Xing reached her courtyard and Xu Mama had prepared her a bath. Xing wondered about the recent events soaking in the fragrant bath water that calmed her. She had always been wild and aloof. Although she didn't like rules, she followed them if it didn't affect her baseline. She would follow the rules of her mother and would accept punishment if she breaks it when she was living with her mother. Also the Heavenly Flowers Palace followed various rules and she followed it too. She acted like a lady when dressed as a female and like a frivolous boy when dressed as a male. If she did not agree with the rules of a place, she won't visit that place. That's how she had always been, simple and straightforward. She didn't like complicated people too as she never liked to think too much to figure out what the other person is thinking. She would just avoid such people as much as possible.
She would be lying if her father's words this morning didn't hurt her even a bit. He could have openly told her mistake than using that method. If it was someone else she would have left that matter alone and may eventually stayed away from them. But her mother must have had a reason to send her to her father and her father also seemed to immediately regret what he said and also even if she didn't know the rules, she did break it. So it is better to talk with her father properly.
After all, I am a Huang.
With her heart uplifted by reaching a decision and her body refreshed by a warm bath, Xing entered the dining hall to see her Uncle Feiye and Shengli already seated with her brother and father too.
After greeting everyone she bowed to her father,
"Father, about this morning... I was wrong"
"Mingxia! It was I who was wrong. I shouldn't have said those words to you just because I thought you forgot your mother's birthday", her father replied.
"Mother's birthday? You were not angry because Shengli stayed with me last night?", Xing asked confused.
But mother's birthday is not today though!
"What?", AoTian asked with his eyebrows twitching and Xing realised she had spoke unnecessarily yet again and Feiye put his palm on his face.
Shengli stood up, "I apologise for..."
"You scoundrel! How dare you? Just because I refused to acknowledge you, you'll sink this low to do such ungentlemanly acts? ", AoTian threw a teacup at Shengli which Xing intercepted before reaching him.
"Father! He was sick last night and I forced him to stay in my room. He just had medicines and slept in my bed, that's it! No need to call him names! ", she shouted. She cannot allow anyone calling her Prince names in front of her even if it is his father.
AoTian looked at her shocked that she was angry and didn't know what to say, "Forced.. Slept..no need... ", he mumbled and Feiye could not hold his laughter seeing his daughter always giving him the taste of his own medicine.
Brother, isn't this how you act everytime with our elder brother?
Rijun just shook his head and became a silent observer. Shengli tried to speak but Xing stopped him and continued,
" Father, I know I was in the wrong. I will accept punishment even though I didn't know such rules existed. I thought you'd trust me as I had already promised you before and also my conscience is clear as I did no wrong", Xing spoke in a clear tone with her eyes clear and shining, " That aside, you should explain why you are thinking today is mother's birthday when clearly it is not"
"Today is MingLing's birthday. I remember it well because it is also our wedding day", AoTian said.
Xing looked at Shengli who was confused too,
"But we always celebrated mother's birthday on the Sixth day of the First month", she spoke firmly and Shengli nodded too.
"What?", AoTian asked shocked and looked at his brother. Feiye understood everything and sighed,
"Mingxia, now I know it was all a misunderstanding. That day is your father's birthday and he never celebrated it as it was close to the death anniversary of our mother as she passed away soon after his birth. So I guess your mother celebrated his birthday as her birthday with you, his daughter"
Xing didn't know what to say. This mother of hers had many secrets with her and had mislead her in many ways. Why would she? But nothing changes the fact that she raised her with exceptional love and care and she would always be grateful to her mother.
But mother! You should have at least told me before you passed away! Why so many lies?
Xing looked at her father who was sinking his face deep in the table. He looked like he would want to bury himself in a hole right now. Rijun was sitting with his hands on his cheek as he didn't know what happened between her father and sister that morning.
"Father!", Xing spoke loudly which made her father look at her,
"This is why you should have told me openly this morning that I had forgotten my mother's birthday. I know we both are practically strangers who do not know much about each other. And seems like mother hid many things from me too. So the only way we could know each other is by talking openly. I prefer people who say their thoughts openly and I won't be offended by it. Also since I have decided to stay in your place, I will follow your rules and you can set punishments for breaking the rules. But I won't agree to be trapped inside the Manor or giving up sword or most importantly not meeting Shengli. Other than that any rule is fine ", she bowed.
AoTian took a deep breath. Although it seemed like she is trying to get closer, why does it feel like she is distant too?
Your place? Your rules? But isn't this her place too? She haven't considered this as her home? Fine I will keep you in a longer leash! Even though you may hate me for it, it is for your own protection! You are my daughter after all!
He looked at her,
" Mingxia, you are right. We sure have a long way to go to know each other. And whatever the reason was, the words I said this morning were not right and your mother would be definitely sad if she heard it as I had roken her trust too. I will make sure I won't do this cruel thing ever again. As for rules, I will ask Xu mama to teach you the rules of the Huang family. And for the other things you mentioned as long as you keep yourself safe and return home before dark I won't object you using your sword or leaving the Manor. As for the other matter I cannot interfere much but as a father, I'll have to look for the welfare of my daughter as no one can completely trust two young ones who say they are in love and will keep away from each other at the same time. I've been young and stupid too leading to all these complications as no one knows what the future holds. So Shengli can only enter through the gates and I know he visits you jumping through your window and that can't be allowed. You can do your training together and other than that you two cannot meet without someone accompanying you. You can go out together only after informing the nature and the place of your visit. And you will spend my money as long as you live here. I think these rules are reasonable and I bet my brother will agree too",AoTian spoke in a firm tone.
Xing was blinking as she knew these rules are pretty lenient considering the rules of the society but she had only found her Prince now and now they'll be under supervision and she cannot do whatever she wants with him?
But she was the one who suggested it and she cannot back down now. She looked at Shengli who looked helpless as he had nothing to refute about those fair rules.
Feiye looked at both of them who were in deep thoughts and not saying anything,
" Of course you'll have to follow these rules until the engagement is announced and after a month you'll be married and you won't have any restrictions", he said with a smile.
"Who is going to announce the engagement?", AoTian whispered to Feiye.
"You are. Otherwise they can even make the Emperor pass an edict judging by the relationship between them", Feiye snickered making AoTian furious.
Engagement? Edict? No way! He will make his daughter realise how bad that Shengli is and she will dump him and then his daughter will be in his protection happily forever.
"We will abide by your rules", both of them said politely.
Xing agreed knowing no one can change her resolve to marry her Prince and they will have to get the permission of their father as per her Mother's wishes.
Shengli agreed because he knew she had decided to give a chance to her father and she had already accepted them as family and she's the type who would like to follow the rules too. Another reason is that now that Shihong is in their tails, she'd be better protected inside the Prime Minister's Manor than anywhere else and Lord Zhong likes her too which gives her the protection of the Zhong family too and so he can move about freely taking care of things knowing she'll be safe.