Little Dumpling turned to Liu Tián Qǔ and said," I will take my leave now Big Brother Tián Qǔ. I'm going to find Imperial Father to get punished. I am very happy to have met you and to have become friends with you."
"Same likewise, Little Dumpling." Liu Tián Qǔ said with a smile of affection on her face.
Before leaving to run inside, Little Dumpling turned to Wang Fèn Yǒng and said, "Older Brother hurry and find Bulter Huang then bring my gift for father to his study. I'll be there getting punished, go quickly." Then he turned around and dashed up the stairs of the Manor and disappeared inside of the Manor.
With a smile of affection still on her face, Liu Tián Qǔ turned to Wang Fèn Yǒng to find his eyes on her. He was looking at her with an inquiring almost puzzled look in his eyes.
Liu Tián Qǔ cupped her hands and bowed to thank him again for allowing her to use his name. However, before she could say anything, Wang Fèn Yǒng asked, "Why have you befriended Wang Jǐng Jiè, and why are you treating him so well?"
With a small smile, Liu Tián Qǔ said, "The same way you remind me of someone is the same way that Little Dumpling reminded me of someone. The moment I saw him I decided he and I will be great friends for life. As for treating him well, that is how friends should be treated. I've decided to make you my friend as well, so you will soon see for yourself that is just how I treat my friends. Don't think I am a nice person. I will warn you once again that I'm not a nice person. I just believe in honoring a friend's true heart."
The two guards that stood outside the manor in front of the front gate guarding the manor look at each other in complete utter shock when they saw the Heir of the manor talking with Liu Tián Qu. Friend?! What friend?!? The Heir never talks to anyone other than his men or to give orders. From where did this friend pop out from?! Who is this young master! From what family is he?!
"I will send out Butler Huáng." Wang Fen Yong said before turning and striding up the steps and disappeared into the manor.
*****
The grand prince study was a big elegant room deep within the heart of the Wang Royal Manor. It was a room of dark colors and beautifully stained dark wood. The decor of the room was sparse and simple, but somehow still managed to have tones of elegance and nobility.
In the center of the study stood a huge dark stained wooden desk. To the right of the desk stood a bank of opened doors. In front of the opened doors was a long low table. The Table was capable of seating approximately eight people comfortably. On the table sat a tray with a large pot of hot tea and eight cups.
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Along the walls of the study were ceiling tall bookshelves. Every bit of space on the shelves was stuffed full of scrolls and books. The view outside of the opened door was of a lovely courtyard built around a garden.
At the desk in the library sat the older brother of the emperor. The Grand prince, General of the Wang Royal Army and the Lord of the Wang Royal Manor Prince Wang Dǔ Zhì.
Wang Dǔ Zhì was a tall man at 6'3". There was a fierce magnetism that projected from him. The allure of it pulled people to him. He had hooded elongated narrow eyes. His eyebrows were beautifully thick, wide, flat and straight. It had a slight downward curve at the end. He had sharp cheekbones and an extremely sharp jawline. Although he was in his late 30's, he was what many of the ladies both noble and common described as devastatingly fiercely gorgeous.
There was an intense domineering commanding aura about him. Like his older son, most times, his eyes were ice cold.
Behind him stood his wife, Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā the First Lady of the Manor. He only had one wife and no concubines. Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā was an extraordinarily beautiful woman. Her beauty was enough to topple countries. Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā had beautiful phoenix eyes. Her eyebrows were willow leaf-shaped. She a petite cute nose and beautiful full lips. Her body was a beautiful curvy hourglass figure.
Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā was also a warrior, strategist, and tactician. She had a very sharp and cunning mind. When it came to protecting her family, her schemes ran very deep. Very few have managed to escape her schemes with their life still intact. Even the emperor often consulted with her when he had a problem, and he needed a second opinion.
It was clear that something wrong. The atmosphere of the study was thick with tension.
Facing these two powerful people was a determined Little Dumpling. At the moment, he was thinking of how unafraid his new friend was in the face of his older brother's murderous anger. He was determined in his heart to have more courage.
"Kneel" the ice-cold voice of the Grand Prince rang out in the study breaking Little Dumpling's chain of thought.
Little Dumpling dropped to his knees in front of the desk and bowed. Little Dumpling was determined to hold on to a shred of courage even though he was scared.
The ice-cold voice of the grand prince said, "Would you like to explain to me why the whole city is ringing with the rumor that you ran away from home? Speak!"
"I am at fault in this matter." Because truthfully he was. Who told him to stand in the middle of the market announcing to the whole world he ran away from home? Little Dumpling chided himself for not knowing any better.
"Would you like to explain to me why you felt the need to run away from home?" The ice-cold sharp voice of the grand prince questioned him.
Peeking up at his mother, Little Dumpling replied, "I am at fault, I didn't think the matter through."
"Speak, tell me, do you know what your mistakes were?"
Wang Fèn Yǒng entered the study. He quietly walked over to the bank of open doors that lead out to the courtyard. He rested the package with the map by his feet. Crossing his arms across his chest, Wang Fèn Yǒng casually leaned on one of the doorway panels of the bank of doors leading to the courtyard. Facing the courtyard, he quietly viewed the beautiful garden in the courtyard and took in the panoramic view of the mountains in the distance as he listened to his brother being questioned.
Cupping his hands and bowing towards his parents Little Dumpling said, "I know my mistakes. First I shouldn't have run away from home. Secondly, I shouldn't have put myself in danger by running away from home with no place safe to go. Finally, I shouldn't have let news of me running away from home spread throughout the city."
Finally, Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā spoke. Her voice was beautiful. It was very smooth low mellow and husky but also had a melodic sound to it. "It's good that you know. However, I want to know exactly how it got out that you ran away from home. I know that the rumor did not originate from the manor. Explain!"
Little Dumpling lowered his head. His face had blushed red with embarrassment and shame. "The rumor originated from me. It was my fault."
Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā said in a low and somehow deadly voice. "Are you telling me that you deliberately went around telling people you ran away from home."
Hearing her tone of voice Little Dumpling turn frighteningly pale, sweat popped out on his forehead, and his heart started racing in fear. His mother was the sweetest nicest person in the world until you made her mad. Then she turned into a demon.