Chapter 1: The Fourth Prince

Chapter 1

"Please Your Highness, we need to resume your lessons for today!" Li Roushi, the Imperial Tutor, called out desperately from the entrance of the Frost Place, the private residence of the Fourth Prince, Jin Huan. Around him, many palace maids and eunuchs were running about searching and calling out for Prince Jin Huan.

"What's going on?" A young soldier who freshly joined the Imperial Guards asked his senior brother in confusion. He was surprised and confused that such a ruckus had occurred within the Imperial Palace.

"Haihh" his senior brother sighed out loud. "The prince has escaped again."

"The prince?"

"Yes, the Fourth Prince, His Highness, Prince Jin Huan has always been running away from studying. He runs away from Li Ruoshi  and either hides within the palace grounds or escapes into town."

As soon as the senior has done explaining, Li Ruoshi spotted them and ordered them to search for the missing prince.

"Quickly! We must bring His Highness back or else the Emperor will be angry!!!"

"Yes sir!!!" After hearing this the two soldiers gathered their senior and junior brothers to look for the prince. 

Sigh "This prince of mine. Will he ever change? One of the princes of the great Imperial Family yet only this prince behaves undignified and undisciplined. No accomplishments to his name or any talents worth mentioning either. Merely lazing about, cutting classes, and singing songs. haihh. All of his highness's older siblings are most revered and respected. The Princes and Princess have all cultivated a great reputation for themselves in military, politics, martial arts, and such but this Fourth Prince is utterly useless." Li Ruoshi sighed heavily at his own silent thoughts.

"It looks like the Emperor will be displeased again." He said as he looked towards the Imperial Courts where The Emperor is presiding over the court with his ministers.

***Town***

A young man was lounging on an outdoor balcony of a tea house overlooking the market. He was wearing fine clothes which indicated he was of a wealthy family. However, he was dressed quite improperly with his robes loose showing off his pale chest, and his jet black wavy hair messily tied up with a simple red ribbon.

With a cup of tea in his hands, he was busy ogling the waiters and waitresses and other attractive patrons of the establishment.

This young man is the Fourth Prince of the Emperor, Prince Jin Huan. Though one could hardly tell by first impressions for he behaves like a lecherous playboy than a prince.

It was no secret to others of his preferences of both male and female and as he is a frequent customer of the tea house, the waiters and waitresses, owner and other patrons are used to his presence, his wandering eyes and flirty comments towards the men and women who capture his fancy.

You see in this era it is not uncommon to hear of those who chose partners of the same sex though it is not common practice for various reasons such as inheritance, it is still a very scandalous issue.

As a young man was passing by, Jin Huan perked up in his seat and called out, "A Xin! Aren't you going to greet this big brother?" he asked mischievously. 

The young man, Xin, looked up at the prince and blushed. He bowed "Your Highness, it's a pleasure to see you as always. This humble subject is grateful for Your Highness's patronage.

Jin Huan chuckled and said "Come now, get up and join me for tea." his expression softens with warmth at his friend.

Lan Xin, nicknamed A Xin by the prince, is also the son of the owner of the tea house. He comes by every day to learn the ropes of the businesses of his father Lan Zhang who owns the tea house and several other businesses in town, in preparation to take over as the head of his family. 

At the prince's invitation, Lan Xin joins the prince for tea. The other patrons hardly bat an eye at this surreal situation. While it is unusual for a royal to mingle with the commoners even if one is from a prestigious merchant family, the common people in this area are aware of the infamous Fourth Prince who often goes against the etiquette of the society.

Some look down on the prince for not being a proper royal by conforming to the rules of society. Some are indifferent while some are in awe of this blatantly casual behavior. Though one thing everyone agrees on is that this prince is the black sheep of the Imperial Family. Unlike his other more accomplished royal siblings, this prince is plain and useless with no merits under his name. His reputation is only held up by his status as a member of the Imperial Family. Thus while they find the prince amiable in all manner they do not believe he garners any respect as a person. 

Being a constant companion of the prince over the years, Lan Xin is well versed in reading the prince's action thus never taking offense in the prince's behavior.  While his comments may be brash and rude he doesn't mean any harm merely playful flirting and teasing. he was never hurtful towards another. So despite the scandalous looks thrown his way Xin simply smiled indulgently and listened to the prince's complaints of the royal tutor.

Sigh "He is always going on about etiquette, manners, and such boring things. A prince must be virtuous he said, a prince must be graceful he said, a prince must be just he said. UGHH. It just makes my ears bleed. I'm a prince of the Imperial Family! Can't I just do as I like, relax and have fun? All my brothers and sister are taking up the important jobs and positions there is nothing for me to do. What do I need to study for? Hmph so bothersome." he pouts. 

Lan Xin laughs silently behind the sleeves of his robes like the well mannered young master he is.

Jin Huan continued on with his endless complaints of his Teacher, brothers and sisters, and even of his father the Emperor! 

"Work harder they said, gain some merits they said, be a respected prince they said." the prince was getting more agitated as his tone started to get higher and louder. "I'm a prince favored by the Heavens, can't i just enjoy my life? Hmph!" 

Lan Xin could only laugh softly in amusement. Some stories brought by the prince were truly comical particularly of how he managed to escape the palace without alerting the guards.

"Well, enough about me." Jin Huan said as he sipped his tea. " What about you? Anything good happened lately?" He asked knowingly with a playful smirk etched across his face. "I heard you were getting close with a certain young lady from the  Xiao Healer Sect huh?" He chuckled.

Lan Xin blushed hotly. "Yes, Your Highness, she is a disciple of the Xiao Healer Sect. Very talented, so beautiful." At that, he trailed off with a dreamy look upon his face and blush on his cheeks. Jin Huan chuckled softly at his friend's love-struck look, feeling genuinely happy for his best friend.

