After Shao left, Yu Mei flied her kite from afternoon until almost sundown.
At first she wasn't very good, almost clumsy. It was only after an hour or so did she finally get the hang of it. Whenever she tried to recall how to fly a kite, Pei Nan's seductive gaze would fill her mind, making her lose all focus. Yu Mei would never admit it but at one point, she felt her cheeks burn up.
Chu'mei who had been standing at the side the whole time was bored, bored to death. Flying a kite and watching someone fly a kite were two very different feelings.
Yu Mei finally went back to her room, bathed, ate and got dressed for bed. It was passed the time Pei Nan usually visited her. She figured he would not be coming over for dinner. Which was fine with her. She could finally go to bed early. After all, kite flying was very hard work.
Yu Mei lay on her stomach with both her legs lifted high as she casually set her elbows on the bed; lazily setting her chin on her hands. She watched as Chu'mei finished cleaning up. There was a hint of annoyance on her face, as if something had been bothering her. "Chu'mei, what's wrong?" Yu Mei asked chirpily.
Chu'mei made a sharp turn and glared at her lady. "Xiaojie, you are all healed yet didn't even bother to tell me. What am I to you? Hmph!" she stomped over to the still happy Yu Mei.
"That's what you are mad about? Come sit," Yu Mei gestured.
Chu'mei complied as she sat on the edge of the bed.
"How can you fake it in front of Prince Nan but be so open about being healed in front of Prince Shao. How can you be so unfair to Prince Nan?" Chu'mei truthfully asked her lady.
"Shao is my friend. I trust him enough to not tell. Petty Nan on the other hand..." Yu Mei shook her head. Just thinking about it, she got goosebumps. "I want to keep playing pretend for a few more days."
"What! You want to keep faking your injury? What if his highness finds out?" Chu'mei was being loud, too loud. Anyone in her shoes would be acting the same. She wondered how many other people served crazy and bold lady's like her's.
"I've realized it was a good thing to injure myself. Have you not realized how good Pei Nan has been treating me these last few days? I don't want it to end yet. Might as well abuse my power a few more days, right?" Yu Mei was set on faking for another few days. But the hard part was Chu'mei. This maid of hers was terrible at keeping secrets, especially if she felt guilty about it. She was worried Chu'mei would accidentally have a slip of the tongue.
"Xiaojie, don't you think this is wrong?"
Yu Mei looked at her in disbelief. Couldn't she just agree? It was only a few more days. It never hurted anyone.
"It was your idea in the first place. If Prince Nan finds out, I'm blaming you." Yu Mei pointed at Chu'mei. When she saw how wronged Chu'mei looked, she softened. "If it wasn't for you I would have lost my precious body to him already. I must thank you for that." Yu Mei held both Chu'mei's hands as she widened her eyes innocently. "Would you really want to see me lose my innocence to someone like Prince Nan?"
Chu'mei looked at the ground and thought about it. It was true. Prince Nan has always been a jerk and a terrible husband to her lady. It was only that he had started to change that she almost forgot all about it. There was no way she would let her lady lose her virginity that easily. Prince Nan had to prove himself worthy, in Chu'mei's opinion. "Fine…but only for a few more days. Promise me." Chu'mei pointed at Yu Mei.
"Promise." She smiled back.
Their private conversation wasn't so private after all as the man standing outside the door had heard most of it. Or at least the important parts. The small medicine container in his hand had been squeezed tightly. It was a surprise it hadn't shattered yet. His veins were almost popping out. The man in the dark turned around, tossed the medicine into the grass and left the Southern Palace.
That certain person walked back to his study room. The study room of the one and only Prince Nan. Even though his face wasn't showing any emotions, the air around him was literally screaming "Pissed off". That only meant one thing; he wanted to tear apart a certain somebody.
Pei Nan "calmly" sat down at his desk and stared at the door entrance. His eyes only contained a deep hurt and bitter coldness.
Suddenly he shut his eyes to calm himself down. How was he supposed to act when he heard what that woman said just now?
