Longyuan quickly got up from Little White Flower when he saw Cang Mu leave, and turned to run outside as well.
"Slow down, Your Highness!"
"Wait for me, Your Highness!"
***
However, as they chased after him, Longyuan suddenly disappeared, which left the handmaidens and guardsmen anxious once again.
"Where are you, Your Highness?"
"Come out, Your Highness!"
***
As a matter of fact, Longyuan was hidden in the bushes behind the miniature mountain.
"Welcome back, Hui'er." The old witch dressed in a black cloak told the other Longyuan who was just running inside the bushes.
"Yes. Return the real crown prince now." The impersonator told the witch while smiling.
"Very well." Whipping out a black staff, the witch pointed it at the unconscious Longyuan. Purple-black mist streamed out the tip of her staff after she chanted a curse, and soon, Longyuan was gone.
***
"Where are you, Your Highness?'
The handmaidens and guardsmen were all still searching for Longyuan.
"Eh? Why are you sitting here, Your Highness?" One of the handmaidens found Longyuan leaning on the vase, with the look of someone who just regained consciousness.
He stood up and asked in confusion, "How did I fall asleep?"
Soon, his handmaidens and guardsmen surrounded him and asked worriedly, "Are you alright, Your Highness?"
Longyuan shook his head and replied, "I'm fine."
He then headed groggily towards the Dark Moon Palace. His head feels a little heavy right then, and he was very drowsy.
Nonetheless, he did not walk more than a handful of steps when he found Liu Rushuang coming towards him, with Cang Mu walking alongside her, as well as over a dozen eunuchs and handmaidens behind her.
"How could you do this, Yuan'er?"
Liu Rushuang exclaimed with disappointment in indignation. "What grudge do you have against Little White Flower that you have to beat her? Tell me!"
Longyuan flinched. In his memory, his mother had always been mild and rarely threw a major fit like this on.
What was going on?
"Mother, I didn't…"
"Silence! You can't lie out of your way this time! Come with me!"
Liu Rushuang coolly cut him short, and turned to head towards another direction.
Longyuan quickly kept up, and they headed to the back of the palace.
Little White Flower was seated on a large bed, sobbing and shaking.
"Apologize to Little White Flower right now, Yuan'er!" Liu Rushuang snapped, shooting him a glare—something in her tone permitted no refusal.
Longyuan, however, turned towards Cang Mu with a look of contempt—Cang Mu must have told his mother about how he had bullied Little White Flower yesterday.
Cang Mu returned his look, inhaling quietly while clenching his fists to calm himself. He had only told the empress about what happened to do so that the crown prince would stop. In fact, he had to do it."
"Apologize to Little White Flower right now!" Liu Rushuang snapped coldly again.
Longyuan jumped from the shock. Pausing for a moment, he lowered his head and said miserably, "S-Sorry."
Liu Rushuang glared at him again, and sat beside the bed to dry Little White Flower's tears while explaining apologetically, "I failed to discipline my son, Little White Flower, but I assure you that he won't bully you anymore. Alright?"
Little White Flower turned towards her mournfully, sobbing, "D-Do you hate me, Your Highness?"
Liu Rushuang's whole body stiffened and she frowned slightly. "Who told you that I hate you, Little White Flower?"
Little White Flower turned tearfully towards Longyuan, sobbing, "I-It's Longyuan."