"Father will denounce me for not attending him for a whole year." Princess Xing Huan couldn't conceal her nervousness. She hoped that this meeting wouldn't end up in an argument.
Ladyship Ma finished dressing up the princess's hair. Extended her hand and Li Shu handed her the hair tiara.
Adjusting the jewel in her hair, she answered, "His punishment wouldn't be that tough, he might ask you to get married."
Li Shu couldn't take her eyes off the princess, with this makeup and those full red lips. If the ladyship wasn't here, the prince's yearnings would want to lead to something he shouldn't.
Looking back over her shoulder, she saw that time was getting close to dawn, anytime it came to this hour, the Prince's desires would come back. Li Shu must leave before kissing her.
"Your highness, you look stunning." Instead of asking for her leave, Li Shu uttered the words.
The princess smiled, turning her black robe away! She seemed naughty.
"Wait, I want to see how you look like if I do a bit of makeup on your face."
'Huh! You are kidding me? Am I a clown or something for you! I don't need it, I am man, damn it all!'
"Li Shu must leave her highness!" the young handmaiden stated, her face flushed in pink, it was anger but the princess assumed it was shame or discomfort. Therefore, before Li Shu could take one more step, Xing Huan clasped her arm and made her halt, her mouth nearing her ear.
"This is an order. Not a wish."
She smirked; her eyes were twinkling with starlight.
Li Shu felt becoming intoxicated by this figure, her body stiffened and she remained still, frozen by her perfume.
Making the handmaiden sit down on the cushion, the princess began to make her face. Li Shu couldn't stop her heart from beating madly, thrashing her chest. Her eyes were on princess Xing Huan, the whole time, being mesmerized by the beauty in front of her. Why couldn't things be different, what if their lands weren't against each other's will? Could the prince take her for him?
Thinking about that, the princess's thumb moved ahead and touched her lips, with gentle taps spread the color. She swallowed, it had plunged her into a dream, making her brain ask one question, could the prince trust a woman? Was it possible to give his heart to a woman, like what the others did? They were speaking of superstition, which they named, Love, what if it was a cunning trap, a trick to mislead each other? He hated to be trapped and surprised.
Every sound that was sinking into silence and fading away, roared when the sky protested the lingering thoughts in her head. The spring sudden rain poured down and distracted the princess. She took her hands off Li Shu's dried lips.
"Ah, you look so pretty!" turning to Ladyship Ma asked for her opinion, "What do you think of it? She has no difference with a goddess." While smiling delightfully when she received confirmation from her ladyship, her eyes caught Li Shu's. The smile faded away, in her dark iris, the image of Merchant Raz Long Sheed reflected!
'What is this, why did I imagine him now?'
She rubbed her eyes away, being shameless to think of a stranger. She just saw him last night!
"Li Shu, don't you have any other sibling, except for Chaoxiang?"
Li Shu came out of the daze with this question and the sudden change of skin shade in her princess.
"How it comes, your highness?"
"Nothing, the merchant from Sheed is a bit look like you."
'I doubt if I am similar to Li Shu? How could she say that?'
"I don't think that is possible! I have nothing to do with Sheed land."
The princess stood up and ladyship Ma helped her with her dress, "Never mind, I must be wrong!" The man was so handsome, perhaps, that caused such a thing. Why was she even thinking about him and his eyes, she must refrain from such bold low behaviors that were out of a manner.
"You can leave, Li Shu! I am waiting for Zha Gang, and Yan Yuxi."
Li Shu bowed her head and was about to take her to leave out when the princess said, "Wait! didn't you forget something?"
"Oh, I should clean this." She pointed out her makeup, it was all she hated the most and wanted it to be cleaned.
The princess shook her head, frowning, "No!"
Li Shu had no idea what she meant, indeed! What her petition was exactly?
"You shouldn't act menial, bow to your highness! This isn't something I must tell you!" The ladyship warned, her ruthlessness was beyond intuition.
Bowing for her? Was it necessary? But Li Shu was forced to do this, right?
'I have to settle with it, before making them suspicious.'
Reluctantly, she dragged her strides toward her and served her a complete bow. Straightening to see her face, the princess was smiling, and so did the ladyship.
"If my brother sent someone after you, refuse to meet him." The princess made her alerted.
"Don't worry your highness, I have no relish to be a part of his harem."
Without turning her back on the princess, she carefully stepped back and left. Outside of the residence, Cahoxiang was standing there and the guards were coming from further with Ke Xin and some other valets. Taking the umbrella for her, Chao tried to slay his grin.
Walking after her who was almost running, being caught with that makeup was mere torture, surly.
"Your highness looks rare."
Li Shu passed him a devil sneer, "Don't itch me to kick you! Where is aunt Gu Ju?"
A few maidens passed by, gazing at them in bewilderment and giggling.
"Let's talk about it inside."
Getting inside the residence, Li Shu rushed to her room, "prepare a bath for me." She ordered.
Chao didn't waste time; the prince was disturbed by his venturesome look. It must be the princess who painted this face. It wasn't acceptable as a man, prince Wu Xiuying was a man of blood and battlefield, now looked as if a concubine!
When the bath became ready, it was dark, and prince Wu Xiuying came in his thin white robe. Taking it off, he went inside the steamy water, his well-built muscles eased inside the water. His face was clean as he rubbed everything off already. Closing his eyes, he recalled the moment she touched his lips.
'Why does she do this! This game is getting hard to play, crossing my limits'
He must find a way to free himself before being poisoned by emotions.
"You asked about aunt Gu Ju! I saw her in the infirmary as soon as we returned, she is hired to be a medical herb seeker."
"Does she truly know them? She is uneducated!"
He opened his eyes; the woman was punished enough after cleaning the aviary.
"She knows the herbs from her father's studies. I guess the physician would like to keep her out of the castle. As I discovered, the herbs she used in her pills are rare."
The prince nodded; it was good news after all. "After dinner, we must go to the smithery. Did you realize anything from the guards?"