[Pan Yu Mei, I am the prince of the land, the future emperor and yet you dare to mock and make a fool of me? So your injury was done on purpose to avoid me? Hundreds and thousands of women wish to be with me but I gave you that once in a lifetime chance. And how do you repay me? By rejecting me? To think I even had feelings for you. I must have gone crazy.]
Pei Nan opened his eyes slowly. He didn't believe he had just admitted that he had feelings for her just now. He had gone mad. There was no way he would fall for someone like Pan Yu Mei. Or at least not anymore after what she said tonight…
The next morning Yu Mei waited for Pei Nan but he never came. She waited and waited and waited until three days had passed. Pei Nan hadn't made a single appearance in the last three days. This was all pointless. She wanted to use this chance to have some happy moments with Pei Nan before he turned back into the tyrant she wasn't so fond of.
Those three days drove Yu Mei crazy. She couldn't sit still as her mind was running around like crazy. What if something happened to Pei Nan? Was he busy or did he go out of the city? She had to find out.
On the third night, Yu Mei's anxious heart got the better of her. She had Chu'mei prepare some tea and snacks before they headed over to his palace. One of Pei Nan's maid informed Yu Mei that he was in the study room.
The two of them stood outside Nan's study room. Yu Mei grabbed the tray from Chu'mei and smiled lightly at her. "I'll go in by myself. I'll be out soon."
When the door opened, Yu Mei was not expecting to see Pei Nan and Fei Ning together. Fei Ning was sitting right next to Pei Nan as she carefully watched him paint. Even when the door creaked open, Pei Nan feigned ignorance. Just now, Fei Ning saw how he snubbed Yu Mei. She was satisfied. She had been unhappy about Pei Nan visiting Yu Mei's quarter everyday but now, she understood. He only visited her because she was injured. Now that she was fine, Pei Nan wouldn't care about her. After all, she was not someone worthy in the eyes of Pei Nan. Yu Mei was not on her level. She was after all the only woman in his heart. Thinking up to here, Fei Ning laughed in her heart. She had been worried for no reason.
Yu Mei felt a pinch of irritation the moment she saw Pei Nan and Fei Ning so close together. But what could she do. She was already here, there was no turning back. With both hands tightly gripping the tray, she walked closer and closer to them. Only when she was a short distance from them did Fei Ning "help" her. Fei Ning gently placed her palm around Pei Nan's fist that was holding the brush. "Your highness, you must have been too focused just now that you didn't hear sister Yu Mei arrive." Fei Ning looked at him very lovingly. Pei Nan also returned the same affectionate look. His hand reached for her face, lightly brushing the loose strands of hair by her cheeks, tucking them behind her ear. The two of them showed affection towards each other as if Yu Mei was not there. "It's not that I was too focused on drawing, it was your beauty that I was too focused on just now."
Pei Nan finally turned to face Yu Mei. The only look he had was a look as if saying, what are you doing here? Neither affection nor care could be seen on his face.
Yu Mei silently sighed. What did she expect? For him to continue to be the same person he was these last two weeks? She was stupid to think that. "Consort Pan, what brings you here at this hour?" Pei Nan even sounded annoyed as he asked.
"I haven't heard news about your highness in a few days. I thought I would come to visit but I see that you have company already." She tried not to sound too disappointed.
"Sister Yu Mei, you haven't seen his highness in a long time. I am someone who sees him every day; I will give you two sometime alone." Fei Ning innocently suggested and then looked at Pei Nan. "Your highness, I should get going first. It is not early anymore." Pei Nan gripped onto her hand that was moving away. "I was the one to ask you to accompany me tonight. How could I have the heart to chase you away?" his affectionate gaze turned icy cold when facing Yu Mei. 'As Consort Pan can see, I am perfectly fine. If you have anything to say to me, it can wait until tomorrow."
Yu Mei who couldn't bear to look at the two of them had been looking at the tray in front of her. She summoned all her courage to look up at him and smile. "I prepared tea and snack for your highness. Remember to eat them while they are hot. I shall take my leave now then." Yu Mei bowed before turning away.
For some reason, her hands were shaking endlessly. Just now, her whole body had gone cold from shock. He was back. Back to his normal hateful self.