Chapter 8 Together

Translator: Storm in a Teacup

After Ke Ruan said that, he winked at Lin Qingye and continued, "General Lin, please protect me well. I really don't know who that brat is. I just take him as a spoiled young man. If my father asks about it, please explain it clearly."

Hearing this, Lin Qingye was in a daze. His lips moved but he finally didn't say anything. After a while, he nodded.

Then his gaze fell on Ke Ruan's forehead. He said, "Your Highness, you need to deal with the wound on your forehead. There's a small hospital not far away. Let's go there and see a doctor."

Ke Ruan nodded. In such a case, there was no need to go to the inn to rest. "Everyone, follow me to the hospital," he said to the other people.

"Your... Your Highness?" the little girl finally knew Ke Ruan's identity. She was totally stunned.

Ke Ruan rubbed her hair and said, "Little girl, you may go home. You are safe now."

As soon as he finished speaking, the little girl fled away quickly like a gust of wind.

Ke Ruan was a little embarrassed. Was he really so scary?

Just as Lin Qingye said, the hospital stood not far away. Moments later, they arrived. Seeing so many people suddenly come, the patients in the hospital were all scared away.

Ke Ruan said to the doctor, "Give me some fine ointment for activating blood flow and removing blood stasis."

The docter left to get the ointment for Ke Ruan. Then there were no stangers present. Several men were on guard at the door.

Ke Ruan's eyes swept over the princes and said in a low voice, "If you want to go back, just go. You don't need to stay in this country. You may go back to your own countries."

What followed was a dead silence within the room.

Lin Qingye was also surprised and didn't know what he wanted to do.

Actually, sending these princes back to their countries shouldn't be such a bother. The emperor could make it just by giving an order. But it was he who had proposed that the princes come to the country to study. If now he suddenly sent them back for no reason and even offered to make friends with them, people would think that the emperor was a weak person.

All in all, he was afraid to lose face.

That was why Ke Ruan came up with such an idea.

He planned to give the order to send them back, and then the emperor sent emissaries to those countries to express his wish to live in peace. In this way, he wouldn't lose his face. Anyway, it was the prince, not the emperor that released them.

The bad words were all for him, while the emperor could earn a good reputation. 

"No one wants to go back?" Ke Ruan asked patiently. "Don't worry. My men will send you back safely. With their escort, you won't be treated as escapers."

Lin Qingye frowned and said to Ke Ruan, "Your Highness, does your father know about this?"

'Holy crap! Of course he knows!

But…

But I can't tell you,' Ke Ruan said in his heart.

He could only respond him with a smile and didn't say anything. But Lin Qingye quickly understood and said to the other people, "Princes, all of you may leave now. I will ask my men to escort you back home."

Ke Ruan thought that Lin Qingye was really clever. Though he didn't say anything, he could make out the underlying meaning of his silence.

"Really?"

"Is that true?"

"You'll let us leave?"

…

People could hardly stay calm. They seemed to be raring to go.

Ke Ruan continued to say, "Go back to where you came from. I know it is hard to live under someone else's roof."

These words caused the eyes of several young boys to turn red. They said respectfully to Ke Ruan, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Ke Ruan nodded, then he suddenly caught a glimpse of Si Yuhan and noticed his meaningful glance. In a flash, a shiver ran down his spine.

'Could it be that he has discovered something? It doesn't make sense. He is only about eight years old. No matter how smart he is, he would never think that I'm no longer the same Ke Ruan as before.

That's right. He may just think I'm a little strange.

'It can't be otherwise,' Ke Ruan thought to himself.

Then he withdrew his gaze, saying, "Of course, those who don't want to go back home can stay in my country. I will ask people to send you back to the palace. There is no need for you to go to the Yuliang County with General Lin and me."

Lin Qingye uttered, "Your Highness, how about…"

Before he finished his words, Ke Ruan already knew what he was about to say. He interrupted,

"General Lin, I have made it clear. I won't let him go."

Lin Qingye was speechless.

"Alright, if you don't have any objection, that's settled. I'll get into the carriage first and leave the rest to you, General Lin," said Ke Ruan.

Lin Qingye nodded and replied, "Okay!"

Just as Ke Ruan was about to leave, Si Yuhan stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, can I follow you?"

This was just what Ke Ruan wanted. He was delighted to hear that, but he tried to mask his feelings. He lowered his head to look at Si Yuhan who was small and just up to his chest. He said gently, "This trip is bound to be dangerous. You…"

"Your Highness, I want to accompany you," Si Yuhan said in a coaxing voice which had an effect of numbing people. Hearing his voice, Ke Ruan couldn't help but tremble. It was not because he thought the voice was disgusting, but he recalled the description in book that the man was so cruel. He wouldn't kill people directly, instead, he would torture them with extremely cruel means.

He was extremely terrifying.

"Your Highness, can I?" Si Yuhan asked again. He noticed the panic and fear on Ke Ruan's face. The corner of his mouth curled into a wicked smile.

"If you want to, then follow me."

Now Si Yuhan was only eight years old. He had not learned any legendary martial arts. So he was just a harmless little cute. There was no need to be afraid.

At this thought, Ke Ruan heaved a sigh of relief, and gradually relaxed. He stretched out his hand to hold Si Yuhan's wrist and took him out.

Ke Ruan's gaze swept around the street. After mumbling for a moment, he suddenly bent down to carry Si Yuhan in his arms. Si Yuhan straightened at once.

Shock flashed in his eyes.

His head went blank. Ke Ruan didn't notice this. He put him on the carriage and said, "Go in and wait for me."

After that, he turned around and left.

Sitting in the carriage, Si Yuhan felt the refreshing fragrance and the warmth he had left on his body.

His heart skipped a beat for a few seconds.

A moment later, the curtain was lifted, and Ke Ruan's charming face showed up. He seemed to have run hurridly. There was sweat on his forehead, and his thin lips reddened.

Si Yuhan turned away his eyes, and his fingers shrunk slightly.

Ke Ruan sat in. Looking at Si Yuhan gently, he asked with a smile, "Guess, what I have brought for you."

He looked at Ke Ruan and didn't reply.

Ke Ruan was embarrassed. He should know that the man wouldn't answer. Why would he ask him such silly question?

Ke Ruan cursed himself secretly.

Smiling, he stretched out the hand hidden behind him. Suddenly, a bunch of candied hawthorn appeared. It shined with bright light under the sunshine coming in from the corner of the window. It was so beautiful.

Si Yuhan's eyes flickered. He was a little confused, "For me?"

Ke Ruan chuckled. He felt so happy that Si Yuhan began to talk to him now. He laughed brightly and said, "Right. Have a taste. It tastes good."

Children liked eating these things.

Si Yuhan pursed his lips, not accepting the candied hawthorn. He was not a young boy who would like such a child's thing. Besides, he had never eaten such food since he was young. Also, it was given to him by Ke Ruan. He might put poison in it.

As he thought so, he still wanted to took the candied hawthorn. But even though, he controlled himself, clenching his hands tightly, as if he was about to take it the next moment.

Ke Ruan didn't think too much about it. He immediately stuffed the candied hawthorn into his hand and laughed, "Come on, taste it. Its acid sweet taste is delicious."

THIS STORY AND TRANSLATION I IS NOT MINE!