Prince and His Fool

The humble streets of Xiānnǚ were a hidden gem filled with all kinds of exciting merchandise sold by hawkers. Its various splendours could empty your wallet, it was the beautiful women one had to look out for thus the name Xiānnǚ (Fairy). The women were as beautiful and mesmerizing as fairies, it was even believed that the goddess Guāng herself, had deliberately sprinkled some of her beauty over the town that all their daughters would be born qualified to be in the emperor's harem.

Rong Zian was undeniably drooling over these women as they walked down the street. 'If this was the modern times, Miss Universe would have most likely come from this town every year,' he thought to himself as he watched the ladies in the streets.

He was striking in appearance henceforth it was only expected that he would unconsciously attract the women's attention. The prince and Ying Tie where preoccupied buying some merchandise off a list that he himself wasn't interested in so he slipped away and moved from stall to stall checking what the vendors were selling.

A jade arctic blue tassel caught his eye, he bought it from a stout friendly vendor who found him likeable so he asked, "Young Master, you're so kind and well mannered, would you like to meet my daughters?"

He raised his eyebrow in approval to appease the stout vendor but studying this men's appearance, he couldn't help but wonder how his daughters would look like. The old man called out some names and Rong Zian was astonished when he saw three beauties of almost the same age each holding a different kind of flower. One was holding a white chrysanthemum, the other a dark pink azaleas, and the youngest a purple orchid.

They chuckled while whispering to each with crimson red cheeks, it was obvious they approved of Rong Zian's appearance. Almost in unison, the girls offered him their flowers each beaming in radiance. In his previous life, it rarely happened that a girl would give a guy flowers but since he was in a different era, he didn't find anything wrong. As he stretched his hand to accept them but the vendor interrupted him saying, "Remember you can only choose one."

Rong Zian found it odd that he had to choose one especially when they were all offering. 'What if l like all the flowers,' he thought as he brushed it off. Something in him restrained him and he ended up saying, "Do you see that guy with a stern look over at that stall?" pointing at Wu Yange.

The girls nodded their heads in acknowledgement so he carried on, "Don't you think he's handsome?" They all agreed and went as far as admiring every part of his body and asking if he was single.

"He's even more handsome than you young master," said the youngest of the three girls.

His brows furrowed feeling slightly offended, he said, "Why don't you go there and offer him a flower, I am sure he would love it?" Though his suggestion seemed as though he was teasing Wu Yange, he was simply trying to get the solemn prince's good side and offer up some beautiful ladies to thank him for saving him from Madam Rong. The youngest girl bravely approached the two men and offered her prey the flower but her smile soon vanished as she walked back in disappointment.

"What happened?" asked Rong Zian but judging from her expression he could tell that the prince had brutally rejected her. He asked another girl to go try her luck but the result was the same. Wu Yange would utter something with a serious look and reject them. Seeing how unsuccessful her sisters were, the third girl decided not to try.

'Interesting,' he uttered to himself somewhat disappointed. At least from history, Rong Zian knew women gave flowers to appreciate the men's achievements or their looks but seeing the prince refuse their flowers, made him think it was just his aloof character.

Just as he excused himself from the ladies he caught glimpse of a flower stall a few feet ahead. He ran over and bought a blue lotus flower that hadn't blossomed and placed the jade tassel inside.

Beaming with excitement, he went to the prince and tapped him on the shoulder, "Since you can't accept flowers from strangers, here, this is for you. I as your, your.....benefactor, would like to appreciate your looks and all your hard work," he said placing the flower in the prince's hands but his attention span was sadly short, he soon noticed some blown-out candy for sell and immediately ran off yelling, "Oh wow! What is that?" like an overly excited tourist.

The prince examined the flower trying to figure out if Rong Zian knew the significance of his actions. Ying Tie glowering with his gazed fixed on Rong Zian, he inquired, "Did he just confess his love to you?"

Though the poor chap's intention was pure, he was ignorant of the customs of Xiānnǚ. A girl giving you flowers was something serious. Since women couldn't bring themselves to express their interest in a man, they would do it in the form of flowers which was a subtle way of verbalizing the unspeakable but apparently, the tradition was not only for women, a few brazen men adopted this method. Wu Yange was confused, wondering if this idiot knew the meaning of what he had done. While lost in thought, Rong Zian came back chewing the candy and offered the prince and Ying Tie but they both refused.

Taking a nibble, he said, "You will regret it, this tastes so amazing," and again ran off when he saw a vendor selling some herbs and oils he could use for his perfumes. In all of this, he hadn't noticed the change in environment, and truthfully it wasn't his fault because he was too dense.

A blissful, Rong Zian came back and draped his hands around the prince's shoulders whispering, "I bought jasmine from that sweet girl over there at a discount. If we can stay one more night, I think I will finally lose my chastity," in a blithe tone.

Ying Tie removed his hand from the prince's shoulders and said sarcastically, "Why don't you go and buy some food for the road? Oh and please take your sweet precious time," as he handed him some money. The idiot ran off as though he had won the lottery pushing his way through the crowd.

From the idiot's statement, Wu Yange figured there had been a misunderstanding but he couldn't help being furious. He activated his blue flame and burnt the flower in his hand to ashes vowing never to take Rong Zian seriously. He questioned his fragile state of mind but was startled when a sapphire jade tassel fell into the palm of his hand as the flames died down. It wasn't expensive upon close examination but he neither less he still shoved it into his pocket.

Without facing Ying Tie, he instructed," From now on he is not allowed to have his own room throughout the whole mission lest he embarrasses us."

Ying Tie bowed before him and replied, "Yes your highness."