Yu Mei's sulking didn't last more than an hour after she heard the scandalous things Pei Nan and Gu Shao were talking about. If she had stayed another minute longer, she would have jumped on them both and beat them until black and blue. When she finally calmed down, she didn't know why she should be mad. It's not like Pei Nan could find this "fake" person anyways. Her imagination went wild, Pei Nan in his studies with a very serious and annoyed look. She laughed.
Her mood was good very good the next few days. Yu Mei spent majority of the time sleeping, eating and roaming around her palace. But by the fourth day, she was moping like a dying slug. There was nothing to do! She was so used to roaming around with her master but now that she was caged in this boring palace of hers, she was bored out of her mind.
The very unladylike Yu Mei was slouching on a chair, feet literally dragged on the ground as she played with a pearl in her hand. If anyone saw this supposedly Lady of virtue, her title would immediately change to Lady of Laziness. [What to do…] finally it clicked.
"CHU'MEI!" Yu Mei yelled out. Not a second later, a running Chu'mei dashed into the room. She had been waiting outside the door the whole time. Yu Mei had banned her from entering the room after her constant nagging of "Can't do this, Don't do that, blah blah blah,"
"Yes, Xiaojie," Yu Mei was still laying sluggishly on the chair as she stared at the young girl in front of her with a mischievous look. "Speak," with a demanding voice, she pointed at Chu'mei. "What do you know about Prince Shao? I want to know everything, who he hangs out with, what he likes and especially…where he likes to hang out," Yu Mei didn't even sound a bit ashamed when asking about another man. She was probably the most shameless girl in all of Louyang. Chu'mei felt her jaw almost literally drop to the ground. One word to describe her lady, scandalous. "Xiaojie, how can you ask about another man like that," she complained, standing right next to Yu Mei. "Don't you know it's improper?"
"I know, I know…" Yu Mei stood up, held her hand and pat it gently a few times. "Fine, you don't have to tell me everything, just tell me what he's doing tonight?" Yu Mei didn't know how eager and anxious she sounded to Chu'mei. No doubt in Chu'mei's eyes, her lady wanted to have an affair. Of course, Chu'mei did not support such a behavior but the more she thought about, the more unfair she felt for her lady. Her lady was stuck in a loveless marriage, she couldn't help but support this new ship. In the future, she would help Yu Mei hook up with Prince Shao if she asked. "Xiaojie, don't tell me you really like Prince Shao?" she had to make sure first though. After all, she was known for her outrageous thoughts. Yu Mei knocked her head a few times. "Silly girl, why would I like him, I just…" she thought about it for a moment. How could she word this without Chu'mei misunderstanding? "I need to give him something,"
Chu'mei stared at Yu Mei for a good few seconds contemplating if she should tell her the truth or not. The truth would hurt her lady but then she was fully supporting her lady with Prince Shao now. What to do? Chu'mei was really in a hot seat. Yu Mei put her hands on her hips and puffed impatiently, "Well?"
"Xiaojie...if I tell you, promise you won't do anything rash," that only confused Yu Mei. She didn't care how Prince Shao lived? He could be in a brothel, naked, or drunk and she wouldn't care. All she wanted to do was try another attempt at stealing his jade. What better way to kill boredom than to bother him. Of course she didn't believe in stealing but this was urgent. Her life depended on this jade. Yu Mei put two fingers up and swore she wouldn't act out. Only then did Chu'mei sigh and let it all out. "Prince Shao is at Prince Nan's estate right now," [How boring.] Yu Mei wanted a reason to go out of the palace, why did he have to be here. Not just here but in that petty man's estate. "Why?" the curiosity in her peeked to full height.
"Consort Ning has fully recovered. Prince Nan invited Prince Shao, Consort Nuan and Consort Wan to have dinner with them," That was strange, she wasn't invited. As if she was specifically asked to be excluded. This was clearly a hate crime in her eyes.
Even though Chu'mei has only been with Yu Mei for two weeks, she could read her thoughts. "Xiaojie was not invited. Consort Ning is still afraid, not ready to face you,"
*Hahaha* a loud burst came out of Yu Mei's mouth. Chu'mei thought that her lady would be offended but a huge laughter was let out instead. "I scared her good didn't I?" she praised herself before looking at Chu'mei for confirmation. For the first time, she realized just how cowardly this beautiful Consort Ning was really. Chu'mei also burst out laughing when she thought of that night. "Xiaojie did a really good job, she deserved it," two thumbs up.
While at Pei Nan's palace, everyone was dining in a spacious and elegant room. The room was filled with paintings, statues and vases, worthy of being part of Pei Nan's palace. There was one window on the left, opened to give the room a nice breeze. The room was leveled enough where one could see Pei Nan's royal garden and arched bridges.
