CHAPTER 19, GAN XIN'S APROACHMENT
The Imperial Prison was cold and sorrowful in the silence. The rock walls were dark and every movement will echo along the walls. The King, Wei Guang was sipping on a cold cup of tea provided, sitting firmly on the wooden bench, facing the table, letting out a big sigh.
He turned to a corner of the room that was loaded with dry grasses.
"Feng An Cai, you were once locked here as well," his cheeks raised, shaking his head with those squinted eyes. "I was stupid enough. But you were wise and determined, you found your way out,"
Blankly, he peered his attention again at the corner of the rock wall room. He continued another sip.
"Gan Xin greets Your Majesty," a manly figure appeared, bending his back with his palms connected and raised to him.
The King turned to him, scanning his figure up and down. "I've never seen you before, young man," With such gruff vocal, he stated.
He poured more tea into the cup, ignoring the guest.
Gan Xin's chin dragged lower, smiling. "If then, who was the young boy that made you a foxglove poison plant?"
The King froze. The short cup didn't managed to even make contact with his lips. Instead, he gulped once.
"Hahaha," He laughed, chugging the tea he poured. "What a small world,"
Gan Xin's posture remains stationary, bowing.
"What are you here for?" The King asked in a serious tone of voice, glancing at Gan Xin. "Is it for the Crown Princess?"
"Your Majesty is wise," Gan Xin replied, standing straight. A very sneaky smile was carved. "We hope that Your Majesty can cooperate. Help us to get her back to Wei Zhuang."
The King raised the corner of his mouth, smirking. He shrugged once. "Why should I? Why would Wei Zhuang need her for?"
"Jade pearls isn't it?" He turned his whole body to Gan Xin. He walked to him in a sigh.
"The problem was created by the Crown Princess herself. My King, after you took me away, the foxglove poison immediately grew and affected our people," Gan Xin explained. "Hence, we need the Jade Pearls as soon as we can,"
"There's no way she can make enough Jade Pearls in such a short time. Making a wreath of seven pearls already cost all of her energy," The King warned.
"Wei Zhuang has our own method. Your Majesty has nothing to worry about," Gan Xin guaranteed, with a punk emotionless facial expression. "I and my followers will get you out as soon as possible and for the payment, we will take the Jade Ring back to Wei Zhuang,"
He bowed, stepping backward.
"DON'T THINK THE CROWN PRINCESS WILL FALL TO YOUR TRICKS!" The King shouted, fitting his hand through the poles with burning anger.
---
"How's you're feeling, Crown Princess? Your coronation will be tomorrow," Li Zhang Ke asked as Wei An Ge was aimlessly shooting the arrows. As normal, they were having the training
Her eyebrows were furrowed, her eyes were squinted and the corner of the lips was pulled down. She responded with silence, proceeding to release the arrows which fell to the ground over and over again.
"Who would have known the future Queen of Hei An Guang is nothing more than an archery failure," A deep but light voice lingered around the empty training base.
"Who is that? Come out!" Li Zhang Ke called, scanning the area with the crown princess - moving their heads to each corner.
An arrow suddenly flew through the side of Wei An Ge's neck, fast, and ended up hitting the target. She pasted her view on the shot target. She can feel the acceleration the arrow had.
"And that's how you shoot, crown princess," Gan Xin appeared at her back, smirking. "I should be your teacher. Not this useless general who can't teach,"
He pointed at Li Zhang Ke, trying to convince the crown princess.
"Crown Princess, he's playing tricks-" Li Zhang Ke defensed, stepping forward closer to her. He tried to grip on her left arm.
Wei An Ge cleared her throat once, walking forward to Gan Xin with such a poker face. Her hand were tied at her back.
"Lord Gan Xin is one of our most important ambassadors. I agree General Li is the worst at teaching but we shouldn't take advantage of your kind heart," coldly, she replied with her body standing straight. Her eyes were pasted to the ground of sands and her chin was pulled down in respect.
"Crown Princess, it will be my honor," Gan Xin bowed, smiling.
Wei An Ge exchanged her vision with the General in confusion. Li Zhang Ke's expression highlighted denial and refusal.
"Then, Wei An Ge greets Lord Gan Xin, my teacher,"
Gan Xin nodded, happy to finally getting a step closer to the Jade Ring.
"Also for your furry coat, I gave it away. Hope Lord Gan Xin won't mind," Her cheeks were pulled upwards as she bent her body slightly downwards, apoligizing.
"I don't mind," With a pure smile he helped the Crown Princess to stand straight again. "Also, we're just about the same age, you can call me Gan Xin only."
"You're sixteen?" Her eyes turned wide awake, shocked
"Not yet, but I will this year. How old do you think I am?"
"28," She chuckled, keeping her eyes down. "at the youngest,"
It was the first time Gan Xin saw the Crown Princess smiling. It was breathtaking. Her almond eyes were squinted, the way the checks raised so high and the hidden smile beside her palm covering it. He couldn't help but to also join, smiling.
"Then, I'll have to punish you,"
"Have your way," The warm smile switched into a cold stone and serious face. She immediately offered her right hand.
