Chapter 5: The Girl From A Year Ago
"Mi Hou," Wan Xin exclaimed from excitement, "it really is you." She was practically jumping up and down like an enticed puppy, unable to hold back her joy, "you remembered me. You know who I am."
"Shh," Liu Ding Yiu put a finger over her lips, signalling Wan Xin to keep her voice down. "Mi Hou is my name in the underworld. Never use it outside of underworld business." She looked over Wan Xin, "does it hurt where that maid hit you?"
"I understand Xiaojie," Wan Xin replied happily, "and I'm fine. It was just one hit so it doesn't hurt now."
"Good," Liu Ding Yiu said, "let me do something first before we talk."
Wan Xin obediently skipped along behind her 'original' Xiaojie. No words could describe her joy from reuniting with this version of Liu Ding Yiu. [I'm relieved to be able to see her again], Wan Xin grinned, [I can finally start repaying her for saving my life a year ago]. A thought then crossed Wan Xin's mind and it bothered her slightly, [how and why did Xiaojie's two personality suddenly switch?]
Back at the garden hut, Liu Ding Yiu had finished washing her face. She smiled at her pretty reflection, free of the hideous makeup. "My face feels alive again," Liu Ding Yiu said, now turning to see a still smiling Wan Xin. [This girl hasn't changed much in a year. Except, she's definitely way too happy to see me]. "Wan Xin," Liu Ding Yiu teased, "aren't your cheeks tired from grinning like that all the time?"
"I can't help it," Wan Xin started, "Xiaojie, it's been a year since I saw you. Coping with Meng Su was an onerous task. It was frustrating when I entered Ping Tian Palace barely knowing what to do or where to find you. Then when I finally found you, I was confused and disappointed the one I met wasn't you but-"
"My other personality, Xiao Yiu," Liu Ding Yiu finished for Wan Xin. "You accepted her rather easily."
"Because both are Liu Ding Yiu," Wan Xin stated. "Both are my Xiaojie."
Liu Ding Yiu smiled, [seems I wasn't wrong to give her a chance a year ago. Wan Xin is indeed sincere].
"Xiaojie, what happened to you in the past year?" Wan Xin couldn't help but blurt out all the questions, "why are you here in Ping Tian Palace? Does Meng Su know your plans? How does your split personality work? Why doesn't your other personality recognise me?"
Liu Ding Yiu clasped her hand over Wan Xin's mouth to stop her from asking further questions. "Be patient," Ding Yiu requested, "I will tell you all you need to know."
Wan Xin nodded, taking a seat opposite Liu Ding Yiu.
"First," Ding Yiu said with a serious look on her face, "stop calling me Xiaojie. Call me Ding Ding."
"But Xiaojie, it's not proper for me to-"
"Meng Su always calls me Ding Ding too," Ding Yiu revealed. "Besides, it's irritating if you're always so formal around me."
"Only when we're alone then," Wan Xin stubbornly decided. She could see Ding Yiu pouting, but Wan Xin felt this was the correct decision. It wasn't that she didn't want to be closer to Liu Ding Yiu, Wan Xin just didn't want to forget her reason for being here.
"How much has Meng Su told you?" Ding Yiu directly asked. [Knowing Meng Su though, she probably skipped a lot of important details].
"Meng Su told me the reason you're involved in the underworld business is to find out the truth about your mother's death," Wan Xin recalled, "your real identity is the eldest daughter of Merchant Liu. She mentioned you have two personalities. Your second personality called Xiao Yiu and there's also you." Wan Xin gave Ding Yiu the red pouch with Meng Su's written paper in. "she also gave me this confusing thing."
Ding Yiu read Meng Su's note and couldn't help but giggle. [Typical of Meng Su], Ding Yiu thought, ripping the paper to pieces. "Listen Wan Xin," Ding Yiu spoke, "me and Meng Su call my second personality Xiao Yiu. You've already met her."
"Yes," Wan Xin confirmed, "she's almost the complete opposite to you. She also doesn't seem to know me or Meng Su."
"That's because Xiao Yiu doesn't have any of my memories," Ding Yiu informed, "she isn't aware of the underworld. She only knows her mother died and her father remarried. That she is now considered a daughter of the Liu family."
"Then she hasn't met Meng Su? " Wan Xin queried. "Isn't it a bad thing she barely knows anything?"
"No," Ding Yiu stated. "She is the key to my survival in certain situations. The less she knows the better."
"I don't understand," Wan Xin honestly said.
"The underworld is a dangerous place. For someone like me who trades in intelligence, I'll eventually gain enemies," Ding Yiu explained, "to ensure I don't reveal information to the wrong people, Xiao Yiu is necessary." Ding Yiu paused for a few seconds, "no matter how good a person can act and pretend, if they know something, they know. Under the right amount of pressure, anyone can get you to speak."
