Cladded in vibrant red robes, surrounded by hundreds of candle lights, and thousands of people rejoicing their union, all I could do was stand there motionless watching the mesmerizing yet haunting view unfold before me. He was smiling at her as if she was his world... The hollow in my heart kept getting deeper as I witnessed it. What really happened while I was away? That day, didn't you promise me you'd wait for me under the Golden Shower Tree? That night after my return, I waited, waited and waited but no one came... Empty promises... That's all you've made, my beloved friend...

~Anonymous~

Two bodies crashed on the ground, speckles of dust polluting the air.

*Coughs*

One boy had a fit of cough due to dust, while the other stood up with a smile, wiping the dust off his clothes. He saw the other person looking exhausted and uncomfortable so he decided to help him.

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"Put me down!" Su Ying struggled to get out of Wei Xiang's hands.

"You aren't planning to crawl are you?" Wei Xiang looked at his brother's worn out body that weighed as light as a feather, sweat rolled down his brother's forehead who frowned deeply in annoyance.

"I can walk fine, Xiang..." he pouted and struggled once again pushing on Wei Xiang's chest.

The corner of his mouth lifted while he loosened his arms, Su Ying almost dropping onto the floor. He gasped loudly, grabbing onto Wei Xiang's robe as the culprit tightened his arms around him, making sure he's safe.

"XIANG!" He screamed at the other's face, his fist hitting hard on the person's chest. A deep laugh rolled off the culprit's lips.

He looked at Wei Xiang in disbelief gulping in nervousness. Wei Xiang watched him hide his face at the crook of his neck, the white, sweat dripping nape exposed in front of his eyes. He exhaled, finally having Su Ying calmed down as he gently laid him down the bed.

"Have some rest. I'll come check up on you at night... Even feed you." He winked knowing full well what his brother's reaction would be.

"I can eat by myself...", Su Ying faces the other way in anger.

Wei Xiang patted Su Ying's head, turning to leave as he heard Su Ying say behind his back, "I'm going to win tomorrow. Just you wait!"

"Fine. Fine. Stop being so worked up on a silly duel." He shook his head with a sarcastic smile, leaving the room feeling refreshed.

Stretching out his hand forward and turning it inward, he saw a fresh cut mark on his elbow that was unintentionally left by his brother Ying.

He lightly frowned mumbling to himself, "Wasn't he a little too harsh today?"

There were a few more cuts on his body. Not paying them too much heed he left for training.

I'll never get tired of teasing him though, he smirked thinking in mischief.

"I'll be heading this way. You can follow me from afar." he ordered the guards, carrying his bow and arrows into the depths of the forest mountain.

I hope brother Ying's doing fine. He never missed a deer hunt before. It's so unlike him. I better pay him a visit when this is over.

Who would have thought, that while his thoughts circulated around his brother Ying's well-being, a sharp pain arose from his left shoulder narrowly missing his vital point? His eyes darted behind him as he saw another arrow ready to shoot his way. He swiftly moved missing the assassin's target. His heart. Another arrow pierced his stomach. He swayed in slow motion trying to get a grip on his balance.

There's two of them!

Taking a deep breath in, he removed the arrow at his shoulder as the assassins watched him in surprise. It was going to worsen his situation but he couldn't move freely with an arrow in his body. He needs to buy himself some time. As the Crown Prince, Wei Xiang was not just an ordinary fourteen-year-old. He was ruthless and not afraid to plunge a knife at his own heart if he had to. He wasn't afraid of pain or worse, death.

They already had two more arrows pointed at his body. He closed his eyes before removing the arrow on his stomach. His chance of escaping was low, however, Brother Ying's face crossed his mind snapping something inside of him.

No! I can't give up just yet!

He avoided the two arrows cleverly, the wound on his stomach expanding and bleeding heavily as he cursed.

He didn't think twice to roll over the mud and behind into the bushes. The slope behind the bush caught him off guard as he rolled further, hitting a tree, his stomach rubbing onto its trunk violently.

The harsh movements worsened his bleeding, threatening his life. But giving up without a fight was not how he was going to die!

He held onto his stomach that was raging in pain as he sweated profusely. Footsteps behind his back made his body tense.

A hand grabbed onto his shoulder turning him over, but before the assassin could register a dagger stabbed onto the side of his neck. His eyes rolled back in horror as he fell onto the dirt covered ground, revealing a figure behind him. Wei Xiang's blurry vision focused on the man, who had his face covered with a black cloth, holding the blood stained dagger in his hands. Though his hands were clearly shaking...

Wei Xiang frowned deeply. But before he could register the situation clearly, his vision was clouded in darkness.

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A woman's voice was screaming his name who he instantly recognised as his mother. He felt a warmth in his hand as he saw a vague shadow of a tear-stained brother Ying who looked terrible, "Please! Just hang in there! Don't you dare leave me!"

His voice was desperately telling Wei Xiang to not leave him.

