Rui stood against a pillar looking at the beautiful garden. He held onto his sword and began checking it's condition.
He was getting bored stand guard all day without any actual action.
Inside the room, Lord Shen had called for a private doctor to stay and treat Ming Yu.
He prescribed Herbal baths to prevent the scar tissue from getting infected and a few medicines for aiding the removal of the poison.
Since the poison was peculiar, he was unable to identify it properly but as the treatment was going on fine. He suspected it to be a poison from the Country of Kao. The bordering country.
Lord Shen flinched, but almost immediately acted as though nothing was wrong.
Ming yu noticed this, but realised this was not quite the time for that.
The whole day was spent in leisure by the two strangers who came into the Manor.
Rui just kept dazzling everyone with his amazing physique and Ming yu managed to make them all loyal.
At night, there was a dinner party, organised in the name of the daughter of Shen.
Ming yu had a heartful meal inside his quarters and a bathtub prepared for his bath.
He felt sad to have not been able to meet the famous daughter of Lord Shen.
He had never seen her even though they were in the same faction.
He smiled and soon asked the herbs to be added to the bath.
***
"Let's hope we don't get caught.", Li hua said awkwardly holding a heavy bowl of herbs.
"It's going to be you and me only. ", Xia smiled and led li hua inside.
Li Hua wore servants clothing and came to help bathe the guest. This was not a noble ladies ideal behaviour.
But she was feeling adventurous today. After listening to the hour long discription of the guest.
Li hua was impatient. Her father had always kept her sheltered away from boys and men.
Which was fine till she reached adulthood. But even now, he is suspicious of every other man's intention towards her.
Forget having male friends. It has probably been a year since she had a proper conversation with a male around her age.
She peeked inside, to see a shadow of a man with long straight hair.
When she moved forward, she was shocked.
This was no ordinary man.
What Xia Xia had been screaming was true.
The scene was straight out of an erotica. The guest sat on the corner of the tub, facing away from them.
"Excuse me, We are here to help you.", Xia Xia said and bowed. she was gleaming with pride.
Her face looked shiny, with the words 'see... Isn't he marvellous?' Written all over.
Li hua sighed and began helping her friend. But her intentions weren't that clean.
She helped apply the herbs and her intentions were as clear as day to the prince.
He stopped her hand and asked.
"I can do it by myself if you find it difficult. Would u want me to?",
"N-no.", She answered.
Xia xia almost let out a whistle. She had never seen her friend act like this.
She was going to tease about this incident forever.
Xia xia felt a slight pang in her chest. Wad she allowed to say forever? She promised a forever with her childhood friend too...
'Stop', she said to herself.
She let herself out for some breather. The work was almost done. She waited near the garden looking at the well.
..
"Hmm, you are quite peculiar, your face has turned completely red.", Ming yu said looking at the young maid who was trembling while looking the brightest shade of red.
He was unable to stop himself from teasing her. He wanted to see more of those expressions.
"Am I the problem?" He asked innocently.
"N-no... I-i....", Li hua struggled. She was unable to control her intrusive thoughts of joining him, cuddling his face, braid his hair, bite his lips and the list went on..
She was afraid she would say something along the lines of 'marry me'.
Without Xia xia to smartly cover up her shortcomings, Li hua might very well insult this man.
"I guess, you can't really talk to me, I must look hideous with this scar.", Ming yu said taking the teasing a bit further.
"No, Scar was not the problem.... in fact, that's the only thing attractive about you.", Li hua said.
She instantly regretted it. She was trying to say, 'that's not* the only thing'
She swallowed up a word and made the worst possible sentence to a person still healing from a scar.
"How arrogant.", Ming yu smiled painfully.
Li hua felt sorry, she tried to salvage the situation but Ming yu got up and got clothed.
She didn't know what to do.
She wrote sorry with the petals onto the floor quickly and left the place.
She walked out and explained her plight to Xia xia.
"So… you messed up the whole interaction and now don't want to ever see him?", Xia asked.
Li hua hugging her, said,
"I always do this. I hope this man leaves the manor fast.", Li hua said, completely oblivious to the fact that the person in question was a prince and a guest staying for a really long time.
"Huh, it's alright, since you didn't like this present, do you wan another one?", Xia Xia tried cheering her up.
"Yes.", Li hua sniffed.
"Come, first let's change out of this costume or the madam will beat me to a pulp.
Xia xia guided her to her room and came back to help Ming yu, she had basically sprinted across the two courtyards.
