The soft light of the lamp shone on the carved wooden walls that expressed the exquisiteness of the imperial palace. The faint fragrance of incense wafted through the small conference room. The atmosphere in the room was so quiet that the sound of birds flapping their wings at night could be heard. Everyone there knew how important this meeting was.
Li Shan sat on the left side of the conference table. He looked unusually solemn. Princess Ling Ya, the heart of this decision, sat at the head of the table with an elegant demeanor, although her eyes were filled with worry. Xian Lan, the official in charge of the agricultural department, placed some important documents on the table before speaking.
"According to the news I received, Prince Xiao Yang is looking for a forbidden fruit," Xian Lan said as he unrolled the document, revealing a map of the orchard with some important points marked on it. "It's not just a power grab, it will be a great threat to the world if he finds it."
Princess Ling Ya looked at the document in front of her. Her face showed an expression of worry that was too much to hide. "The forbidden fruit was sealed for an important reason," she said in a resolute tone. "We can't let Xiao Yang have it."
Li An, who had been sitting in silence for a long time, spoke in a cold tone. But it was full of seriousness. "If that fruit falls into the wrong hands, it will become a weapon of mass destruction. I think we need to find a way to prevent it before it goes any further."
Princess Meilin, who was sitting at the opposite end of the table from Li Shan, frowned slightly. She asked in a soft but worried tone, "Where do we start then? If he has the advantage in information and manpower, what can we do?"
Li Shan, who had been sitting quietly listening to all the proposals, began to speak. His sharp eyes reflected the light from the lamp. "I think Punya might be able to help." He turned to look at Princess Lingya before looking at the others in the room. "She has a special ability to sense the power of fruits. If we tell her about the dangers of what Xiao Yang is looking for, she might be able to help us."
Xian Lan nodded in agreement. "Her ability might allow us to find the location of the forbidden fruit before Prince Xiao Yang does."
"But we risk dragging outsiders into this conflict," Princess Meilin said in a worried tone. "If Second Brother finds out that we are obstructing him, Punya might be a direct target."
"I understand," Li Shan said in a firm tone. "But she has the courage and potential to help us. If we let Xiao Yang go forward unopposed, the dangers that will arise will be much greater."
Princess Lingyan sat quietly for a moment, before nodding slightly. "Alright, I will summon Punya to meet you. I will tell her about this matter."
The meeting ended with a heavy feeling. Everyone there knew that this decision could change the fate of the entire kingdom... and Punya's fate as well.
--
The private hall of Prince Xiao Yang was beautifully decorated with brass lamps and deep red fine curtains. The atmosphere gave off a sense of luxury but also solemnity. Punya's footsteps softly creaked on the polished wooden floor as she stepped into the room. Her gaze fell on Prince Xiao Yang who was standing near the table in the center of the room.
"I am glad that you agreed to meet me," Xiao Yang said warmly. There was an unreadable spark in his eyes.
Punya nodded slightly, her face filled with caution. "What important matter do you have that you want to meet me at this time?"
Xiao Yang walked over with a faint smile. "I believe you already know that the fruits in this garden are extraordinary. The more you touch them, the more exciting they become. Some of them are so powerful that they can change the world."
Punya frowned. She knew immediately what he was talking about. "You mean the forbidden fruit?"
Xiao Yang nodded slowly before reaching out as if to catch her attention. "Yes, and I need your help in finding it. There's definitely more than just one fruit."
Punya was silent for a moment. Her gaze shifted to Xue Long who was standing not far away. He stood still, cautious. His sharp eyes stared at Xiao Yang without looking away.
"But those powers are dangerous," Punya began to speak. Her tone was filled with worry. "If they are used in the wrong way, they could destroy the balance of this world."
Xiao Yang laughed softly and shook his head. "You misunderstood. I don't want them to gain personal power. I want them to protect the kingdom from threats."
"What threat?" Punya asked. Her tone was filled with doubt.
