*Luo Xiao Zhao POV*

Xiao Zhao stared at Li Qing who sat directly across from him and was leaning against the opposite wall. Ever since Xiao Zhao mentioned Han Jun's gift, Li Qing had a brooding look on his face. Although he had tried to start conversations, Li Qing just gave him his usual short answers. He sure is less exciting to talk to than Han Jun. No. I need to start calling him Third Prince. Xiao Zhao reminded himself.

"Do you know when we will get out?" Xiao Zhao tried again.

"Bù zhī," Li Qing replied. I don't know.

They heard banging of metal against metal as a man yelled, "Time to eat! Time to eat!"

Xiao Zhao rushed to the bars and grabbed the cold metal as he peered down the long hallway of prisons. From the distance, he saw two men striding down the dimly lit hallway.One was holding a big kettle in his hands while the other held a big scooper and was serving the meal to the prisoners.

When they arrived at Xiao Zhao's cell, the man with the scooper asked, "Where's your bowl?"

"I wasn't issued one," Xiao Zhao replied.

The man nodded to the second man. "Oh," the other man replied as he put down the big kettle and unslung a bag he was carrying on his back. He took out a bowl from the bag and handed it to the first man. The first man grunted and scooped some porridge from the metal kettle, and after he was done, he slid the bowl in between the bars. "Enjoy your meal," the first man smirked. They started to walk away.

"Wait," Xiao Zhao called. They turned back to him. The first man scowled. "What do you want?"

"He didn't get some food," Xiao Zhao pointed to Li Qing.

The first man gave the second man a mere nod. The second man took out another bowl and the first man filled it and then they slid the bowl on the ground to Xiao Zhao who received it and carried it over to Li Qing. Xiao Zhao held the bowl out to him.

Li Qing took one look at the food and turned his nose upward, waving for Xiao Zhao to take it away. "No thanks," he said.

"You sure?"

Li Qing ignored Xiao Zhao.

Xiao Zhao shrugged and started to drink the porridge greedily.

After a minute, Xiao Zhao glanced up and saw Li Qing staring at him. Xiao Zhao momentarily paused his slurping and put the bowl down. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

Li Qing's eyes glanced down and Xiao Zhao followed his gaze. It landed on the half eaten bowl of porridge. "Oh, this! I'm hungry. I'm just glad I have food to eat."

"The smell doesn't bother you?"

Xiao Zhao shrugged. "So what if it does? It's food nonetheless, certainly better than some of the things he gave me."

Li Qing gave Xiao Zhao a questioning look and Xiao Zhao continued to explain. "My parents died when I was young and I was brought up by my Grandfather but he did many things..." Xiao Zhao shuttered as his face turned grim, but it was only for a moment. Xiao Zhao's face brightened a second later. "But here, I have food to eat," he said as he picked up his bowl and slurped the porridge.

When Xiao Zhao was done with the first bowl, he reached for Li Qing's bowl. "Are you sure you don't want any?"

Li Qing grunted.

"Alright. I'll take that as a no," Xiao Zhao put the bowl to his lips and was about to start drinking it when there was yet another commotion down the hallway.

"Where are they?" A frantic voice cried. "How could you put them in prison?"

"Now Di Di, you don't need to worry. Like I said, they are well taken care of," another voice replied smoothly. The voices and footsteps neared the cell and finally, Xiao Zhao saw the culprit who had the frantic voice: It was Third Prince, dressed in his usual red robes, but these were fancier with golden laces on the borders of the sleeves, collar, and bottom of the robe.

As soon as he saw them, he rushed to the other side of the bars. "Xiao Zhao, Li Qing! Are you alright?"

Third Prince quickly glanced at the guard who was standing idly by. "Unlock the door!"

"Oh," the guard said as he fumbled with the keys but finally managed to put it into the hole. As soon as the door was opened, Third Prince rushed in.

"You alright, Xiao Zhao? On our way here, First Prince told me that you had fainted. Are you better now?" Third Prince asked as he inspected Xiao Zhao.

"Yes. All thanks to Li Qing."

"Really?" Third Prince turned to Li Qing. "How did you manage that?"

