A dizzy Rui woke up, he had drooled all over. Disgusted and groggy he tried to make sense of his surroundings. He saw a glass fallen about, some books and papers.
He looked down, he was almost naked.
Realisation hit him, he had jerked off to sleep.
He felt embarrassed. He wanted to jump off of earth. His head hurt. It was like splitting his head.
He tried remembering where he was, and then he did.
….
Yesterday's events
He had been lazing about his room after being dismissed when a bunch of obvious bullies came around taking his stuff.
He asked of Rui's lineage and Yang lied, saying he was commoner from birth.
That's when he saw their eyes light up. He believed they would just normally haze him.
They tackled him and beat his hands with sticks. But they weren't satisfied. They wanted to make Rui flustered.
They were angry a mere bodyguard got way more comfortable room and clothes than them.
Not wanting to trouble Ming Yu, Rui just played along. He let them do what they wanted.
Military torture is way worse, so he could get by without suffering too much.
Then they took it too far.
They called along a new maid, who was very small, probably a kid.
They kept whispering something to her.
"Don't you want to know this man? I heard you were staring at him.", one of them, who seemed like the leader had said.
"Go on, apparently she likes you, don't you want to feel love?", one guy forced Rui to move forwards towards the maid,
Rui was now angered, he wasn't a stupid idiot. They wanted to embarrass this young girl. But forcing her to be like this was criminal. He tried protesting, but the leader of them, forced down a glass full of water.. down his throat.
He managed to spit out most of it, but he received a punch.
His body felt burning hot. Rui was afraid he took in a decent amount of poisonous substance.
His vision got blurry and he felt sick, a strong sense of desire rushed over his head. His senses clouded, his mind just had one simple demand.
Pleasure.
His dick throbbed, it was not good.
Those guys pushed the girl towards him and tried to stimulate him.
He had to reel in all of his strength to not take advantage of the situation.
By the time he could use his logic, he was doused in a bucket full of cold water.
After that everything was hazy, but he remembered one thing, him pullling a woman towards him, who had a pretty sweet smell around her.
He sighed, he owed that woman an apology, as she was the one who gave him the medicine required.
He groaned as he got up. His legs almost lost energy, he went and got freshed up and walked to meet the prince.
….
"Butler, are you not afraid of the percussion of this incident?", Xia asked him.
"I would ask them to resolve it among themselves, any action against them could be detrimental to Lord Shen.", The butler said.
"But!", Xia argued.
Her pleas fell on deaf ears. The butler wasn't going to budge.
She went to discuss this with Li hua,
…
"So, basically, those idiots put in horse aphrodisiac in the bodyguard of the guest?", li hua asked.
"Yes.", Xia replied.
"And, the bodyguard almost assaulted you….", Li hua said.
"Yes.. but he was under the influence…", Xia tried to say something, but she could already see the burning flames in Li hua's eyes.
She was happy that she was this much loved but the main issue was the last time something like this happened, Li hua was so furious she took a garden rake and stabbed the guy teasing Xia .
That was the first case of defamation faced by Li hua, after that it took a whole of energy to dissipate the rumours that she was a ferocious woman who drank the blood of commoners.
And on that very favour, those idiots were allowed inside the Manor.
"No, stop." Xia said.
"What do you mean?", Li hua said casually breaking a cup without cutting herself.
"Do you know you have a skill?", Xia said, looking at the poor broken glass which couldn't even hurt its destroyer.
"I will just talk to the,.", Li hua said and got up, pulling up her skirt most elegantly and ran away from Xia towards the guards station.
"Noooo Li huaaa!! I mean… my ladyyyyy!", Xia cursed at herself for telling all this.
Li hua paced across the hallways putting the nanny is visible shock. Her face had grown pale and she passed out from not breathing.
Thankfully there weren't many guests or the rumours would spread again like wildfire.
Li hua ran before ultimately stopping in front of those bullies.
"Good evening, milady.", they said slightly off.
"So, how is the work here?", She asked them.
"It's pretty well, thanks to your care.", the good for nothing bastard tried getting nearer to Li hua.
Li hua calmed down and breathed a few times coolly, the guard knew it was regarding yesterday's incident.
After all, Xiaxia was the famous maid who stuck up to nobles. The famous pet of baisheng's Duke.
"If it was that well, then do you care explaining your behaviour yesterday?", she said taking their sword and resting it on their neck effortlessly.
By this time, Xia Xia caught up with her.
Seeing her lady, catching the heavy sword with ease, made her feel very proud and very scared considering the amount of work and scoldings they would receive.
"My lady! Please!" Xia Xia tried getting her hand out of the sword but nope, Angry Li hua was stronger than the average soldier of Wu Empire.
Xia Xia gave up and stood a few feet away.
Li hua was beyond the point of return.
"Milady, what are you doing?", the guard under sword asked slightly laughing at the meek lady being brave.
"I asked, what was even going on in your head huh? Rats ate away your tongue or you can answer?" , She asked in the most informal manner. The nanny would have fainted in spot.
"Don't do this, leave our business alone, or the magistrate will stir things up regarding the tax of lord Shen… I hope you understand…. Even your beloved attack.", He threatened.
