"I didn't expect the ladyship to be this beautiful." Li Shu bowed and served the woman a gentle face.
Ke Xin's mouth dropped, how easy and fast she changed the mask. A moment ago, she was worried that the girl might cause a quarrel.
Li Shu's body stiffened, and hardly she pushed herself to bow to the woman with a tense face. In that village, she was patent and immune to doing what she was inclined to but here, in Yu, the capital of Mei Kingdom, she must be more prudent. Exhaling the fury out, she smiled heavenly to attract the woman.
A tinge of smile made of satisfaction shaped on the woman's face, but soon she drew it away. "Come to my room. I must check you."
She coughed and the gang of girls walked after her. Snatching her arm, Ke Xin dragged the girl with her.
"You are beautiful and treated well, again, I'm warning you, try not to disrespect Ladyship Ma Ehuang. She must check your body to make sure you have no dangerous or contagious disease."
Li Shu was aware of this rule, the Queen of Di kingdom was as strict as the harem here.
Getting inside the room, Ladyship Ma Ehuang pointed to the seat and Li Shu didn't have any intentions to resist or disobey. The other girls were staring with so much interest. Some of them were keen to hear the ladyship kicking the girl out.
"Not that beautiful!"
A whisper reached Li Shu's ear, and she chuckled inwardly, 'Dare to say it when I encounter you at night.'
The ladyship heard the nonsense buzzes and scowled, "Don't you know the outcomes of disrespecting the princess?"
The girls rolled their heads down and exchanged glances when the next order came.
"Get out, Ke Xin will help me."
Not being enthusiastic about this demand, the girls had no other choice but to sneak outside of the place.
The door slammed behind them and the ladyship told the girls to stand up, getting on her feet, she walked around the girl, carefully scanning her with closed eyes. She didn't look weak and as the crows croaked, she could hold swords.
"Ke Xin, check her body."
The girl obeyed and walked toward her. "I begin to undress her." The discomfort was dancing in her face, for no reason, her hands were trembling. The tips of her finger linked, Li Shu's aura and the way she gazed at Ke Xin was as if... As if a man???
"I am sorry, sister." Ke Xin murmured when she neared her neck to unstrap her dress.
Taking off the dresses, she was left only with thin underwear. Ke Xin saw the scar marks of lash and cuts. Grabbing her mouth, she paced back, bowing her head, she couldn't keep her tears back, "Please spare me, my lady."
She pleaded with the ladyship not to punish her for the abrupt reaction.
The ladyship whose back was on their side, swirled in bewilderment and her eyes blankly traveled on Li Shu. The stunning maiden was staring into her eyes bravely but when her eyes fell on the marks, she was left speechless.
Li Shu was comfortable, anyway, at the end, she was a man in fact, he didn't fear ladies staring at his nude body. But when the prince's body changed to a female one, only the scar marks left there.
"You have strong muscles." The ladyship's surprised skin contented, and the stern face turned into a soft beam, her princess had recognized this gem in one spot.
"You are accepted," it was all ladyship Ma Ehuang said and picked a paper from the table and handed it to Ke Xin, "Teach her the lessons." Getting back to the girl added, "Are educated?"
"Yes, my lady. My brother taught me everything."
The ladyship nodded; she didn't expect less, "get dressed, I am taking you to the princess, I see that the rumors about the daredevil maiden were all absurd to waste my time."
Lady Ma Ehuang wanted this strong girl to be beside the princess, even if she was playing to fool her, it didn't matter. To her the priority was princess Xing Huan, if this girl could cheer her up, there was no protest but as she witnessed, this girl was different.
Wearing her new dress which was made for the princess's maidens, Li Shu walked after the women. They passed throughout the yards and the people who were peering and tearing her with their eyes.
"Why do they look at me like that? Have they found me a killer?"
Ke Xin was still embarrassed by her reaction to Li Shu's body, her tears were still rolling in her eyes. To Li Shu, this girl was unbelievably naive and kind.
"They all know about your rudeness behavior toward prince Xing Bolin! I guess that is the reason."
Huh! That ridiculous clown, soon, very soon, she would give him a lesson. But for now, he could have decent relaxation unless Li Shu was busy.
"Oh, you mean the king's bastard! By the way, don't wear that face. You make me uncomfortable."
She murmured bravely and it caused Ke Xin to forget all about what she faced inside the Ladyship's room. With her eyes wide open, she didn't know whether she must laugh or cry.
The ladyship heard the girl, she was walking ahead of them and smirked satisfyingly, as she thought, this girl was the best choice to be by the princess's side, although, her tongue was beyond what she assumed.
As time goes by, the princess becomes lonelier and her rivals sharpen fangs to tear her to pieces like hyenas. They shouldn't let this happen, the late queen trusted them and left her daughter to them.
"Yes, but don't speak like this, he has many ears around, they might take your tongue out."
Ke Xin murmured with her face tinted.
Getting near the princess's residence, Li Shu saw Chaoxiang who came out of the guard's room in his black uniform, there was a bronze tiara on his hair. It reminded her of the moment they were in Di's reign; he was quietly neat now, yet, not showing his true glory.
Her eyes rolled on Ke Xin, the girl was staring at the man and she didn't realize that they were close to the steps. Her feet tugged and stumbled but before falling with her head, a hand grabbed her and took her away.
"Open your eyes," Li Shu stated and the shivering maiden followed that ordering demand.
Biting her lower lip, she felt her heartbeat pounding, her cheeks pinked. She was between Li Shu's arms and her big dark eyes met hers. It was stupid that either time she touched Li Shu, she was being shy, she was a woman too!
Rolling her eyes away, Ke Xin saw the furious face of the ladyship. Steadying herself, rubbing palms on her skirt, she bowed, "I am clumsy, I apologize Ladyship Ma Ehuang."
The woman just sighed and drew her way up the steps. The princess was waiting for them and her maidens were keep tracking their eyes after handsome guards.