"Knock Knock."
"Ugh, let me sleep in Shen An."
"Lady Ying Yue, it's time to get up. The crown prince has requested your presence."
Ying Yue hears the unfamiliar voice and quickly sits up. Quickly scanning the room, it was indeed a different place. She had forgotten that she was now inside Xinjing palace. With a deep sigh, Ying Yue calls for the maids to enter.
"Come in."
A young girl, looking no more than fifteen walks in and greets Ying Yue.
"Greetings, lady Ying Yue."
Ying Yue glances at the young girl, and couldn't help but think she reminded her of Zhi Ruo. Only difference was this girl had short black hair, dark brown eyes and definitely shorter than Zhi Ruo.
"What is your name?"
The girl looked genuinely confused. Finally, clearing her throat she answers Ying Yue.
"I do not have a name, my lady. We are referred to as numbers here. I am called number fifty-one inside the palace."
"What? That's a number, not a name.... Uh...what about your birth name?"
"I do not have a name, my lady. I was an orphan that has been raised to become a maid to serve in the royal palace."
"Gosh....just what kind of system do they have here? Alright, from now on you are Su Ru, I dislike the idea of calling you a number."
The girl breaks into a smile and clasps her hands together before thanking Ying Yue.
"Thank you for your kindness, lady Ying Yue."
Su Ru prepared a bath for Ying Yue right after their greeting. As much as Ying Yue hated to get comfortable, she knew she was going to be stuck in Xinjing for a while so she might as well make the most of it.
After soaking in the bath for twenty minutes, Ying Yue decides it was more than long enough. Stepping out of the bath and walking towards the dresser, Ying Yue could see Su Ru laying out a pure white dress with the designs of pale pink lotus on the front of the dress out for Ying Yue.
"Who prepared the dress?"
"The crown prince did, my lady."
"Then I don't want it. Bring me a pair of male clothing"
"My lady please! That will put me in a tough spot."
"What do you mean by that?"
"As a concubine of the crown prince you need to look your best. Otherwise, if the crown princess and other consorts see you, they will mock you and punish you."
"Concubine?! Since when was I his concubine?! That damn prince, just wait till I see him again! Don't tell me they will they punish you as well if I refuse to dress properly?!"
"Yes...my lady. Since it's my duty to tend to your needs."
"Hah....what a pain. Fine, help me into the dress."
Su Ru quickly grabs the dress and helps Ying Yue into it. After dressing up, Su Ru motions for Ying Yue to take a seat as she fixes Ying Yue makeup and hair. Although it was nothing compared to her life in the dragon kingdom; Xinjing was definitely still a well-off kingdom of its own.
Su Ru pins and braids Ying Yue's hair up and decorates it with hairpins and flowers before moving onto the makeup.
"Make it as plain as possible, Su Ru."
"You are an odd one my lady."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Most woman come to the palace to win the affections of the crown prince. They are always wearing the best clothing, jewelry and makeup. Did you not enter the palace to win the princes affections?"
"I have no need for such things. Finish my makeup quick."
Following Ying Yue's demands, Su Ru only places light blush and a tint of red onto Ying Yue's lips. Ying Yue looks at her own reflection in the mirror and breaks into a deep sigh before standing up.
"Where is the crown prince?"
"In the royal garden with the crown princess, my lady."
"Alright, lead me there. I have questions to ask him."
"Yes, my lady."
Ying Yue moves to her bed and grabs her sword that was under her pillow. Quickly tying it around her waist, she follows Su Ru out of the rose residence. Along their way to the royal garden Ying Yue decides it was a good time to ask Su Ru about what she knew in regards to the kingdom and royal family.
"Su Ru, I'm going to ask you some questions and I need you to be honest. Can you tell me what you know about the royal family?"
"Well, from what I grew up learning. The royal family in the Xinjing kingdom is one of the first founders of this world. Legend has it that the Xinjing royal bloodline, carries the blood of a goddess that fell in love with the first king, who was human a long time ago."
"Oh great, another legend…..."
Su Ru looked confused by Ying Yues statement. Ying Yue catches a glimpse of Su Ru's confused face and quickly clears her throat before slowly breaking into a nervous grin. Ying Yue ushers for Su Ru to continue her story.