"I learned to heal."

"That's impressive," Third Prince nodded as he turned toward Xiao Zhao. His eyes landed on the bowl of porridge in Xiao Zhao's hands. "YOU ATE THAT?" He asked indignantly as he quickly flipped the bowl out from Xiao Zhao's hand. It flew into the air and landed on the ground with a thud; Its contents spilled onto the ground.

"Hey!" Xiao Zhao cried in surprise. "That's my food! I was just about to eat it!"

"Oh, never mind that! Come with me!" Third Prince grabbed Xiao Zhao's wrist and dragged him out of the cell.

"Where are you taking me?" Xiao Zhao hollered.

"I'm going to give you a proper meal!"

"But I don't have money!" Xiao Zhao protested.

"That's okay! Lunch is on me!"

* Quan Mo Ran POV*

Mo Ran looked at the table of food set before him. It was a plethora of dishes: sweet and sour fish,  Chinese cabbage soup, a whole roasted pig, an assortment of mixed vegetables drenched in black sauce, and black beans fried in breading. He glanced at Xiao Zhao's face. 

Xiao Zhao's eyes were bulging and his mouth was hanging open. Xiao Zhao turned to Third Prince. "Is all of this for us?!"

Third Prince smiled. "Of course. I guess it counts as my way of saying sorry."

"Sorry?" Xiao Zhao asked as he picked up his chopsticks and was scanning the table of food, trying to decide what to eat first. He licked his lips hungrily.

"Yeah, for the way you were treated," Third Prince replied.

Xiao Zhao glanced up. " It's ok! I accept your apology, Han Jun!"

"A-hem," someone cleared his throat. Mo Ran glanced to his left; it was the man who had come with Third Prince and helped escort them out of the prison. Mo Ran had forgotten about him.

Xiao Zhao glanced up and his face turned red. He immediately stood up,made his fingers touch, brought them to his chest, and bowed. "You Majesty, forgive me for being rude."

Third Prince shot the other man a glare, to which the other man snickered.

Turning back to Xiao Zhao, Third Prince said, " You don't need to be so formal with me. After all we are chū shēng rù sǐ de péng you." We are friends who have gone through fire and water.

Xiao Zhao glanced at the person beside Han Jun.

Han Jun followed his gaze and realized what was happening. "Oh him?" He pointed at the man with his thumb. "He's Shi Jing Chun, in other words, the First Prince. You don't need to worry. We're all on the same side."

Xiao Zhao smiled and immediately relaxed. "If that's the case,thanks, Shi Han Jun." He sat down and immediately picked up his chopsticks, stuffing his mouth full.

"Mmm..mwaf so gooof," he mumbled with his mouth full.

"Hahah! Eat more," Han Jun said as he waved his hand over the food in front of them.

"So, Di Di," First Prince said. "Who are these friends of yours? Care to introduce them to me?"

" Jing Chun, this is Luo Xiao Zhao," Han Jun pointed to Xiao Zhao who was scarfing down more food. "And this," Han Jun pointed to Mo Ran who was sitting at the table silently and eating slowly, " This is Li Qing."

"Cān jiàn Da Huang Zi," Mo Ran rose and showed his respect. Greetings First Prince.

"Miǎn lǐ, miǎn lǐ," First Prince said as he waved his hand in dismissal. Drop the formalities. Drop the formalities.

Mo Ran took his seat and continued to eat. The conversation that was going on in the room slowly faded as he glanced outside the window. A crow sat on the branch of a tree just outside the window. It looked Mo Ran in the eye and flew away. Mo Ran knew what it meant.

He quickly checked the teapot. Good, it was almost empty.

Mo Ran stood up and announced, " We need more tea. Let me go ask for more."

"More tea? We can just ask the waiter to bring it up. There is no need to trouble yourself with that menial task," First Prince said as he reclined in his chair.

Mo Ran thought quickly. " I need to walk. I'm feeling a little sick."

"Oh if that's the case, let me walk with you!" Han Jun leapt from his chair and grabbed the tea pot.

Mo Ran coughed. "No need."

"Of course there's a need! Here, let's go!" Han Jun said as he led the way out. Mo Ran reluctantly followed.

