The Little Consort's
Eps. 36: Meeting the Little Prince

If anyone asks who is the most useless human being, then Li Anlan is the answer. If anyone asks who the poor and suffering people are, then Li Anlan is the answer. If anyone asks who is the unluckiest man in the world, then Li Anlan is also the answer.

All the items from the future belonging to Li Anlan had already been snatched away by Long Ji Man. Now, without his beloved modern items, Li Anlan's life was truly boring. He was already like a pure ancient person, lacking advanced equipment that no one else had. It used to be his cell phone, now his backpack, camera, hammock, tent, mattress, and solar panels were taken. The binoculars are also carried along because they are stored in a backpack.

There was nothing he could use to have fun in his spare time. Li Anlan could no longer play games, shoot, swing, camp, even exercise on the mat. He could no longer see the sight of Feiyun Mountain from close range with his mini binoculars.

The only way he can take to get rid of his passion is to find another pleasure. Although this was ancient times, there were many things that Li Anlan had not known, and there were many things that he could work on. Li Anlan had an intelligent brain with a million brilliant ideas, which made him excited and said that he would not lose to Long Ji Man.

As a form of protest to Long Ji Man, Li Anlan again skipped work. During this one week, he did not go to Hongwu Palace and chose to spend time in Xingyue Palace, playing alongside Xie Roulan and his two eunuchs. Almost every day, Xie Roulan and the two eunuchs became Li Anlan's moons. If not, they will be told to dance strange dances and sing in foreign languages that no one knows.

Long Ji Man and his minions did not come looking for him either. Perhaps, the man was busy playing his magic tools in Hongwu Palace.

Today, Li Anlan chose to relax in the garden of Lake Houchi. A hairy carpet was spread out near the pendopo. The owner, the outcast concubine, was relaxing on a decades-old peach tree while enjoying the view of Lake Houchi and the breeze that gently patted her skin. The woman was lying on a large branch. Her long dangling Hanfu covered some of the leaves and twigs.

Not far from there, right next to the tree he was riding on, Xie Roulan was standing begging for Li Anlan to come down immediately. The faithful servant girl continued to babble, saying that it was very dangerous to be up there. Moreover, her master was an honorable noblewoman who had the status of a concubine of the king.

If his body gets injured or anything happens, then Xie Roulan is the first to be questioned and punished. He would be blamed for something that happened to Li Anlan.

But, it wasn't Li Anlan's name if he obeyed the words of his servant. Li Anlan who was saddened by being robbed blatantly covered her ears, pretending not to hear Xie Roulan's voice. While enjoying the peaches taken directly from the stalk, Li Anlan again relaxed to enjoy the day.

“Little servant, is the woman up there an ape?”

Li Anlan suddenly heard the voice of a small child down there. As he confirmed it, a seven-year-old boy stood near Xie Roulan while pointing at Li Anlan with his hands. The little boy's clothes were long and luxurious, just like the royal's clothes.

“Hey, little boy, what do you call me?”

“Are you a monkey? Aunt Wei said that the one who often climbed the tree was an ape.”

Li Anlan frowned. This boy was very fluent in speaking, even saying something bad to her without a hitch. His status must be quite high in this palace. This was the first time Li Anlan had met anyone other than Long Ji Man, Xiao Biqi, Wang Tianshi, and the guards of Hongwu Palace. Who's that little boy? Why did he play all the way to this remote and secluded park of Lake Houchi?

“Whatever, who are you?” li Anlan asked from the top of the peach tree.

“Are you a monkey?” The little boy repeated his question.

“Not. I'm human, don't you see?”

“Then what are you doing up there? You're not like a palace woman.”

Goody. Even the little ones knew that Li Anlan was very unwise. The little boy knew that Li Anlan was not like a gentle, polite, and rule-abiding court lady.

“Little boy, do you care about me?”

Li Anlan threw a peach down, then caught the little boy. After applying it to the shirt, the peach was immediately bitten and chewed until swallowed. Li Anlan jumped down, then walked over to the little boy who called him ape and brother-in-law.

