The Heart of the Cruel Emperor
4. Rumours

"Can you please explain? I really don't know what the lady said" Hani was still wondering what the lady meant. In other words, Hani knows nothing about the problem.

The girl thought for a moment while occasionally staring at the innocent face of Hani

it seems that this lady does not know anything' the inner girl is concerned with hani.

The girl wiped the tears that washed her face. He thinks it might be better if he told her what really happened.

"Call me lili" the lady introduced her name to Hani

"All right"

Finally, a story flows. That royal decree this year adds to the record that there will be certain selection of concubines. Where will be taken some girls from the servants of various villages.

This is why the girls sent are so beautiful and charming this year.

About their sadness. Obviously everything is due to compulsion. They did not want a concubine or empress. It was better for them to be palace servants for a certain period of time.

Rumor has it that the young emperor was extremely ruthless, a woman enthusiast and also had a bad face. Thus, it is found that he always wears a golden mask of his greatness since childhood.

Some even add that the Emperor's bad face. He got it when he slaughtered his stepmother and his half-brother so viciously that they did not breathe anymore.

Sounds make hani's body a little creepy 'how cruel the emperor was' thought hani. But from the story, hani gets an answer why uncle han and his mother told him to disguise himself as a brown woman?

So that the emperor would not be tempted. Because brown-skinned girls most people judge are ugly girls. And now Hani feels grateful for that. The corner of hani's lips lifted. Make a sweet smile.

So, he can be a little bit hearty. Because of the powder potion his uncle gave him. He can hide his identity as much as possible.

Hani is quite obedient to what his uncle and mother ordered since childhood. It was all done so that he could survive from someone he had to avoid.

Who is that guy? hanipun doesn't know. Once he wanted to let the curiosity in him disappear. By asking his mother.

But what happened? Her mother cried sadly hearing the question she always held. The final answer he got from his mother was

'I don't want to lose you. It's enough of your brother and father that they took. not with you, because Hani is the reason for mom's current life .

Hani can only give up what his mother wants. And that was for his own good.

The girl beside him was confused to see Hani smiling just a glance

"Why is Miss smiling?"

"Oh no, I just remember my happy time at home. And for tomorrow I can't predict what's going to happen" There's fear in Hani.

Maybe it's fate like this. Replacing the nile village girl who is not old enough. And added to the new commandment.

There was also anxiety on Hani's face. The emperor chose her even though she was brown.

They were silent for a moment to each other.

until a girl sitting at the end of the car chimed in on Hani.

"clearly believe that once you are the Emperor will choose you"

"Ziu "prevent someone next to him so that the girl named Ziu does not continue his speech.

Hani could see ziu's eyes as it scrutinized her from head to toe although Hani subdued her gaze he could feel this carriage every girl looked at him judging.

" quite ziu, is that how you welcome someone who will be our friend in the future? " and now Lily spoke up next to Hani.

Hani stared at Lili in disbelief, her introduction to lili was still not long but lili was already paying attention as a friend to her.

'he's very good'

"Ahh You always meddle in my affairs lili. I just check her. whether she deserves to be a friend or not". At first Ziu looked at Hani cynically and after that he smiled briefly.

Hani who saw him was confused as to what the meaning of his gaze was.

"don't mind ziu, he is like that to the girls who just entered this train".

Hanipun smiled at him, until a guarding soldier ordered them to come out immediately.

One of the soldiers said it was dangerous to continue the journey at night. Many of the soldiers were exhausted by the long journey. It was very risky later if they entered the forest.

The girls began to descend, including hani. Because they are in the area almost entering the forest and also housing residents who are far enough away. So the soldiers decided to make tents for the girls of various villages.

...***************...

It was a long and tiring day according to Hani. Because this was only the first time he had gone far from his homeland, the village of the nile.

The night feels quiet at this time.Most of the noise of the night animals are occasionally earthy. Makes hani feel lonely. He wants to break his body. But he felt something stuck on his side.

whatisthis? like him he never put anything on his side.

"Oh my god, shouldn't I open it" he just realized that his mother's little pouch he had to open when he arrived at the first stop.

" Are you still not asleep?" tanya Lili surprised the figure of Hani who thought of her mother's gift.

"ah yeah, in a minute"

"Alright then I go to sleep first" Lili laid her body beside Hani after arriving from cleaning herself in the river.

the soldiers put the girls from the village into several tents and 1 tent was filled by 2 people only. And how lucky Hani can be as late as a lily.

Just barely. Hani breathes a sigh of relief because lili does not see the goods given by her mother before entering the tent.she does not want anyone to know her.

He better rest his body because tomorrow he has to wake up earlier than the others to go clean himself up.

it took a long time to apply the herbs given by the uncle throughout his body because he was still not used to wearing them.

Today is so tiring, I will miss my mother and Uncle. If there is a chance I promise to send you a letter.

Hani stared at the Sky tent made of neatly arranged foliage.it is still fresh in his memory from childhood has become a male figure and contested by the girls.it is laughable.

And Nana will be the front man to save her from the girls bullies. really she feels guilty to her for having lied a lot.

Then how are you with Nana who Hani has been staying? Hani furrowed her brows thinking.

How did the village elder explain to his granddaughter if I had already left?