"Everyone in the Xinjing kingdom knows about this legend. It's just something taught to every child born in Xinjing. It's said the very first king of Xinjing was a human man from another world. He came to this world by accident and travelled the lands in search of people. There were people residing on these lands already, but there was no ruler. The lands were barren and the people were starving to death. The first king brought knowledge from this other world he spoke of and helped the people of Xinjing. Soon, years passed and the land flourished. In return for his guidance the people of Xinjing made him their first king. He was a benevolent king too. Everyone loved him, even the heavens did. It's said the first wife of the king was a goddess that fell in love with him and descended from the heavens to be with him."
"People seriously believe that a goddess would really leave her status and chose to live like a human?"
"Of course. Here in Xinjing, stories of gods marrying humans are not that uncommon. Although it's rare nowadays. A lot of these were just stories that were passed down."
"I don't know about that. I think at this point nothing surprises me anymore."
Just as Su Ru was about to continue her story, Ying Yue saw her freeze on spot before quickly falling to the ground. Unsure as to what was happening, Ying Yue stood firm and in placed as a woman from the distance walked closer and closer to her. A dignified and beautiful woman walked towards Ying Yue; followed by two maids behind her. She was definitely a beauty, but was nothing compared to the women she had seen in the dragon kingdom. The woman stopped right in front of Ying Yue and rolls her eyes, before a maid called out to Ying Yue.
"How rude! You are standing in front of her highness, the crown princess! Kneel!"
"What? Why should I?"
The crown princess was shocked at how Ying Yue knew who she was and yet refused to show her respect. Her calm and dignified face was now twisted with embarrassment and anger.
"You are below me woman! Kneel!"
"Uh…. No, I don't owe you anything."
"How dare you! Guards! Take this woman and have her beaten!"
The moment the crown princess called for guards; Ying Yue reached down and pulled out her sword that was tied around her waist. Su Ru who was on the floor quickly rushes in between to try and calm the situation.
"Crown princess, please don't be angry. She is new and not used to palace formalities yet."
"I don't care! This woman offended me and must be punished! Guards take her to be beaten!"
Ying Yue was already annoyed by the fact that she was held up inside the palace against her will already. Now this woman was going to try and make a mockery of her too? She wasn't going to sit by and let it happen without a fight. Ying Yue points her sword in the crown princess's direction and was ready to fight. All of a sudden, a deep voice calls out from behind her. Just as Ying Yue turned around to see who was behind that voice, she felt something heavy on her sword. To her surprise it was a small white fan.
"Now...now why don't we put that away."
Quickly turning around Ying Yue moves away from the crown prince. The crown princess notices the crown prince and bursts into tears as she runs to cry on his chest.
"Your highness you must seek justice for me! That woman wanted to kill me and refused to follow the palace rules!"
"Oh, it's fine. You're not harmed and I gave her permission to do what she pleases within the palace."
"What? I.....I don't understand."
"I have a meeting with her so I'd like it if you'd leave us alone."
"How could you disregard me for a woman of unknown origin?!"
"Li Ling, don't make me angry."
Ying Yue watched as the crown princess glared at her with her red face before running away in tears as her maids chased her. Ying Yue sighs and shoves her sword back in its scabbard before turning to the crown prince who was grinning at Ying Yue.
"You should thank me for helping you."
"I didn't ask for your help. Now, thanks to you that crown princess of yours is going to have another reason to come after me now."
"Ha Ha! There is never a dull moment with you. Now, why don't you accompany to the garden. I'm afraid I'll have to ask your maid to leave as well."
"Su Ru, you can head back to the rose palace first. I know my way back already."
"Yes, my lady."
Su Ru bids the crown prince and Ying Yue farewell first before leaving them. The crown prince gestures for Ying Yue to follow him. Although annoyed at how easy going he was, Ying Yue knew that he was hiding something in regards to his abilities.
After walking for another ten minutes, Ying Yue and the crown prince finally makes it to the royal garden. The crown prince leads first this time and takes Ying Yue to a small darker brown pavilion, hidden behind the bushes of flowers.
"Take a seat. I'm sure you have plenty of questions for me."