"Your highness, we are here."
Ladyship Ma Ehuang announced their presence and the princess allowed them to get inside.
Fu Liu was already in the room, the princess was at the table, carefully drowned in her drawing.
Rubbing her eyes off the eunuch's amused face, Li Shu carefully watched the princess, she was delicately drawing a woman in the meadow, and the brush was making love on the paper. The colors she had chosen were well-suited and placed along with the shadows. These colors were showing her soul, this girl was different. Li Shu never saw a woman drawing with her soul.
"The dress suits her, do you like it, Li Shu?"
Nudging her by the elbow, Ke Xin murmured beside her, "Her majesty is talking to you."
Being aroused by the warning, she looked at the ladyship who was staring meaningfully.
"I am grateful for it. I didn't know that your highness is an outstanding artist."
The princess smiled gently; her eyes were tracking the lines of her illustration.
"My mother taught me; do you think that my father will like it?"
'I am jealous of your father.' She peered at her while letting the lingering thoughts storm in her head. No one ever gave her a gift except Chaoxiang, the king is blessed for having such a daughter and the people of this land were fortunate if she could become their empress.
"I am certain, I am glad that my eyes are blessed to see it."
The princess stopped as she left the last stroke of the brush. She had filled the flaws and it was already done. Her eyes rolled up on the girl, and the flash of lights sparkled in her iris.
"Ladyship Ma Ehuang, what do you think about her?" Princess Xing Huan turned to her ladyship.
The ladyship could see how the princess's face flourished when she saw the girl; her blank face turned into a nice pinky cheek.
"You have sharp eyes for discovering your skillful valets. I hope she doesn't disappoint you."
Fu Liu smirked at the girl, the villager girl didn't want to go overboard in front of the ladyship, how playful! To keep her tongue contented, she must be suffering.
"If your highness didn't want to be disappointed, she wouldn't choose me."
Li Shu caught the look on the eunuch's face and let her courage lead the air. Passing the man, a devilish sneer.
The princess let out a burst of loud laughter. This was the best answer she had ever heard; the girl was so honest and bright enough to know this and brave to let it out.
The marveled ladyship stiffened, she couldn't compare this girl to anyone, entirely beyond expectations. She had injected her mixed emotions regarding her attitude. One was contentment for persuading the princess into joy, one was a rage for being rude toward Fu Liu.
"Will you disappoint me?"
The princess asked after swallowing a pack of fresh air, ah, this girl, pity that she couldn't have her during the night, she could be a delightful company for creeping out of the castle and jugging around.
'Yes, and you shouldn't be treating me nice, princess Xing Huan. This curse must break and I will be the biggest disappointment in your life the day you realize, I am a man.'
"No, I won't, I would do my best to have a virtuous corporation with your highness."
Princess Xing Huan scanned the faces inside the room, except for Fu Liu who seemed to be getting used to her terms of behavior the other two ladies were startled.
"Ke Xin, I want you to take care of your new sister. Ladyship will watch over you because my siblings and the rest of my rivals might not like her. She cannot stay out when the sun goes down, try not to let anyone disturb her at that moment."
Ke Xin bowed, her curiosity stung her guts, why couldn't she stay out during the dark? Was she ill?
"I Will, Your highness."
The princess stood up, letting her painting be dried. She walked to the balcony her fingers knotted behind her. Gazing at the flowers, Li Shu was a beautiful flower hidden among so many thorns.
It was the thing that made her unique, she was self-protective and cautious. But this girl came here temporarily just to get rid of the jewel. What if the princess's heart beats for her? She couldn't let her go simply. She needed excuses to keep her close but this wild eagle wanted to be free.
'I saw the dirty motive in my brother's eyes, he would soon aim to hurt Li Shu.'
"Girls, prepare the bath for me." The princess ordered.
The panicked Ke Xin clasped Li Shu's arm and proceeded with her out to another room.
Ladyship Ma walked beside the princess, that cheerful face transformed into a thoughtful nervous one.
"Ladyship Ma, keep your eyes on my siblings and inform Fu Liu, I'm confident that they will attempt to hurt Li Shu."
The woman scowled; she was supposed to tell the princess about the girl's body.
"Your highness, was this girl a slave?"
Conspicuously, she asked.
The princess tilted her head and sharply peeked at Fu Liu; he shook his head.
"How come? Was she familiar to you?"
The woman kept her head low and bit her lower lip, with this answer, it sounded obvious that the girl had secrets.
"There were massive cruel lash marks on her body!"
Fu Liu frowned; someone was viciously wicked toward the siblings, who could be such a devil to beat a girl like that? No wonder why she was too rough and didn't care if her words could slice someone in half or even behead her.
"Did you find knife scar marks?" Questioned Fu Liu.
"What is going on here! Explain patently." The princess was confused, her heart shattered when she heard about the suffering that girl had gone through.
"The siblings have many lash and scar marks, your highness, someone had tormented them, if they weren't slaves then there must be someone who trained them under adversity."
Fu Liu discovered the rolling tears in the princess's eyes. Yes, it was what she needed, to cry.
"Your highness, the bath is ready." Ke Xin stated from the other room.
Quickly, she rushed to the room and dismissed the Ladyship maiden.
"You can stay outside, and prepare my dress."
Li Shu put the towel down, and was about to leave when the princess snatched her arm, the squeeze was a bit hard and made Li Shu grit her teeth.
"Ke Xin, leave."
The maiden bowed and left in haste.
The princess was looking at the girl's neck when she said, "Bathe me."
Li Shu's eyes rolled up and sparkled with twinkling stars.
'You are joking princess, aren't you? How fast you let me see you!'
Swallowing her smirk, she nodded and began to unstrap the princess's dress.