"There are many rebel groups who are trying to overthrow the dynasty. If they get the forbidden fruit before us, the kingdom may be doomed." Xiao Yang said in a serious tone. His eyes sent a determination that made Punya tremble.
But Xue Long, who had been standing silent for a long time, spoke up. His tone was cold and resolute. "Your words sound reasonable, but I don't believe in your intentions."
Xiao Yang turned to look at Xue Long with cold eyes, and said in a tone that was still gentle but with a hint of pressure. "I think you know who I am. I'm not someone who would waste time doing nonsense. If you want to protect her, you should help me do what's right."
Xue Long moved to stand beside Punya. His tone became harsher. "Whether or not you do the right thing depends on your intentions. I haven't seen you show any sincerity."
The atmosphere in the room became tense. Punya looked back and forth between the two men. She knew that her decision this time would affect everything.
"How do you want me to help you?" Punya finally asked. Her tone was calm but filled with distrust.
Xiao Yang smiled faintly before speaking in a gentle tone. "I just want you to help me find the forbidden fruit before it falls into the wrong hands. I know that you have the ability to sense the power of the fruit. That's why I need your help."
Punya turned to look at Xue Long. His face was still filled with distrust. She knew that going down this path could bring danger. But the question that kept lingering in her mind was, who should she trust in a situation full of secrets like this?
She decided not to accept or reject immediately. "I need some time to think about this."
Xiao Yang nodded, his expression still calm. "Okay. I'll give you time. But I hope you make the right choice."
When Punya and Xue Long left the room, The atmosphere between them was filled with silence. Xue Long looked at her with eyes full of concern.
"What do you plan to do?" He asked softly.
"I'm not sure yet," Punya replied, her voice filled with confusion. "But I know that everything we do from now on will change the future of this world..."
--
The Guardian's training room was quiet, but the air was filled with tension. The light from the torches on the wall reflected off the rough stone floor. Weng Qing stood in front of a large wooden table, her face solemn and full of determination. Around her were Yang Sheng, another Guardian who was planning together, and Mei Ling, a young woman whose duty was to help record the necessary information.
"Second Prince Lang is gathering his men. If we let it go any longer, we might not be able to stop him," Weng Qing said, her voice firm but filled with worry. She stared at the map on the table, which showed important locations around the orchard.
Yang Sheng stood with his arms crossed, his face deep in thought. He nodded slowly. "But if we confront him head-on, it might lead to war. We need a more subtle strategy."
Mei Ling, who was standing at the side, stopped recording for a moment. She looked up and asked in a curious tone, "What about the eldest prince? Does he have a plan?"
Before anyone could answer, there was a sudden sound of heavy footsteps. All eyes turned to the door, which opened firmly, revealing the eldest prince Li Cheng walking in with an elegant air. His entourage stood solemnly behind him.
"I know everything," Li Cheng said as he entered the room, his voice firm and powerful. "And I have a plan."
Everyone in the room paused. Weng Qing stepped back slightly to make way for the eldest prince to enter. She bowed her head respectfully. "What is your plan, Your Majesty?"
Li Cheng stopped in front of the desk. He scanned the room, his eyes sharp as a hawk. "We won't clash with Xiao Yang for now. That would only worsen the situation," he said calmly, pointing at the map on the desk. "But we'll make him believe that we're working with him."
The eldest prince's words caused both Weng Qing and Yang Sheng to look at each other in surprise. "Is Your Majesty going to infiltrate his group?" Weng Qing asked, her face full of worry.
Li Cheng nodded. "Yes, I will infiltrate to find out information about the forbidden fruit. I want to know what he is doing and how far he has come."
Yang Sheng frowned, his face filled with doubt. "But if Your Majesty is exposed, it will be extremely dangerous."
"I know," Li Cheng replied firmly. "But this is the only way to truly know his plans."
Meiling, who was standing nearby, quickly jotted down a message before speaking softly, "But if Your Majesty succeeds in infiltrating, what will we do with that information?"
"We will cut him off from his resources and allies," Li Cheng explained. "We will leave him with no way out, and he will eventually be defeated without a chance to fight back."
Weng Qing sighed softly before speaking in a serious tone, "Then we will protect Your Majesty from a distance. If anything goes wrong, we will immediately assist."
Li Cheng looked at Weng Qing and nodded. "I appreciate your loyalty, but be careful not to let Xiao Yang know."
Yang Sheng and Weng Qing nodded firmly, while Meiling recorded the eldest prince's orders on a piece of paper with great care.
"We don't have much time," Li Cheng said. "Get ready." I will start this plan as soon as Xiao Yang makes a move."
The atmosphere in the training room was filled with determination. Everyone knew that this was a major gamble that could change the future of the orchard and the kingdom forever.
--
One night in the orchard, the moonlight bathed the treetops and the miraculous plants. The atmosphere was quiet but gloomy, as if a secret was waiting to be revealed.
Punya walked along the small path among the tall trees. She lightly grabbed the hem of her skirt as she stepped carefully. Her heart was beating wildly. She knew that sneaking out tonight could be dangerous, but she had to do it.
When she arrived at the small courtyard in the orchard, Li Shan and Princess Ling Ya were already waiting. Li Shan in a dark robe that blended into the darkness of the orchard looked solemn, while Princess Ling Ya in a clean white dress stood elegantly. Her eyes were full of doubt.
"You're here," Li Shan said softly.
"I… I have something important to tell you," Punya said with a deep breath. She looked around to make sure no one was following her before continuing in a firm tone, "Prince Xiao Yang… I think he might have ulterior motives. As for the eldest prince…he's also a bit strange."
"Why?" Princess Lingya asked.
Her eyes narrowed with caution.
"He told me he wanted the forbidden fruit," Punya replied. "He claimed he wanted it to protect the kingdom, but I feel like he wasn't telling the whole truth. There's something in his eyes that makes me distrust him."
Li Shan nodded, his face serious. "You were right to tell us. Xiao Yang isn't someone who can be trusted easily. If he has bad intentions, the orchard and the kingdom could be in danger. But… the eldest prince, I don't know yet."
Princess Lingya pondered, glancing at Li Shan. "If he really wants the forbidden fruit, does that mean he knows where it's hiding?"
"He probably doesn't know yet, but he's gathering information," Punya said. "And I'm afraid he'll use me as a tool to find it."
Suddenly, there were soft footsteps in the darkness. The three of them stopped talking and turned to the sound. The soft rustling of leaves made Punya's heart beat faster. A dark figure appeared from behind a tree.
Xiao Yang's Prince
He walked out slowly, like a hunter, with a friendly smile on his face, but his eyes were full of coldness.
"I hope you're not plotting against me," Xiao Yang said, his voice gentle but menacing.
Punya felt as if her breath was suffocating. She tried to calm herself down as Li Shan stepped in front of her to protect her. Princess Lingya stood silently, her eyes watching Xiao Yang cautiously.
"Why are you here?" Li Shan asked, his tone cold.
Xiao Yang chuckled softly before replying, "I was just strolling in the garden and happened to hear some whispering. It seems I'm lucky tonight."
"Lucky?" Princess Lingya asked, her tone calm but with a hint of sharpness.
"Of course," Xiao Yang replied with a smile. "Because I heard you guys were talking about me."
Punya clenched her fists tightly. She tried to suppress the fear that was starting to build up in her heart. As Xiao Yang approached, he scanned them one by one before stopping at Punya.
"You didn't say anything inappropriate, did you, Punya?" He asked, his tone gentle but filled with pressure.
Punya felt as if she was being seen through her mind. She swallowed and looked away. "I was just wondering about what you said about the forbidden fruit."
Xiao Yang chuckled. "Good… Because I hope we can still be allies," he said before turning around. "See you later. It's going to be a long night."
When he left, the atmosphere in the garden became quiet again, but the tension still lingered.
"It seems he's realized it," Li Shan said with a sigh. "We should be better prepared."
Punya lowered her head. She knew that the path ahead would be full of obstacles, and tonight might just be the beginning of an inevitable confrontation…