Walking into the camp went to the captain of the camp to find out what was going before going to the general. I have known the captain since we were little.

  “So, how has the camp been running?” I inquired.

  “There have been strange events going on.” Informing us.

  “What do you mean by strange events?” questioning.

  “Well, weapons have gone missing and strange people have been coming and going.” Kept on informing us.

  “Shuming, walk around the camp and see what is going on.” I commissioned.

  “I am going to talk to the general. Captain, do you mind showing Shuming around?” I inquired.

  “Yes, I will be gd to show him around,” he informs me

  Walking into the main tent, he greeted me with the most disrespectful way. He doesn’t like when I come in for inspection. He forgets that this is my camp overall. He is just running it day to day when I can’t. With this inspection, I haven’t had time to get to the camp between the weddings and the investigation. I have left this camp unprotected.

  “How can I help you?” the general has requested.

  “I am just inspecting the camp like I do weekly.” I tell.

  “There is nothing to be concerned about.” He had said.

  Feeling a little rushed, like he is trying to get me out of the camp. Suddenly, we hear a scream coming from the river. It sounds like Na. Rushing out of the tent, running to the river, I see Na sitting on the bank getting dressed. Shuming came running after I did.

  “What’s the matter?” I ask.

  “Something bumped into my leg. It was hard, it was scary and I can’t find it.” as she was shaking.

  Just amusing her, she shot a look at Shuming like please help me here; he doesn’t believe me. Looking at her leg, it was bleeding, lifting her up and carrying her to the tent.

  “On the bank, huh? Why are you wet?”

  Watching her eyes sink, she confesses she went swimming.

  Raising my eyebrows at her “I told you to stay put.”

  “In my defense, that could mean a lot of things. I thought it was do not enter the tent and everything else was fair game.

  I couldn’t help myself ughing at how she works.

  “I will behave from this point on because that scared me.”

  Raising my eyebrow, “I would like to see that.”

  Looking over her leg. Luckily it was not a big cut to quickly leaves the tent. “I will be right back.”

  “Shuming, go see if the river cuts through the camp.”

  Shuming parted ways with me. I went back to the riverbank looking for clues. Not finding any clues about who attacked Na. Walking back to the tent to check on her to make sure she was ok. Feeling like a complete failure that I couldn’t protect her.

  Reaching the tent, the captain of the guards and Shuming were talking.

  “This would not have been the first this has happened. So, we took the time to make sure water could get through, but no one else cannot.” The captain said.

  “We have caught the perpetrator.” Shuming whispered.

  I walked into the tent, not wanting for her to see what was going to happen.

  “Get some rest.” I tell Na.

  “Its just a scratch.” She says.

  Walking out the door to go see who it was that hurt my love of a lifetime.

  “Who are you?” I ask.

  He didn’t respond

  “Why did you hurt the crown princess?”

  Still no response. He ended up swallowed poison. Died right on the spot.

  “Go investigate this matter.” I tell Shuming.

  I go back into the tent, grab her up. “Can you ride?”

  “I am fine to ride.” She says.

  I couldn’t help but smile and carried her through the camp. I didn’t want her to get hurt anymore than she already is. Putting her on the horse, I get up behind her. Noticing that she is looking back at Cao and Shuming.

  We set off. I can feel her close to me. It felt so nice. After traveling for a period, we found a roadside restaurant. We dismounted to get some food as we are sitting there, Na staring at Shuming, then she gnces back at me.

  She will soon age. I would hate to lose her, but look how happy she is.

  I nod my head “So, when we get back, we will go talk to the empress about this.”

  Paying to leave, she smiled. Part of me is sad because I have to leave her tonight. She looks deep in thought.

  “What are you thinking about?” I ask her.

  “My mother’s visit.” She replies.

  “Since your mom is coming, I rearranged my schedule so I can be there with you.” I mentioned to her, thinking she would love the surprise.

  “There is no need for that.” She says calmly.

  Sensing that there is a slight disappointment in her voice that changing my day just for her. Feeling a little hurt that she felt that way.

  “My mother had hard your mom was coming, and she is excited to see her.” I say

  “Do you know their story?” She asks me.

  “I don’t.” Feeling like I disappointed her

  She still has a smile on her face, but sometimes I think she just smiles to reassure me.

  Getting close to the east pace, I can feel her body just sink into me. She’s really hates being here, I can tell. Hopefully she will have a change because now that Fen is gone, she should have some release.

  I dismounted first so I can help her off the horse. As she was dismounting, she fell right into me, knocking me down on the ground. All I could do was smile.

  “I will not be around tonight, but you are making it hard for me to leave.” As I smiled even bigger.

  I really didn’t want to exit her side now that I got her back, but there was so much work to do. Finding out who hurt her and what does that all of this have to do with my dad and the taxes?

  “I am sorry, so sorry.” When she walks away with a smile on her face. As she walks away, the urge to stay is getting stronger. I know not to belong to that urge, but the pull is so strong. As we walk away.

  “Do you love Cao?” I ask

  “Of course, I loved her since the day I saw her.” He replies with a smirk on his face.

  “If given the chance, will you marry her?” with a stunned look on his face, not knowing it is possible for him to marry her. “She will be of marring age soon.” I remind him. Shuming looked so surprised to hear this.

  Reaching the pace walls, I know it will be time to say goodbye to Na once again. As we arrive at her gate, I can see her servants cleaning around. She has this disappointing look about her, like they are doing something wrong. It is not my pce to say anything. After all, this is her court.

  I keep gncing back, watching her gate close, “your highness, she will be OK. you can go one night without her.” Shuming says.

  We headed for the stables so we can drop off the horses. They had a long, hard ride. Reporting back to my dad as soon as possible

  “We need to pn your engagement to Cao,” I say bluntly.

  “Who said I was ready to get married?” Almost falling off his horse.

  Laughed. “the thought of getting married scares you or something. Cao was almost of age and noticed that other men were looking at her as well. You have quite the competition.”

  Getting puffed up “whose is my competition? No one can compete with me.” He boasted.

  All I could do was ugh. Reaching the stables, dropping off the horses, we noticed that there was a group of people. They were standing there talking about something the minute they noticed me and Shuming; they got quiet.

  Looking closer at them, I realized they were my brother’s men. Wondering what they are doing here and what their pns are, but then again, do I really want to know? Having my hands full with the case, I must find out why the taxes are getting high.

  As we walk down the pathway back to my pace, my brothers are approaching me, wondering what do they want from me. I see them ughing, so it might not be a bad thing. Getting a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach that something is off.

  “Little Brother, do you want to join us on the mountain?” my second brother asks.

  “We haven’t done that in a long time, sure.” I reply.

  We headed back to the stables to get the horses. The men that were there are not there anymore. A little weird, but then again, nothing amazes me anymore.

  “Shuming, you need to work on your wedding gifts for the bride.” I remind him.

  All he could do was smirk. I just chuckled to myself. I am so gd Shuming found someone he wanted to marry. Parting our ways, I looked towards the stable hand.

  “Can you saddle another horse, seeing I have just returned?” I ask.

  He just nodded at me