*Luo Xiao Zhao POV*

Xiao Zhao looked around the table. Li Qing, Han Jun, and First Prince all sat in an awkward silence. Hating how quiet everyone was, Xiao Zhao said loudly, "Let's eat!" He picked up his chopsticks and started to get food and put it in his bowl. When he saw no one else had picked up their chopsticks, he said, "Hey, let's eat. If we don't, the food will get cold. Here's some fish." Xiao Zhao said as he picked up a piece of fish and put it in Han Jun's bowl.

As soon as he did, Han Jun said, "Xiao Zhao! Why did you have to do that?"

"What do you mean?" Xiao Zhao asked, puzzled.

"Ignore him. What's your name again?" First Prince asked.

"My name is Luo Xiao Zhao."

"Right. Don't mind him, Luo Xiao Zhao. My brother has always had the weird habit of needing to wipe everything before he can use it. Because of his habit, all the girls are scared of him. Well, except that one," Frist Prince said as he pointed toward the door with his thumb.

Xiao Zhao understood what he meant.

Han Jun's face turned red. "Ge Ge, what are you talking about?"

"Han Jun. Han Jun," First Prince clucked his tongue and shook his head. "I warned you that women are ten times scarier than warriors. What did I say? Be careful when dealing with them! But you wouldn't listen. There, now you have seen first hand what I meant."

"I didn't even do anything! I don't know why she was so aggressive!" Han Jun said indignantly.

First Prince chuckled.

"Why are you chuckling?!"

"I'm chuckling because you are silly," First Prince replied.

Before Han Jun could answer, there was a knock at the door. "Come in," First Prince said as he leaned back in his chair.

"Your Majesty," the loyal bodyguard of First Prince said as he showed his respect.

"Yes?"

"I have something to report to you."

First Prince nodded and the guard took his clue and stepped up close to First Prince. He bent down and whispered something into his ear. First Prince's eyes flew open and he said, "Zhī dào le." He waved the guard away and stood up.

"I have a few matters I have to attend to. Forgive me for having to leave all of a sudden," First Prince said as he clasped his hands in front of him and brought them to his chest.

Han Jun got up and showed his respect. "Don't worry about it Ge Ge. It was good to see you again."

"Same with you, brother. Oh, by the way, I have prepared a banquet for you tonight in my mansion. Will you come?"

Han Jun smiled. "Since you have prepared a feast, I dare not waste it." Han Jun bowed slightly.

"Alright. See you then," First Prince said as he turned away.

"Yes. Màn man zǒu, bù sòng," Han Jun replied, still half bowed.

After First Prince had left, Han Jun straightened up and sat down again. "Hey!" He called. A waiter immediately ran up and asked, panting, "Y-yes? W-what...can...I...get you?"

"Can you change this bowl for me? It's a little dirty," Han Jun pointed to the bowl Xiao Zhao had put food in.

The waiter looked perplexed. "This..."

"Will you change it or not? If not, I'll just ask someone else to change it for me!" Han Jun lost his patience.

The man's face turned fearful. "Y-yes! I'll change it right away!" He quickly grabbed the bowl and scurried away.

Han Jun sighed and put his hand on his temple and rubbed it.

Xiao Zhao was getting confused. Was this the same person he had met on the mountain? Where was the happy go lucky man he had first known? Who was this man sitting in front of him? Xiao Zhao had noticed that although Han Jun had first appeared happy when he went to prison to help them, he was slowly morphing into someone different. Someone who was more stressed and angry. Han Jun is not easy to understand. There must be more to his story.

"So...Now that we are in Jing Du, do you all have any plans?" Xiao Zhao asked, hoping to start a conversation.

To his surprise, Li Qing spoke up. "Guo Zi Jian."

"You want to enter Guo Zi Jian? Why?" asked Xiao Zhao. "You are a Jiang Hu person. People like you usually don't bother yourselves with studying."

Han Jun clucked his tongue. " Don't make the same mistake I did: assume someone's strength based on their looks."

"How about you?" Xiao Zhao asked as he turned his attention to Han Jun.

Han Jun leaned back in his chair. "Well, I'm going into the Guo Zi Jian too."

"You?! Why? You're the Third Prince after all! You don't need to study with people like us," Xiao Zhao exclaimed.

"I want to though," Han Jun said.

"Why?"

Han Jun sighed and a tired look appeared on his face. "No why."

Before Xiao Zhao could inquire further, the waiter came in, carrying a clean bowl on a tray. "Your Majesty, here is your new bow," he said as he lifted the bowl off the tray and set it before Han Jun. The waiter then left.

