The door pushed open. Even as everyone but Ji Er saw the two figures, they pretended as if they didn't. Who was Yu Mei to them? No one. The only person who looked over was a smiling Ji Er. If her mother-in-law wasn't there, she would have waved. Too bad, she had to keep up a good image.
Yu Mei was the first to step forward. Gu Shao was following a step behind her. Step by step, the two slowly made their way over. Yu Mei's heart was pounding. She would never have guessed that Gu Shao's heart was pounding just as fast. *Rip* "Screech* "Ahhhhhh~" That loud high pitched scream made Empress Ping jump. The moment she looked over, Yu Mei was half way flying on the ground, face first. Gu Shao had "accidently" stepped on her skirt hem.
"Yu Mei." Gu Shao reached forward to catch her but was a second too late as his hand gripped the air.
*Thud* Yu Mei hit the floor just like planned. If Chu'mei was here, she would have criticized her lady for such a dramatic fall.
"Sister Yu Mei." Ji Er was the only one to rush over. Both Gu Shao and Ji Er quickly knelt down at an embarrassed Yu Mei. "Are you okay?" Ji Er held onto Yu Mei's hand for support.
"I'm okay. Something must have caught on my skirt."
"I'm sorry I was careless. It was my fault for stepping on your skirt." Gu Shao quickly apologized. Just like how they discussed, he did perfect.
"It's okay. It's okay!" she reassured him before she was supported by Gu Shao and Ji Er at both her side. She attempted to get up. "Aiya." Yu Mei plopped back down as she groaned in pain. Truly over exaggerating.
"Yu Mei, what's wrong?" Gu Shao asked worriedly. At least one of the two had good acting skills.
"I think I've sprained my ankle." Yu Mei looked at her mother-in-law innocently. Empress Ping made eye contact with her. "Can you still walk?" Empress Ping asked coldly.
"I can try." Yu Mei held onto Ji Er's arm and was about to pull herself up when Gu Shao placed his hand on her shoulder. "Mother, sister-in-law got hurt because I was reckless. Don't force her to try when she can't."
"What do you want me to do then? We still have one more stop to make." She asked as if Yu Mei's injury was trivial.
"Mother, Gu Shao is right. Yu Mei is hurt. She can't possibly walk. Let's have her sent back to be looked at first." Fei Ning kindly suggested. Empress Ping nodded her head. There was no point having someone hindering them stay any longer. "Chun, Mian, help Consort Pan back to the palace." Empress Ping commanded Gu Shao's two servants. Yu Mei and Gu Shao looked at each other.
"Mother, let me send Yu Mei back. It is after all my fault she is hurt. I will not feel comfortable if I don't do it personally." Gu Shao anxiously spoke.
"Shao, let Chun and Mian escort Yu Mei back. It is only a sprained ankle. No need to get too worried."
"Mother, you have always taught me to take responsibility for the things I've done wrong. Just now, I have hurt Yu Mei, I must take responsibility. Besides, Chun and Mian are my two most skilled servants. Nothing will happen with them around." He assured her.
Knowing how stubborn her son could be, she could only let Gu Shao do as he pleased. She angrily watched as Yu Mei limped out of the room with Gu Shao at her side, supporting her. Fei Ning on the other hand felt jealous as her hands tightly clutched the handkerchief in her hand. To see Gu Shao walk away with another woman made her furious. Shouldn't he be using this chance to stay with her?
Only when Yu Mei and Gu Shao was sure they were off Empress Ping's radar, they stopped faking. Yu Mei patted his shoulder a few times lightly. "Your highness was too good just now. Who knew you could act so well." She praised him.
Gu Shao leaned forward and tapped her nose with his finger. "Everything I do is good...unlike... you. You're acting needs work." He teased before placing both hands behind his back and walking away. Yu Mei's mouth was left wide open from shock as her short legs tried to keep up with his long legs.
"What do you mean my acting needs work? I'm telling you, I've faked so many falls in this life, I am a master of falling now." He made a sudden stop and turned. "Okay okay! Master of falls, what would you like to do first? I will accompany you for today."
"Really?" her face lit up to the point where she forgot about being mad.
"En."
"If that's the case…mmm…" Yu Mei held her chin as she thought about it. Her eyes started to wander. "I want to eat that." She pointed over to a small candy stall. She then turned to look at him like a child. "I want candied dates."
Gu Shao sighed. Of course he should have known. This girl in front of him only had eyes on food.
It didn't take long for the two to make it over to the stall. "Greetings young sir and madame." The elder man happily greeted the two. "We'll take one." Gu Shao said. "Three." Yu Mei didn't hesitate to hold up three fingers towards the elder man. This left Gu Shao shocked as he looked her way. "Eh, don't you think you've had enough food for the day? Is your stomach a black hole?" He then turned back to the elder man. "Just one."
