Chapter 10: Prince Li Wei’s Disappearance

Li Imperial Palace

Emperor Li Jun Pavillon

" You've changed Jun? You weren't like this?" She wore a sad expression on her face.

" The events made me change. The pain changed me. Nothing matters anymore, not even that kid. Take care of him! I don't want to see him!" He said in an indifferent tone.

" Stop it! Someone might hear you".

What they didn't know is that someone was already there listening to them. Someone they would have never guessed.

Prince Li Wei

( I knew it! I'm unwanted here. No one loves me! I'll leave this place and everyone will be happy).

"If only someone could put you in your place, that would bring some sense into you," Princess Li Mei said to her brother angrily.

"Sorry to disappoint, but there's not any woman in this world who would dare offend an emperor". Emperor Li Jun said to his sister proudly.

" I wouldn't be so sure if I were you. I can assure you that there is such a woman. A woman who would put you in your rightful place". Princess Li Mei said with assurance to her brother.

Ying Household

That emperor! If I find him, I don't know what I might be able to do to him. I won't be able to control myself. Wherever you're hiding, I'll find you. I just hope nothing will happen until then. Nothing bad, that is, I thought to myself.

MPS Police Station

Police Detective Ying Jie Office

Knock! Knock! Knock!

There was a knock on the door.

" Ying Jie, may I have a word with you?" Xu Lifang asked Ying Jie questionably.

"Come in!" Ying Jie allowed.

" Sorry! I'm sorry about yesterday! I was disrespectful towards your sister. I'm sorry!" Xu Lifang said in a sorry state.

"I forgive you! Don't repeat that mistake!" Said Ying Jie while tapping on his shoulder.

" I won't! I won't! Thank you very much for forgiving me! I'll get back to work! See you later!" Xu Lifang said while leaving Ying Jie's office.

" Is Ying Yue okay? I should give her a call to check how she's doing. What is she going to do now? Will she apply for another job or will she go back to her current job? What are you going to do, Yue? What are you going to decide? Ying Jie thought to himself.

Li Imperial Palace

Li Imperial Garden

Empress Dowager was passing by the imperial garden when she noticed her grandson and approached him.

" Wei, what are you doing here all alone?" Empress Dowager asked her grandson.

Prince Li Wei:?

" What's wrong, Wei? Tell me!" Empress Dowager asked worriedly.

Prince Li Wei scribbled some words in his diary and his grandmother was shocked when she read it.

Grandmother, do you love me? Those were the words he wrote along the lines.

" What are you saying? Of course, I love you! You're my grandson!" said Empress Dowager while shedding some tears.

Prince Li Wei scribbled something yet again and Empress Dowager was just as shocked, but this time was different. It was a different kind of shocking.

Does my father also love me? Prince Li Wei scribbled in his diary.

The empress didn't know what to tell him. She was at a loss. How should she answer her grandson's question? If she were to tell him that he was loved by his dad, would he believe her? Those were what the empress dowager was thinking silently.

" Your father loves you very much. Wei, are you okay?" Empress Dowager asked worriedly.

Prince Li Wei looked at his grandmother sadly and scribbled in his diary the following sentences.

I'm fine, grandmother! What else can happen to me? Everything happened already. What else could happen in that stage of my life? You love me and spend time with me, but why doesn't my dad spend time with me? was what Li Wei wrote in his diary.

" Because he's very busy," Empress Dowager said hesitantly.

Prince Li Wei scribbled in his diary for the last time.

Of course, he is! I'll see you later, grandma! was what Li Wei scribbled in his diary.

He then stood up and waved goodbye to his grandmother by a simple hand gesture and took off.

" What's wrong with Wei today? Did someone say something to him?" the empress thought.

Prince Li Wei

(Of course, he loves me! No kidding! They're all liars! Grandma, Auntie, everyone is lying to me. Everyone and also my nanny. She didn't come today. She got enough of me. Who can blame her? I'm an unwanted child! I'll realize all of their wishes by disappearing from their lives forever. Everyone will be happy once I disappear).

Ying Household

" I'm home!" said Ying Jie.

" Welcome home, Jie! How was work?" Ying Yue welcomes him.

"Nothing new! You're the one I'm most worried about. How are you?" Ying Jie asked.

" Go and change. Dinner's ready!" Ying Yue said while setting the table.

Ying Jie

( She's avoiding the question by changing topics. She always does that when she's troubled about something, or when she doesn't want to talk. She needs more time. I shouldn't interfere).

The following day

" Have a good day?" Ying Yue said while waving goodbye to her brother.

" Thanks! See you tonight!" said Ying Jie while walking out of the house.

In the market

" What am I going to buy?" Ying Yue looked around aimlessly.

" Good evening, Ying Yue! You're here to buy as well?" Concubine Ah Lam suddenly appeared before Ying Yue.

"Concubine Ah Lam, it's you! Sorry about the other day!" Ying Yue said surprisingly.

" It's okay! You had a bad day. What are you going to do? Will you come back?" Concubine Ah Lam asked Ying Yue questionably.

" I don't know yet!" Ying Yue responded hesitantly.

" Prince Wei is missing you badly. He's feeling left out without your presence. He's sad and melancholic these days and he's saying unreasonable things" Concubine Ah Lam said to Ying Yue.

"Unreasonable things?" Ying Yue asked Concubine Ah Lam questionably.

" Yeah!" Concubine Ah Lam responded.

Flashback

" Prince Wei, what are you doing outside?" concubine Ah Lam asked the prince.

Prince Li Wei

(Scribble): I'm observing the landscape. Isn't it beautiful?

"Yes! Very beautiful indeed!" said Concubine Ah Lam while looking at the landscape.

Prince Li Wei

(Scribble): Do you think we'll get to see the landscape together again?

"We? Who are you talking about?" Concubine Ah Lam asked questionably.

The young prince started crying and sobbing momentarily and the concubine tried calming him down.

" Don't cry, Wei!" said Concubine Ah Lam while comforting him.

Prince Li Wei(Scribble): She was the only one! She was the only one who was nice to me. She was the only one who took me outside. She was the only one who smiled at me.

Present time

Ying Yue couldn't believe what the concubine was telling her. Thanks to her, she found a new motivation and reason to go back to the imperial palace.

" I'll go back! Wei needs me! Thanks for telling me this! I had no idea that Wei was getting attached to me. He's a very sensitive child who needs love and affection. To think that his dad doesn't give a damn about his well-being. It's despicable!" Ying Yue said while clenching her fists.

" Don't be so hard on him! He went through so much. He lost his dear wife and that's why---------" The concubine was unable to finish her sentence.

" Don't defend him! No matter what he went through, that's no reason to abandon his son. He's old enough and Wei is just a child, a child who needs his dad to be there for him. I'll go back and set things right. Pray that your stupid emperor doesn't do anything stupid that could anger me before then. Because if something bad were to happen to Wei, I can't guarantee that I'll be able to control my temper. See you tomorrow!" Ying Yue waved goodbye to Concubine Ah Lam and walking away from the market.

Ying Household

Ying Yue informed her brother of the decision she took after mere reflection.

" I'll go to work tomorrow!" Ying Yue said to her brother decisively.

"Good decision!" said Ying Jie while smiling at his sister.

Li Imperial Palace

In the palace, a storm was brewing. its intensity was electrical.

"It's terrible! Wei disappeared?" Princess Li Mei shouted.