Chapter 81 - "Bathing In The Palace Chambers"

At eight years old, Han Moze joined the army led by Shen Yixiu. At the time, Shen Yixiu had no idea Han Moze was the Third Prince, as everyone of Beiming thought the imperial concubine had killed him.

The eight year old Han Moze was the youngest soldier in the army, and the soldier who Shen Yixiu favoured and kept by his side because he stood out in every way. Han Moze would occasionally escort Shen Yixiu to the palace, where he met Han Moxi who was roughly the same age. Han Moxi would not leave Han Moze alone, and as the days went by, the two became brothers.

After Han Moze watched Han Moxi leave, he walked up to Ouyang Yaoyi.

Ouyang Yaoyi's hair was an utter mess when she felt an intimidating force in front of her, and looked up. Having noticed that it was Han Moze, she looked instantly infatuated. Her flushed face became even redder and she couldn't help but lick her lips.

Han Moze slightly furrowed his brows. "Enroute, Ouyang Yaoyi defied a royal decree. She is to receive thirty wooden strikes, then send her to Yinghua Palace," he announced in a chilling voice.

"Yes, your majesty!" Replied Zhang Jiu and Li Fei.

Then, they apprehended Ouyang Yaoyi away. Caidie and Caiyi followed behind her with a slight smile on their faces. That evil Third Princess is finally receiving her karma.

Han Moze looked in the direction of where Han Moxi left, and squinted slightly. Clan leader of the Blood Feast, what are you doing?

He turned around and walked to his own chambers – Mingyue Palace, the 'Dark Moon Palace'.

Mingyue Palace was a lavish and impressive building of gold and red.

Gold tiles with red tasseled lanterns hung from the roof, and a dark red rug with golden patterns laid spread across the floor.

Through the door, there was a dark red writing desk on the left with stationary placed upon it.

On the right, there was a round desk covered with a high quality dark red tablecloth and four round chairs around it. There were two short red stools up against the right wall with a velvet blanket on top. In the center, there was a sculptured, square gold table made of red wood.

Deeper inside, there was a wooden, semi-circle shaped arched door with gold openwork etched around the edges. The imperial maids had already pulled the light red curtains on the door back and tied them to each side.

Once he stepped through the arched door, he entered the actual resting quarters. He walked straight ahead, then pulled two layers of red and gold curtains. With just two steps forward, he reached a big luxurious bed with pillows sewn with gold thread.

A few steps further to the right was a wooden shelf with all different kinds of rare antiques. Beside the shelf was a dressing table.

He walked over to a rectangular hot spring with a spout on one end that released an endless flow of clear water from the hot spring.

The imperial maids walked over to the hot spring and scattered flower petals into the bath. Although they wanted to help Han Moze bathe, they respectfully bowed and left.

Han Moze unfastened his belt, then removed his clothes piece by piece to reveal his big, tall frame. His body proportion was perfect, his honey-coloured skin was glossy and his muscles were firm with an alluring shimmer.

He walked into the hot spring, laid his head upon the edges, shut his eyes and let out a relaxing exhale.

He smiled at the thought of how he first met Liu Rushuang.

That woman's clothes were drenched at the time, which outlined her perfect figure. On top of it all, she had very fair skin. Her body alone, was so beautiful.

Han Moze's thoughts wandered, when his eyes suddenly squinted.

Someone appeared from behind Han Moze.

On careful inspection, the person wore a yellow belt and a black robe. Their almost waist length, ink-colored hair flowed behind them and they had side swept bangs to the right. Their bangs spanned from the temples and fell straight to the lips. This person had an oval face, narrow and long eyebrows, and the edges of their eyes curled upward at an alluring angle. Their nose bridge was pretty, they had reasonably thick lips and they wore a slight smile which made them look cunning and quick-witted.

Chapter 82 - "A Brotherly Spat"

"Your majesty, what are you thinking about?" Said Lian Jiuhua with a gentle smile, asshe silently crouched beside Han Moze.

