Two days later - Ping Tian Palace.
Sweeping some fallen leaves on the ground outside the garden hut, Wan Xin focussed her eyes on Xiao Yiu. Her brows instantly knit together. [Xiao Yiu hasn't moved from that spot all morning] Wan Xin observed. [Is she still upset about Prince Ping?] Her brows knitted even more.
Xiao Yiu was sitting on a stool outside the garden hut. With her elbows on the knees, hands propping her face up, she simply sat motionlessly staring at one particular spot on the ground. When Wan Xin took an obvious look at 'that' spot, she couldn't see anything of interest. It was just mud on ground.
Therefore, Wan Xin became even more troubled. It would seem she had greatly underestimated the 'Prince Ping' effect on Xiao Yiu. [It's been two days already. What should I do? How do I get her to stop brooding] she kept thinking.
Sweep. Sweep. Sweep. The more Wan Xin brushed, the more the leaves scattered everywhere. It was evident her mind and eyes were not focussed on the little task. When she looked down and saw the mess, Wan Xin decided to give up.
"Xiaojie," Wan Xin called out. She wanted to at least try getting Xiao Yiu's attention. "Xiaojie..."
There was silence as Xiao Yiu seemed to focus even more on the ground. A storm of dejection assaulted Wan Xin and she became desperate. [I have to do something... I have to do something...] she kept telling herself. Then an idea popped into her head. Dropping the brush, she headed straight for the servant's kitchen.
An hour and a half later - inside the servants' kitchen, Wan Xin was busy guarding her honey pear drink she specially made for Xiao Yiu. Last time she made ginger tea, it got stolen in the blink of an eye when she went to the cupboards to fetch a tray. She never found out who did it. All the other servants refused to talk or acknowledge Wan Xin's existence. Not that Wan Xin cared. She wasn't here to make friends or actually be a Ping Tian Palace maid. She was here for her master Ding Ding only.
Sensing some unfriendly gazes upon her back, Wan Xin turned around to look at the other off duty servants in the kitchen. Normally under Xiao Yiu's extreme nagging, Wan Xin would use the servants' kitchen at odd times of the day when it was guaranteed there'd be little people around. However, Xiao Yiu had been in a melancholy state for the past two days to care. So even though it was midday, Wan Xin was here cooking and making beverages as she pleased.
Seeing Wan Xin calmly look over, the other servants immediately retracted their dissatisfied gazes.
[Pei. What are you all looking at] Wan Xin wanted to spit. She focussed back on her boiling honey pear drink. She had hopes this would make Xiao Yiu smile. It wasn't any special recipe but Wan Xin remembered how much Meng Su liked drinking this particular beverage of hers. [I hope Xiao Yiu likes it too].
Carefully removing the boiling pot off the stove, she poured the drink into a small teapot to the side. She then placed it inside a basket and closed the lid. Taking the basket, Wan Xin spun around and deliberately eyed the bunch of nosy servants, who were again secretly casting inimical gazes at her. Like before, the moment Wan Xin looked in their direction they all pretended to eat their lunch at the long table. "Tch," she clicked her tongue at them. "You lot aren't tired sneaking looks at me but I'm tired of being looked at." Raising her chin high Wan Xin marched towards the door.
"Ah!" a voice squeaked.
Wan Xin's right hand reached out to grab the tottering maid's arm as she steadily moved the basket in her left hand away. "Careful," Wan Xin said loudly. "Are you blind-" her voice trailed off as she recognised the maid who almost bumped into her.
It was Yuyu.
"Wan Xin," Yuyu quietly said, avoiding eye contact with her.
Sensing the uneasiness in Yuyu, Wan Xin quickly let go of her arm. "So, you as well...." Wan Xin whispered to herself. She felt disappointment slap her in the face. Recalling how Yuyu was the first kind person to approach her when she entered Ping Tian Palace, Wan Xin had thought Yuyu and her may become friends. But seeing Yuyu's reaction just now, Wan Xin was certain that could never happen. [In the end Yuyu is like all the other servants in Ping Tian Palace. She would shun anyone near Consort Liu Ding Yiu]. Moving past Yuyu, Wan Xin stepped out the door.
"Wait," Yuyu turned to face Wan Xin's back. There was something she wanted to say. [Please don't be with Consort Liu anymore] were sincere words stuck in her throat that never made it out the mouth. And now, Yuyu's voice was momentarily lost as the familiar scene before her eyes kept her in silence. Wan Xin walking away with the basket reminded Yuyu of someone from the past, someone she had never forgotten. "Yunyun Jie…."
It was exactly the same. That moment where she saw Yunyun for a final time before she completely vanished. At that time Yunyun was also headed somewhere with a basket.
Yuyu swallowed hard - swallowing back down the questions she wanted to ask Wan Xin. For it was those questions combined with her memories of Yunyun that frightened her. From the gossip amongst servants, Yuyu knew that Wan Xin had chosen to serve under Consort Liu. She couldn't understand why. When everyone else avoided Consort Liu like she was the plague, Wan Xin determinedly got close to that person instead. [Why] Yuyu didn't understand. That was one question she wished to ask Wan Xin, and then she wanted to ask, "Wan Xin, what do you think of Consort Liu?"
