Kapitel 10: Lady Queens
LADY WEI LI LIAN
PRINCESS LE-ANNE
LADY QUEENS' MANOR
"Your leg is too stiff." The princess reprimanded the girl who stood in front of her learning her twists. The girl knowingly extended her hand and squeezed her eyes shut, expectant of the pain that would follow. Le-anne stretched out her arm, her slim wooden rod pointing towards the sky and with all her might, she hit the girl hard.
"Aaaah..." the girl writhed in agony, stopping her tears from falling.
'Mistress Kei is the one to blame, for this is the only teaching method I know.' Le-anne smirked.
"Relax your hands when you twirl around." The princess said to another before she stretched her hand and repeated the previous punishment.
"These frivolous ladies are lacking," Le-anne shook her head with hopelessness and wiggled her finger, which signaled the musicians to stop playing the instruments.
Confidently, she walked to the front, dropped her rod and clicked her fingers twice before the music started again. Breathing in and out, she relaxed her mind and let the music take over. Her hands extended towards the sky as if in submission, the broad sleeves of her robes waving flamboyantly. Like a wind goddess, she swung her hands forth and effortlessly the rest of her body followed. Her feet fleetingly brushed the ground, still maintaining the lightness of a feather.
The crowd gasped in reverence.
"Her ladyship makes it look so easy..."
"She is beautiful..."
"Magnificent..."
Her body bent swiftly, swaying about like the wind was leading her. She was lost in the moment like she was free―free from her burdens, worries and responsibilities.
Left, right, left, her feet arched and tip tapped the ground. Increasing her pace made her seem like a graceful flapping bird flying abroad.
"A blooming lotus flower..." a familiar voice spoke and at these words, Le-anne spun around and suddenly came to a halt. The crowd was not slow in moaning out their disappointment, either.
"That's it!" The princess smiled and looked at Mistress Han who had been observing from the far end. Mistress Han was the mistress who was in charge of the manor's welfare. Le-anne was quite fond of the woman's pastel white skin that made her pink lips stand out.
"The Dancing Lotus Flower?" Mistress Han questioned with a puzzled look.
"Yes!" Princess Le-anne reached for the mistress' hands, "Mistress Han is a true poet."
"Her Ladyship praises me too much." Mistress Han simpered while batting her long eyelashes. Ideas were already buzzing in the princess' head. It's like Mistress Han had just removed whatever that was clogging her mind. Although they had trained so hard for the past few days, she had felt like they were going in circles but now they were gaining direction. They would call the dance 'Dancing Lotus Flower'.
"Her Ladyship is also a gifted young woman," Mistress Han complimented her. "When Lord Wei sent word that he would help me prepare for the Imperial Summer Festival dance, it never crossed my mind that he would send his precious daughter," she continued as she enclasped the princess' hand.
Princess Le-anne shrugged her shoulders and grinned. Her insides on the other side were doing the opposite. Although Mistress Han was ten summers older than her, they had easily bonded. Lying and being fake to a stranger was easy but doing it to someone who kept winning her heart was a challenge. For the first time after losing Nameless, there was someone she could call a friend but a wall of lies and deception stood between them. No matter how much they held hands with true friendship affection, a hedge still stood between them.
Mistress Han pulled her close and whispered, "But Lady Wei should stop beating my girls, most of them just became of age and are truly delicate."
The princess gave her an evil laugh and playfully pushed her away.
And Mistress Han's response? She moaned in defeat like a damsel in distress.
"May the ladies please take their positions," the princess spoke up, her tone sounding more authoritative as she picked her rod. "As I have told you before, I dance and you watch, then you dance and I watch," she smirked while approaching them again and they grumbled.
"Dance is an art and art is not copied. If I dance and you copy me, we will be the laughing stock of the Imperial City." She gave her lecture as she casually walked up and down. "When I danced, the Lady Queens were supposed to watch closely and now they must make that dance their own. Breathing in and out at the right moments is—"
The hairs on her back rose in apprehension and alarm bells rang in her head.
Intruder.
Someone had just jumped from the tree onto the back of the manor. Her body stiffened but still her face was expressionless.