"Three." She proceeded to tell the elder man once more. "So what if I eat a lot. It's not like I'm forcing you to eat it." The two of them were about to quarrel when the elder man stepped up. "Young lad, listen to your wife. It is only trouble to bring a women's mood down. A man should always keep his wife happy." The elder man chuckled.
Both Gu Shao and Yu Mei turned to look at him. "We're not a couple." They both simultaneously said. The elder man could only look at them confused. They sure acted like one. "Sorry, sorry. It was my old eyes that could not see clearly." He quickly apologized.
"Fine, we'll take three." Gu Shao who was now feeling awkward quickly wanted to leave. Yu Mei took all three candied sticks and left Gu Shao to pay.
Yu Mei had barely walked away from the stall when she devoured three dates into her mouth. He watched as the first stick of dates disappeared in a matter of minutes. "Eat slower. You might choke to death at this rate." The current Yu Mei with a mouthful of dates could only glare at him evilly.
After finishing swallowing, she became very happy. "Earlier, that grandpa called us a couple. Pwuhahah…isn't that funny? I'm so cute, how could he link me with someone like you." She shamelessly complimented herself, putting down Gu Shao at the same time.
"Cute? Where?" he pretended to look around.
"Eh? Don't make me hit you." She warned.
"Okay, okay! I won't make fun of you anymore. Where would you like to go next?"
"I don't know yet. Let's just keep walking. I need to walk this stomach off." Yu Mei said without feeling embarrassed but Gu Shao was embarrassed for her. Which lady talks so crude?
Twenty minutes had passed. Yu Mei had found everything very interesting. She would cheerfully stop at every stall and look around like it was her first time. Truthfully, this was the first time she could look around freely. In the past, her master would scold her for looking too long.
As Gu Shao followed her, he regretted ever saying he would accompany her. If he knew she was going to drain so much of his energy, he would have just let her leave with his two servants.
"Brother Shao, look at this." Yu Mei pulled him into the stall. "Isn't it pretty?" she held up a pink lotus hairclip. "It'll look good on you." He replied.
"It's not for me. I don't like girly things, I only like food. It's for Ji Er. Do you think Sister Ji Er will like it? Last time she bought me a butterfly hairpin. I have yet bought her anything. Wouldn't this look good on her?" Gu Shao shook his head. Why did he ever think she was buying it for herself. He should have known better.
"Ji Er will like it very much."
"Really?" Yu Mei turned back to hand the hairpin over to the vendor. "Mister, I'll take this one." Yu Mei was about to pull out money for it when Gu Shao stretched his hand over. Without hesitation, he paid for it. She looked up at him surprised. "I can buy my own things. You don't have to." Yu Mei was a very independent person, she did not want to smooch off of Gu Shao like how she did with Pei Nan.
"Today, I'll be treating you. Whatever you want, I'll buy. But just today. So make it worthwhile."
Of course she wanted to take this advantage but there was truly nothing she wanted besides food. But she was full. What could she do.
The two of them continued along the curvy path. Once again, Yu Mei became distracted. "Woah~ Acrobats!" Without taking Gu Shao in consideration, she ran towards the large crowd and squeezed herself to the front. With the help of Gu Shao, of course. Just in time, two males in green acrobatic attire had just walked across the high tightrope. Her eyes widened. Seeing the two males spin along the tightrope fascinated the huge crowd, including Yu Mei. There were probably around 200 people standing around watching the show. They all applauded. *Loud claps* "Wow! SO COOL!" she had been so mesmerized, she couldn't help but cheer loudly for the men performing. The men could not help but look at her and smile. She had been the loudest in the crowd, how could they not look at her. They weren't the only ones left speechless though. The man standing next to her, Gu Shao was left speechless too. Instead of focusing on the show in front of him, he had been sneaking glances over at Yu Mei, especially when she was laughing, cheering or clapping loudly.
Hours had passed before they returned back to the residence. Ji Er had been waiting at the gate for a long time. When she saw Yu Mei and Gu Shao coming back, she quickly ran over and held both Yu Mei's hands. "Where have you been? I was worried sick about you. Is your injury okay? How come you are only returning now?"
"Hold it. One question at a time." Yu Mei giggled. "Is mother still here?"
"Her highness was called back to the palace."
"That's good." Yu Mei pat her chest. Thankfully she didn't have to deal with her mother-in-law any longer.
Seeing Gu Shao, Ji Er turned his way. "Your highness, I hope Yu Mei hasn't troubled you too much." Ji Er knew Yu Mei was a handful and apologized to him in her stead. But if she knew the two of them were close, she would have never done it though.
"Yu Mei is a energy drainer." He teased, leaving Ji Er to smile but Yu Mei pouting. Before Yu Mei could say anything , Gu Shao excused himself. He already knew Yu Mei was going to scold him. He had to make a fast escape first.
When the main gate closed, Gu Shao looked back. [Pan Yu Mei, who are you really? This whole time, have you always been like this? Pei Nan is lucky to have someone like you…]