The tired look disappeared from Han Jun's face as he took the bowl and started to wipe it. After he was done, he glanced up to realize Xiao Zhao and Li Qing were staring at him. "Why are you all staring at me? Am I that handsome?"

"Pfft! You? Handsome? In your dreams!" Xiao Zhao said in a boisterous voice.

Han Jun grabbed a cup and filled it with wine and then he stood up and said, "I drink this cup in honor of both of you for accompanying me this whole way and taking care of me."

"Like we had a choice?" Xiao Zhao mumbled.

"What did you say?" Han Jun demanded.

Xiao Zhao smiled, grabbed a cup filled with wine, and stood up. "I agree with you."

Han Jun looked at Li Qing. "You too, drink with us!"

Li Qing stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I am sorry. I don't drink wine. I will use this cup filled with tea as a replacement for wine."

"Don't drink tea?" Han Jun asked. "Nán shēng dà zhàng fū, which one doesn't drink wine?"

Li Qing didn't say anything but merely stared at Han Jun with his usual blank expression.

"Ay! Han Jun! Don't give him a hard time! It's my first time drinking wine since I was eleven so if I get drunk and do something stupid, I apologize in advance! Cheers!" Xiao Zhao clicked his glass against Li Qing's glass and then Han Jun's.

Xiao Zhao took a sip from his cup. "MMM! This is good wine!" Xiao Zhao exclaimed as he sat down. Han Jun and Li Qing also sat down.

"Oh yeah, I don't think I ever asked you your plans, Xiao Zhao," Han Jun said.

I thought you already knew what I wanted to do. Xiao Zhao cleared his throat. "I'm also going to Guo Zi Jian."

Han Jun's face brightened. "That's great! I am so excited!" He took another sip and then put the glass down. He leaned forward and said in a serious tone, " Can I ask you two a favor?"

"Speak," Li Qing said coldly.

"When we get into the Guo Zi Jian, please keep my identity a secret."

There was silence around the table. Tension was in the room and it suddenly felt a bit hot and stuffy.

Xiao Zhao suddenly slapped his knee, breaking the tension. "Hai! So it was this request? I thought it was something bigger. Don't worry, Xiong Di. We will keep your identity a secret. Right?" Xiao Zhao glanced at Li Qing who merely nodded.

"Han Jun, how do I get into the school?" Xiao Zhao asked.

Han Jun put down his cup. "You don't know?"

"Er...I was never told how," explained Xiao Zhao.

"You have to take a three day test and pass it," Han Jun replied as he reclined in his chair.

"Ummm...What are some possible things that can be on the test?" Xiao Zhao asked.

"Well...lots of things. It's kinda hard to explain."

Xiao Zhao grew quiet. Maybe I won't make it after all.

Han Jun must have seen Xiao Zhao's face become grim because he said, "Oh, I have to study for that test. It would be helpful if I studied with someone. Xiao Zhao, do you want to study with me?"

Xiao Zhao looked up from the table. "Me?" He asked surprised.

"Are you Xiao Zhao?"

"Are you sure you want to study with me? I don't–"

"It's settled!"

There was a short pause.

"Well, I have to get going now," Han Jun said as he stood up. "By the way, I have arranged for you two to stay in Wu Hua Ling until the exams. Don't need to thank me. This is what friends do. Anyway, goodbye!" With that, he turned and walked out the room before any of them could say anything.

After he had gone, Li Qing said, "Goodbye." In one movement, he leapt up, opened the window, and jumped outside.

"Wait!" Xiao Zhao also leaped up and rushed to the window, but Li Qing was gone. "Why did you jump out the window instead of walking out the door?!" Xiao Zhao hollered.

Xiao Zhao shook his head and strode back to the table. He sat down and poured himself another glass of wine and shook his head. One of these days, these two will get me into trouble. He took a sip of his wine.

*Quan Mo Ran POV*

Mo Ran jumped out the window and quickly disappeared into the crowd. He walked the streets as he started to remember...

The cold hard nights he and his sister spent here. The disdain they faced during the day as people spat at them as they begged for food. The way they were beaten by other kids who were also beggars just because they were Jing. Mo Ran shook his head. He would never forget the way they were treated. His hand clenched the sword hilt.

It was dusk and the sky was painted a glorious pink and gold. The streets were emptying as people went home to spend time with their families. Mo Ran felt an ache in his heart. The only home he had he was unable to return to.

He walked along the streets. In the distance, he saw a silhouette leaning over another figure and he heard a voice. "You Jing beggar! You scum on earth! You deserve to die!" The silhouette standing over the other figure raised its arm up.

Mo Ran whipped out a knife and threw it at the arm of the figure that was about to come down. "Ow!" The figure yelped as the knife intercepted his arm. The silhouette glanced around quickly and when it spotted Mo Ran, it cursed and fled the scene.

