Chapter 40: Kidnapping
As Da Ying watched Wen Wan leave her pavilion, an evil smile appeared on her angelic face. Who was Wen Wan to stop her. Whatever she wanted, she would get it, including Liu Xi Feng.
Ban Shiang and Bai Zhi immediately rushed over to her. "My lady, should we teach her a lesson?" Ban Shiang was the first to suggest. Just seeing that two faced woman made Ban Shiang's blood boil. With one word, she would silence Wen Wan.
Da Ying put her hand up, "Let her be arrogant. She only has so long." Da Ying was not offended or angered at Wen Wan's warning. She was rather amused. This made her want to take Xi Feng away from Wen Wan that much more.
Wen Wan did not head back to her room but her mother's. The moment the doors were closed, she slammed her hand on the table and started fuming. "Wan'er, what's wrong with you?" Empress Mei Wu asked concerned. Wen Wan looked. "Mother, I hate her. I hate seeing my father's useless daughter,"
"Wan'er, be patient. We've already watched over her for a while now. She is no threat to you. Why are you getting so worked up?" This calming technique of her mother only made her angrier. "Mother, you must take care of her immediately. I don't care if she is useless, I hate seeing her ugly face," Wen Wan had to admit, if Da Ying wasn't more beautiful that her, she would not be this irritated. She had always been praised for her goddess like face. Now that she had Da Ying competing with her, she could not take it.
Empress Mei Wu sat down and patted Wen Wan's hands lightly. "Okay my good daughter, I will do as you wish," Empress Mei Wu whispered something into Wen Wan's ears. The moment Wen Wan understood what her mother wanted to do, she sneered evily.
Who knew Wen Wan would be so eager to put her plan into action. Early morning, she had sent her maid Yin'er over to Da Ying's Thousand Lotus. Ban Shiang and Bai Zhi rolled their eyes the moment they saw Yin'er's shadow. "Wen Wan gongzhu has invited Da Ying gongzhu to go shopping with the rest of the ladies this afternoon. Inform her," Yin'er rudely relayed the message. Ban Shiang was about to give Yin'er a piece of her mind when Bai Zhi held her back. "Tell Wen Wan gongzhu that I will inform my lady. If she declines, we will let you know," Bai Zhi replied back. Yin'er didn't even reply back as she quickly turned away. She had already delivered the message, whatever they did next, she didn't care. It would be better if she didn't show up.
Ban Shiang turned towards Bai Zhi. "Why didn't you let me teach that stupid girl a lesson?"
"Ban Shiang, remember what gongzhu said. Do not create unnecessary problem. It'll be more difficult for us in the long run," the sensible Bai Zhi reminded Ban Shiang.
When Da Ying got the news, she wasn't surprised. "Gongzhu, are you going to go?"
Da Ying calmly said one word, "Going."
"Gongzhu, you clearly know this is a trap. Why must we go?" Ban Shiang anxiously asked.
"Simple. Liu Yi will be there which means that Liu Xi Feng will be there,"
As predicted, the moment Da Ying arrived at Wen Wan's place; Yueli, Yu'er, Liu Yi and Liu Xi Feng were there. She had expected Liu Xi Feng to be there. There was no way Wen Wan would not invite Liu Yi, her future sister-in-law. However, she was not expecting an extra person…Qin Xie De. Seeing him from afar, she felt awkward. She didn't know how to act or what to say in front of him.
On the other hand, Yueli and Yu'er didn't say anything when they saw Da Ying but their face showed their dissatisfaction. Of course they would have said some nasty words if their crush Xie De wasn't there. They could only swallow their dissatisfaction.
"Jie jie," Wen Wan walked over to Da Ying, holding onto her arm. "I'm glad you came. It's been a long time since you last shopped with us,"
"En," Da Ying smiled sweetly back at her.
"Since everyone is here, let's head out," a cheerful Wen Wan said.
When they got outside, a spacious carriage, enough to fit them all was waiting outside for them. On each side of the carriage door stood Xie De and Xi Feng. The two gentlemen held onto each girls hands as they stepped on the stepstool and into the carriage. One by one, each girl went in. Yueli and Yu'er could barely contain their excitement. To hold Xie De's hand was a dream come true for them. Sadly it was not a wish for Da YIng.
Da Ying was the last one. The only one Xie De was looking forward to holding hands with. Even if it was a few seconds. Slowly Da Ying made her way towards the two men. "Da Ying gongzhu, it's been a while," Xie De greeted her.
"Greetings to the Duke of Lan," she coldly replied back. He let out a soft chuckle. He didn't mind this cold attitude of hers. He was used to it. Xie De put his hand out for Da Ying to hold for support. Once again, she made him chuckle. She had actually turned her head towards Xi Feng, completely ignoring Xie De's chivalrous action. "I'll have to bother you Young Master Feng," Da Ying sweetly smiled at Xi Feng, placing her hand in his. "Are you feeling better?" he asked.
"Much better, thank you,"
As Xie De watched this 3 second conversation, his face turned green. How long have these two known each other? How come he hadn't known about it? Just thinking about how sweet she was to Xi Feng, Xie De badly wanted to punch Xi Feng a few times.
