Bai Changxi twisted Hong Liu's ear as the red blossom from the surrounded tree fall.
"Ah! ow, ow, ow, ow! It hurts, Gu Gu!" Hong Liu protest in pain.
"You brat! You helped Xian Yu in the Green Forest, clearly aware of the fact that I wanted to do nothing of him and you broke countless rules, put your life in danger. Going to the Eternal Garden of creation getting the golden dust pearl then going to Nine Heavens, becoming friends with the second Prince and conspiring against me!" Bai Changxi scolded.
"Gu Gu! The Second Prince come here saying we were doing injustice to them because Crown Prince has the right to see Little Li. So...So...I had to protect the face of Green Forest, otherwise, as a queen of East Lands of Green Forest, it would have been you, who have to endure all the defaming. How can I let my Gu Gu became a joke?" She murmured innocently
Hong Liu ears were still in Bai Changxi's hand but she stopped twisting it, Hong Liu blink at her innocently getting those big dark eyes wider, Bai Changxi swear whenever she made this expression it felt like stars shine in Hong Liu's eyes, and it melts the coldness of heart. She sighs as she was unable to pull any anger from herself anymore.
"Did you went through retribution?" Bai Changxi asked with narrowed eyes.
"Of course I did, I slept for ten days and suffered a lot of pain as well," Hong Liu pouted.
"Xi Xi, let go of her. If it was not because for her we would never have found our way back to each other," Crown Prince Xian Yu appeared with little Li, walking towards them.
"Good then," Bai Changxi let go of her ear trying best not to smile.
"It does not look like you didn't want him back," Hong Liu murmured under her breath, rubbing her red ear from all the pulling. Ren heard it and laughed.
"What did you say?" Bai Changxi asked.
"Nothing! absolutely nothing!" Hong Liu quickly shook her head innocently.
"Hm, that's better,"
Hong Liu sigh in relief, it went better than she thought.
Home sweet home! Aiyaa! Hong Liu squealed as fall on her bed spread eagle. After good soothing tea with Yi Tai and Ren. Hong Liu, Bai Changxi and Crown Prince Xian Yu with little Li all return back to Bai Changxi cocoon.
Hong Liu rolled herself up in the silk brown blanket on her bed made of strong branches, the bed and everything around wasn't crafted it was grown into the being with elements of the huge tree where the cocoon was hanged on. The strong brown and sandy strong branches were twisted into becoming the four legs of the bed and then turn wider to become a steady frame and headboard, green leaves with red flowers decorated the poles. Nature spoke from every corner of the circular room.
Hong Liu stretched herself in the blanket then curve herself in a ball, yawning. Finally her own bed, it was only when she saw her room she realize how she missed it. She exhausted herself with the worry of punishment, trying to distract herself from the First Lord and now she was so sleepy. Her eyelids drop slowly slowly as she falls asleep into a deep peacefully slumber.
She woke to see that Crown Prince was cooking in her kitchen, she blinked and her aunt was helping him to keep the fire going. Huh? Her aunt can't cook to save her life sometimes Hong Liu use to wonder if by any chance if she is not here than her aunt once will poison herself but today it seems like she won't need her anymore not for that. She smiled and turn away to leave, her aunt still has some hesitations on her part she had sensed it. She will just disturb them while they spend their time together. She went to find little Li in her aunt room and played with him, making faces at him, his giggles were truly enchanting it made Hong Liu feel at peace when she made the little riceball laugh.
When breakfast was ready, Bai Changxi, Crown Prince and Hong Liu sat around a lower rectangle table. Bai Changxi served Hong Liu while the Crown Prince served Changxi, Hong Liu pressed her lips to stop the giggled as Xian Yu look at Changxi waiting for her to serve him but she couldn't conceal her shaking shoulder that made Changxi glare at her with narrowed eyes. Hong Liu picked her chopsticks and coughed covering her laugh. She looks at her bowl and started eating but she saw from the corner of her eyes her aunt serving the Crown Prince.
Though she was happy being back home, seeing her aunt and Crown Prince made her feel a little bittersweet. She finished her breakfast and stand up.
"Where are you going little lotus?" Changxi asked.
"I was thinking about going to the mortal realm," Hong Liu said.
"Why?"
"Just feeling like it,"
"Really? Or are you afraid now you are here, your father and grandfather will finally come to serve your punishment?" Changxi raises her eyebrow. Hong Liu brushed her nose thinking about why this didn't cross to her.
"Besides last time you went there, you blessed a little child from the brick of death suffering a major backfire and father had to go speak with The Fate Lord, you are injured..."
Hong Liu opens her mouth to protest.
"Don't deny it, Ren told me everything"
Hong Liu jutted her lower lip out in silent protest.
"Don't make that face, it won't do anything"
Hong Liu sat beside her touching Changxi arm in protest.
"GuGu! please! I couldn't go out of the ocean of bliss palace and I lived there for months, then I was at Ren getting healed. Please! I am bored, please let me go I promise I won't do any magic. I promise and I promise Ren as well. He agreed for me to go GuGu," She whined.
"Fine, but not more than ten minutes," Changxi said giving in.
"GuGu is the best!" Hong Liu beamed.
"And what about Father coming here?" Hong Liu pushed her luck and rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. Changxi narrowed her eyes playfully.
"You look so pitiful, I send your mother a letter this morning. She will take care of your Father, with all of the things my brother always protect her from she might even didn't know what you did? I requested on your behalf," Changxi raise her chin in a stance.
Hong Liu squealed and hugged her.
"GuGu love me the best!"
"Right, right, Now eat more before you go. You need your strength for all the trouble you cause," Changxi feeds her from her own bowl, shoving some green beans in her mouth. Hong Liu eats obediently.