Mo Ran quickly made his way to the huddled figure on the ground. When he reached it, he saw a boy huddled on the ground. His face was buried in his arms. Mo Ran knelt down and gently touched the boy who immediately jerked away.

"Hey, it's ok," Mo Ran said gently. He remembered the extra food he always brought with him. He reached into his clothing and pulled out a flat piece of bread. Quickly unwrapping it, he held it out to the boy. By now, the boy had looked up to observe the stranger. Even though it was dim, there was just enough light for Mo Ran to just barely see the boy's expression.

His eyes were wide as he saw the food.

"You must be hungry," Mo Ran held out the bread to the boy. The boy hesitated for a second before finally grabbing the food, jumping to his feet, and scurrying away. His small shadow disappeared into the darkness,

Mo Ran slowly rose to his feet. For children like you, I will not lose the throne. Once I become king, I will make sure no one ever mistreats any Jing ever again. For the sake of my people, I must take back my throne. Mo Ran's resolve grew.

He slowly made his way to Wu Hua Ling. The sign had golden letters and Mo Ran knew that Han Jun had reserved them one of the best places to stay in Jing Du. He went in and strode up to the man behind the desk. The man looked up and said, "Sir, my apologies, but we don't have any room tonight. Please go somewhere else to look."

"My friend paid for my room," Mo Ran said.

"Did he now? What was his name?"

"Shi Han Jun."

The man glanced at him sharply. He gaze swept Li Qing and then he laughed. "You? You are friends with the Third Prince? You take me for a fool? You will have better luck with someone else! For someone with such high nobility, how could they make a friend like you?"

"You think my choice of friends is terrible?" A voice said from behind.

The man's eyes flew open in horror and astonishment. He immediately dropped to his knees and rested his forehead on the floor. "Forgive me for speaking rashly. I don't know what I was saying. Forgive me! Forgive me!" The man bowed vigorously.

Mo Ran spun around. In the doorway was Han Jun. He had opened his fan and was slowly fanning himself. He walked slowly toward Mo Ran. He was so majestic. It was hard to believe this was the same Fang Han Jun he met on the streets or in the inn earlier.

Han Jun strode up behind the counter and said, "Don't be afraid. I am feeling generous today. Please stand." He bent down and grabbed the man's arm and helped him up.

"This time, I forgive you for being rude. But next time...I may not be so kind. He is my friend," Han Jun pointed at Mo Ran. "Take care of him or else..."

The man immediately fell to his knees terrified. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of him! Just please forgive me!"

"On your knees again? I already forgave you," Han Jun turned his back to the waiter. "Oh yeah, take care of my other friend, Luo Xiao Zhao too. He should be back. I will cover the bill for these two."

"Y-yes," the man shuttered.

Han Jun faced Mo Ran and said, "Have a good night, Li Qing." Then he walked past Mo Ran and out the door.

Mo Ran's gaze followed Han Jun. Who is he? Can he really be one of my relatives? After Han Jun had gone, Mo Ran turned to the waiter and said, "Fill this up." He tossed the man a water bottle made of animal skin.

The man merely nodded, too afraid to meet Mo Ran's gaze. He brought a large jug of wine out, took off the red cloth at its mouth, and poured the wine into the small water bag. He then handed it to Mo Ran.

Mo Ran took it and strode out.

The moon was full tonight and shone brightly. All around him, were the shadows of the sleeping city.The night was devoid of any night sounds.

Mo Ran used his inner force to launch himself into the air, stepping on a pile of boxes to boost himself up onto the roof of his inn. His feet landed with a soft clink. On the roof, was a wall of tiles that rose slightly above all the others. Mo Ran walked to the wall of layered tiles and sat down. He put his back against it and reclined. He sprawled his legs on the roof and then popped open the cap of the water bottle skin. Tipping his head upward, he poured some wine into his mouth and took a sip. Afterwards, he gazed upward and admired the view.

His mind went back to when he and Rui Ming parted. Her words echoed in his mind, "If you ever miss me, just remember to look at the moon because even though we are far from each other, we still look at the same moon."

"Mei Mei, how I wish you were here," he said as he took another swig of wine. A gentle breeze picked up and Mo Ran felt refreshed in the cool night air. He closed his eyes. Rui Ming, just wait for me. I promise you that the next time we meet, no one will ever hurt you again.
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Zhī dào (知道): to know, a form of acknowledgement

Màn man zǒu, bù sòng (慢慢走不送): It means walk slowly/stay safe, I won't see you off.

Nán shēng dà zhàng fū (男生大丈夫): It usually means doing things like men and not boys