11 Budding Anemone — V

As soon as the man's voice fell, the silver-haired man whirled around, long hair fluttering gracefully as he looked at the man who called out to him with a slight frown etched on his face.

"Yes, General?" He murmured, his low voice travelling to the man's ears via Qi.

The said man, General Hong of the Northwestern Frontier, ran up to him, a grave frown marring his face as he spoke, cupping his hands as he bowed deeply.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince," he repeated, voice pensive. "Is Your Highness unable to sleep?"

Hearing the man's words, a slight — unfathomable smile — the Crown Prince danced on his lips as he gestured the man to straighten up.

"How can This Prince succumb to the arms of slumber when the situation at the borders is in such dire straits?" He asked, tipping his head back to look heavenwards, crimson red eyes half-lidded. "Say, General Hong, are you able to sleep when our brothers who have valiantly fought against our enemies are in pain?"

General Hong stilled at his words, a feeling of awe bubbling in his heart when he heard the prince's words. A man so unfathomably powerful, losing his sleep over them, mere soldiers? What an incredible sight!

"No, Your Highness, how can this lowly one even sleep in such conditions?" He replied, lips pursed together tightly.

The Crown Prince looked at him, a faint smile still on his lips as he nodded. "It is the same for This Prince, General Hong. This Prince has come to aid the military to the best of his abilities. If General and our brothers cannot sleep, This Prince will not even think of doing so."

General Hong could not stop the feeling of utter wonder from rising in his heart the more he listened. Nodding firmly, the man spoke no more, simply returning to gazing at the twinkling stars hanging around the bright moon.

Silence fell between the two men as they stood quietly not even the sound of their respiration could be heard as the cold northwestern winds blew around them, howling as the Crown Prince's luscious locks swayed.

The rarely heard sound of crickets rose above all as stars twinkled in their dim glory, the bright moon shining, its cool shine soothing the restless and pained hearts in solace for the briefest night.

The Crown Prince stood completely still, crimson gaze flickering between the myriad of stars scattered across the dark sky. Hands folded on his back clasped around his wrist, the man's elegant brows drew into a frown as he tilted his head ever so slightly.

"General Hong," he called out, voice deep yet faint, evenly. "This Prince is no astrologer, however the stars and the moon itself… Their position—" a wry smile lit on his handsome features as he blinked "—perhaps the stars have aligned in our favour after all, General."

The said man's head snapped to look at him, eyes slightly wide as he frowned. "Your Highness?" He asked, doubtful. "But the ministry…"

"Say, General Hong," the Crown Prince began, the tone of his voice remained light. Unwavering. "Tell me, have the conditions of the Southern Frontier improved?"

General Hong took a deep breath, steeling himself, he replied. "Your Highness, under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor, the Ministry of Revenue sent both the reinforcement and the doctors there. According to some rumours, the Divine Phoenix Li Jinhua of JiangHu has also been deployed there under His Majesty's order."

For a moment, he paused, considering his words somewhat bitterly. "Safe to say, if any of the rumours hold some truth in them, then the situation at Southern Frontier should improve swiftly."

The Crown Prince's gaze flickered, sharpening momentarily as he closed them before the General could see. "What do I make of this, General?" He questioned, tonelessly. "Am I to believe that His Majesty has forsaken us who are fighting for our lives at the Northwestern Frontier?"

General Hong stiffened, finding it hard to even breathe under the immense pressure exerted by the prince's mere presence. Suddenly, he dropped to his knees, bowing deeply as he answered.

"This lowly one cannot understand the thoughts of an existence as vast as the Son of Heaven's, Your Highness!"

The Crown Prince's frosty glare flitted to the kneeling man. "Is that so?"

The General trembled, unable to speak even a single word. After a while — which felt like an eternity — the man felt the pressure reduce and let out a sigh of relief when he heard the prince scoff, slightly.

"If the reinforcement as well as the doctors have been sent to the Southern Frontier, then what shall those of us do here? We cannot leave our brothers to face a futile death, can we?"

The General trembled, hearing the undercurrents of displeasure in the Crown Prince's voice.

"In all years of his life, this Liu Mingyun has rarely ever faced such a predicament, General," said Liu Mingyun — the Crown Prince — while facing the moon again. "Say, what shall we do?"

General Hong had no answer to his question.

As the silence stretched thin, Liu Mingyun's light displeasure increased, and the grasp of his hands clasped around his wrist increased in strength as time passed by.

No one spoke a word. Not a single word.

The tension seemed to have reached its breaking point, the culmination of displeasure and disappointment threatened to boil over, when suddenly—

—A shrill screech of falcon tore through the thick silence of the Northwestern skies.

Liu Mingyun's frown deepened slightly as he canted his head to the side. Where was this falcon coming from? Why was it flying towards them?

Glare ice cold, the Crown Prince watched the bird draw closer until finally, it started flying above him, circling in the sky as it screeched, its call echoing in the deathly silence of the night.

He didn't recognise this bird. And it seemed to be a messenger bird on top of that.

Somewhat cautiously, Liu Mingyun stretched out his arm, waiting for the bird to fly towards him to perch on his arm.

And perch the bird did, gracefully landing on his arm, it clicked its beak at him before grooming its feathers, one leg stretched out.

That was when the prince noticed. A scroll was tied to the bird's feet. So it was a messenger bird, after all.

Tentatively, the Crown Prince untied the scroll from its feet and turned it over in his hands, not daring to treat the situation with any form of levity.

On the scroll, was a single insignia branded on it.

A blooming azalea with its stem intertwined with gladiolus. Intricate, poised and noble.

Liu Mingyun's eyebrows raised in surprise, he recognised this insignia.

It was the insignia of Li Clan of JiangHu whose current Clan Head was none other than the Divine Phoenix herself.

Feeling a strange mix of bewilderment and scepticism, the Crown Prince opened the scroll, carefully as the falcon hopped on his shoulder.

"To

Your Highness the Crown Prince,

This lowly one, Li Jinhua, has sent this letter to Your Highness to inform him of something. This one strongly believes that this news will please the Crown Prince immensely.

Your Highness, as you know, under the command of His Majesty, this Jinhua has left for the Southern Frontier—"

Liu Mingyun's fingers around the scroll tightened.

"—However, fret not, Your Highness, this lowly one has good news for you.

While this Divine Phoenix may be deployed in the Southern Frontier, her nephew, you may not have heard of him, but this one can assure Your Highness that his talent and skills in medicine are nowhere inferior to mine. Dare I say, he's even surpassed this one in some field.

This one's nephew, also called by the moniker 'Little Divine Phoenix' due to the lack of his own title in Jianghu, is coming to aid the ails of those in the Northwestern Frontier.

This Divine Phoenix sincerely hopes that Your Highness will show tolerance towards him, he has always been of gentle heart.

Gratefully,

Divine Phoenix

Li Jinhua"