So it turns out trying to get a cat to bath is no small task. Yeyan was having the worst headache in his ten years of life because a prince was behaving like a betrayed maiden.
It's not like he's going to die from touching water so why was this so difficult. Were was his weakened look from yesterday and early this evening? With how energetically he was running from a bath, who would think he looked close to the grave?
Yeyan was almost running circles with yuan wu in the courtyards bathhouse. He had done so much Cleaning here so the prince could use it only to face this situation.
" My prince, can we please so this? You need to bath and shave. please am begging you get in the tube. " yeyan asked earnestly, he eyes look at the boy covered in dirt and who know what, along with possible lice and other insects.
Yeyan tried to move towards him again but the now panicking prince was trying to run out. If yeyan hadn't locked the door and windows due to a hunch, he would have run out already.
The prince looked panicked but yeyan didn't know why, it was just a bath. He had done everything right. He put the courtyard into order; no more weeds, poison ivy, broken bits of wood or vase shards, there was not even dead leaves or dirt to be found anywhere. He even gave special attention to the bathtub so the prince would be comfortable. But all that effort was starting to look pointless, no small thanks to this ungrateful little cat. Did he know how much effort it took for a ten year old like him to do so much work?
* Yuan wu was not feeling very well right now, this new keeper must be just like the old ones despite the kindness on the surface, if not why was he trying to drown him like the others? He knew the boy was getting angry but he wouldn't get in no matter what. They can't keep going around in circles forever, so he must find a way to escape.
Everything seemed fine when he woke up earlier this evening, the medicine the boy gave him in the water had helped him regain his strength and his bloodline began working to not make him feel like he was dieing anymore. He felt lighter than before and the pain in his body had become less.
Yuan wu had then eaten steamed buns filled with lotus paste made be the boy. They had sat down on a mat on the floor. He did not reject the boy but he still wary of him, what if he was like the others? And now here he was trying to drown him and not even pretending. He would never let himself be court.
As the two faced off in the bathhouse, they didn't notice the badly locked door open and a presence enter. That presence had been watching them for a while in amusement before prince yuan wu noticed it first due to his beast sence, it was dull now due to ill health but worked.
Yuan wu instinctively moved to stand infront of yeyan, bearing fangs at the intruder. Claws ready to pounce.
The presence that had slipped in like a shadow took in the prince's protective stance and laughed softly. It was a man's tone. He did not have the aura of a servant or guard and most telling were his clothes.
His was dressed in hooded indigo robes lined with sliver embroidered cranes that shimmered faintly. He stood like he belonged and had been watching from the broken archway.
Yeyan had become aware of the strenger immediately the prince stood infront of him. No outsiders were allowed near the seventh prince without permission from the court and he hadn't been told of a visitor so this could be an assassin. But no assassin would dress up in such an easy to spot getup.
" I don't know who you are or what you want but you should leave right how. " yeyan said as he stepped from behind the prince, trying to act tough.
The man let out another soft laugh and lowered his hood slowly. He revealed a handsome face shaped by war, sorrow and strength alike ; sharp cheekbones soften by time, eyes with depth - one pupil slightly clouded as though scarred by lightning qi.
His hair was long and black as night with strides of gray mixed in, bound with ivory clasp carved into twin phoenix turned from each other, a noble sign of mourning kin.
He spoke with a rough yet gentle as wind across water voice.
"I am his uncle, Nan zhenguan." he said pointing at the prince.
" And he is not going to enter that bathtub even if you beat him up. " he said again. This made the prince flinch and yeyan frown.
Yeyan knew nothing of why the prince wouldn't get in the bathtub and even less about the prince's maternal clan. So he could only eye the man suspiciously.
The general looked at the pair of kids and knew he was distrusted but this put him at ease. At least the boys were not too trusting and may stand a chance against schemes.
He took out a small jade piece and put qi into it. He willed it and his identity information was showcased in the air above the jade piece.
Lord zhenguan looked at the little eunuch and said claimly, " He might not know what this is but you do, right?".
Yeyan looked at the information and immediately bowed towards the man.
" I Have seen the master's uncle. Lord zhenguan please forgive this little one."