"I wish to take a break," the girls breathed a sigh of relief at her proclamation, "Mistress Han shall take over from here." She walked away from the practising ladies and neared the back of the manor. Ai tried to follow her but she shook her head. She did not want to risk her life.
Without thinking twice, she took a sharp turn and saw a built man having his back towards her.
S.V
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
Sunset_Vermont
Sunset_Vermont I received a large number of collections yesterday. Thank you all for adding my story to your library, I hope you will keep reading this book till the end.
Kapitel 11: A Different Kind Of General
WEI LI LIAN
PRINCESS LE-ANNE
LADY QUEENS' MANOR
Without thinking twice, Princess Le-anne took a sharp turn and saw a built man having his back towards her. He turned around in panic, not expecting her and meteorically, she sprung him around and knocked him to the floor.
"Who dares to intrude this manor?" she adjured, her knees pressing onto his chest while her hand clenched his neck.
"Greetings to her Royal Highness..." he tried to speak.
"General Feng?" she frowned and pulled off the hat of his cloak. They had once met two years ago and until now he had not changed a bit. She loosened her grip and pulled him up.
"General Feng greets her..."
She put her finger on his lips to silence him. Looking around, she almost reached for his hand but retracted. He blushed at her touch, the only man who she had held hands with was Brother Hu-go and she intended to keep it that way. She waved her hand back and forth, gesturing him to shadow her.
They took the back entrance and snuck into one of the empty servants' room.
"General Feng greets―"
"Don't stand on ceremony."
"May her Royal Highness forgive me for meeting you this late, I could not find the right time."
"All is well, General is a busy man," the princess smiled kindly.
"Not busy to meet with her Royal Highness."
There is nothing that could beat General Feng's loyalty. For years his clan had served Huticah in secret. They were distant cousins of the royal family, her father had once told her. General Feng was tall in appearance and his body well-built and muscular which imposed fear but his face was one of kindness. He had coffee brown soft eyes, a squared jaw and wildly arched eyebrows. Any lady's heart would beat fast in his presence but Le-anne's did not falter.
"General Feng, if I fail to catch his Majesty's eye when we perform the Summer Festival dance, will another opportunity arise?"
He sheepishly stared at the floor. "Yes, your Royal Highness."
Of course, there would be but she was not a woman who easily missed the target. One shot had to go for the kill.
Awkward silence filled the small room.
"Is her Royal Highness comfortable here?" he questioned with concern eminent in his eyes.
"Mistress Han has been accommodating." She stopped herself from smiling. Mistress Han was definitely more accommodating compared to the sore Mistress Kei.
He seemed to debate with himself before speaking, "It would be wise if her Highness wears her veil at all times, especially when she gets into the palace." He shifted uncomfortably, taking account of her unmasked face.
This reminded her of her father.
"General Feng, can beauty be stolen?"
"No, your Highness," he responded precariously, "but it would make recognizing you easier for my men."
For his men? So it was not just her who was doing this. How many others were also spying the Nevorian palace? It seemed like she was not free from her father's controlling tactics and this made her obligations all the more burdensome.
"Very well, I shall honour your wish." She tried not to think much of it.
"Then I shall be on my way." He bowed, his fist by his waist. This was a salutation done by Huticah men.
"General Feng, please describe the Emperor for me." She stopped his departure.
"I don't think he is the man you'd like to understand... "
She repeated the question to him, determined to have some kind of picture in her mind.
"He is... respectable, cares for his people, follows the ways of his father than any teachings but also ruthless, fearless and short tempered. He is not a respecter of life." He answered quicker than she had expected.
An emperor who allowed slave trade obviously did not respect lives.
"One more thing."
"Anything for her Royal Highness."
"I have an assignment for you and I'm asking you to take this with as much seriousness as you can." Princess Le-anne turned around and looked at the wall, deep in thought. General Feng would surely be able to find the man who stole from her as enquiring about the General in charge of the Mountain Dura camp had to be kid's work for him.
Maybe finding her pendant would not be like looking for a needle in the hay, after all.
S.V
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