What was this strange sense of familiarity? There was a feeling of déjà vu as he reached out his hand to wipe his brother's tears off the blushing wet face. His chest felt uncomfortable as he saw his brother looking at him in dread. But he could barely touch his brother's smooth cheek, before falling unconscious.

By the time he woke up, it had been a week.

"Where's brother Ying?", was his first words.

His mother looked at him with furrowed eyes. Her eyes were tired and in lack of sleep, "Son, this is not a time to look for him. But he's doing fine. There's something more important for you to worry about. Don't you want to know what happened to you?"

He nodded calmly, "I was almost assassinated. Did they find out who did it?"

"No... Your Imperial Father was angered beyond words. He has sent people to look for the culprits. Do not worry son, your father will take care of it for you."

"Hm... What about the person who saved me?"

"Someone saved you?"

"Yes I clearly remember it..."

She remained quiet for a while before saying sincerely, "That's weird. I have not heard of this, son. If so this person should be heavily rewarded. After all he has saved the future Emperor of Xu Lin. Do you remember what he looked like?"

She rubbed her eyes in exhaustion barely keeping her eyes open.

"...No. He was in disguise." His eyes lowered in contemplation before looking up at her,

"I want to see brother Ying. Please mother."

He said with almost pleading eyes.

Sixth Uncle who had been in the room replied, "Excuse me Your Highness, the First Imperial Prince is at the training grounds."

"Hm let's go."

"Son, don't do this please. You haven't even recovered yet. Stop behaving this way. You aren't supposed to be getting up from bed right now. Let alone you shouldn't be moving at all. Let your uncle call your brother here."

But how can I let brother Ying see me like this?

"The wounds are already somewhat healed. It doesn't hurt much. My body feels stiff after sleeping all week and right now I want to feel the refreshing air outside."

"Stubborn child!" She sighed heavily and got up to help him stand.

"Mother should get some sleep. While taking a walk outside I will go visit brother Ying's palace with my servants, since his palace is closer than the training grounds."

"Why don't you just say your only goal is to see him?" She couldn't help the smile forming in her lips. She patted his head as she looked at Sixth Uncle who in return suggested,

"Let me accompany him, Your Majesty." He bowed and came forward to support his unsteady body.

Since his brother Ying hadn't finished training, he stayed in his chambers, resting his body in his brother's bed.

"Huh? What's this?" Sixth Uncle's voice was heard by his side.

He was holding a scrunched piece of paper with an ugly expression on his face as he passed it to the Crown Prince hesitantly,

The contents of the paper read,

Wei Xiang's blood ran cold as he stared at the paper for several seconds without blinking. He turn the paper to see something written at the back of it. A few minutes passed before he came back into his senses feeling lost and confused at the revelation. It was nauseating... The previous note had been a reply to this message,

Brother...

"Your High-"

"You didn't see anything." He dangerously narrowed his eyes at his Sixth Uncle. He no longer felt the physical pain because right now the heartache was roaring loudly.

He grabbed onto the old man's robes and brought his lips closer to his ear and uttered the words in a low raspy whisper, "I will have you killed, cut into pieces and fed to the tigers at Nanling forest, if word gets out about this."

The old man inhaled sharply as he shook violently.

"Have all the evidence destroyed before Imperial Father finds out about this."

"Y-y-yes Yo-Your H-hi-highness!" He bowed down shaking from head to toe in fear.

"What are you waiting for?"

"N-Now?"

"Yes! Now! Hurry up and cover all the tracks before it's too late!" He gritted his teeth in fury as the old man ran away almost tripping on his feet.

He buried his head in his palms feeling numb all over. The memories they had together, it flashed across his mind. What had I done to make him do such a thing? This has to be some kind of mistake. I didn't want to believe this.

That's my brother...

He wouldn't...

"Xiang?"

Wei Xiang was frozen in place as he slowly moved his head to look at the person who had worry etched in his features. Wei Xiang awkwardly stood up and greeted Su Ying with a stiff smile,

"Brother..."

Before he could process what was happening, he was hugged by his brother's warm and flowery scent, softly embracing him with love and care. He reflectively hugged him back.

"Why did you come all the way here? Don't exhaust yourself like this. I was planning to visit you right after a bath. Don't do this again! Brother will visit you until you recover. Okay?"

"..."

"Xiang...? What's wrong? Why are there tears in your eyes?" He looked at Wei Xiang in disbelief. He held Wei Xiang's face with his pale hands as he caressed his face with sadness in his eyes.

"What's wrong Xiang?" He questioned softly.

"I was so sure I was going to die but I was reminded of you, brother. I didn't want to give up without a fight. But you... Somehow... Hm I feel tired. I'm leaving..."

"Xiang... Let me help you."

"No need. I can help myself." He smiled and left his brother who seemed worried at his unusual behaviour.

So all along brother never cared? Is he pretending to worry even now?

*A few weeks later*

The food tasted bitter...

The worrying eyes of the palace made him sick...

The small talks made him frustrated...

He felt like he was surrounded by fraud everywhere he looked, everywhere he went.