"Congratulations A Xin." He said warmly with a soft sincere smile on his face, a rare and genuine expression for the usually playful and brash prince to show.

"Thank you, my prince." Lan Xin replied bashfully but sincerely.

They moved on to talk about more mundane things such as gossip that occurred in the Capital. Being part of a merchant family allows you access to plenty of gossip especially of those among the elites and noble families. They talked about who was getting married to whom? About the young master who is exceptionally handsome who recently arrived from the countryside, the beautiful young lady of the Yang family who married into the Song family and so on.

As Jin Huan and Lan Xin continued chatting a shadow suddenly fell upon them. Both of them who were so engrossed in their conversation looked up in surprise. Neither young man was aware that the tea house had gone silent and many of the patrons had stood up in greeting to salute the newcomer.

It was the great general Fan Longwei!!!

The young general was respected both in the military and the Imperial Court and holds the title "God of War" and nickname "Ice Prince'' for his cold, aloof and stoic personality. 

"Your Highness Prince Jin Huan, I am here to escort you back to the palace as per the Emperor's orders."

"Awww, you found me already." Jin Huan moaned petulantly. "I still haven't had my fill of fun yet. Hey hey General Fan, Let me go get some young masters or ladies to take on a date first hm? Or better yet" He winked flirtatiously at the general "why don't you join me on a date eh?"

"Your Highness the Emperor is waiting on your return." General Fan said indifferently all the while maintaining his stoic demeanor despite the prince's obvious flirtations. 

Sigh "Alright alright let's leave." he moaned, getting up reluctantly.

"Here you go." he said to Lan Xin, dropping some money onto the table. "Payment for the snack and tea," he said. 

"Your Highness, this is too much money. Let me go retrieve the change from the cashier." Lan Xi said, flustered at the amount of money given as it was enough to pay for the meal of five instead of one.

As he was about to leave the prince stopped him immediately and said "It's fine, consider it my thanks for keeping me company today. Jin Huan said softly with a warm sincere smile.

Lan Xin hesitated then said "Very well then, thank you, my prince. I hope to see you soon. Take care and good luck." He said warmly with a bow. Jin Huan nodded and followed the general down the stairs.

On the way down, Jin Huan took the opportunity to ogle at the general who is also his biggest crush and secretly his first love! Sigh "So handsome" he screamed internally in his head.

The general has both looks and brains, the perfect combination as an exemplary young master. Beautiful waist long,  straight, silky jet black hair combed neatly back held with a modest hairpiece, standard military uniform with the outer robes which symbolizes his rank, fair skin, and contrasting dark eyes which as if it could pierce one's soul and read all of one's secrets. "Which it probably could" Jin Huan gulped "Truly the most attractive human being on earth" he sighed internally. The general was just slightly shorter than the prince himself, however, with that muscular physique, he cut an imposing figure.

Even among the commoners, he is a well-known hero. Admired by the young masters and desired by the young ladies and lusted after by many. 

Jin Huan noticed that as they walked out of the tea house that many eyes were focused on them or rather on the general at his side. "Well, it's not surprising I suppose." Jin Huan thought to himself as they began walking towards the carriage. "Compared to me he is more suited to be a prince. He has the looks, reputation, and talent that I lack. He also gets along with my royal brothers and sister very well unlike me who is always getting into arguments with them." he thought. 

At that moment he caught a look of his own reflection on a glass window and couldn't help comparing them. It wasn't that the prince was ugly, it's just that he looks a bit....plain and boring so to speak. None of his features stand out as attractive. Unlike his royal siblings who all have their defining features.

Jin Huan himself noted that he was tall, too tall, lanky, and awkward. Granted his height made it difficult to be graceful like his siblings but could be accounted for by the lack of training and muscle as most of his siblings are as tall or taller than he is! Jin Huan thought to himself as he ducked into the carriage and the general mounted his stallion.

A few minutes later they departed for the palace. Jin Huan peeked through the blinds of the carriage to ogle at the general again. "For my own fantasy. As if I need more for my wet dreams." he thought, shivering slightly in excitement. Really it's so easy to be aroused during one's teenage years especially at 17. 

Though he is well aware that no matter how much he flirts with the general it will never lead to anywhere considering his affections were not reciprocated. The general is always colder towards him compared to his siblings. "Though his disinterest probably stems more from my personality than looks. After my royal brothers and sisters are the most talented in their fields and reputable as well." he sighed, falling into deep thought.

"Someone like General Fan is probably fated to be matched with one as the caliber as him. Respected, talented, and beautiful everything that I am not." he thought mournfully. "Someone like him deserves it though so I'll just let it go and admire from afar, a little playful flirting couldn't hurt, if I stop now I'll just lose face." he cringed.

Actually there is no one in the Imperial Palace that is unaware of the prince's affections for the general though many pass it off as passing interest or fancy after all he was only 19 years of age. 

Even the General Fan himself is aware of it. After all, whenever they meet Jin Huan would flirt outrageously with the general may it be in private or public but the general always remained stoic towards his advances."Well, I suppose it's disgusting to be flirted with by a useless person after all. But I'm truly not interested in following any of my sibling's footsteps. Well, no use thinking of it now I suppose. Let his star in my wet dreams is enough for me then" he shuddered in excitement.

"Your Highness we have arrived." It was like being splashed with a bucket of cold water. He felt dread begin to set in his stomach as he came down from his high. the temperature dropped as he thought of facing his father the Emperor. "Well time for my punishment." he thought mournfully.

"Your Highness, we have arrived at the Imperial Palace. It seems His Majesty the Emperor has summoned.”