"Because Xiao Yiu has none of your memories, she knows nothing. There simply isn't any information she can reveal to others," Wan Xin understood. "Then, does Xiao Yiu only appear when you need to avoid an enemy?"
"When I'm in control, most of the time I can decide when to switch with Xiao Yiu," Ding Yiu continued to explain, "However, when Xiao Yiu is in control, it's only when she's in danger or need help that she switches with me."
"That's insane," Wan Xin remarked, "we can't constantly put Xiao Yiu in danger for her to switch with you. Isn't there another way?" [Although, Meng Su's note now makes a lot of sense].
"I'm not aware there is another way," Ding Yiu affirmed, "but this isn't a bad thing. Xiao Yiu is unexpectedly a decent survivor." An amused look appeared on Ding Yiu's face, "there were countless times I've managed to benefit from the things she's done, when I myself may never have made that choice."
Wan Xin could only nod. She hated the idea that once Ding Yiu chooses to switch with Xiao Yiu, it would be difficult to get them to switch back again. [I can't sulk about this too much], Wan Xin thought, [I've still got so many more questions]. "Does Xiao Yiu know you exist? Just like how you know of Xiao Yiu's existence," Wan Xin quizzed.
"Xiao Yiu doesn't seem to know. I think she may have some suspicions," Ding Yiu answered, "I may have Xiao Yiu's memories, but I'm still not her. I don't have her thoughts or her feelings. To me, Xiao Yiu is a strange existence. At times, it feels like I am her. But at other times I feel like she's a complete stranger."
"Don't worry Ding Ding," Wan Xin assured, "now that I'm here, I'll take good care of Xiao Yiu. I'll tell you anything you don't know about her."
[Wan Xin is quite cute], Ding Yiu thought, liking how Wan Xin is calling her Ding Ding. She considered Wan Xin's words for a moment, [Indeed it would be useful if I knew more about Xiao Yiu. I may have all of Xiao Yiu's memories so I know what she's done but, I don't understand her. I don't feel or think the same as her]. "Wan Xin, I'll leave Xiao Yiu in your care then," Ding Yiu confirmed.
"Yes," Wan Xin smiled, "speaking of Xiao Yiu, why did she suddenly switch with you? Was she in danger?"
"I'm not sure myself," Ding Yiu lied. [It's actually because Xiao Yiu was desperate to help you that she switched with me]. She stretched her hand out towards Wan Xin, [I can never let Wan Xin know this. Wan Xin would just put herself in danger if she knew there is a chance Xiao Yiu would switch with me]. Ding Yiu flicked Wan Xin's forehead, "enough of this talk. I'm bored and we need to do something more important now that I'm finally out."
Wan Xin rubbed her forehead, holding back her complaint. She watched Ding Yiu rummage around in a wooden box that contained some clothes. "Ding Ding, what are you doing?"
"Finding my maid outfit," Ding Yiu replied pulling out a maid's outfit that looked exactly the same as the one Wan Xin was wearing. "We're sneaking out of here."
[That's right, I almost forgot we're currently in Ping Tian Palace], Wan Xin realized, "wait Ding Ding, you're a consort. Surely people would recognize..." Wan Xin didn't bother finishing her sentence. [No one would recognize Ding Ding. People here think Xiao Yiu's hideous makeup look is her real face. The difference is too big for anyone to notice they are the same person. However], Wan Xin snatched the maid outfit away from Ding Yiu, "before we go anywhere, explain to me why you've ended up marrying Prince Ping. Is there a reason you've entered Ping Tian Palace?"
[She's gotten a little bold], Ding Yiu noted, attempting to grab her disguise outfit back. "Wan Xin, why are you asking me these questions? Stop playing around. I want to get out of here fast."
"Just answer me," Wan Xin demanded, holding onto Ding Yiu's clothes tightly. "You said you have Xiao Yiu's memories. You should know how badly she's treated here. I can't forgive that."
"Oh. Good point," Ding Yiu agreed, as if suddenly realising this fact. "Even though Xiao Yiu isn't me, she is still kind of me. I shouldn't sit back and let her be bullied like this."
Wan Xin nodded, "So why did you become Consort Liu in the first place. I can't help unless I know the full story."
Ding Yiu pouted. Sitting back down at the table she propped her chin up with one hand. She looked annoyed, "you need to ask Xiao Yiu this question, not me."
"Xiao Yiu...." Wan Xin repeated, and an image of Xiao Yiu staring at Prince Ping this morning came back to Wan Xin. There was a sense of dread, "could Xiao Yiu be... in love with Prince Ping? Ding Ding, are you-"
"Obviously no," Ding Yiu sternly interrupted before Wan Xin could finish asking the question. "I can't say about Xiao Yiu, but I'm not pleased with this current situation either," Ding Yiu muttered. "To make a long story short, the marriage to Prince Xia Qian Ping was decreed by the Emperor himself. Going through Xiao Yiu's memories, I can't figure out the reason why the Emperor suddenly arranged for this marriage." Ding Yiu exhaled, "ultimately, Xiao Yiu agreed and went through with it. If I was able to switch, I would have come up with a plan to run away."
