That afternoon, the capital was bustling after the notice was posted. Though the chances of being selected as a part of the royalty in the future were slim, various noble households were still pinning for this chance to compete.
This would give their daughters chances to showcase their skills and be noticed by the strong powers in the capital. This event was the easiest way for them to fish for good marriage proposals.
Thus everyone went busy buying materials and books to prepare. Same went for the Bai Estate, so not a soul noticed when a lithe figure sneaked in at the back entrance.
Ying Yue made her way to her hut as fast as possible. Luckily enough, this back gate was abandoned since the estate made another one that was much accessible and easier for the servants to use. Hence, this gate allowed her to freely sneak in and out, escaping people's prying eyes.
The moment she opened the door of her hut, she was pulled inside in a not so gentle way. She felt those hands nearing her but she didn't block it as she knew it was only the little maid who would dare do such things to her.
Shutting them inside by closing the door, Xiao Hua burst out in tears upon seeing her mistress. This lady of hers was willful. She didn't even come back home for months. She was worried to death alright?
"My lady! How could you do this to your servant?" Xiao Hua held her hands while trembling. "Were you planning on eloping with someone, leaving this servant by herself?" She was indignant. Only the gods knew how worried she was, she even thought her mistress got into a mishap and had no choice but to elope.
Ying Yue was stupefied by her words that she stared at the stupid maid for half a day. She then blinked her eyes and rapped the girl's head.
"Where did you get those ideas from? This young lady of yours doesn't even have friends nor foes, where would I get a lover to elope with?" Glaring at her maid she then turned, going inside her bedroom.
Xiao Hua who was smacked silly by her mistress, stared at the retreating back when her soul went back to her body, she realized she was left alone on the outer area of the hut.
'Did I say something wrong?' tilting her head to the side, she thought to herself. Then she decided to follow inside the bed chamber as well.
At that moment Ying Yue was busy taking her veil and dirty robe off, so Xiao Hua excused herself to get her bath ready.
Ying Yue thought back to the time she was in the forest and was glad of the results it had on her. She was now able to do things without losing her breath. Her previous child-like body was showing hints of losing those unnecessary baby fats and forming a well defined and almost toned body.
Although this body was still growing, this result had still none the less gratified her. After observing herself, Ying Yue made her way to the adjacent room, where the tub was already filled and was emitting steam.
She opened a big bag filled with herbs which she segregated for the sole purpose of her medicinal bath. These herbs would help her body relax and further develop her physical potential. Since she cannot stay in the mountain forever to train, she can only amplify her condition using herbs to facilitate her exercises in the future.
Xiao Hua who went inside the room gasped as she saw her mistress submerged in the tub. Her neck down was covered inside the water and only her face was exposed to the air. But this appearance of hers was truly mesmerizing. She was like a water nymph who beckons mortals to swim with her to the bottom of the lake.
"Xiao Hua, until when are you gonna be surprised seeing me? Shouldn't you get used to it by now already?" Ying Yue finds this young maid weird. She saw her many times already, but even then, she could still show this comical reaction when facing her.
Xiao Hua was wronged this time. Although she saw her without her veil before, after seeing her again after a few months, Ying Yue became even more stunning, so this reaction of hers was only natural.
"But my lady, this servant really cannot help it, in the future, this servant knows my lady will still become more and more beautiful so this servant can only apologize in advance." Saying this, she shamelessly made her way to help her mistress bathe, eating tofu from time to time.
Ying Yue gave up on trying to straighten this rotting maid of hers.
"Mistress, you just got back so you might have not heard, but the palace gave notice about the competition at the crown prince's banquet." Xiao Hua opened up while rubbing her back with a cloth, "They said that he would likely choose his Crown Princess consort at the banquet. If my lady participates, then others will not even stand a chance!" Xiao Hua continued gushing beside Ying Yue so she didn't realize that her words were already falling into deaf ears.
Upon hearing this, Ying Yue frowned and started thinking deeply. She was reminded that in the original body's memory, there was indeed a banquet that made Bai Xing'er shine brightly.
There was little information from the gossips that the original heard but Ying Yue can confirm that there was a high probability that this was indeed the right one as, after this event, the crown prince started visiting the estate frequently.