Li hua stopped for a moment, she considered and pondered whether murder really was the way or was that too easy? She had heard of them doing stuff like stealing a few food items and bullying. But this? Coming towards the guests of Shen, her precious friend and actively endangering the life of a maid? It was too vile, if they weren't reminded of who the boss was, they would even try murdering someone.
Li hua slashed against his face and blinded his left eye. He screamed with pain and fell to the floor.
"Youuu…. You.. will pay for this!", they said and ran out the station.
Li hua glared at the rest there who turned away their heads.
Xia Xia froze, this was not what she had expected but nevertheless, she wasn't the one to judge. She ran towards her and offered her a handkerchief to clean away the blood.
She was afraid Li hua might be too scared to move,
But coming near she saw a beaming Li hua.
"I did good right?", she asked.
"What?" , Xia asked wiping off the blood from her chin.
"He can never look at women properly now, I should have taken the right too, but I didn't want to pay any compensation.", she said. (A complete blind person required a medical aid fees from the person who blinded them) she knew this from the last time she attacked the robbers.
"What if he tattles to his father?", Xia asked.
"Did you forget?", Li hua asked.
"What?",
"I have a father too.", Li hua said. She pulled Xiaxia and made her way to the main courtyard of Shen Manor.
"Did you see that?", Rui asked the prince.
"Yes, is that how normal ladies behave?", the prince asked.
"Wow, she should have been a soldier with all that strength under those heavy garments, just imagine how ruthless she would be with proper training!", Rui exclaimed in marvel. He made a mental note not to ever confront the Lady of Shen.
The prince and Rui were on their way to confront those men. They had already decided to get rid of them if they weren't apologetic.
After all they were just being a burden on Mother Earth.
"I suppose we misssed our chance to serve justice.", the prince commented.
"Yes, Let's go back , or your wound will open up.", Rui said assisting him back to his room.
Rui looked at the shadows of the maid and the lady leave, he needed to apologise for his undignified act.
….
"Lord, we should find out more information, so, shall I post a commission with the Spider Clan?", Xiao asked his master.
"No, I heard the new information guild has great connections with the capital? Go as 'Bao' and get information on the whereabouts of the Empress's brother.", Shen said.
The door flew open and Xiao immediately hid behind the screen.
"Father! I am sorry!", Li hua threw herself on her father wailing.
"What happened dear?", he asked with a sweet filled voice with sent shivers travelling through the spines of both the servants, Xiao and XiaXia.
"I…. Hurt the son of the magistrate.", she said sniffing , her face asking to that of a rabbit.
Xia Xia couldn't believe her friends great acting skills. She tried not to laugh so many times.
"That guy? It's okay, why would I even care about that… did you get hurt?", Lord Shen asked.
"No, he was very rude with me!", Li hua said looking all pouty and angry.
"There, there. I am here my darling, I'll manage it… here, go buy yourself some more books!", Lord Shen said giving the box of money from his desk.
Xiaxia almost screamed. The box had more than 1 billion silvers worth money. As her monthly wages are just about 100 silvers with an additional 200 silvers for her spy work… she sniffled as she saw the casual transaction of 1 billion silvers.
"Thank you, papa.", li hua kissed her fathers check and got up.
A single glance from Lord Shen made Xiaxia stiffen up, though he was very lovable with her, she was reminded not to take him lightly as she is still his servant.
He held onto her secret with a tight leash around her. The royalty of the fallen clan were traitors now, her secret being known will just lead her to die.
Xiaxia was pulled away by Lihua and they went out to waste the said billion on beautiful portraits of the princes of Wu kingdom.
"Xiao, find those idiots.", Lord Shen asked.
"But, my lord, getting onto the magistrate's bad side…. Is it worth it?", Xiao asked.
"I said, get me them.", Lord Shen said sipping some tea.
In half hour, those five men, were blindfolded, handcuffed and placed in the warehouse.
They all shivered with the eerie crackling of flame.
"Open their blindfold", The voice of lord Shen broke through the thoughts of imminent doom.
"So, you had the guts to touch my daughter?", he asked.
"No… we didn't!" , they pleaded.
"So, you mean my daughter lied to me?", he asked.
"Yes, in fact she was the one who blinded me!" He spoke up.
"Hmmm, it seems she was too kind. She only took out one! How funny is that…." Lord Shen laughed.
"What do you mean…. My lord?", they looked at him with fear.
"I would say you deserved it since you looked at her.",
"Xiao, what is the easiest way to punish them without leaving evidence?", Shen continued
"I was going to dislocate, their arms and legs, my lord.", Xiao said.
"Very well, do it and make sure they are found in the common room. Make it appear as though it was an inside job from the commoners and get some dirt on this idiot's father, the magistrate is quite old, we need to change it… after all how long can one hold power after they hurt my daughter?", he said and walked away and Xiao order a few more men to carry out the 'punishment.'
He had seen Lord Shen be benevolent to even murderers, but he was completely ruthless and akin to the devil, when the matters came to his family. Xiao sighed thinking about his upcoming fate.