1314: A Thousand Peonies Bloom
The Blood Moon Rebellion's

Shuwan returned to the crown prince's residence, and found the irritated man sitting in his chair.

When he saw Shuwan back, Zhi Qiang stood up and smiled broadly. “Finally you're back,” he said.

“Of course. I always keep my promises.” Shuwan then sat down in the other chair. “Can I change clothes? I feel so uncomfortable wearing a dress. What if someone attacked near me all of a sudden? It would definitely be very troublesome to wear a dress to fight against those bandits.”

Zhi Qiang laughed. “You want to change clothes? All right, I'll get the waiter to bring you a set of menswear that fits you.” Zhi Qiang directly carried out what he said. A servant was called to find the item he asked for.

Tumben once he directly complies. Inner Shuwan who sometimes felt strange with the crown prince's polah.

Not waiting too long, the servant whom the crown prince had ordered came with a tray containing clothes for Shuwan.

Shuwan jumped straight from his chair. He approached the waiter who was carrying the tray. Impatiently Shuwan immediately picked up and looked at his clothes. “It's good. Not very flashy. I'll change my clothes straight away.”

“Do I need help?” ask the crown prince.

Shuwan immediately looked at him with a murderous look. “If you insist on helping me, then your life will end in my hands.”

“I don't mind if it's you,” again Zhi Qiang smiled strangely.

Being annoyed that his words were not taken seriously, Shuwan immediately pushed him out and locked the door from the inside.

He then patted both of his palms as if there was indeed dirt stuck there. “Last quiet too. This way I can change clothes freely.”

Quickly, Shuwan changed his clothes. Now he looks back like the first time he tracked down this Red Book story. He scrunched his hair, to be tied up entirely using a white ribbon that was in line with his clothing lys.

From outside, the door was knocked. Shuwan understood the voice that was now calling out to him. 

“Shuwan? Shuwan... Are you okay inside? Is it still not finished changing?”

Yes, it was Zhi Qiang's voice that called Shuwan out of worry.

Shuwan didn't bully him. He continued to tie his hair. Letting Zhi Qiang wait outside. Shuwan is not skilled at dressing up, he also only ties his hair as much as usual.

As soon as he finished, Shuwan immediately held back his sword, and walked towards the door. He pulled the hook, and the door opened. Featuring three handsome men who had been expecting him. The three men were certainly not knights who appeared all of a sudden. They were Zhi Qiang, Xin Ru and Yu Hao.

As soon as he saw Shuwan's appearance, Zhi Qiang was immediately gobsmacked. His eyes did not blink. He had seen Shuwan look like this before. But somehow he felt so amazed to see Shuwan again wearing men's clothes.

Shuwan didn't care about it. “Already, let's go now!” bring Shuwan.

Zhi Qiang who had just looked at him immediately regained his senses back to the world. “Come!” abugn.

On the way to the palace square which is now crowded by the people, Shuwan daydreamed. Anyway I have to be near the crown prince. The white-haired man said that this son of a bitch's crown prince would be taken hostage. Hm... I was wondering what kind of person would greet him.

The hustle and bustle that is usually only seen in the market can now be seen in the palace square. Many people are happy to welcome the celebration. It is ironic that until the lantern is used as a tool to disrupt the sacred celebration.

In the center of the square was a large stage where groups of entertainers to perform. The cheers of the people were able to shake the palace.

Meanwhile on the other side of the crowd, Zhang observed it from afar. He was wondering if he could be there with Shuwan.

The night event began. The dancers who will perform the attractions one by one take the stage.

Shuwan put up his vain attitude, though he still sits next to the crown prince.

There is nothing strange about the ongoing appearance. People who play torches or just joking. Everything is going normally.

Until the time comes, that normal state implies suspicion in Shuwan's eyes. 

There's something weird about this dancer. Inner Shuwan felt a little restless.

Zhi Qiang noticed Shuwan who seemed to be starting to calm down. “You why?” ask Zhi Qiang.

“I just feel unsettled. Somehow it could be like this, but I feel like something will happen soon.”

“Really? But I don't feel that way.” Zhi Qiang started to take out his deathly stance.

Shuwan scrunched his forehead. “Why can?”

Zhi Qiang smiled widely. “For you are by my side. That's why I don't feel any other feelings.”

Shuwan turned his face away from hearing the annoying seduction, and went back to paying attention to the ongoing dance.

When the dance reached its peak, suddenly one of the dancers on the stage threw objects that turned smoke bombs in various directions.

DUARR!

The bomb exploded and emitted a thick smoke. People who rejoice become hysterical and angry.

“Uhuk... Uhuk...”

Many people coughed at the smoke from the bomb. Shuwan tried to look around him, but the smoke still did not disappear completely. He then tried to find Zhi Qiang, apparently the person was no longer beside him.

“Where is that person?” shuwan said as he wagged his hand to expel the remaining smoke. Shuwan focused on looking for Zhi Qiang who had suddenly disappeared. “Zhi Qiang...” call him.

The smoke that was so thick started to disappear. Shuwan is stifled when he finds Zhi Qiang, who has been taken hostage. “Zhi Qiang?” Netra Shuwan perfectly rounded. He then looked at Xin Ru who was protecting the king and was as shocked as she was.

