CROWN PRINCE'S CONCUBINE

“Your Highness, what did Your Highness see? It’s not Ying er’s face but the sweet potatoes, come on they’ll be burnt so they can’t be eaten”

Luo Xiang smiled, he held Bai Ying’s hand holding his sweet potato.

“Em, this Highness has had his fill just by looking at my Ying Ying’s face, how about this?”

“Your Majesty, you can only speak sweetly, later if it’s burnt don’t ask for Ying er’s, okay?”

Luo Xiang chuckled.

“Hehehe this is better, so we can share a bite together”

Bai Ying couldn’t cover up his cheeks which were red from embarrassment, he nudged the Crown Prince’s arm and sat with his back on him.

“Your Highness”

.....

Luo Xiang laughed, it was really fun to tease his little concubine who was always embarrassed every time as if it was the first time he teased him, really so cute.

“Hehehe my Ying Ying is so adorable”

............

“Pai Hua silk, top quality silk, come and see its beauty, today buy one get one and a half pieces. The best quality, please see for yourself!” The voice of the street vendors sounded loud. Tons of vendors eagerly hawk their wares, from the finest quality silk to the meat buns that smell far away.

“Meatbun! Meatbun! It’s still hot, one tael gets two, just for today, please, buns, buns!”

Bai Ying sat on his horse’s saddle while the Crown Prince walked on foot leading his two horses. The downtown crowd of Pai Hua is more than that of Xue Yang city. Barely able to see the surface of the road with so many people passing by as well as him.

“Damn kid! You steal it!” cried a cake seller who found a small child taking cakes without paying. He hit him and made several residents witness it.

“Oh my, I’m so hungry, please forgive me, I just take one anyway.”

The big man didn’t want to know, he grabbed the boy’s clothes who was twice his size at his back and smacked his mouth. Some residents, although they did not agree with the merchant’s actions, could not do anything because the child was indeed caught stealing.

“Don’t hit him, he only took one cake” cried an old woman.

The others agreed.

“That’s right, don’t be too rude.”

But the cake seller whose body was as big as a bouncer didn’t care, he instead looked at the residents with big eyes.

“This kid is a thief, what does that have to do with you guys? Do you want to compensate the food that he has touched with his dirty hands? After this, who else will buy my cakes?” exclaimed the seller.

The commotion had clearly caught the attention of Bai Ying and the Crown Prince.

“Erm, Your Highness, that child is so pitiful, can we help him?” he asked.

Luo Xiang stopped his steps. This was the capital, and even in a city that was supposed to be peaceful and filled with citizens living in prosperity this kind of thing still happened. He also didn’t see any of the patrolmen from the palace that he used to meet often even in Sui Lian.

“What kind of city is this?” Luo Xiang’s eyes found not only one, or two, but even more beggar children standing by the side of the road, there were also several elderly people who couldn’t walk and had to sit quietly waiting for mercy. Luo Xiang was just about to lead their horse towards the crowd when a loud noise overtook any sound.

“Damn it! Get your dirty hands off the kid! You can only hit small children, how much do you need? It’s just a cake, no need to hit someone like that” shouted a man much bigger than the merchant, throwing a few coins on the table the merchant who stood saw that man suddenly show there. He was obviously much bigger in size with muscles sticking out of his arms with pretty obvious veins. His face was quite sinister, with large eyes and eyebrows rising like sharp swords.

The man pulled the small kid from the merchant’s hand.

“What are you waiting for, let him go, and wrap up all those cakes you said were dirty!” he exclaimed.

Seeing the commotion that was able to overcome the residents scattered away.

“Well it’s done now, he only wants money, what made such a commotion like that?” the voices of the residents.

“Yeah, he is too much.”

Luo Xiang stopped his horse not far in front of the road where the man was pulling the little boy away from the cake vendor who was busy counting his coins. The man pushed a paper bag with lots of cookies to the little boy.

“Here, take it and share it with your friends!” the man exclaimed.

The little boy nodded, he was so grateful to the big man that he still kept looking at him even though he chased him away.

“Thank you, sir”

“Go back you your home!” the man exclaimed.

Luo Xiang frowned. He had thought that this big man, who was probably in his twenties, knew this skinny little boy in dirty clothes, but he didn’t.

Shortly after the boy walked away, the big man was seen scratching his head, as if somewhat regretting what he had just done.

“Ouch”

He walked towards Luo Xiang and stopped in his tracks because Luo Xiang was blocking his way. Bai Ying who was sitting on the horse tried to see the man’s face as if he knew him before, but, where?

The big man slightly taller than Luo Xiang saw a figure in a brown robe that covered his whole body to the head from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head. Who is this person? Maybe he accidentally blocked his way, it’s better to ignore him.

“A freak”

Luo Xiang finally let him pass, still watching him pass them and walk towards the market a little bit far at the end of the street.

Bai Ying lowered his body to whisper to the Crown Prince who seemed to be quite concerned about the man.

“Um, Your Highness, does Your Highness know him?” his question made Luo Xiang turn his head. Is this kid joking, how could he know him? They both came together to this world, right?

Luo Xiang shook his head.

“No, but, I feel something from him, the strength that I recognize quite well.”

Bai Ying widened his eyes.

“Really, Your Highness? Ying er also feels that I know him, is it perhaps he is our next clue? His body is big, his eyes are big, his skin is a bit black, and his muscles are big. Hem, why does Ying er remember someone huh? But that’s impossible, Grandpa Po can’t possibly live in this era right?”

Bai Ying’s words made Luo Xiang turn his head. That’s right, General Po, is he General Song? Without thinking any longer, Luo Xiang got on his horse and headed towards where the big man had disappeared.

“That could be Ying, hold on”

Bai Ying was still confused about what made the Crown Prince suddenly mount his horse and gallop towards the market.

“Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

In the middle of the market. The voices of the other crowd sounded quite excited. Not fights or fights, but the cheers of the people who watched the match which was held by several big men to compete for strength.

“Well, you can do it!”

The enthusiastic residents gathered around several big men who carried quite large stones which they placed in the middle of the field. The boulder was carried with the help of horse-drawn carriages which also had to be pushed by men who really intended to hold competitions for easy money. One of the larger men walked around holding out a paper bag filled with coins.

“Come on, five taels for the one who wants to try his hand, push that rock one step away and that person will be able to get all the money that is in this bag. Come on, who wants to try?” shouted a big man with muscular legs and arms.

They are from the Mi Ya tribe who live not far from the Pai Hua valley and are famous for their tall and gigantic people. Most of the people from that tribe became warriors or personal guard of the rich. But look like some of these men seem to have defects in their bodies, whether it’s a limp or eyes that are damaged from birth, so they are accepted as soldiers or even bouncers.

One of the residents appeared, rolled up his sleeves and advanced towards the man.

“I want to try!” exclaimed the tall, tall young man, though not as big as the three committee members. Soon several other men came forward and registered by placing five coins in a pocket.

Luo Xiang and Bai Ying who had already dismounted came closer. If I’m not mistaken the big man from earlier disappeared into this crowd, and indeed, the man was seen standing among the men participating in the competition.

The man looked at the contents of the small pouch in his hand and poured out all of its contents into his palm, which happened to be only five taels left. And it looks like that is the last remaining coin after paying the baker earlier.

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