"Linxiao, where are you going?" she asked after bowing in front of her.
"I am going for a bath," Linxiao replied politely.
"Let me help you with the bath," Liu Ying stated as she came forward and walked behind Linxiao.
Linxiao did not refuse Liu Ying's request. Because she knew, as a princess, she had to accept help from others for such petty matters.
As they both were heading to the bathhouse Linxiao told Liu Ying, "can you not bow to me every time, whenever you see me".
"Huhhh" Liu Ying did not know why she was saying this. But she understood what Linxiao meant.
"How dare I not to do so?, as I am here to serve you and perform my responsibility" Liu Ying counter Linxiao as they were about to reach the bathhouse and in the middle of their way servants came and they also bow to Linxiao, to which she politely nods in respect and returns their greetings with a little smile.
Seeing that other servants bow to Linxiao, Liu Ying asserted, "Look, they work here, and it was their way of respecting their masters, so I am doing the same for you".
Linxiao did not feel good hearing this reply of Liu Ying, so she chuckled and asked, "aren't we friends?"
"We are but.." Liu Ying could not complete as she was hesitating, Linxiao stops in her tracks and tilts her head towards Liu Ying, "but what? She questioned Liu Ying.
"As you know... that I am also a servant here, so how can I disrespect you?" Liu Ying counters back and responds to Linxiao and after that, she leans her head.
"But before that, you are my friend. I don't want this type of respect from you". After completing what she wanted to say, Linxiao turned and started heading towards the bathhouse.
Liu Ying said nothing and followed behind her. While talking to each other, they did not know when they reached the bathhouse, where some maid servants were already present. Who was preparing for Linxiao's bath.
Detecting them all, Linxiao hesitated and thought, "did she have to take a bath in front of all of them?".
And she forgot she was talking to Liu Ying.
Liu Ying waited for Linxiao to say something or she could reply to her, but when she saw Linxiao's reserved face coming beside her. Which looks neutral from her usual self as she looks nervous and confused, staring at something.
Liu Ying followed her sight, which was looking towards the maid servants, who were busy in preparing the Linxiao's bath.
However, Linxiao was watching them with wide eyes and looked lost somewhere as she was thinking of something deep.
"Linxiao!" Liu Ying went towards Linxiao, yelled her name and shook her body to bring Linxiao back from her deep thoughts.
Linxiao looks at Liu Ying and after that, she turns her head and orders the maidservants, "you all can go out" they all stop doing their work after hearing princess Linxiao order.
"Linxiao they are here to help you" Liu Ying interrupted and looked into Linxiao's eyes to find the reason for her sudden order.
"I don't want anyone, now" she asserts politely. How could Linxiao be comfortable with them? When she does not have a habit of all of this luxurious life and has to take baths when people are staring at her. It will take time for her to fully adapt here.
All the servants looked towards Liu Ying as they were waiting for her order. Seeing that, Linxiao was steady with her order. Liu Ying nodded her head towards them and after that, all the maidservants left.
watching them go out, Linxiao smiles a little and feels at ease.
After all the servants went out, Linxiao averted her gaze to Liu Ying, who was busy with putting rose petals in the water.
"Umm, Liu Ying, I am saying to you about something," Linxiao asserted and went toward the bathtub.
After putting rose petals in, Liu Ying took a jar that was filled with milk and poured all the milk from the jar into the water. While doing this she asked, "what are you saying?" She questioned Linxiao as she knew they were conversing before.
"As I had said before, you don't need to bow to me. What I need is my friend, not a princess, need her maid," Linxiao announced while undressing her upper robe and got inside the gigantic bathtub, which Liu Ying had already prepared for her.
"And I had already said that I have to respect my Princess. '' Hearing Liu Ying she felt infuriated, but she closed her eyes to relieve herself. As hot water mixed with the milk calms her nerves. She ignored what Liu Ying said and was enjoying the fragrance of rose petals.
While enjoying the bath, she thought about the Liu Ying situation from her point of view as working here she has to follow the rules of the royal palace.
Liu Ying looked in Linxiao's direction Who had closed her eyes.
After a while, Linxiao opened her eyes and said, "Okay! I understand what you are saying. You can bow and say whatever you like in front of others but.." she pauses and Liu Ying looks at her as she is waiting to hear out what Linxiao was about to say, "but whenever we are alone and no one is around us. I don't want any formalities from my friend," Linxiao proclaims, and smiles looking at Liu Ying.
For this Liu Ying did not counter and complained and she accepted Linxiao's request as she was happy that Linxiao prioritized her.
"Okay, her highness," Liu Ying laughed, and she teased Linxiao.
But she thought about Linxiao's strange behaviour, and why she was acting differently suddenly.
However, she followed Linxiao's request. But she had questions in her mind. Which she wanted to ask but did not ask.
After the bath, Linxiao went to the dressing room where she got ready with the help of Liu Ying. On other hand Liu Ying thought to ask what was running inside her mind.
"Linxiao, why all of a sudden you say something like that to me and make that request?".
Author note,
hello dears, I want to know what you are thinking about the story...and about pace, characters. let me know your thoughts and if you have some suggestions...I will appreciate and happy to hear something from you guys.