“Are you the son of His Majesty the King?”

The little boy shook his head.

“Are you also one of my sisters-in-law? Aunt Wei said, my brother has many wives. Are you one of them?”

Sister-in-law? Ah, Li Anlan finally understood. This little boy was apparently the younger brother of Long Ji Man. It was only fitting that he had a face similar to that annoying guy. Li Anlan thought this brat was the son of the man. Previously, he wanted to kidnap this boy to be held hostage in order for Long Ji Man to return his belongings. Unfortunately, that annoying king would definitely not care too much about a small affair like this.

Just as Li Anlan was about to answer the little boy's question, a middle-aged woman shouted as she ran towards them. The middle-aged woman was slightly fat, her clothes were like the clothes of a high-level servant. When the woman arrived, she immediately pulled the little boy and kept him away from Li Anlan.

“Prince, let's go back. Don't play with strangers!” whispered the middle-aged woman in the boy's ear.

“Aunt Wei, she is not a stranger.”

Regardless of what the little boy said, the middle-aged woman immediately led the Little Boy away from the garden of Lake Houchi. Before leaving, the woman stared cynically at Li Anlan and Xie Roulan. Seeing the unpleasant look, Li Anlan became furious. He picked up the remaining peach piece of his bite then threw it towards the middle-aged woman while shouting, “Freak!” The throw only hit the end of the middle-aged woman's skirt. It will not have any effect.

To settle his curiosity, Li Anlan directly asked Xie Roulan. Normally, the maid was always all-knowing despite never coming out of the Xingyue Palace complex and the royal kitchen.

The little boy turned out to be Prince Ding, the youngest brother of His Majesty the King. His real name is Long Ji Mu. He was born seven years ago, three years before Long Ji Man's father died. Her mother was Han Yuemi, the cousin of Empress Dowager Han Yuemei. Han Yuemi was a Great Concubine of the King, and died while giving birth to Long Ji Mu. During this time, she lived in her mother's palace with a nanny.

Since childhood, Prince Ding or Long Ji Mu had no friends. Surprisingly, the little boy had above average intelligence, surpassing the intelligence of children his age. This year, it is rumored that Prince Ding will enter the Royal Academy and will be studying until he is thirteen.

Li Anlan could not imagine how lonely the boy was. Life without a mother and a biological father in a magnificent but lonely palace must be very difficult. Li Anlan had already experienced it, so she knew very well what it was like to live alone with a nanny. Despite the glittering treasures, but nothing could truly satisfy.

It was just as arrogant as Long Ji Man. Apparently, the sisters were from the same father with different mothers. It does not rule out the possibility that the boy will fight for power with his brother in the next few years. Revolts and civil wars in ancient times like this have become commonplace. Whoever wins, then he will be in power.

“Mistress, I've heard rumors that His Majesty is about to make Prince Ding Crown Prince.”

Xie Roulan's statement made Li Anlan quite dumbfounded. If that was the case, then it was only fitting that Long Ji Man did not have much relationship with women and chose to dodge. It is also fitting that Long Ji Man punish officials who offend him in court. Apparently, the man was planning to make his own sister as a potential successor to the throne.

Although only the news of birds, but Li Anlan was sure it was not impossible. Long Ji Man was a person who could not guess his thoughts. The man can act as he pleases. If indeed Prince Ding was made the Crown Prince's candidate, then Long Ji Man could avoid the harem palace for good. He may want to break free from the shackles that torment himself.

“Simply he avoids women,” murmured Li Anlan.

Not wanting to think any further, Li Anlan chose to stop all her curiosity from getting here. One stranger had upset him, especially if another came. Enough, Li Anlan's life was already quite miserable in this world.

The woman walked to the shores of Lake Houchi. The clear and cool water from the lake he took, then washed it to his face. It felt the same as the taste of a spring that came out directly from the ground. Li Anlan had thought of jumping and swimming back, but Xie Roulan prevented him and invited him to return to Xingyue Palace as it was almost afternoon.

...***...