"I'm sorry young lady, I tried, but elder Huang didn't even bother to come himself. His apprentice came on his behalf with this apology gift. I'm sorry for this servant's incapacity."
Old man Arthur man bowed.
"But didn't elder Huang guaranteed? Now he's saying he has chosen someone else?! Is a man's word just dog shit now?!" The veiled girl retorted in anger.
Old man Arthur, steward for the military Chang family looked at his young lady and sighed.
'She's virtuous. But too inexperienced. As the master said, her ideals will collide with reality, and she'll be dealt a heavy blow.'
"Young Lady is certainly the most virtuous and righteous. and naturally, the best choice elder Huang would have for a personal disciple. But Lady Wang Lei gu appeared and as the kingdom's most doted princess, she is more appealing to elder Huang and Light Sect."
Zhi Rui looked at steward dumbfounded.
Lady Wang? Wang Lei gu!? The one who won't stop her scandals from spreading, rather, having pride in them?! I never revealed my face in public, not one part of my body touched a man's skin. Eighteen years of devotion to the beliefs of the light sect, to be replaced by material benefit and politics? Didn't the god of light disdained such acts!?
Suddenly her father's words, the general of the kingdom. Stating she was too naive and that this world is run by men not gods appeared in her head.
She suddenly felt lost, all she did was for naught. Just like everything her dad spoke to her, benefits spoke louder than any virtue. It doesn't matter how much you're willing to do, you're only valued by the benefit you offer.
"Uncle Arthur please prepare the carriage we are going back." She said.
The old steward looked at her and sighed profoundly. Suffering this kind of set back at this age will shock more than if she were to be younger.
The old steward delivered the box he got from elder Huang's apprentice to her and went to prepare the carriage.
She observed the box in her hands, a beautiful delicate blue pearl necklace laid in. She walked to the side where there was an old village well, she extended the necklace above it, she stayed in that position for at least five minutes, but still couldn't throw it down.
'Twenty years of faith can't be thrown away in a matter of instants. And elder Huang said it belonged to the late tower maiden, who passed a week ago. The second most powerful figure in the entirety of the sect.' She comforted herself.
"Maybe I could enter as an ordinary disciple and conquer the ranks, it'll take a longer time and more struggle but it'll be more rewarding." Thinking like this, Zhi Rui smiled with red-rimmed eyes and wore on the necklace.
---------
Arthur heard a commotion while preparing the carriage, looking back he saw his Young lady screaming beside an old well with both hands on her head, with a vivid blood red neckless on her neck.
"Young lady, what happened?!"
He rushed forth throwing the curious people around and reached her side.
He was going to use his energy to examine her state, but he knows she won't even allow her father to check her, so he hesitated, at that moment his face changed. The hair on his body went up as he saw the scene in front of him.
Zhi Rui stopped screaming and looked up in a daze, breathing deeply she started to smile
"Ha-haha haHAha HAHAHAHAHAHAH!" She started laughing maniacally, laughing uproariously.
He didn't know how to react. The scene was too bizarre to him.
Though, the second his hesitation wasted; took his virtuous young lady away. And allowed something else to crawl in.
Arthur couldn't understand the situation. He could only blame it in the shock she received for being rejected. Yet the sight of her in such wild joy and almost hysterical laugh made the hairs on his body stand. The chill scared him, and he wanted to stop it.
"Young lady Zhi Rui!" He Yelled.
The laughter stopped. Silence prevailed again, and relief came over the old man.
But then his young lady directed her gaze at him. While he couldn't see her eyes due to the veil, her mouth and neck were visible and the most stunning unrestrained grin was showing on her face. A chill crawled on his back again. He got agitated.
"Y-Young lady, I'm sorry this servant was worried and was presumptuous. Is young lady fine? Do you need a medicinal pallet?"
Zhi Rui nodded and added, "Uncle Arthur, let's depart as soon as possible.
I disdain to stay here longer than necessary." She said, walking into her carriage.
"Understood, Young Lady."
Arthur felt restless towards the Young lady, but he did not know why.
Perhaps it's his age messing with his head.