Chapter 57 - Unfortunate prince?

The witch is staring at him. He pretends to be asleep. She moves closer to the window. He peers at her. She lowers her head and wipes her wet face with her sleeves.

Why is this witch upset?

When he was seven, she caused such chaos in front of his father. She was fearless and proud. She threatened his mother with a dagger and told them about the ȧssassination attempt. When he saw her fade into nothing, he thought that she was a ghost. He heard that she came back at night when the ȧssassins were caught. He wanted to see her again. Once more. That wish was not fulfilled until his 10th birthday. She appeared on the tree, eating the sweet potatoes. The witch was pretty, brave, and crafty.

That's why Li Jun doesn't think that she is afraid of him. She must be in trouble. How is Yu Chen and Mo Qian connected?

"Xiao Wei, were you crying? Your eyes are red." Wu Yixing asks her. "Are you in pain?"

Yoori wakes up and sees her niece puffy face. "Why are you crying?"

Kyuri shakes her head. That seems to be her only action. Yoori doesn't understand what she is trying to say. She realizes that her niece is bad at being mute. Now, her niece can't stop pretending in front of these two men. "Lord, he is homesick. We lost our parents during the great flood. Due to the psychological pain, he lost the ability to speak. My brother can't speak, but he misses our parents each time there is a full moon night."

She points at the full moon in the sky. Kyuri rolls her eyes and puckers her lips in annoyance. Wu Yixing says sympathetically, "It must have been hard for you. I have another medicine for the mind. This medicine can heal the mind completely. I am sure that your brother will be able to speak if she... I mean, he takes it."

Wu Yixing brings out another green vial of medicine. Li Jun sighs and wonders how long these two women will keep up with the farce. Sometimes, he is scared of Wu Yixing's cunning methods. He has also suffered at Wu Yixing's hands. He looks at Kyuri with pity. How long can she pretend to be mute?

"Lord, please... don't be too kind." Yoori blurts out. "I mean, you are too kind. We can't take advantage of you. My brother will be fine. Don't waste invaluable medicines on a lowly person like him."

Wu Yixing uncorks the vial and hands it to Kyuri. "I cannot see a young boy like him suffer like this even after 10 years of the great flood. You have impressed me, Mo Qian. You are a good older brother. I want to make your life easy."

***

I have killed a time crystal plant monster. I have absorbed a time crystal. I have turned back time. But, I never thought that I would be suffering like this because of my aunt and Wu Yixing.

I am tempted to disappear right now.

The smell of medicine makes me want to puke. Forget about drinking. I can't even bear to move it closer to my mouth.

"It's not going to harm him, right?" My aunt asks Wu Yixing doubtfully. Medicine to heal the mind? Are you really going to believe that crap?

"It won't harm anyone. Even I drink it every day to make my mind stronger." Wu Yixing pats her head. "Mo Qian, it makes the mind strong. It will help your brother."

She turns toward me. "Xiao Wei, drink it. It won't harm you."

"..." I glance at Wu Yixing and Li Jun. Both of them are looking at me expectantly. I can't get out of this without drinking it. I pinch my nose and pour the liquid in my throat. I don't know about strengthening the mind. I am sure that I have lost my sense of taste.

"Try to speak." Li Jun smirks at me. "Xiao Wei."

I purse my lips tighter. I won't give in.

"The medicine didn't work." Aunt Yoori looks at Wu Yixing. "My brother will be fine like this. Thank you for thinking about him."

Wu Yixing looks for something in his sleeves. It's a bottle of another green vial. "I have stronger medicine for the mind. I am sure that this will work."

Another one. This snake won't stop until I speak. I recall my aunt's warnings when she was General Yu. I put my palm up. "I can speak now. I don't need any more medicine."

"My brother can speak." Aunt Yoori pretends to be surprised and happy. "Lord, you are like a god in my life."

Li Jun chuckles. "Wu Yixing, your medicines worked finally."

My aunt still doesn't get it. "Lord, you have the same name as the unfortunate prince."

"Unfortunate prince?" Wu Yixing asks her with an innocent smile.

"The fifth prince. Everyone calls him the unfortunate prince because the women engaged to him keep dying. All the fathers of this empire are afraid of giving their daughters to him." She leans closer to him. "He is 24, but he has no wife or concubine. He spends his days either drunk or with women entertainers. His life is a waste. I heard that he is the most handsome among all the princes. Just having looks are not enough. His highest talent is seducing women with his looks."

"Elder brother!"

"What?" She looks at me, puzzled. "Xiao Wei, you should stay clear of men like him. I heard that he also likes pretty young boys like you."

I rub my forehead. Forget timekeepers. Did my aunt lose her intelligence because I turned back time? How could she not take any hint?

"You are a good brother." Wu Yixing laughs. "Don't worry. The misfortunate prince is not interested in young pretty boys like Xiao Wei. Mo Qian, he likes eating men like you who know martial arts and speak their minds without hesitation."

My aunt looks visibly grossed out. "Lord, I will take that as a warning. I will make sure that he never sees me."

We are doomed.