him impregnate her again yet for every year of their marriage they birth a child.”
Shaking his head, Changling involuntarily shuddered. His mother cursed his father every year but still continued to let him plant his seed after that.
“They seem to be happy,” Wu Yong commented as he thought about her.
Changling looked at Wu Yong’s thoughtful expression. He smiled at the man that shared his looks, “Yes they are but they’re irresponsible.”
Raising a brow, Wu Yong focused his gaze on him, “What do you mean?”
Chuckling he shook his head, “Because the only children they raised was Hyung-nim, myself and the twins. We raised the rest of the Rong clan.”
Wu Yong nodded his head. After a moment of silence, he said, “We’ll be holding your coronation ceremony at the end of the week.”
“Coronation? What for?” he asked with a frown.
“To introduce you to the kingdom as prince,” he said with a smile on his face.
Changling looked at him unamused, “Why would you go that far?”
“Changling, you’re my son and the prince of Goguryeo. By right you should be the crown prince, because of your mothers selfish reasons she decided to hide you from me and now…” he said was but interrupted.
“Your Majesty. You know how you treated my mother and I don’t appreciate you speaking about her. I don’t want to be the crown prince even if it’s my right. I don’t want a coronation ceremony and it will be in your best interest to not attract attention to yourself naming yourself my father because I have many enemies and you will only be endangering yourself and your other children. My siblings can handle themselves but I doubt your children can,” he said unamused.
Wu Yong looked at Changling with a frown, “You have enemies?”
Changling gave a slight nod, “That is a conversation you need not know about, so I urge you to reconsider your decision.”
Wu Yong remained silent as he looked at this son of his. He gave a curt nod pleasing Changling. Their breakfast was silent for the rest of the morning. Wu Yong got up and excused himself because he had official meetings to get to.
Changling sighed heavily after they left but soon dance for joy when Qinghe came to visit him but frowned when he saw a swollen eyed Mei Yuan following behind him. She bowed greeting him but he ignored her.
Rucheng came running outside when she heard Qinghe call for her and hugged him. She hugged Yuhua after she pulled away from her hug with Changling. They both ran off to the kitchen to prepare tea and snacks.
Mei Yuan sat beside Qinghe who had been ignoring her since he returned yesterday. Changling looked at her then at Qinghe, “I see you have your hands full Hyung.”
Qinghe shook his head not wishing to answer him. “I heard the emperor was with you, what did he want?”
“To get to know me and he wants to throw a coronation ceremony, spouting nonsense about me being the rightful heir apparent,” he answered with a roll of his eyes.
Qinghe sighed. “Don’t forget your duties outside the palace,” he said as he pulled out a stack of letters.
Changling received the letters and placed them beside him. Looking at Mei Yuan he said, “From tomorrow, you’ll be learning your duties guided by Yuhua and Rucheng here at my palace understand?”
She looked at him then gazed at Qinghe who didn’t even glace at her. She turned back to Changling and nodded as tears leaked from her eyes again.
“Good, now leave us, you’re an eyesore,” he said making Qinghe glare at him.
Mei Yuan got up and bowed. She walked off towards the garden. When she was out of sight Qinghe reprimanded him, “Don’t disrespect her!”
“She is an eye sore. Do you know that you would be dead along with our father if I wasn’t being held hostage here or even born for that fact?” he argued back.
Qinghe’s hands closed into fists, “Don’t you think I know that?”
“Hyung, she lied to you not only about who she is but her age as well, she’s ten years younger than you!” Changling groaned.
Qinghe sighed defeated, “Yes but it doesn’t change the fact that I love her.”
“Well you certainly got yourself into shit, what are you going to do if mama doesn’t approve of her?” he asked, as he accepted the tea given to him by Yuhua.
They spoke about idle business and about what needed to be done for the new store that would open. Changling’s palace doors were open since he didn’t really care about who would enter since his sister knew how to defend against intruders but since this was the imperial palace nothing could happen.
Qiang Wu arrived on time along with Youxian. They called out to the attendants but no one came to get them. Walking in they passed the garden where Mei Yuan was sitting on a bench and looking at the flowers with tears in her eyes.
“Ah-Yuan?” Qiang Wu called to her.
She caught a fright and stood up. Her heart eased when she saw that it was her brother and his best friend. Rucheng soon came around the corner before they could exchange words, “Your Highness?” she called to him.
He turned his attention to the beautiful girl and smiled, “I’m not early am I?”
Rucheng bowed, “No you are not but Mr Hwan is. My brother is only expecting you in the evening and would be displeased if you attended uninvited since this is the time arranged for him and the crown prince to have lunch.”
Youxian himself was displeased hearing this but didn’t say anything. He was turned back last night when he came over and now he has to turn back again.
“I’m sure if you speak to him he’ll let Youxian in to have lunch with us,” Qiang Wu suggested with a smile.
Rucheng shook her head, “Mr Hwan and you are here for two different reasons. Mr Hwan can stay but he’ll be separated from you and Ah-Ling.”
“I’m fine with that because I don’t plan on coming back if I leave right now,” Youxian scoffed.
Rucheng regarded him and said, “Very well, Princess Mei Yuan, can you please escort his highness to the pavilion while I escort mr Hwan to our brother’s chamber.”
“Why to his chamber?” he asked with a frown.
“Like I said, you’re here for a different reason,” she answered turning around and walking off.
“This way,” Mei Yuan said. The two best friends walked off into different direction’s following behind their guides.
Mei Yuan brought him up to the pavilion, bowing she said, “Brother Changling, brother Qiang is here.”
Qinghe stood up and so did Changling. They both turned to the crown prince and bowed, “Your highness.”
Qiang Wu bowed back, “Brother-in-law, elder brother.”
“Well, it seems my time here is up, I’ll see the two of you some other time,” Qinghe said smiling at them. He walked off with Mei Yuan following behind him looking miserable.
Qiang Wu looked at his sister. He wanted to say something but didn’t. “Please have a seat your highness,” Changling motioned to the chair Qinghe sat in.
“Thank you,” he said as he sat down.
