ONE

Mu Yucheng walked elegantly, his purple robes flying and fialing lightly behind him, his face has stoic and blank as ever. Everyone kept their heads bowed as he walked.

His personal bodyguard walking behind him as well, their steps aligning. He walked into the royal court and bowed his head.

"Your highness"

"Welcome Crown Prince" the king, Mu Tianchen said as he waved his hands.

Yucheng raised his head up and faced his father. Some of the ministers seating down looked at him and sneered internally.

"We have recieved news that we are on the losing side of this war. And the Minister of War has suggested that you join the battle as encouragement to our soldiers. A lot of the Ministers agreed as well" the king said and Yucheng snickered internally.

Of course alot of ministers would have agreed to the proposition. Sending him to the battle even when they knew they had lesser chances of winning was sentencing him to death.

He lowered his eyes and chuckled. If this was a next plan to get rid of him, he needed to applaud them.

"Crown Prince, what do you say?" The king asked.

"I'll go your highness" Mu Yucheng replied as the doors of the room flew open and an Imperial Concubine rushed in.

"Your Highness" she greeted as she bowed her head and put her hands together.

"Qua Mulan, what is it?" The king asked calmly. Even though she had just barged into his court session. She was his most favorite concubine.

"The Crown Prince cannot certainly go to the battle field. The Laku invaders are cruel and wicked!" She said with concern written all over her face.

"Imperial Concubine Qua, I think you are underestimating me. If I can't go to the battle field and give support and encouragement to our soldiers, we'll loose both soldiers and the town of Fusheng will be breached" Yucheng said calmly.

"Do you have to go?" Concubine Qua asked as her eyes tears turned teary.

"Yes. That's why I am the Crown Prince of Tang. I have to show those invaders what it means to attack a country like Tang" Yucheng replied.

"Is it done. Crown Prince, prepare to join the battle. When you come back, we'll talk about your engagement with the Crown Princess" The king said and Yucheng's eyes flickered before he and Concubine Qua bowed.

"Yes your highness" Yucheng said and walked out of the court.

"I'll excuse you then" Concubine Qua said and walked out of the court as well.

She hurried towards Mu Yucheng and blocked his way. Yucheng looked at her and smiled.

"Your acting got better" he said as Concubine Qua folded her arms with a sneer on her face.

"You think it did?" She asked and Mu Yucheng nodded.

"Yes, it did" He replied and Concubine Qua raised her lips in mockery.

"Don't you know they are trying to kill you and yet you are trying towards your death" she spat out and Mu Yucheng chuckled.

"Do you think the Laku invaders are a joke? They've conquered so many great countries already" she added.

"Imperial Concubine Qua, I think you are getting things very very wrong here" Mu Yucheng said as he closed the distance between both of them.

"I know those aren't the real Laku invaders. I know they are some mercenaries you hired. I also know you visited Minister Park the day before yesterday. If you want to do something, be nimble about it; stop being obvious else even the king who favors you will start to suspect you" Mu Yucheng said as colour drained from her face.

"You want to kill me? You've been trying since I was born. Do you think I escaped each time because I had a bucket full of luck? No, or have you forgotten who I am?" Mu Yucheng asked as he shifted backwards and bowed.

"Be safe Imperial Concubine Qua" Mu Yucheng said as he turned and started walking away.

Imperial Concubine Qua fell to the ground and her maids rushed towards her.

"I wish you don't survive!" She yelled but Mu Yucheng didn't even look back.

"My lady, we are still near the royal court, you have to be careful of what you say" her closest handmaiden whispered and Imperial Concubine Qua looked around before allowing her to help her to her feet.

She glared hatefully at where Mu Yucheng that disappeared off.

"Let's see if you will survive it" she said as she humped and walked away, a line of maids on her trail.

Yucheng walked straight to the quarters of the Imperial grandmother. He sat down in front of her with a smile.

"Grandmother" he softly called and the old woman dressed in white robes, jewelleries of the highest grade dangling from her ears, her hair and her neck. Her wrist were not spared either.

"Why did you agree to go?" She asked slowly and Yucheng laughed as he poured her tea into her favorite teacup.

"If I refuse, don't you think they'll find another way to get hold of me?" Yucheng asked as his grandmother took the teacup elegantly and took a sip.

"Be careful, I have a bad feeling" she said and Yucheng nodded.

"I will grandma" Yucheng said as the Imperial grandmother turned to the bodyguard beside him.

"Ah Ze, please watch over him" she said and the bodyguard bowed his head immediately.

"Yes your Highness" he replied and Yucheng chuckled before he rose to his feet.

"Grandmother, stay and live well till I come back" Yucheng said as he bowed and walked outside her quarters. A small sneer on his lips.

He placed his hands backwards as he walked, the sword at his waist dangling to and fro as he walked. Sighting the figure coming from afar with rows of maids, Yucheng stopped and rubbed his forehead.