The Lecherous Prince and His Playmate [BL]

Everyone watched as Changling walked beside the carriage on his horse in anticipation. On his face, there was not a single sign of who was with him and they couldn’t guess who it was.

The carriage came to a stop, and he climbed off the horse. Eunuch Kim came running along and put the step ladder down. The door opened and out jumped someone they least expected.

Xing Guang dashed past Changling, surprising him and fell to the ground. She kissed the ground, saying, “LAND! LAND! LAND!”

Changling looked at her, then at the onlookers.

“Stop that,” Youxian’s voice came from the carriage but they couldn’t recognise his voice because it was deeper and when he stepped out, it took them a few seconds to recognise him. He looked maturer, mirroring his father’s stern appearance.

“Your majesty, are you trying to kill me? No more, I tell you, no more. Never again,” she said as she got up and dusted herself off.

She walked up to Youxian, and he cleaned her face. 

“Come,” Changling said to them. The father and daughter looked at him, then looked at everyone behind him.

Xing Guang hid behind Youxian and shook her head at Changling, “No.”

Changling crouched down in front of them and said, “We’ve spoken about this. There is no need to be afraid of anyone who lives here. As long as you follow the rules, no one will tell you different. Remember, you’re my child and a princess. You’ll have people bowing to you here.”

She looked up at Youxian, who smiled at her. “He’s right angel. I grew up here too.”

Xing Guang was reluctant. She took Changling’s hand and followed him as he led them to everyone.

“Papa, you’re home!” Tian Cao said as he stopped in front of them.

Tian Cao looked at the girl his father was holding hands with and frowned. “Who are you?”

Youxian stopped beside them and looked at everyone. He forced a smile and bowed.

The adults immediately knew what the situation was and didn’t have to ask any questions. With Changling bring them here, this only meant that Youxian was returning and by the looks of the little girl, they weren’t leaving.

Chushan stepped forward, smiling she said, “Youxian, you naughty child. You’ve been gone for so many years. Is this how you greet your elders?”

He didn’t even know what to feel, bowing he said, “I’m home.”

She hugged him, saying, “I’m glad you’re alive. We were all worried about you. As the years went by, not hearing a word from the search party put us at ease in a way because at least we didn’t have to hold a funeral.”

He smiled awkwardly, then looked at Wu Yong. Wu Yong had a conflicted expression on his face, more of someone who was lost.

Seeing Youxian today made him think of Dong Woo, who he had slowly lost in friendship to because of his disappearance.

Walking up to him, he hugged him, saying, “I’m happy you’re safe.”

Youxian nodded his head as he fought back tears. 

Wu Yong looked down at Xing Guang with tears in his eyes and said, “And this little girl, is she yours?”

He nodded his head, looking at his daughter, he spoke, “Come say hello to your grandfather. The emperor of this kingdom.”

She walked over to him but asked as she looked at Changling, “But isn’t my father the emperor?”

Changling’s heart skipped a beat. This was the first time he heard her call him that. Looking at Wu Yong, he was reminded of how Wu Yong used to urge him to call him father. Hearing his child call him that who didn’t know him was really something else.

Tian Cao looked at Xing Guang, then at his father, and was confused. He looked at Youxian and was even more confused. What was going on here?

“I thought you were dead. Did you come back to ruin my life?” Haeun asked as she walked up to them with the help of a woman Youxian didn’t know.

Haeun yanked her arm from the woman’s hold as she glared down at Xing Guang, then looked at Youxian.

The woman behind her said, “Your highness, please mind your manners.”

Youxian heard Changling sigh beside him and say, “Are you feeling better, Haeun?”

“I was told by the servants that my husband has returned with guests, so I came to welcome you back home. Should I have stayed in my chamber forgetting my manners, your highness?”

The woman behind her stepped forward and bowed. “Welcome home your highness, was your journey successful?”

Changling smiled, relieved, “Yes. Yes, it was. I’m tired now and so are Youxian and Ah-Xing.”

The woman smiled as she looked at Youxian. “Commander Hwan? The Commander Hwan?”

She bowed to him, saying, “It is an honour to meet you. I have heard so much about you. I am glad you're safe and with us once again.”

She looked at Changling and said, “Your highness, will it be alright with you if I prepare the food for this evening?”

He nodded his head.

She looked at Youxian and asked, “Is there anything your daughter doesn’t eat?”

“I eat everything,” Xing Guang answered.

She looked down at the little girl and was truly amazed. She looked at Changling, saying, “Your highness, she looks so much like you,” she said.

Changling smiled proudly. He took Youxian’s wrist and tugged at him slightly. “Ah-Xian, this is my consort, Kwon Ae Cha.”

Youxian had picked up that she was too familiar with Changling, but now he understood. Looking at her, he said, “Thank you for looking after him. I know he is a lot to handle.”

Kwon Ae Cha chuckled, shaking her head as she said, “I’ll leave you to rest. Please join us tonight.”

Ae Cha crouched down, asking, “What is your name beautiful?”

Xing Guang looked up at Youxian. On their way here, they spent some time talking and although she didn’t understand everything; she knew she was a princess. And with being a princess, she had a great responsibility. Looking back at Ae Cha, she said, “Youxia. My formal name is Hwan Youxia.”

Changling looked at Youxian, wanting answers. He had asked Youxian what to call her formally, and he never answered him, but now…

*

Walking back home, Chushan looked at her husband. “You’re awfully silent.”

He stopped and looked at her. “Our son, has he done something terrible?”

“What do you mean?” She asked.

They started walking again as he said, “Bringing Youxian back home and with a child, too? Haeun is already unstable. She tried to harm Ae Cha on several occasions. What of Youxian?”

“Do you think Youxian is incapable of handling himself within the palace?” She asked.

“I don’t know, but I am neither curious to find out what happens in the future. How about we ask to leave the palace?” He said.

She chuckled as she hugged his side. “Yes, let’s return to our home in the mountains.”