"You're making me Hei An Guang treats. I'm such a good teacher, I don't hit my students." He declared, with his hands tied to the back, he walked away to the exit door.
Wei An Ge froze on the spot, surprised. She glanced at the General just beside her which was also appeared clueless.
"But-" She chased. "I still have to study politics and strategies,"
She unrevealed her arms wide, blocking Gan Xin from moving another step further. The eyebrows of her were knitted. "Plus, the coronation is tomorrow. How can I spend the day making treats for you."
"Then," He stopped, creating suspense. After a breath, he said "I'll read the books while you make them,"
He marched through her left arm, smiling. "Let's go, Crown Princess,"
"See you later, General," She bid farewell to Li Zhang Ke. She herself was looking nervous as her face was painted hot red.
"How the table turned," Li Zhang Ke murmured, picking the bow on the ground as soon as Wei An Ge marched to Chang Ge manor.
"I'll get what I want, I don't care who to sacrifice," He squinted his left eyes, furrowing the eyebrows. "Not even the Crown Princess,"
The arrow released sliced through Gan Xin's arrow and punctured through the board, ended up on the brick wall.
The Crown Princess and Gan Xin marched to the building's gate. Her silver horse was tied but that was the only horse available.
"You didn't bring a horse with you?" She inquired, climbing to the horse's back.
Gan Xin shook his head, agreed. Inside his head, he was blaming himself for not tying the horse that brought him here. The corner of his lips were pulled straight across his cheeks.
"Then, let's walk." The Crown Princess jumped to the ground, off the horse, offering him a pitiful smile for him.
"You won't mind?"
"Let's go," She ignored Gan Xin, talking to the silver horse. She lead the horse followed by Gan Xin at the back.
"Why would Xin Jia send such a young man to Hei An Guang? Aren't you afraid of the rumors that we eat our servant, we use witchcraft-" Wei An Ge asked, as they walked. Her tone of voice was cold with a slight of curiosity.
Gan Xin laughed himself, pulling his chin downward as he chuckled.
"Even the Crown Princess labeled it as a rumor. Then, I have nothing to worry about." He turned to her, still giggling.
"Good point," They suddenly stopped. She picked a scroll of a book titled 'Guide' from the pouch hanging across the horse's back. "Here you go,"
The scroll was tapped on his chest.
"I'll read them when you're making the desserts, not here." Gan Xin pulled the scroll away.
Wei An Ge rolled her eyes and began to read the scroll's content herself. Usually she would be arguing with people that broke their promise but it was mentally and physically draining for her at the moment. Her left hand was guiding the silver horse while the right hand and the eyes were focused on reading each characters written.
Ten minutes had passed just by them walking. There were no conversations or any actions since. The Chang Ge Manor was visible now. Three minutes by horse and fifteen minutes by walking.
Being wicked, with left hand, Wei An Ge poked the neck of the silver horse.
"Grrr" the horse jumped in discomfort, kicking everything beside it, including Gan Xin.
"Hey!" He shouted, falling his back to the dry ground of sands and dirt.
"Let's go!" Wei An Ge hoped on the silver horse, marching away. Gan Xin was left stunt on the ground with his jaw-dropping.
"I'll see you there!" Her voice echoed along the road. It sounded as if she was laughing which annoys Gan Xin even more.
"Hmph!" He stood up, wiping away the dirt on his white outfit. "Who could have known a Jade Ring acts like this,"
His head turned to the Chang Ge manor less than 80 steps away.
"Interesting enough," He started running. "CROWN PRINCESS WAIT FOR ME!"
Wei An Ge stopped the horse, turning her back to Gan Xin. "He's still smiling? What do they eat in Xin Jia?" She joked, smiling at herself as her eyes followed him. Even though he was running, he pasted a very excited and passionate look. On the silver horse, she waited for his arrival. Whenever he was about to give up, Wei An Ge will encourage him by insults and dares.
"Are you sure you're sixteen, old man?" She joked with a sarcastic face, smirking as she read the scroll of the book.
Gan Xin stopped, finally arriving -holding onto the Silver Horse mighty body.
"I'm younger than you, how could you say that," He tried catching his breath, furrowing eyebrows in difficulties. Sweats were coming off his body and his face turned hot red.
Wei An Ge chuckled, looking at him from the tall view of the horse. She softly kicked his shoulder, trying to catch attention.
"What-" he glanced.
She kicked him again, slightly harder as her patience was wearing thin. "A napkin, you're sweating and stinky, my lord." she dissed, rolling the eyeballs of her.
Gan Xin sniffed his armpit and it felt like his nose itself wanted to run away. He immediately took the offered napkin, wiping his forehead. He laid against the silver horse trying to act cool.
"Crown Princess, let me tell you. Your Hei An Guang desserts are the best I've ever eaten," He started drooling, imagining the dishes.
"Exactly," Wei An Ge took the praise, replying with a cold and toneless voice. "Especially our glutinous rice balls with"
"Brown sugar syrup," He continued. "One of my favorite,"
He closed his eyes, smiling in the memories of his first bite of the sweet rice balls with Jing Nu as he was laying against the horse more comfortable. He kept pressing his lips on each other, tasting the imaginary desserts.
