The God of War
Honesty Zhou
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor. We're coming to your honor." Zhou said as he lowered his head and paid a tribute to emperor Yoshinao Nobuhide and was followed by Yaoyao who was beside him.
"Wake up!" the emperor's words were as full of his authority as ever. His voice echoed throughout this main hall.
Zhou and Yaoyao immediately stood back firmly facing the emperor who was still sitting there.
"Finally you managed to get the book of life as well as the book of all heirlooms and powers. Ranmaru really did not choose you wrong in this task. Congratulations to you!" said the emperor with a faint smile staring at Zhou and Yaoyao filled with astonishment and pride.
"Because the book has chosen you. So I asked Commander Zhou, to save and study both books. Because one day it does not rule out the possibility for us to use it against the heirloom of kirasodo and its new owner-emperor Zeus" said emperor Yoshinao Nobuhide again rubbed his short, whitened beard.
Hearing the decision, it instantly made Yaoyao a little surprised, as if she was lacking in approval of all those decisions.
"Your Majesty the Emperor is sorry to interrupt but ..." Yaoyao ventured to speak.
"Yaoyao, is there anything you want to say?" the emperor turned to look at Yaoyao, and still spoke charismatically.
Zhou was speechless, but he began to sense that Yaoyao was trying to distance herself with the two books. And perhaps Yaoyao still suspected that she was going to commit treason.
"I'm sorry if I was sassy. But shouldn't the book of life as well as the book of all heirlooms and powers be better kept by the emperor or lord Ranmaru alone? Uhm .. I mean is, Commander Zhou will definitely be preoccupied with training and leading the soldiers, so .." said Ranmaru cut off.
"Yaoyaoa. Although I myself keep or find out the contents in both books, but not necessarily the two books will choose me and show the contents in it to me." said Ranmaru friendly and wise.
Hearing Ranmaru's words, Yaoyao froze. Actually, he felt disinclined with Zhou when saying this, but could not lie if he also felt worried about Zhou's relationship with Zeus.
"What Ranmaru said is true. I entrust this matter to the Zhou commander." said the wise emperor.
"Okay, Your Majesty the Emperor. Forgive me. Servant mispronounced." said Yaoyao lowered her head and sat down again because feeling guilty had been presumptuous to express her opinion.
"Wake up, Yaoyao!" the emperor was generous.
Yaoyao stood up again still feeling anxious and guilty.
"alright. You can go back and rest first." said the emperor again.
"Okay, Your Majesty the Emperor." Zhou and Yaoyao greeted simultaneously and immediately left the main hall after giving a salute of respect.
Zhou sauntered a few steps in front of Yaoyao without any conversation between them while walking down a corridor of the palace.
"Commander Zhou, forgive me for my sassness .." Yaoyao broke the silence after a while.
"Yaoyao, come with me! There's something I want to talk to you about!" sahut Zhou still continued to stretch.
"Good."
They sauntered together towards a place, precisely Zhou led Yaoyao in the lakeside garden of the palace. And there were only the two of them. Because everyone has started doing their own routine, which is practicing, cooking or other activities again.
"Yaoyao, I know you are doubting and suspecting me right now" Zhou said after a while and successfully made Yaoyao round her pair of eyes so surprised.
But he also felt guilty and vigilant. Because Yaoyao still did not fully know Zhou's true motives of doing all these disguises.
"But one thing you should know, I will never betray Nobuhide." Zhou continued, still staring at the clear water lake before him.
Yaoyao strengthened her grip as she gripped the handle of the bridge, her gaze aligned with Zhou's, which was staring at the lake before her.
"Why did the prince do all this disguise? The prince was the eldest son of the previous emperor Fumio and the previous crown prince. Why did the prince leave the Fumio palace and instead become a warlord in Nobuhide? Uhm ... no. but before that the prince disguised himself as an ordinary young man in the countryside."
Yaoyao said boldly and this time she turned to stare at the side of Zhou's handsome face.
Zhou was silent for a while and looked at some of the fish that were jumping and swimming in the lake water. A thin smile was also etched sweetly on her handsome face.
"Life will always turn. And maybe that's what's happening to me right now. In essence, everything that has happened to me is a rebuke to me and a lesson to me. Because not everyone can trust us. The person closest to you could be the most dangerous person for you. Always be vigilant and do not be easy to trust others!" zhou turned to look at Yaoyao with a faint smile.
"You have a high level of alertness and you are always careful of anything. That's very good, Yaoyao! Later on if I have left Nobuhide, I hope you can always take good care of Nobuhide." Zhou added patting Yaoyao's broad shoulder still with his gaze set.
Yaoyao was silent for a while, digesting every remark from Zhou.
"Prince, I have promised myself .. if I will always serve and protect Nobuhide's empire to the point of its final blood! My life is for Nobuhide! Prince don't worry .." said Yaoyao softly but full of confidence.
"I can see all that through your pair of eyes, Yaoyao. You are a true knight!"
Yaoyao fell silent and was stunned to hear the praise from Zhou.
"Go back and rest! Recover your body and stamina!"
"Well, Prince .." said Yaoyao as she gave a respectful greeting before she passed.
"Don't call me that, Yaoyao! At this moment I am Zhou. It's not time to go back and be myself. There's still a big responsibility I have to do first."
"Okay, Commander Zhou. Then I'll excuse you." Yaoyao returned to pay her respects and passed.
Zhou sighed seeing Yaoyao's departure.
Yaoyao and Nagamasa already knew who I really was. And it's possible that those soldiers have also started to suspect me. I ... have to tell Lily everything honestly. Sooner or later, Lily will know everything.
Inner Zhou decided to immediately return to his pavilion. But only 2 steps he left the bridge, suddenly there was a voice of a young man who was holding him.
"Ghou!!"