They walked down the stairs and up to the counter. As Han Jun turned to the waiter, a group of men passed by. Mo Ran took the opportunity to slip away unnoticed.

*Shi Han Jun POV*

Han Jun finished talking to the owner and turned to Li Qing, about to say something, but Qing somehow disappeared. Where did he go? Han Jun wondered.

"Here's your tea," the owner said as he handed Han Jun the refiled tea pot.

The owner was about to turn away but Han Jun stopped him. "Did you happen to see where the man I came down with went?"

The owner merely shook his head and said, "Sorry, I didn't."

"Oh," Han Jun nodded as he turned away. Where could he have gone? Should I look for him? Hmmm. Yeah, I better look for him. Realizing he still held the teapot, he turned back to the man who had started to clean the cupboards and asked, "Would you mind taking this to the room upstairs?"

The man glanced at him, smiled, and came up to him, "No problem."

Han Jun set the teapot down on the counter and the man took hold of it and left.

Han Jun strode to a group of men who were currently drinking and asked, "Excuse me, but have you seen a man who wore black with spots of red? He's about this tall," Han Jun held up his right hand above his head just an inch. "And he always carries a sword with him."

The group of men looked at each other and slowly one by one shook their heads. "Sorry," one man replied. "We haven't."

"Oh, alright. Thanks. If you do see him, tell him that a friend was looking for him," Han Jun replied.

"Yeah yeah," a man waved his hand as if Han Jun were an annoying fly.

"Thanks," Han Jun replied.

He walked to another table and asked the same question. They didn't see Li Qing either. He had asked a couple more tables before one man at a table pointed to the door and said, "I saw him go that way."

"Thanks," Han Jin said quickly and strode out the building.

He had just stepped out of the building and into the beautiful day when he heard a woman's voice, " Please, leave me alone!"

Han Jun looked for the voice and spotted a woman to his right, surrounded by two men. The woman wore a hat with thin cloth hanging down it which also covered her whole head, blocking her face from everyone's view. The two men towered over her.

One man held up his hand, about to touch her. She shied away instinctively and turned her head away.

"Don't worry beauty, I won't hurt you," the first man moved closer to her. She was cornered against the wall of the building.

"Stop!" Han Jun ordered.

The first man turned to Han Jun and glared. "Mind your own business! Or else I won't be kind to you!" He hissed.

Han Jun strode up to the first man confidently. "It's in the middle of the day and you two grown men are bullying a weak woman. You should be ashamed of yourselves!"

"Ashamed?" The first man smirked. "He said we should be ashamed," he turned and told the second man, pointing his thumb at Han Jun.

The second man nodded and stepped toward Han Jun and cracked his knuckles. " I'll teach this man a lesson!" The second man glowered. By now a small crowd had gathered.

He was about to take another step when something zipped through the air and landed with a thud right in between Han Jun and himself. It was a sword.

"Not so fast," Han Jun turned toward the voice and so did the two men. To Han Jun's delight, it was Li Qing.

"Li Qing! You're back!" Han Jun cried excitedly.

"Shut up," Li Qing glared.

The first man glanced at his partner and motioned with his head. "What are you waiting for? Attack!" Before anyone could react, there was a blur of movement and the second man was on the ground, wreathing in pain.

Han Jun's mouth dropped. He gave Li Qing a thumbs up, but Li Qing ignored it.

Turning to the other man, he asked, "Do you still want to fight?"

The first man glanced at his partner on the ground and helped him up. Putting the man's arm around his neck, he glared at Li Qing and Han Jun and said, "Let's go."

The crowd began to disperse. Han Jun followed Li Qing. "That was awesome! How did you do that? Maybe you can teach me?"

Li Qing kept walking and Han Jun followed him up the steps, about to enter the building.

"Zhè wèi gōng zǐ qǐng liú bù," a woman's voice spoke. Son of nobility, please stay.

Han Jun paused his footsteps and slowly turned to face the figure.

In front of him, stood the woman they had just rescued.

She was a slim  figure and wore a white han fu with light pink flowers embroidered on it. At present, she brought her right hand toward her face, about to pull aside the thin cloth...