Wei An Ge let go of a big sigh, grabbing the rope along the horse's neck. "GO!"
She immediately thought of Jing Nu. It's been less than three days since her death and she couldn't have the chance to mourn for her. She whipped the horse as they marched forward. Gan Xin has left on the ground again. But this time, his bottom fell first which left him sitting.
"YOU-" He immediately stood up, pointing his index finger at them. "Not this time, Jade Ring,"
He started running furiously and at a certain momentum, he started kicking the trees around the road in a zig-zag pattern which helps him to create enough force to jump higher and ended up beside the Crown Princess, on the horse.
"Gan Xin greets Crown Princess," with a sneaky smile and vocal, he started reciting and bending his back fully on Wei An Ge's.
The horse's running was furious. Both of the riders were jumping up and down due to it. "How the hell, get off!" She joked, pushing both of her elbows to his back that was bending.
"Crown Princess please have mercy," he laughed.
"No mercy for you, KILL!" she played with such a playful tone that the strip she held was off her grip. The bumping of the horse caused her to lose balance and she was about to fall and probably getting stepped by the horse which could have caused major injuries. Fortunately, Gan Xin held her left arm, the one in glove, just on time. While his left hand of his was trying to reach the strip.
"Don't, don't let go, Gan Xin," She warned, holding onto his arm tightly with all strength she had. Her legs were already on the ground, frictioning with the little rocks which was painful.
"I will never let you fall, hang on." He focused on the long road, pulling the stripe slowly as the horse relaxed and finally decelerate to zero. He turned to her with a sneaky smile, wanting to ask for payment. "You can only fall in love with me,"
He furiously blinked with his cheeks pulled to the side, revealing just a little sight of his teeth. He wasn't serious with his words but then he wondered why was the Jade Ring smiling at him with such a creepy smile decorated with such deadly eyes.
"I rather fell off a horse, thanks for the offer," She stood up. Her training outfit was full of dirt and her hair was in a hot mess. Her feet, being dragged was crammed and numb.
"Then let go of my arms. Would you, crown princess?"
She turned her view to their grip and automatically let it go. Being awkward, she scanned the area and cleared her throat. Her heartbeat increased slightly, her face was painted hot red in shame. Gan Xin, on the horse, was just enjoying the scene of panic, smiling with his teeth displayed.
"Aish, get off my silver horse!" She gripped his arms again pulling them downwards to the ground.
Gan Xin smiled in refinement, remaining stationary on the horse. "Your horse likes me better," he pets the silver horse on the head, smiling while Wei An Ge was hitting her numb legs with her fist.
"What's her name?" Gan Xin questioned.
"Silver horse," she replied, cold.
"She said she deserved a better name that is actually a name."
"Then be my guest, name her."
"Ma Xing. She's called Ma Xing from now on," he turned to the crown princess, folding her arms in dissatisfaction. "What do you think, Crown Princess?"
She smiled with each of her teeth showing, her eyes were totally squinted and her cheeks raised to the maximum level. With that facial expression and her dirty outfit as well as such messy hair, she looked exactly like the crazy old man she met in Central City.
Both of them rode Ma Xing, targeting the Chang Ge manor. Gan Xin was the one leading the horse while the Crown Princess, also on the horse, laid her back against Gan Xin as she continued reading the wooden scroll.
"We've arrived, my crown princess," He twirled his neck 180 degrees, trying to peak on the Crown Princess.
She nodded, understood. Jumping off the horse as she scanned the manor's kitchen. She froze, recalling every figure of Jing Nu and her around the manor.
Gan Xin pasted his view on her for a second and joined scanning the area. The manor has a dark wood floor and at the center of the entrance was a large apricot tree. The side of a room had a garden, filled with strange unrecognized plants.
"Shall we go?" Gan Xin questioned as soon as Ma Xing the silver horse was taken away by the manor's horse servant. His tone was soft and caring, acknowledging the death of Jing Nu which he himself planned.
She started walking without any response, leading their way to the kitchen. Gan Xin followed, from the back.
"She was there, laying on the floor. Covered in blood, tears, and sorrows," The Crown Princess recited, staring blankly towards the kitchen through the door. "She was such an angel, why would someone want to kill her?"
Her breath was getting heavier as she shook her head in confusion and curiosity.
"Do you know who did it?" Randomly, Gan Xin asked.
Her head turned upwards. Smiling bitterly, closing her eyes as the tears flow through her cheeks.
"Of course I do. I'm still in the mourning phase, that's why I haven't stepped forward yet,"
She turned to Gan Xin. He was shocked at how psychotic her look was. Those burning of anger in her red eyes and the excited smile, glaring at him. It was as if she really does know the mastermind behind the death.
"Crown Princess, we came here to make me treats not killing me right?"
"Depends. Does Lord Gan Xin know that anything about my Jing Nu's death?"
"Gan Xin is clueless, the moment I stepped in Hei An Guang, the maid is already dead. " he bent his back, turning his head down to the Crown Princess. He was trying to get rid of any suspension the Jade Ring had of him. "I'm innocent,"
The Jade Ring nodded, hardly sniffing back her runny nose.