"Xiang?"

Wei Xiang's heart froze as he heard the gentle tone behind him.

"Yes?" He replied with gritted teeth without turning back.

"Hmm you... Are you avoiding me?"

Wei Xiang breathed out the heaviness in his heart as he answered, "No brother. I'm just busy. After all I'm the Crown Prince."

He didn't wait for his brother Ying to speak as he left the vicinity wearing a frosty expression.

He halted around the corner as he turned back to look at Su Ying who was lost in his thoughts. When he saw his brother Ying heading to the opposite direction of his palace, he decided to follow him out of curiosity and suspicion.

It was Lady Xiao's (Su Ying's mother) palace. He could only eavesdrop into their conversation.

"So? Does he still refuse to talk to you?" Lady Xiao asked in worry.

"Yes. Perhaps he found out?"

"That's not possible. If he did he would have surely taken action."

"...I guess so."

"You only had one job to do Ying. If you had got rid of him at the time, things would have been easier for us."

Wei Xiang let out a silent gasp as he subconsciously leaned on the wall sliding onto the ground. For the first time he felt his heart tearing apart making him unable to breath properly.

"Mother..."

"Didn't you want to impress Imperial Father? Didn't you want the throne? If you do, then don't make a mistake next time."

"All I want is for Imperial Father to acknowledge me. Of course I want the throne, mother, however..."

He didn't want it to be true... All he wished was for it to be a lie. An illusion. However, he witnessed it with his own eyes. Wei Xiang didn't want to listen anymore as he left the palace in a hurry, his expression devoid of emotions, however tears slowly slipped out of his beautiful black eyes.

That day the entire palace was a victim of his repressed anger. His anger stemmed from grief. Grief from the betrayal of a loved one. Someone he considered precious more than his own brothers and sisters. He tasted a great depth of heartache for the first time in his life.

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"Xiang!" He grabbed onto his hand.

"Xiang... It's been months now and you... Why don't you come see me? And when I try to visit you, you are always busy."

Wei Xiang smiled... He gave his brother Ying the heartiest smile replying, "Is that so? I'm glad..."

His smile disappeared as he turned to leave.

"Wait, where are you going? Are you playing with me? Is this some kind of prank?"

Wei Xiang took a deep breath in, "Let go of my hand."

"No! You... Do you know how worried I am? These past few months you've been behaving strangely. It's not just to me but everyone else including your mother. We're all worried about you!"

"Worried?"

"Yes!"

"Lies!"

"Huh?"

"You never cared! All you wanted was to fool me and climb up your status!" Wei Xiang spoke in fury.

Su Ying was shocked beyond words as he stared at Wei Xiang like he had seen a ghost.

"How can you say that? You know how much I care for you! Why would you say that?"

"Liar! You still refuse to admit it! You are nothing but a shameless vile wretch!"

Su Ying didn't hesitate to slap Wei Xiang on his cheek, tears gathering at the corners of his eyes.

"Do you even know how I felt when I saw you bleeding and unconscious?! How I wished it was me instead of you?!" He shouted, looking in disbelief and frustration.

Wei Xiang laughed so hard he had to hold onto the pillar next to him, shaking his head in mockery, "Why don't you join the Jiu Theatre? I didn't know you were such a great performer! I'm impressed! I'm impressed! I'M IMPRESSED!"

"Xiang!"

"Shut up! How dare you?! A commoner speak to me so casually! Don't you dare address me like that again!"

"Please stop, it hurts! I don't want to hear anymore!" Tears started to slip off his eyes as he held onto his chest clutching it tightly as if holding for dear life. Wei Xiang watched with anger seeping through his expression, his rage eventually diminishing. He subconsciously held Su Ying's face in his hands, wiping off the tears gently.

"You sure know my weakness don't you?" He gave a sarcastic smile, a deep sadness hidden in his eyes as he pushed his brother out of the way leaving the premises.

Wei Xiang's biggest weakness was his brother Ying's tears... And for the first time he hated it knowing it will always soften his resolution and judgement against his brother.

General Su remained motionless as the overbearing Emperor looked down upon him with a little smile on his face.

"If it hadn't been for you, I might've died that day at the Fu Mountain."

"What?" The general looked clueless only to be hit with a sudden realisation.

"You knew?!" He narrowed his eyes at the Emperor in disbelief.

"Of course. I will always remember those hands that I personally cleaned up when you were exhausted from our duels. It was the first time you killed someone. It explained why you were shaking all over at the time."

"Then why?!" The General stood up feeling dizzy and confused at the man's ridiculousness.

"It doesn't change the fact you had ill intentions towards me. It's just at the crucial moment you couldn't bring yourself to do it. You didn't have the courage to kill the person who had helped and cared for you. Nonetheless, failing the first time didn't mean you would fail to do it the second time. Tell me General, isn't it fair for me to not trust you? To despise you?"

Thus, for a while, the General remained quiet, but rather lost at words, unable to understand how he should respond,