She was panting, she said to herself
"Am I already old? Haaa…. I should really start taking care of myself.", She said holding herself against the pillar.
Suddenly, a really handsome man popped out of now where and trapped her against the pillar. Normally this would be an amazing scene but she had work to do and somehow procure a gift in this short while.
Being busy with the daily espionage at night, she couldn't really manage a gift in time. Her embroidery handkerchief was still undone, her painting sucked so bad, what she painted to be a crane, was looking like a spoon.
"You….", The mysterious man looked into their eyes,
Xia Xia heard the slang in novels, 'His desire burning through his eyes' but never seen it. If anything the intense gaze, felt perfect for the description.
"Yes?", She asked. Trying to calm down. Even if there was desire in those eyes, the recipient who made him so was probably not her.
maybe for her friend Li hua, the perfect girl.
Xia had a round face, with her hair completely wavy, her hip was bigger and that made her prone to comments like, 'Grandma, mother etc.', Her features, eyes, nose, neither were short and cute.
She stopped the train of thought. She always went into silly spirals about herself. The least she could do, was not hurt herself thinking.
"Are you perhaps a courtesan?", He asked.
Xia froze with this audacious question. What was this man trying to say?
"No.", She said and slowly went towards the room by bending under his arm.
"I am Rui, yeh bodyguard of your guest.", He said.
"Okay,", Now Xia was getting bad vibes from him.
He clearly gave off a vibe of a noble. Though he is a commoner. Perhaps… he works in the imperial guard? She had only seen military nobles carry themselves like that. Being a border city, she knew the officials habits by heart.
Nevertheless, he was dangerous. Despite his young age, she could see his scars, on his face and one appearing slightly near his neck.
She was conflicted, should she form a connect and get information or remain far.
Lord Shen could use the info, and it might be helpful for her as well. She smiled back at him,
"Nice to meet you, how long would you be staying with us?", She asked cutely.
Rui blushed severely, he knew this woman obviously can't be that courtesan. But the similar voice was just cruelly reminding him again.
"Half a year.", he said and left, his body was just growing harder and hotter. But he promised himself. He wouldn't dare repeat yesterday all over.
He grumbled and left to meet his spy, whom he had planted in this manor, specifically to know of Shen's whereabouts.
"Hmm, strange… wait, half a year?? Oh no. Poor Li huaaa, it's all my fault…", Xia Xia thought fervently.
She went inside to assist Ming yu.
She helped put on his clothes, and
"My lord, I was hoping, you wouldn't take that maid seriously. She was just shocked.", Xia Xia said, carrying on the apologetic message from Li hua.
"It's fine, I never meant to cause her distress. I liked her compliment. ", Ming yu said.
He was too tired. He asked for a meeting with Lord Shen and soon left for it.
Xia xia took her stuff and met Xiao near the storage house.
He informed her that today was a holiday and that she could rest.
Xia xia immediately ran to Mr.Chen.
She banged on his house door
"Mr.Chen mr.Chen!!! ", she screamed.
"Xia?? What are you doing here? ", a very fluster Chen, arranged his clothes properly and spoke to her.
"I ... Wanted to buy the blue fan which you imported from Kao Country. ", Xia Xia said.
"That one? It is really expensive though. Around 300 silvers.", Mr. Chen said.
" I will pay you! Could you make it 200!! Pleaseee!", She begged.
Mr. Chen chuckled such exorbitant discounts only she could demand.
He just looked at her, anyway it was a loss from the beginning.
The blue fan, he got belonged to the late princess of Kao, it was a famous treasure he had bought.
For an enormous expense of 1000 silvers.
He bought it on a whim, since it looked amazing and perfect for Xia.
"I will, don't worry. I better get the money in full or you will be my bride.", Mr.Chen said trying his best to make her realize.
But, xia was going to be dumb.
"thank you!!!!", She said and ran off to give the fan to Li hua.
She knew Chen's love towards her. But, her feelings towards him was that of a brother.
She didn't want to have that ugly confrontation and lose what they have going on.
Because she knows, that he knows of her feelings.
"Li hua, thank you for being born and being my best friend!", xia xia said and gave her present.
"Wow, this is so pretty... ", Li hua said.
"Of course, i brought one similar to its owner.", Xia xia said and soon bid good night.
She sat near the well and contemplated.
What was she even doing. Should she give up?
The fan had brought back many memories.
She was curious how Chen got hold of such an authentic piece, Yes, it was authentic.
She should know, after all she was the late princess.