The place was surrounded by the Black Rose group. They were truly like a delicious meal to the starving red ants.

“It is better to quickly hand over the gold token! Otherwise, your beloved son, I will finish!” threaten the announcer.

“Don't dad! Don't listen to him!” pekik Zhi Qiang's.

“Shut up!” the hostage-taker hit the nape of Zhi Qiang and made him sting.

“Quick submit!” 

The king looked confused. He was faced with a heavy choice. Between the prince and his kingdom. If he hands over his token, his son will survive, but he will also lose the throne as well as his people. But if he doesn't give up his token, his son will be gone, and he doesn't know what will happen to him in the future.

“You'd better hand over your tokens. That way, you will live quietly with your son.” Said Duan Jung, the treacherous defense minister. With his leisure suddenly appeared and underestimated the king.

The other two ministers followed behind Duan Jung.

The king's face looked red. His anger rumbled like a storm in the ocean. He stared intently at the three officials who were now laughing at him.

“You guys are really outrageous! I can't believe it turned out that the person I trusted betrayed me!” The king tried to hit them, but was stopped by Xin Ru.

“Hahaha... That's your weakness. You are too soft and easy to trust, until you do not realize that what you believe turned out to betray you,” Bai Long replied.

Hatreds. That was now implied in King Li's face. He never thought that all this time he was used by people closest to him. 

Apparently these people were trying to betray the king. I need to get things done here right away. Inner Shuwan who was starting to feel furious.

Amidst the tension of the atmosphere, Shuwan whistled as if giving a code. At once Zhi Qiang's Desert Tiger army entered the palace, and the rest came out of hiding, coming to ambush the rebel forces.

The faces of the three ministers became panicked. They don't take this into account at all. 

“B-how could there be any troops left?” Zhu Yong, the secretary of state, was shocked and panicked.

Shuwan then went down a few steps, and gave his haughty look. “You will never manage to get this royal throne.”

“Why would a stranger like you interfere in our affairs? How dare to mess up all the plans we've been putting together for years?” shouts Zhu Yong.

“What is the reason I can't say. Now accept your defeat!” Shuwan then issued the token that the prince had previously given him.

《●》 Flashback... 《●》

“Shuwan, you better hold this token!” said Zhi Qiang.

Shuwan stared at the strange Zhi Qiang. “Why should I?” 

“I'm afraid something's happened to me. Therefore, I will entrust the token of the Desert Tiger troops to you.”

Shuwan thought for a moment. “Em... Alright. I'll take it. Besides, I'm sure no one will hurt you.”

Zhi Qiang smiled. “May be right so.”

《○》 Flashback off... 《○》

I wish I hadn't intervened. But who would have thought, it turned out that in the end I was the one who had to keep moving and use this token. “Warrior. Quickly catch those rebels!” 

The soldiers also exchanged swords with the rebel soldiers. So did the three ministers who fought with the generals of the Desert Tiger army.

“You may be happy to have foiled our plan, but you forgot the man who was still in my hands!”

Damnit damnit! I completely forgot about it! “Let go of him!” shuwan.

“Heh... Just dream!”

Shuwan pulled out his sword from the scabbard, and he pointed it at the hostage-taker. “If you don't let go, that means I have to finish you!”

“You can see who killed who faster. This dagger stays once shear and he'll die. As for you, it still takes a few steps to be able to touch me. Who do you think will die first? Me, or this crown prince? Hahaha.”.

“Please... Don't hurt my son. He is my only son. I have no family other than him.” The king pleaded with a face that looked sad and scared. He really did not want to see his favorite son just die.

“I don't think it turns out that an honorable king would be willing to bend his knees for the sake of his beloved son. Haha... I will definitely be respected by the people for successfully taming a king.”

Shuwan. He has to face the person in front of him. He felt furious. But he could not do much because Zhi Qiang was in the grip of the rebels.

The hostage-taker took out a bomb from his pocket, and...

DUARR!

The person holding the crown prince hostage immediately threw another smoke bomb, and disappeared behind the dense smoke.

As the smoke dissipated, Shuwan became panicked as the crown prince was no longer there. “Damn it!” Shuwan snorted in annoyance.

Not long after, an arrow with a letter shot out from an unknown direction and stuck it right at the pole right in front of Shuwan.

Without further ado, Shuwan immediately looked at the contents of the letter.

I'll give you the opportunity to give you that token until sunrise tomorrow. Meet me at the Xia riverbank. If not, then the crown prince will float in my hands!

“Xin Ru, Yu Hao, please take care of His Majesty the King! I'll go save the crown prince!” Without waiting for an answer from the two, Shuwan ran down the stairs. As much as possible he avoided the fight that was happening in front of him.

He ran towards the gate. He was looking for a horse that could be ridden. Who would have thought that Zhang had suddenly appeared on a horse that had led him to the palace.

“Liem, you..” 

“Quick up. We'll go together!”

Shuwan threw away his non-convulsive thoughts. The most important thing is to save the crown prince. He got on the horse and went with Zhang.

“Hyaa!”

The horse also drove. His footsteps were heard in the darkness of the night.