五 | changan

Changan lifted the bucket of water slowly, his exhaustion and the heaviness of the bucket weighing in.

His sleeves were pushed up and his wrists had red marks on them due to how much lifting he had done.

He forced himself to lift the bucket and lug it to the room where Kei was waiting for him.

After what seemed like hours, he finally reached his destination and sighed, dropping the bucket.

"Changan, I think you should rest and let Junhui do the lifting," Kei frowned, rushing to her best friend's side. "This won't be good for you nor your body."

"B-but I . . . want to . . . to help!" Changan whined through heavy breaths.

"You can help when you rest, now wake Minghao up from his nap," Kei helped the prince up and felt a pang in her heart when he almost tripped and he walked sluggishly. "It's almost time for dinner. I'll tell the queen that I'll bring you your dinner and give Minghao a separate room."

Changan did as he was told and dragged himself towards his room, slowly opening the sliding door to see Minghao napping in his bed.

He smiled softly at the sight and stretched, his joints popping as he did so.

He looked out at the open window and his eyes widened as he saw the sun quickly setting.

His father's words echoed in his mind; "When you see the sun setting, rush to the dining room."

Those words stuck with him ever since childhood.

Today, Kei had decided for him, would be an exception. He wasn't feeling up to racing Junhui to the seat closest to their mother that day either.

But he didn't want to drag Minghao into that situation, so he decided to wake him up.

"Minghao, it's time for dinner," Changan said, barely above a whisper. He couldn't muster up the strength to say it a bit louder.

"Mm, no . . ." Minghao said.

"Minghao," Changan sighed tiredly.

Minghao finally opened his eyes and he looked shocked as he scrambled to get up.

"Baobei, what happened?" Minghao asked, holding onto Changan. "Are you tired? You should rest."

"N-no, I'm . . . I'm fine," Changan forced a smile.

"You don't look like it," Minghao frowned. He had his arms around Changan's waist, taking a good look at his fatigued face.

Changan felt his face flare up a bit as Minghao's brown eyes scanned his face.

Minghao pursed his pink lips [ Changan watched them with almost scary interest ] and started to fix Changan's hair, fixing the jade-diamond pin that was askew on his locks.

Minghao's hands went back to Changan's waist, pressing lightly to make his head fall onto the Shenzen prince's chest.

Changan heard Minghao's steady heartbeat and it acted as his lullaby, as he was slowly succumbing to the idea of sleep.

Changan was gently laid down on his canopy bed and he heard Kei talk. "How sweet."

"You seem tired too . . .?"

"I'm Kei, Changan's bestie!" Kei exclaimed and Changan heard her dusting off her clothes.

"You and Changan seemed tired," He heard someone taking steps away from the canopy bed.

"Mm, yeah. His mother had us do some things that none of the servants were entrusted to do," Kei hummed. "We can't tell you what it is though~ You'll have to wait until Changan is ready to be married to you!"

Minghao huffed. "That long?"

"Well if you really loved Changan, you'd be able to wait for, yes, 'that long'," Kei said nonchalantly.

"I barely know him, how can I say I already love a stranger?" Minghao said, a tone of slight anger in his voice.

Changan felt a pang in his heart and he bit back a whimper from coming out of his mouth. Did Minghao really not like him?

He heard a sigh coming from Minghao and heard him leave, Kei having left a long while ago.

He peeked to see if Minghao was really gone and sat up, his tiredness suddenly leaving him only to be replaced with sadness.

Then why did Minghao act so sweetly towards him? Was it all just a bluff?

Changan stood up slowly, holding back tears from his eyes as he went over to make sure his door was locked so Minghao wouldn't get it no matter what.

Neither will anyone, for that matter.

He shrugged off his robes and put on different ones, carefully taking off his pin and putting it back on his vanity.

He looked at the mirror on the vanity and saw how destroyed he looked, his hair messy and all. Worst of all, his eyes looked like they would start spilling out tears immediately.

He sniffled, turning away from the mirror and looking out of his window, leaning over the windowsill. He put his head in his arms, finally letting it all loose.

Changan let himself be exhausted to the point of almost fainting. By the time he stopped crying, the sun had almost fully set, the sky being almost as red as his bloodshot eyes.

He got a handkerchief from his dresser and gently wiped his eyes, making sure it wasn't so obvious that he had cried, and made his breathing steady.

Hopefully no one outside saw him.

He decided to sneak out today, to read to the children. He'd be able to sleep at Seungkwan's home for the night, and he'll be able to avoid Minghao.

Quickly, he got out some of his least used clothing and packed them into a small bag, and slipped on some flat shoes that he wore around the palace.

He got out of his room, thankful that at this time, the servants were working only at the kitchen or at the dining room, and was also thankful that the private bathhouse was on the other side of the palace, meaning it was far from the dining room.

He also thanked Kei for giving Minghao another room. He won't be suspicious that Changan wasn't by his side.

He got into the bathhouse, locking the door and making sure no one was there except him.

He let out a relaxed sigh when no one was there and got into the always warm pool of water, after getting out of his clothes.

Changan happily let out a noise as he submerged his body in the relaxing heat and washed himself well, and quickly, though there was no need to. Whenever there was a guest at the palace, especially an important one, a three-hour long feast would be held in the dining room, and often it will last until midnight.

He dried himself off with a soft towel meant only for the nobles to used and put on the clothes he had packed, and replacing his flats with some slippers.

But he did make sure that it wasn't obvious he was there, hiding his flat shoes and used clothing in the small bag.

He made his way back to his room, placing down the bag on his canopy bed and getting a ragged, old cloak and a slightly bigger bag that seemingly had a book inside of it.

He locked his door again, closed his windows and moved a few potted plants that were in the corner of his room, revealing a secret doorway.

Once he had gotten in, he made sure that he put the plants back in their place and went deeper into the tunnel, made in between the large brick walls of the palace. They were supposed to be secret escape routes, if ever the people in the palace were in danger.

But Changan used it for a different purpose; to sneak out some nights to get to the orphanage, to hang out with Seungkwan and read to the children, and even sing to them.

Once he made it out of the stairway in the tunnel, he removed some of the bushes that were in his way at the exit and made sure they were still blocking the small exit once he was able to.

He knew the way by heart, but still covered his face with the hood of the cloak and held the bag close to him.

Once he got to the orphanage's door, he knocked seven times in a pattern and the door was opened by a friendly, chubby face.

"Changan! Welcome back! Do you want some tea?"