As Yuyu uttered these words, she felt her body tremble from being enveloped by a bitter iciness. She was terrified. Terrified that Wan Xin's answer would be the same as Yunyun's, that she would say [I don't think Consort Liu is a bad person]. "How do you know?" Yuyu couldn't help but whisper. "You vanished straight after saying that." Shivering, Yuyu wrapped her arms around herself. In the end, she was a coward. Afraid to relive the same moment as Yunyun with Wan Xin, Yuyu could only choose to keep to herself. She turned around to enter the kitchen.
A good distance away from the servants' kitchen, Wan Xin tried to stop her lips from parting wide into a massive grin. She didn't get a chance to be upset over Yuyu as standing to block her path was none other than Xiao Yiu.
"Wan Xin, where have you been?" Xiao Yiu questioned immediately; her arms folded tightly across her chest. Despite Xiao Yiu's effort to sound mad, her expression was one of relief. "Why didn't you say anything before leaving our garden hut? Do you know how long I spent looking for you?"
"Xiaojieeeeeeeee," Wan Xin yelled out in an exaggerated way. She ran straight at Xiao Yiu, almost colliding into her. If Wan Xin hadn't been mindful of her honey pear drink in the basket, she would've flung her arms around Xiao Yiu already. "Xiaojie, is that really you?" Wan Xin asked. Her eyes sparkling as though she was looking at something wonderous. Well, who could blame her? For the past two days, this was the most reaction Wan Xin got out of Xiao Yiu. In fact, this was the most Xiao Yiu had spoken since encountering Prince Ping two days ago, and the most normal she has acted since. "Xiaojieeeeeeeeeeee."
"Alright, alright," Xiao Yiu said, softly patting Wan Xin's head like she was a cute puppy. "I'm sorry for worrying you Wan Xin. I know it's been tough for you the past two days."
"Xiaojie, don't worry about me. I'm perfectly fine," Wan Xin displayed a goofy big smile to prove her point. She then looked at Xiao Yiu seriously. "Xiaojie. Are you... are you fine now?"
Xiao Yiu's lips naturally formed a soft smile. "Of course," she spoke in a confident tone. "Wan Xin, I've been fine since this morning. I mean, I can't be depressed all my life right?" She gave Wan Xin's nose a tiny pinch, "it's about time I got over whatever upset me, or you'll be the one depressed." Xiao Yiu let out a giggle. Her light-hearted attitude showing she was indeed in a better mood. Xiao Yiu wasn't acting either. After two days, her heart had finally settled and she managed to place her feelings for Prince Ping aside.
Seeing Xiao Yiu genuinely look alright, Wan Xin let out a big sigh of relief. She then pouted, "Xiaojie, if you were feeling better you should have said so. You shouldn't have stared into space and not answer me when I called your name this morning. I was very worried."
Xiao Yiu gave Wan Xin a very innocent blink. "Umm.. When did you call me? I might've been concentrating too much to notice."
"When you were outside staring at the ground," Wan Xin clarified. "You were like a fossilized stone, not moving or responding to me. Do you know how nervous I was seeing you like that? I thought you were still sad about-" Wan Xin caught her tongue in time before she said 'Prince Ping'. It was better not to mention that troublesome being ever again in front of Xiao Yiu. Wan Xin quickly cast her eyes down to her basket of honey pear drink. "I went to make some honey pear drink, hoping you'd like it and you'd feel happier...."
Xiao Yiu's eyes twinkled at the mention of honey pear drink. "Wan Xin, you are a genius." Excitedly, Xiao Yiu grabbed Wan Xin's hand and started to pull her into a run towards the garden hut. "That would go nicely with my beggar's chicken. I spent the whole morning making it." She swallowed saliva just thinking about the food.
"Beggar's chicken," Wan Xin repeated with a raised eyebrow.
"Yep. I made sure to keep count so the chicken wasn't buried in the mud for too long. The meat should be cooked just right," Xiao Yiu said, her face full of anticipation.
"Then the reason you were staring at the ground and didn't answer me this morning, was because you were too focussed on cooking beggar's chicken!" Wan Xin exclaimed her newly realised truth. Seeing a happy nod from Xiao Yiu, Wan Xin felt defeated. [And all this time I was so distressed, thinking Xiao Yiu was still hurt from seeing Prince Ping.... Aiya, I feel like a fool now]. She couldn't help but pity herself a little.
"Come on Wan Xin," Xiao Yiu complained. "My chicken and your honey pear drink will go cold if we don't hurry back to eat."
"Alright, alright," Wan Xin said as though coaxing a hungry child. [Before Ding Ding Xiaojie returns, I promise to take good care of you, Xiao Yiu].
And as such, the joyous master and maid pair made their way back to the garden hut, not realizing such rare peaceful days were always a prerequisite for trouble.