714 Itâs Goodbye?
Luo Xiang immediately woke up, widening his eyes wide when he didnât see Bai Ying with him, not even in the room.
âYing Ying!â His chest was pounding hard, feeling he had missed something very important.
Without thinking he got out of bed and looked around the room, even into the restroom. But the boy is nowhere to be seen. He starts to worry now.
âYing Ying!â
Crown Prince ran out of the room and saw the maids, Yan and Bi standing in front of the door with their faces deeply bowed.
âWhat happened? Where is the Viceroy?â he asked frantically.
The two maids were seen holding back tears until they all knelt down crying.
âHuks, please spare our life, Your Majesty, His Majesty the Young King, emsâ
Yan Lowered her head and cried too, she stretch out her hand showing a letter Bai Ying left for her and Bi.
.....
âHere, Your Majesty, His Majesty even left us the letterâ
And both cry like kids.
âAhhhh His Majesty was going out without usâ
.....
In the study in Eagle hall. Thereâs Chen Ming, Shin Ya, and Elder Yi had already come to Princess Wu Lanâs study. Even though the sun had just risen that morning, everyone was looking forward to seeing Princess Wu Lan because the old lady knew best what was going on.
âHow can grandma allow it? The kid didnât even know where the path led to the kitchen, how could he make the trip alone? Itâs unbelievable. Mister Su, prepare the troops, we have to go out and search him in every corner, without exception, he must not be far beyond the border of the Cloud Forest by nowâ Chen Ming exclaimed.
Su Lang and Shin Shen joined in the conversation, after all, it was a very urgent state matter.
Su Lang nodded, he was about to move towards the door when someone appeared from there.
âYour Highness, Crown Princeâ
Everyone except for Chen Ming and Princess Wu Lan lowered their heads to see Luo Xiang enter from outside. The man looked into the room, and did not find Bai YIng anywhere. Of course, the boy left a very long letter for him on the bed and sneaked out of the palace, while everyone was lost in his enchantment. Including himself.
Luo Xiang looked at Chen Ming. He glanced at his neck.
âPrince Chen, you can find traces of Ying Ying from the tracking coin right? What are you waiting for, that kid canât go aloneâ Luo Xiang said.
Chen Ming touched his tracking coin. He had tried it before the man came asking for it. However, he couldnât feel Bai Yingâs vibrations anywhere, the boy had hidden his own traces.
âEh, that, I tried but failedâ he shook his head at Luo Xiang whose face was getting worried. At first, he still thought that Chen Ming would definitely be able to find Bai Ying, but, he couldnât.
Luo Xiang turned to see Elder Yi and Shin Ya.
âMaster Shin, Elder Yi, do you know where the White Fox and Pink Deer are?â asked Luo Xiang.
His question made the two men widen their eyes, looking at each other. Elder Yi stroked his chin.
âWhite Fox, and Pink Deer? Iâve heard of that legend before, but, thereâs very little I can tell because everything I get is just a myth. It is said that the white fox is the guardian who roamed the fertile meadows in the north area, near the volcano and wild life with the animals. Some say that the fox will appear when the country is at peace and give good luck to anyone who meets it. But I have never met anyone who has actually seen it let alone met that thousand-year-old white fox.â
Shinya nodded.
âThatâs also what I read from grandfatherâs notebook. The white fox can change its shape into a very attractive man or woman. Usually he will mingle with the residents in the city and live a glamorous worldly life like humans in general. According to the information I got, the white fox is very cunning, thatâs what the people who said to meet this white fox in human form. Or think they have met him. Thatâs just a folk rumor, Your Majesty.â
Luo Xiang looked at the two.
âThen, what about the Pink Deer?â he asked.
âUm, thatâ
Elder Yi thought again. It looked at Xiao Hong as if the young bird might know the answer. But Xiao Hong looked confused instead. He shook his head unknowingly.
âThere isnât much knowledge about the Pink Deer, Your Majesty, as far as I know the Pink Deer is a mystical pet of the Gods of the terraces of heaven who bestows revelations such as longevity and a prosperous life. It is said that its existence is in the northern hemisphere where it snows all year round. I have also never heard of anyone actually meeting him in personâ Elder Yi replied.
The answer made Luo Xiang think.
Chen Ming turned to look at the Crown Prince with sharp eyes.
âRotten Crown Prince, tell me what you know? We canât delay any longer, brother could be even further lost now. He went alone, that silly brat, how could he go out of the house alone? What can he do? Just looking for food is not necessarily possible. Just walking a little is complaining that his legs hurt, sitting on the carriage too, he canât ride a horse properly, that kid, really stupidâ Chen Ming grumbled in annoyance, but his face was even more worried at that moment.
Shi Shen stepped forward and lowered his head in front of Chen Ming.
âReport, Your Highness the Prince, the Viceroy seems to have taken a horse with him, since Xiao Hei has also disappeared from the stables.â
Chen Ming clenched his fists.
âThat kid, just watch out if I find him, I pinch his cheek until itâs swollenâ
Luo Xiang looked at the folded paper in his hand, a long letter from Bai Ying. The kid must have stayed up all night writing that letter for him.
âYing Ying, maybe go look for those two beasts. He didnât say where, but he thought he needed to make the journey himself, find the White Fox and the Pink Deer. That stupid kidâ
The night before.
Luo Xiang hugged Bai Ying tightly, half asleep he could still hear Bai Yingâs voice talking to him.
âYour Highness, shall we return to Yue Yang Palace after this? What, weâre going to look for the Blue Palace that His Majesty Emperor Luo Wang built for Grandpa Yen Hui? Could it be, grandpaâs tomb is inside that palace huh?â Bai Ying asked.
His question made Lui Xiang try to come to his senses. He stroked Bai Yingâs head who rested on his chest. He nodded slowly.
âYeah, letâs look for that palace. Itâs outside the palace complex, there is an area that has never been visited. According to Emperor Father, ever since his grandfather lived, that place was forbidden for anyone to enter. Even now he does not know what is in that area. There is a possibility that it is the blue palace where the body of the Late Emperor Luo Wang is enshrined.â
Bai Ying raised his head. Seeing the Crown Prince from a very close distance. He frowned.
âWhy, why is it forbidden, Your Majesty? If thatâs the place where His Imperial Majesty is buried, it should be a must-visit place if you want to pay respects to your ancestors, right?â he asked.
Luo Xiang nodded again.
âThatâs true until now Father and the entire royal family still pay their respects on the grave-sweeping day every year. However, only up to the palace grounds, because no one has been able to open the palace gates until now. Shortly after the gates were closed sixty years ago until now it seemed as if the palace was closed forever. Every effort is made but still canât open the door no matter what.â
Bai Ying pursed his mouth. He often hears stories about the blue palace which is said to be tightly closed from the outside as if it were a prison. And part of the story could be true, it was a palace that kept outsiders from entering, not the other way around.
âOh, so, can we still visit the palace, Your Majesty?â he asked.
Luo Xiang smiled, he pinched Bai Yingâs nose excitedly.
âYeah of course you can, my dear Ying Yingâ
And that morning Luo Xian woke up without seeing Bai Ying everywhere. He read all of the contents of the extremely long letter.
âYour Highness, please forgive me, but, I have to go for a while, it wonât be long, four full moons from now we will meet again in Xian Yang City to celebrate the big moon festival together. Ying er should go find the White Fox and the Pink Deer, grandpa said, those two creatures can give us everlasting love and the life we ??desire. Ying er doesnât want the curse that grandfather got, to happen to us in the future. Let me look for them and be with Your Highness after that, to be together foreverâ
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