"Can't we run away now?" Wan Xin prompted.
"I considered that the one time I was able to switch after entering Ping Tian Palace," Ding Yiu admitted, "but the way things are, it's difficult. To the world, Liu Ding Yiu is already Prince Ping's consort. The punishment for a consort running away outweighs any benefits I may get." Ding Yiu exhaled again, "although my situation could've been far worse than it is."
"This is already the worst situation," Wan Xin couldn't help but voice her opinion.
"At least Xiao Yiu isn't favoured by Prince Ping, so I don't have to deal with him or his other consorts," Ding Yiu pointed out, "it's to my advantage too that people here tend to ignore Xiao Yiu."
"But the way they treat her is unacceptable," Wan Xin raised her voice, clearly upset. "If I knew everything, I would've acted differently. I wouldn't have allowed her to get humiliated and pushed around. If I-" [No, that isn't it], Wan Xin clenched a fist, [I never properly accepted Xiao Yiu to begin with. I kept hoping she wasn't the Liu Ding Yiu I was searching for. A part of me didn't want to accept, so I didn't give it my all to defend her...]
Ding Yiu reached out, clasping Wan Xin's face in her hands. She could tell Wan Xin was feeling guilty and that Wan Xin was about to cry. "Silly girl. It's fine if you give it your all to serve me and look after Xiao Yiu from now on," Ding Yiu assured, knowing the exact words Wan Xin needed to hear to calm down. Seeing Wan Xin determinedly nod, Ding Yiu took the chance to take back her outfit. She quickly moved away from Wan Xin to get changed.
[From now on, I won't let you or Xiao Yiu down], Wan Xin promised. Regaining her composure, Wan Xin continued to ask more questions, "Ding Ding, do you know why Xiao Yiu is so hated here? It seems more complicated than just having an ugly appearance and not being favoured by the prince."
Ding Yiu emerged fully changed into her maid's outfit, "from her memories, it looks like she was framed for possessing a cursed doll. The cursed doll had Consort Zhou's name on. Whoever did this was trying to set Xiao Yiu up to look like she was cursing Consort Zhou."
"Do you know who the real culprit is?" Wan Xin questioned.
"I had no time to solve this case," Ding Yiu confessed, "I just know Xiao Yiu was banished to the cold palace by Prince Ping. She's not allowed to set foot in the main palace grounds, nor be near the Prince or Consort Zhou."
"No wonder she's been treated this way," Wan Xin uttered, unable to believe what Xiao Yiu had been through. The act of cursing someone was evil and greatly loathed. In most cases the punishment for the act was death. "Ding Ding, we need to clear Xiao Yiu's name as soon as possible..."
With no warning, Ding Yiu had sprinted out of the garden hut, leaving a frantic Wan Xin to run after her.
"Ding Ding, where are you going? Were you listening to me?" Wan Xin shouted running after a sprinting Ding Yiu. "Xiaojie, please wait."
Ding Yiu stopped to wait for Wan Xin. She pouted, [she called me Xiaojie again].
"Where are we going?" Wan Xin asked again, catching up to Ding Yiu.
"Out of Ping Tian Palace," Ding Yiu announced, "I've got underworld business to attend to."
Presently on the other side of Ping Tian Palace, walking through one of the smaller luxurious gardens, situated close to the study room was none other than Prince Ping, accompanied by his best friend Sima Heng, and close servant Sixi.
Sima Heng was the only son of the Northern Marquis, who had recently gained some importance in the imperial court. Having grown up with Prince Ping, the two naturally became the closest of friends. In fact, Sima Heng was one of the few people who dared anger and challenge Prince Ping. He knew full well Prince Ping valued their friendship as he did. The two often quickly reconciling any differences they had. As such, Heng was never shy to be cheeky around Qian Ping, who could only endure or wish Sima Heng would act more mature and leave him alone.
Sixi on the other hand has served Prince Ping from a young age. He is now considered the highest ranking servant in Ping Tian Palace, being Prince Ping's personal and most trusted servant.
"Qian Ping," Sima Heng said, pointing to the distance where some maids were running around. "There appears to be some commotion over there."
"Sixi," Prince Ping called, and Sixi immediately left to gather information.
"What do you think is going on?" Heng wondered.
"We'll find out when Sixi returns," Prince Ping calmly spoke.
It wasn't long when Sixi came running back, "your highness, it seems Madam Xiong is searching for a runaway maid. Should I look into this further?"
"No need," Prince Ping said, "it's just a trivial matter. Let Madam Xiong deal with it."