Han Moze turned his head and refrained from smiling. "Lian Jiuhua, don't you know it's really bad to peep on me as I bathe?" He said chillingly.

Lian Jiuhua smiled helplessly. What does he and the majesty have left to hide? "If your majesty doesn't welcome me, then I'll leave," he said with raised eyebrows.

Han Moze let out a discreet sigh. Why did he have an older brother figure like him? "Why are you here?" He said coldly and helplessly.

"I am your majesty's first ranking shadow guard, so of course I'm here to protect your majesty," said Lian Jiuhua unabashedly.

Han Moze couldn't help but grunt coldly. "I must have been crazy to have appointed you first ranking shadow guard. There aren't many days in the year when you're on duty," he said with a chilling voice.

"Your majesty, you have three second ranking shadow guards, six third ranking shadow guards, seven fourth ranking shadow guards, and nine fifth ranking shadow guards. Then, on top of it all, your majesty's martial art skills are unrivalled. Do you still need my protection?" Asked Lian Jiuhua in a matter-of-fact way.

Han Moze's complexion turned instantly glum. This was the first ranking shadow guard that he chose? This person who took his prestige and live a carefree and comfortable life beyond compare?

Lian Jiuhua glanced at Han Moze's glum expression and grinned. "Don't tell me that your majesty is jealous of me?"

Han Moze clenched both his hands. There's no one in this world as brazen as Lian Jiuhua.

"If you're here to anger me, then you may go back," he said with a crisp voice after taking a deep breath.

Lian Jiuhua snickered and crossed his arms. "Your majesty, what did you come across on this trip? Do tell me."

"Why ask when you disappeared when I asked you to escort me?" Han Moze said with a frosty voice and gritted teeth.

"I didn't know of this," lied Lian Jiuhua without so much as a blink.

"Lian Jiuhua, do you want me to indict you for disrespecting the Emperor?" Han Moze grunted coldly.

Han Moze gritted his teeth, turned and raised his arm. With a grab of Lian Jiuhua's arm, he yanked Lian Jiuhua into the water.

*Splash!*

Lian Jiuhua abruptly fell into the water and stood up completely drenched! He used his hands to wipe the water from his face. "Your majesty, there must be a cure for your love of using martial arts," he said in disatisfaction.

Han Moze looked at Lian Jiuhua all soaked and pulled a wicked smile. This was how one must treat a shameless person.

Lian Jiuhua looked at the incredibly familiar smile on Han Moze's face and thought back to when they were little. Since Han Moze's martial arts skills were better than his, he would always mess with Han Moze and get seriously bruised up. Afterwards, Han Moze would reveal that very same smile.

Lian Jiuhua blinked slightly, then swiftly scooped up some water and poured it over Han Moze.

Han Moze conjured ice with his inner breath and instantly froze a radius of one foot all around them.

Lian Jiuhua swiftly flew out of the hot spring. He never imagined that Han Moze had trained his ice inner breath to such an incredible level. He was never this sharp when they were young.

He giggled, as he stood on the edges of the hot spring. "The water all around you has frozen now, so how are you meant to bathe?" He exclaimed, pleased with himself.

Han Moze smirked coldly, then twirled his inner breath. In an instant, the ice all around him cracked into pieces, as he then walked to the other side of the hot springs and continued to bathe.

Lian Jiuhua's body tensed up. He thought Han Moze would be trapped just how he did when they were young. In his heart, he let out a discreet sigh. He was too naive. Things were now different from before.

Whilst he was daydreaming, many little shards of ice came flying at him. Seriously stunned, Lian Jiuhua immediately dodged, but in the end, he was one step too slow! Numerous ice shards hit his body with a *thump thump thump!*

"Ah ah ah... Your majesty, for the sake of our brotherhood, why didn't you show some mercy?" Cried Lian Jiuhua in pain, as he reached his hand out to rub the area he was hit.