Fei Ning picked up the wine jar and poured Gu Shao a cup. "This one is for brother in law, thank you for the soup," Fei Ning sweetly thanked Gu Shao. He took the cup in hand and took it in one shot. "I apologize for such a late invite," Pei Nan smiled as he held onto Fei Ning's hand. "It's no problem, I'm just glad sister in law is feeling better,"
"Right, Consort Ning is lucky to have two people care for her," teased Consort Nuan. Consort Nuan was a beauty herself, but it was a shame Fei Ning's looks overshadowed hers. She wore a bright and showy pink dress with pearl hairpins. Consort Wan also had the same idea to dress very spectacular. In the room were three woman overly dressed and two men having a fun chat around the table. "Sister in law is too bias, I would have brought soup for any of you," Gu Shao replied back to Consort Nuan. She only laughed in a very lady like manner.
Time went by, in a blink of an eye, an hour had passed. *light choke* Gu Shao had just taken a sip of his wine when he almost choked on his wine. [What the hell?] He rubbed his eyes and then looked at the window again…nothing. He could have sworn he saw Xu Ren peeking from the window. Was he already drunk? Gu Shao shook his head a few times, trying to get rid of those silly images in his head as he continued to engage in conversation, getting his mind off that image.
Just outside the room was the trouble making Yu Mei and her sidekick, Chu'mei. Yu Mei was indeed dressed as Xu Ren, right beneath the window.
5 minutes ago***
Yu Mei and Chu'mei had arrived besides the room. Her head tilted up, looking at the window above her. She cursed the window and the room structure, who in the world puts a dining room on high level? How was she supposed to peek out of the window now? Even if she was on tiptoes, she wouldn't be able to see them.
Luckily nothing was impossible for her as her mischievous eyes once again preyed on Chu'mei. Chu'mei shook her head, whenever her lady had that look in her eyes, nothing good ever came. She was right, the next moment; she was on all four, Yu Mei's feet on her back. Yu Mei actually used her as a stool to peep inside. They were still a few inches short from the window. Yu Mei stretched her arms up, getting hold on the bottom of the window. She got on her tiptoes and slowly raised her head up. Her head was barely shown inside the window but she could make out everything; they were having a big feast without her! [So many delicious dishes] she pouted her lips, almost drooling when her nose sniffed the amazing aroma. She skimmed the room and finally found him. Yu Mei and Gu Shao didn't even get a second of eye contact before Yu Mei disappeared. And that was the moment Gu Shao looked out the window. He barely saw a glimpse of Yu Mei but within that half second, he recognized her as Xu Ren.
"Aiya~" Chu'mei groaned as she collapsed on the ground. A very heavy Yu Mei fell on top of her. "Xiaojie, your killing me," Chu'mei complained, on the verge of crying. For sure, the next morning she would feel the sore. Was stalking someone always this difficult? She didn't want to support Gu Shao's ship anymore.
"One more time, I promise to feed you whatever you want," Yu Mei pleaded. Chu'mei bit her lips, food was just too tempting. She hated her very bad lady right now. Of course she couldn't say no, food was on the line. "I want two roast ducks," and just like that, she was on all four again.
Prince Shao knew he wasn't crazy. His eyes were constantly looking back and forth at the window. Suddenly a hand gripped onto the window, then the other. All ten bony and pale fingers clinging onto to window edge. His eyes opened wide, what the heck was happening. The next second a man's hair bun appeared, then slowly the eyes, nose and lips. A very sweaty and exhausted Xu Ren was at the window. Gu Shao unintentionally slammed his cup on the table, startling all the women at the table. "What's wrong brother in law?" Consort Wan asked. He quickly shifted his eyes to her, trying not to gain attention. "I'm okay," he said calmly but deep inside he was screaming, "I am NOT okay, do you not see that!"
He admitted, he had been searching for this friend of his but to meet again like this, it was too absurd. What the heck was "he" doing in the palace? Stealing? Luckily he was the only one who could see her. He was at the perfect angle, sitting face to face with the window.
"Raise your back a little bit more," Yu Mei whispered down.
"Xiaojie, you're too heavy," Chu'mei grit her teeth as she used up all her energy to lift her back up. Finally, Yu Mei could see everything once again without worry. Gu Shao was looking at her. She immediately waved at him as if they were long time friends. His hands naturally reacted and waved at the window. Everyone at the table looked back. "Brother in law, what are you waving at?" Fei Ning asked puzzled, there was nothing outside.
*Hehehe* "I must be drunk, I am beginning to see things. I should probably get going. I will see you all some other time," he made a very short and simple farewell before taking off.
Back outside, Chu'mei exerted all her energy and once again collapsed. Luckily her fall was perfect If it was a second later, they would have been caught.