"Are you sure?" Heng asked, "It's not like you to let a 'runaway' go so easily."
"What are you referring to?" Prince Ping eyed Heng. He half dreaded asking because he could sense Heng was about to start teasing him.
"You know," Heng smirked, leaning in to Qian Ping, "I'm referring to that girl who ran away a year ago after asking for your help. You've not stopped searching for her all this time. Makes me think you've got some feelings for her."
"Of course I have feelings for her," Qian Ping declared, "the feeling of eternal anger. May I remind you how that girl offended me?"
"Please no," Heng held up his hand, "I've heard that story at least once per month for the past year. It's gotten to the point where even I pray that you find her soon."
"But Heng, if you were at the scene…."
"Ah, look at the time Qian Ping," Heng interrupted before Qian Ping could start narrating his story again. "I should take my leave for the day. I will come by to see you tomorrow."
"You're leaving?" Qian Ping queried, eyeing Heng, "did you not come back with me to play chess?"
Heng stood still, thinking for a moment. [I do want to play chess. But now that I've triggered that topic, I won't ever hear the end of it. Best leave now]. "We'll play tomorrow," Heng said running away before Qian Ping could stop him.
Watching Heng run off, Qian Ping shook his head. [Idiot Heng. He had to remind me of that girl], Qian Ping sighed, [every time I remember that girl my mood is ruined. She better not be found by me in all this lifetime. I honestly don't know what I will do to her]. "Sixi," Qian ping said, "arrange for a maid to wait on me in the study room. I'll be working for the rest of the night."
Sixi nodded, heading off to make the arrangements as Qian Ping entered the study room.
At the same time, hiding behind some rock sculptures near the study room area was Ding Yiu and Wan Xin.
"How annoying," Ding Yiu cursed, "I never thought that grizzly bear would be searching for you. Wan Xin, just what did you do to make her so angry?"
Wan Xin held in a giggle, hearing Ding Ding call Madam Xiong a grizzly bear. That name suited her too well. "I was late yesterday morning," Wan Xin explained, "Then I ran off to look for you instead of working diligently at the laundry house. You then saved me from getting punished. It must've hurt her pride or something like that."
"Damn that grizzly bear. This is making it almost impossible for us to sneak out," Ding Yiu carefully looked around, considering all available options. [Wan Xin will easily get caught. There's a slight chance people will notice they've never seen me before, but if I'm careful enough...] She glanced at Wan Xin who was silent next to her. It seems Wan Xin didn't have any bright ideas to offer. [Can't waste this opportunity after I've finally switched with Xiao Yiu]. Ding Yiu was determined. "Wan Xin, let's separate."
"Xiaojie..." Wan Xin wanted to protest, but knew it was better to listen to Ding Yiu. "Where should I meet you?"
Ding Yiu thought hard. [Madam Xiong knows Wan Xin is with Xiao Yiu. She must have people waiting near the garden hut. We we're lucky to have left before they started searching for Wan Xin. But where should we meet....] Ding Yiu closed her eyes, trying to go through Xiao Yiu's memories. She herself wasn't too familiar with Ping Tian Palace, since it was Xiao Yiu who spent most of the past months here. [That place should do...] Ding Yiu spoke seriously, "Wan Xin, try and get out of Ping Tian Palace. If you manage to get out, then we'll meet where Meng Su is. If you can't get out of Ping Tian Palace, make sure you aren't caught. We'll meet at the place where Xiao Yiu spies on Prince Ping each morning."
"I understand," Wan Xin nodded, letting Ding Yiu make a head start to escape. [With all the other maids and servants searching for me, I don't think I can make it out of Ping Tian Palace], Wan Xin contemplated, [it's probably safest for me to wait for Ding Ding on that tree]. Wan Xin moved, making her way towards her destination.
A little distance outside the study room, slowing down her pace to not look suspicious was Ding Yiu. She was lost. The garden she was walking through now wasn't the biggest, but was certainly well-maintained and still luxurious. It was very tranquil as well. [Xiao Yiu hasn't been here before], Ding Yiu thought, not recognising the place from Xiao Yiu's memories. If Ding Yiu hadn't tried to avoid running into some maids and went down a different path, she shouldn't have gotten lost.
"You there," a voice from behind Ding Yiu called.
Ding Yiu held back a sigh. She hoped she wouldn't run into anyone, but guess her luck was rather bad tonight. She turned to see a servant holding a tray of tea in his hands. [That face looks familiar...] Ding Yiu searched through Xiao Yiu's memories. She walked forward, put on a polite smile, "greetings, Head Sixi."
"Just the right timing," Sixi said, handing the tray of tea to Ding Yiu, "Prince Ping requires a maid to wait on him in the study room. Follow me."
Ding Yiu froze. Fate had just taken an unexpected turn.
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