"Hold on," Han Jun said as he held up his hand to stop her.

"Huh?" She asked confused, her hand frozen in mid air.

"A-hem," Han Jun coughed as he looked away. "You don't need to show me your face. I am not that kind of man."

"What?" She asked, puzzled.

"I-I mean, I don't need to see your face. You don't need to repay me back."

"What do you mean?" Her voice was rising.

"I know you must be grateful for my help, but I don't like taking advantage of weak women and–"

"Who said I wanted to repay you?!" She asked angrily.

Han Jun finally looked at her again. In her anger, she had pulled aside the cloth. She now glared at him, her face red as a beet. She then stomped up the stairs and once in front of him, she met his eyes with fury. Her face was just inches from his. She straightened up and put her hands on her hips. "Anything a man can do, a woman can also do!"

Han Jun stepped back. "I'm sorry I offended you by saying facts. Let's just go our separate ways. Hope we never meet again." Han Jun quickly turned away, about to leave, but before he could take a step, he felt a hand  grab his arm. Before he knew it, he was in the air and his back slammed the ground with a thud. He felt as if all his bones were broken. "Owww," he groaned.

He looked up and saw the woman just above him, slapping her hands against each other. After doing that, she blew on her hands. "That was easy. What were you saying about women being weak again? Do you take it back?"

Han Jun didn't reply.

She knelt down and grabbed his ear, pulling him up to a standing position. 

"OWWW!" Han Jun howled.

"Are you going to take it back or," she twisted his ear harder. "Not?"

"OWWW! YES! YES! WOMEN CAN DO WHAT MEN CAN DO! PLEASE LET GO OF MY EAR!" Han Jun yelped. 

She instantly released his ear and Han Jun rubbed his ear gently with his right hand. "Ow, that hurt. It's all your fault! Now my ear is red!"

"That's not my problem," she said coolly as she looked at her nails.

Suddenly, they heard the clanking of metal and a stream of guards came out of the building and lined both sides of Han Jun and the woman.

"What's all the commotion about?"

Han Jun turned to the voice. His brother walked out majestically with Xiao Zhao and Li Qing trailing behind him. Suddenly, everyone dropped to their knees and said in unison, "Cān jiàn dà huáng zǐ!" Greetings, First Prince. Everyone dropped to their knees except the woman who had continued to pick at her nails as if she had no care in the world.

First Prince glanced at Han Jun and then the woman. "Do you know who this man is?" First Prince asked the woman.

She sighed. "No, but I'm guessing, he's someone important."

"He's the Third Prince!"

She continued picking her nails. "So what if he's the Third Prince? So what?"

"You!" First Prince glared at the woman and swiftly turned to his guards. He waved his hand forward and ordered, "Quick! Seize this woman and tie her up!"

"Wait Ge Ge," Han Jun said before the guards could move.

First Prince threw a glance at Han Jun.

"You don't need to seize her. She may have been disrespectful, but she is a woman after all. Besides, it's no big deal anyway. Seeing that she is a woman and that she didn't know I was a prince, can you let her go?"

First Prince rubbed his chin thoughtfully and then replied, "Very well, since the Third Prince has spoken, I will grant his request."

Turning to the woman, First Prince said, "My brother has spoken for you, I will not inquire further. Hǎo zì wéi zhī!"

With that, First Prince turned away and strode into the building. The woman sighed and covered her face again, strutting down the stairs.

Han Jun turned to follow the First Prince but he couldn't help but glanced back at the woman one last time. Her back was turned toward him and she slowly disappeared into the crowd. Will we ever meet again? Han Jun wondered as he stepped into the building.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
Bù zhī（不知): means don't know

Chū shēng rù sǐ ( 出生入死): This is used to describe people who have gone through fire and water, or hard life situations together

Di Di （弟弟): younger brother

Péng you (朋友): friends

Hǎo zì wéi zhī (好自为之): It's an idiom to tell someone to 1) look out for themselves or 2) conduct oneself well

Zhè wèi (这位): this

Qǐng (请): please                                                                                                          

   Liú bù (留步):stay