The Princess And The Lord-Chapter 6 - Unloved Child

Zhao Li Xin was the sixth Prince of Jiang Wei Kingdom, the same place Luo Ri Yi also unknowingly lived. Zhao Li Xin was unfavoured by the Emperor because his mother, Noble Consort Ying, killed his beloved concubines. The Emperor, however, did not dare prosecute Noble Consort Ying for this because she came from a prominent family, the Ying Clan. Although Noble Consort Ying did not like her son, Zhao Li Xin, the emperor still spared the boy. He allowed him to live as he felt he could be of use one day.

Noble Consort Ying's birth name was Ying Xi Lu and she was the dearest daughter of Ying Clan. She was known for her heavenly beauty and her talents which were playing the Guqin and calligraphy. She and the Emperor fell in love when she was young. However, like any other man, the Emperor's love faded after a few years. The frivolous Emperor fell in love with another girl called Jiang Ju Zi from an official family.

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Although Ying Xi Lu was beautiful, she also had a bad attitude. She was known to be hot-tempered and arrogant. She was also very possessive of the Emperor. She caused a lot of trouble inside the royal harem. Many concubines and unborn children in the Imperial harem died prematurely. It was no surprise that Ying Xi Lu was the way she was as she came from a strong rich family and had been spoiled rot from childhood.

Ying Xi Lu bore two children, Zhao Qi Feng and Zhao Li Xin, for the Emperor. Ying Xi Lu loved her first son but hated her youngest one, Zhao Li Xin, for some reason. Her attitude towards her second son was reinforced when a Daoist priest told her that the child was the bearer of the star of calamity. The Emperor also lost interest in the younger son when he heard this news turning him into an outcast. Everyone treated him badly and the servants bullied him as they knew he was unloved. Being young and abused, Zhao Li Xin grew to be timid and was a slow learner.

His tutor punished him several times worsening his condition. Someone than poisoned him with mysterious cold poison when he was only eight years. His body soon became weak and fragile as the poison couldn't allow him to cultivate.

In this world, those who could not cultivate were trash and could lose there place in society. Cultivating was divided into different levels: Disciple, warrior, Knight, Master, Grand Master, King, Heavenly King, Emperor, Sovereign, Saint, Sage, Immortal. Every level had different stages: Beginner, Transition, Core, Peak, and Perfection stages.

People who could cultivate were considered stronger than normal humans. Having high cultivation meant you could not get sick easily and they didn't need much food or sleep to sustain their body in short cultivation altered the human body function inside and outside.

Cultivators also have another inborn talent but this is rare, this talent divided to Alchemist, Beast tamer, Armament Master, and Array Master.

At the time, Zhao Li Xin could not do any of them because of his weak constitution and timid demeanor. Not being able to cultivate made Noble Consort Ying hate him more. She saw him as a useless pawn. The Emperor was also shamed. A monarch like him felt proud to be able to produce beautiful and talented children.

Zhao Li Xin's existence tainted his reputation. It was for this reason that Zhao Li Xin was sent to a remote monastery in the pretext of recuperation. The truth, however, was different. They dumped him there and was forgotten. No one care if he lived or died.

After a year in the monastery, Zhao Li Xin was lucky to meet Grand Master Tian Meng Ji. It was from the Grand Master that Zhao Li Xin got to know was poisoned.

He learned the poisoned was called 'cold poison' because the poison worked slowly but surely over a long period of time. It would infect body organs turning his body cold as ice whenever the poison acted up. Either way, the organs were bound to malfunction sooner or later.

The old Grandmaster pitied the young prince. He tried to help him even though he couldn't cure him. He repressed the poison which allowed Zhao Li Xin to start cultivating. The old Grand Master was surprised that Zhao Li Xin could easily cultivate even with the poison still in his body. Amazed by Zhao Li Xin's talent, the Grand Master took him as his one and only disciple. Zhao Li Xin's personal servants, Mong Ki and Mong Yi, who were his first hidden guards were the first to learn this secret. f𝒓𝗲𝗲𝒘𝑒𝚋ｎoѵ𝒆𝗹.co𝗺

Zhao Li Xin grew up strong despite the poison. His cultivation rose to King's level core stage. He also became an Array and Armament Master at the age of thirteen making him a peerless genius.

Tian Meng Ji was proud of him. However, even with his cultivation, the ancient cold poison in his body meant he could not live for long. The fact that he will never reach twenty-three was devastated Tian Meng Ji the most.

Zhao Li Xin grew up to be a cold and detached person. He was cruel, ruthless, and had no remorse towards his enemies. There was a deep hole in his heart that even Tian Meng Ji could not fill. His detachment made him seem like a robot. He never cried, got angry, or showed hatred. He only did what he considered to be 'necessary'.

Despite his condition, Zhao Li Xin was strong enough to create the Hei Shen Sect and the four Hei Shen Palace who were under him. Those who knew him considered his mind to be scarier than his power. His mind was strong, calculative, and devious.

Unlike other strong people who easily slaughtered their enemies by there own hand, Zhao Li Xin would scheme and plan everything meticulously. He was patient enough to watch his enemies fall one by one like dominos.

Zhao Li Xin was not plotting anything for now. He was drinking his wine in his courtyard garden. The moon illuminated the big pond inside the pavilion. The colorful leaves and flowers inside the garden couldn't console his restless and empty heart. He had just received unfulfilling news. His hidden guards had still not found his savior.

He knew it was almost impossible to find her. The only thing he could remember about her was the calm and soft voice. Her gentle touch on his cheek and the sweet smell from her hands. He never smelt anything like it before. Zhao Li Xin fiddle with his wine cup.

He wondered: Where was she? Was she alright? What was she doing now? Zhao Li Xin couldn't stand being in the courtyard any longer. He left his pavilion only for someone to appear behind him. He courteously knelt, "Milord, are you going to leave alone?"

"Yes. Don't follow me..." Zhao Li Xin said calmly but firm. He did not stop his pace as he flew out of his manor in a single leap. Mong K could only watch his young master as his figure disappeared in a dark night.

He knew his young master had gone to the same place again to look for the mysterious woman. Mong Ki was happy that his young master had developed feelings for another person for the first time in a long… long time. Mong Ki saw Zhao Li Xin restless, yearning, and even missing another person. Mong Ki prayed every day for his Lord to find the woman.

He did not care who the woman was. He hoped she could fill the hole inside his master's heart and hopefully make him smile again… Mong Ki couldn't remember the last time he saw Zhao Li Xin smile.