The carriage soon arrived as it parked at the end of the streets. Once again, each girl was helped down by Xie De and Xi Feng. Xie De wasn't going to make the same mistake. The moment he saw that Da Ying was going to ignore him again, he reached forward, grabbing her hand. Da Ying surprisingly looked at him as if about to scold him. "Let me help you down," he sweetly said holding her hands tight. To feel her tiny hands in his palm, Xie De felt a bit happier.
The city streets were bursting with people. The lively music and cheerful chattering made the girls burst with excitement. It had been such a long time since they had been out. To see so many shopping stalls and people made their inner childish heart content. Compared to the palace, the streets of Southern Han was like freedom. Freedom where married couples could hold hands, kids could run around and woman could laugh as loud as they wanted. A dream only a royal member could dream of.
The four women led by Wen Wan were mainly interested in jewelry only. Xie De and Xi Feng were following closely behind. At every shop, they would stop and look at hairpins. "Xi Feng'gege, does this look good on me?" Wen Wan held up a pearl hairpin, placing it in her hair. She looked innocently at Xi Feng, waiting for an answer. "It looks very good on you,"
Yueli and Yu'er were also eager to get their crush's attention. Each of them grabbed a hairpin and did the same thing towards Xie De. "It matches you two very much. Does Da Ying gongzhu have one she would like to buy?" Xie De shifted his attention to Da Ying. Da Ying had just been standing at the side, not looking at the hairpins once. She had no time for these childish goods. "None of these suit me,"
"Oh?" Xie De walked over to the stall surprised. Every hairpin looked good. He imagined them in her hair. All perfect. Da Ying watched as he picked up a simple jade hairpin from the bunch. "Young man, you have good eyes. That is made of the finest jade," the shopkeeper said. He wasn't lying. It may be simple and overlooked by women like Wen Wan but the jade quality was remarkable. "I'll take this one," he tossed a silver ingot at the shopkeeper.
Xie De turned to Da Ying. She didn't know what his intentions were. If she did, she would have reacted. Maybe she secretly knew his intentions...it was just she didn't want to admit it. Maybe she had secretly wanted that hairpin.
Da Ying's eyes never left Xie De's face, even as he leaned over, placing the hairpin in her hair. Matter of fact, she felt her heart skip a beat. "This one suits you," he looked down, meeting her eyes.
"Thank you for the gift but i don't deserve it," Da Ying quickly removed the hairpin, stretching her arm to him. "I don't want it. It is yours now. Do as you please with it," with that, Xie De walked away from her. The whole time, Yueli and Yu'er were watching with envy. They were both thinking the same thing, why wasn't it them?
After about an hour, Wen Wan made a stop at a dress shop right across a tea house. "Cousin, young master Xi Feng, us girls are going to try on some dresses. Can you wait for us at the tea house?" Wen Wan asked innocently. The two men understood her meaning. They were probably too shy to shop for dresses with them around. "Okay. We'll be in the front. Hurry so we can have lunch after,"
"Okay," Liu Yi held onto Wen Wan's arm as the two of them went into the store first.
Back at the tea house, Xi Feng and Xie De were sitting at the table right outside the tea house. Now that it was just the two of them, Xie De could finally ask his question. "Eh, Feng, how did you meet Da Ying gongzhu?" he tried not to sound so anxious but Xi Feng could read it all over his face. Xi Feng let out a teasing laughter. "Brother Xie De, we only met by accident once. Don't worry, I'm not taking her from you," he put his hand on Xie De's shoulder, reassuring him that he had no intentions towards Da Ying.
Thirty minutes had passed and the four ladies finally got out of the store. The moment they got out; two scrubby bearded men approached them. "Young ladies are you here shopping alone?" the taller of the two asked in a coquettish voice. "No, we are here with our brother," Yueli who sensed danger quickly blurted.
"Where?" the other man asked. Not believing her.
"They are at the next store," Yueli pointed. The two men turned, it was empty. They both laughed before taking a step closer to the ladies. "Really? I think you are lying to us. Why don't we have a drink and get to know each other. Maybe we can become your brothers." the tall man suggested.
After a few more minutes of trying to get the ladies to have a drink with them, they got annoyed. The tall one pointed at each of them. "I am the leader of the Tiger gang. I've even lowered my status to be patient with you four. Don't say that I wasn't being a gentleman. Whoever I want, I will have," he shouted.
By the time Xie De and Xi Feng realized what was going on, Da Ying had been thrown onto the leader's shoulder while Wen Wan was carried away by the other.
"Help us! Xie De'gege! Xi Feng'gege!" all the girls screamed for help. Xie De and Xi Feng quickly rushed over. The two rugged men had gone separate ways. Xie De and Xi Feng looked at each other before separating ways. One went after Wen Wan while the other towards Da Ying.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
SoaringSoul
SoaringSoul ***So I've been having writer's block these past few days. And I didn't want to post new chapters that I wouldn't be satisfied with. So I do apologize for that.
***I'll try to do 1 chapter a day if time permits.
***Lastly, I'll for sure post the next chapter tomorrow. I'm sure you all are curious as to who is saving our Da Ying Gongzhu ^_^
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone