Wang Lei knelt down behind the small wooden table as he brewed the tea with his mind wandering far away. His silver hair was left down in a mess, leaving him looking like he just rolled out of bed when he was infact getting ready for the night. The whole mansion was quiet already except for the crickets. The moon shone brightly even as clouds gathered. It was surely going to rain throughout the night.
He hummed a song to himself as he poured some quantity of the tea into a small cup. Drinking out of it, he sighed like he just had a taste of the best thing in the world. A voice by the door startled him mildly.
"It's just jade tea, Your Highness. It doesn't really warrant such expression and please, let me do these things for you."
Wang Lei just stared at Zhao Peng, his personal guard until the man felt a little uncomfortable. Then he asked, "Do you think I'm crippled or useless and I can't do these things by myself?"
Zhao Peng scratched his neck nervously before speaking,"I would never say or think such, Your Highness. Please, forgive me."
"No need to spend so much energy on you tonight. Come sit with me and I'll pour you a cup." Wang Lei responded as he reached for another cup. They just drank the tea in silence, each one pouring for the other until the pot was emptied.
After few minutes, Zhao Peng glanced at him, watching as he continued humming before sighing, "Your Highness, it's been ten years. Ten years since you walked out of the Palace. The whole capital already knows about your return."
Wang Lei turned slowly to him,"So? That doesn't mean I'll move back to that place. I won't be doing that until my father dies."
"Wang Lei!! Are you cursing the Emperor? You shouldn't say such, he's your father." Zhao Peng chided in a mild whisper, afraid even the walls might hear their conversation.
Wang Lei just chuckled, "What? Am I wrong? Nobody's immortal, Zhao Peng. We should speak the truth more often and the Emperor doesn't look like he'll survive another year with that woman at his side."
"Let's just drink, alright. Enough already." Zhao Peng dismissed with a wave.
"Drink what? The pot is empty." Wang Lei answered with a deadpan look. Zhao Peng looked at the pot and then at the crown prince and back to the pot before sighing loudly.
He stood up and arranged the rumples of his clothes, "Your Highness, it's time for your night rest. I'll be outside your door."
"Oh, really?" Wang Lei stood up for a stretch as Zhao Peng bowed before trying to leave.
"Ooooh, where are you going now? Spar with me outside." He casually said, packing his messy hair up.
Zhao Peng quickly whipped his head towards him with fear written clearly on his face, "Pardon?"
"You heard me. Get ready to draw your sword when we get outside. I won't show mercy tonight, young man." Wang Lei said as he walked to his sword rack to pick a fine sword.
Zhao Peng scoffed, "Young man?! I'm older than you, just a kind reminder and Your Highness, it's too late for a spar. It's almost midnight."
"So what?" Wang Lei asked as he caressed his sword before pointing it at his Personal guard, "Zhao Peng, you can just say you're scared. It's not too big of a shame to be a coward, you know."
Zhao Peng breathed loud and bowed before him again, "Your Highness, it's late. Have a good rest and we can spar tomorrow."
Before Wang Lei could say anything, he quickly walked out, closing the doors after him.
Wang Lei scoffed in disbelief, "Very good."
.....
"You silly girl!! What were you thinking challenging My Ziyi to a duel? Are you out of your mind?!" Zhu Ling asked his sister as he twisted her ear while she let out a loud yelp.
"Zhu Ling!!! What do you think you're doing? Are you trying to detach my ear from my head?" Zhu Xin asked in pain. They were standing under one of the trees in the big compound.
Zhu Ling smacked her forehead before adding, "That's not a bad idea." He finally let go off her ear while she massaged it with a pout.
"You're really lucky she just laughed it off and walked away. Do you think you'll survive a duel with her? What's going on in this head of yours?" Zhu Ling asked harshly. He was only concerned for her safety like any older brother would.
Zhu Xin faced him, "She confessed to falsely accusing Zhang Li. She deserves to be punished."
Her brother let out a long sigh, "We know Zhang Li didn't steak the sacred sword but there's no evidence of that. Will a duel with her bring Zhang Li back? You might have been dead today and who even allows a duel like this in the sect?"
Zhu Xin said nothing for a while, just each in their thoughts. She suddenly spoke in a low voice, "Li-jie was so good to me. She didn't deserve this at all. Who knows how she's doing down there? I bet Elder Wei hasn't even gone down the mountains for her."
"A-xin!!!! Don't utter such words." Zhu Ling chided while looking around for anyone close by. He looked at her and continued, "Mind your tongue, little girl."
"Little girl? I'm 16, old man." She retorted and huffed while he pointed at her, loss for words. When he finally found his voice, he laughed "Old man?! I'm 18 so add a little respect."
They both laughed as they continued to tease themselves into the night.
When they settled down later, Zhu Ling cleared his throat and said, "I heard from the elders in the large room that the Emperor's Oldest son has finally returned to the Capital. He-"
"The Emperor's Oldest son? Hasn't it always been Wang Jian or Wang Jin? Something like that?" Zhu Xin asked curiously.
"Wang Lei."
"Wang Lei?"