Are You Feeling Unwell

Before she could finish her sentence, someone suddenly grabbed her and teleported her away, vanishing from the sitting room.

Outside the window, the rhythmic flapping of the Marching Wing Guards' wings echoed as they patrolled.

The breeze rustled through the leaves, whispering softly.

Pairs of swallows and orioles chirped sweetly to each other, flirting and chattering away.

Inside, the harmony of zither and lute mingled...

......

"So, what's the word from First Prince Brandon Xiao?" Lily Bai asked, lying curled in Sean Shaw's arms.

"He wants to meet me," Sean replied.

"Did you agree?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Time and place?"

"Tomorrow, right outside the array," Sean said. "He asked to meet alone."

"Take me with you!" Lily said. "I can use Invisibility Technique."

Sean absently played with her hand, asking, "Are you sure you can?"

"With my cultivation, I can totally pull off the Invisibility Technique!"

"I mean... Are you feeling any discomfort anywhere?" Sean asked, concern in his voice.

Lily punched him in the chest.

......

The next day, Sean went outside the array to meet First Prince Brandon Xiao.

Both of them used the Invisibility Technique first, observing from a distance.

"No ambushes around. He came alone—pretty sincere, huh!" Lily Bai said. "I get the feeling First Prince Brandon Xiao is a refined, responsible High God, totally different from your other brothers..."

Sean nodded. "To me, he's the only real elder brother."

"Was he good to you?"

"He's good to everyone. Including me," Sean said. "Whenever he caught them bullying me as a kid, he'd always step in and scold them."

"Didn't Second, Third, and Fourth Prince ever get upset?"

"Nope. They all respected and trusted Big Brother."

"If he protected you, how come you still got bullied so much as a kid?" Lily Bai asked. "Guess he couldn't always be there for you."

"It's not that. He was just busy—either cultivating, studying military strategy, or learning statecraft. He barely had time to be in the palace."

"I see..." Lily nodded. "He must be the most gifted of the three brothers, probably had huge expectations placed on him since childhood."

Sean nodded.

"Hey, do you think he could ever ascend to Crown Prince?" Lily Bai asked Sean.

Sean paused, then asked, "Can you Rune Masters really see stuff like that?"

"Not every Rune Master can read fate that deep!"

"What about you?"

"I'm awesome, so of course I can see a thing or two," Lily said, hands behind her back, looking all mysterious.

Sean chuckled. "So, what's the first thing? And the second?"

"First—there's no sign he'll ascend anytime soon. Second—his luck glows with a black peach-red hue," Lily declared confidently.

"Black peach-red? What's that supposed to mean?" Sean asked.

"Peach-red is for romance luck; black peach-red means... rotten peach-blossom—troublesome romance that'll bring him bad luck."

Sean pointed at himself. "What about me? How's my luck?"

"Are you trying to get me killed?" Lily shot back.

"What do you mean?"

"Rune Masters aren't allowed to divine for themselves or blood relatives!"

"But you and I aren't related by blood."

"Spouses are even worse—the backlash is stronger than for blood kin!"

Sean looked a little disappointed. "If I'd known, I would've had you read my fate yesterday before we..."

Lily shot him a sideways look, and he instantly dropped the subject.

Sean reached out, pinched her cheek, and said, "I'm heading over. You stay here."

"Okay..." Lily nodded. "Be careful."

Sean nodded and revealed himself as he walked over.