Capítulo 18: You’re An Idiot
"This girl is with me," Heng told the guard, "she's not someone suspicious."
The right sentry gave Ding Yiu another long look. "Master Heng, unless you be clearer on the identity of this girl, we won't allow her to-"
"Step aside," a voice called from within Zheng Palace.
The sentries turned around to greet Jing Ke who rushed out as soon as he saw Heng and Ding Yiu. "This girl is Ding Xiaojie. She is Prince Ping's important guest. Remember her face and allow her access next time," Jing Ke instructed. "You two come with me."
Heng and Ding Yiu followed a briskly paced Jing Ke inside. He appeared to be in a hurry.
"It's probably not a good time for you to come here," Jing Ke spoke, "Prince Ping is rather angry right now." He stopped just before entering the main seating room. He looked at Ding Yiu, "Ding Xiaojie, if it's not urgent business, may I suggest for you to come visit the prince another time."
"It is urgent," Heng butted in. "what's happened this morning?"
Jing Ke took a glance at Ding Yiu. She may have saved his and Prince Ping's life, but he didn't know how much Prince Ping trusted her. Jing Ke wasn't sure if Ding Yiu was a person he could freely speak in front of, like with Heng and Sixi.
As though sensing Jing Ke's internal dilemma, Ding Yiu said, "don't worry about me. I already know," before walking straight into the main seating room. Seeing an angry Prince Ping, she couldn't keep a mocking smile from forming on her face. His sitting posture was upright and stiff. He was deep in thought; his irate eyes staring intensely at the ground somewhere. Ding Yiu deliberately stepped into his field of vision.
"Who is..." Prince Ping began with an angry tone that faded instantly at the sight of Ding Yiu. He couldn't look away from her. Uncontrollably, his gaze wandered from her familiar, distinct face to her slightly exposed collarbones which made his cheeks flush. He quickly looked away but couldn't suppress his thoughts, [such an indecent dress. She's exposing too much. Why isn't she wearing the usual maid's outfit? This is too much for me...this is...] He swallowed, [she's...beautiful....] Getting himself together, Prince Ping stood up, reached for his cloak and swiftly swung it around Ding Yiu.
"I'm not cold," Ding Yiu bluntly expressed, confounded by Prince Ping's sudden action.
"Wear it or I'll lock you up in prison," Prince Ping warned, tying the cloak's knot tightly. He nodded as soon as he saw her fully covered up. "Why are you here?"
"Judging from your angry temperament just now, last night's assassin must've committed suicide by taking some poison he stored in his mouth. He probably didn't reveal anything useful before his death," Ding Yiu assumed. "You're angry because you've lost a lead to the mastermind whose been trying to kill you." She paused, "but, don't you have a brain Xia Qian Ping? Can't you figure out the mastermind yourself?"
Prince Ping immediately shot a disapproving look at Jing Ke who was standing by the doorway with Heng. His unhappy expression indicated his agitation that once again Ding Yiu was criticizing him. And Jing Ke was the one to blame for telling her everything.
"I never mentioned anything," Jing Ke immediately clarified.
"Ding Ding and I only got here just now. Jing Ke didn't tell us anything," Heng helped explain. "However, is Ding Ding right about what happened?"
Jing Ke nodded.
All three men looked at Ding Yiu, dumbfounded, [she spoke as though she already knew everything that happened....]
"What?" Ding Yiu voiced, uncomfortable with their stares. "Did I say something wrong?"
"It's more like the opposite. Ding Ding, you're amazing to have worked all that out," Heng praised.
"She was just lucky with her guesses," Prince Ping alleged.
Ding Yiu's right eye twitched, [lucky with my guesses huh? Well I'd like to hear your views on this and how accurate they are]. She placed her hands on her hips, eyeing Prince Ping, "I don't deny I may have some luck, but I never base my guesses on them. My judgement is way better than yours."
It was Prince Ping's turn to feel his eye twitch, [are you trying to challenge me again?]. He deliberately leaned in close to Ding Yiu, provoking her, "well if your judgement is so good, I suppose you already know who the mastermind is. Why don't you try catching him for me?"
"Of course I already know. Only one person will benefit the most from your death," Ding Yiu responded. "The one who's been plotting to kill you is definitely…."
"Don't-" Prince Ping's hand reached towards Ding Yiu's mouth, not wanting her to say the name. He was only wanting to irritate her. Never did he expect for her to be so brazen to state what he himself didn't dare say without evidence.
"…the Crown Prince, Xia Zhi Hai," Ding Yiu loudly stated.
Jing Ke and Heng threw each other a quick look before rushing to close the doors. Prince Ping let out a deep sigh, retracting his hand to his side.
"Ding Ding, you can't say things like that so openly," Heng worriedly said. "You'll get into a lot of trouble if someone else overhears."
"Ding Xiaojie," Jing Ke began, "accusing the crown prince like this is…"
"I'm not accusing him," Ding Yiu corrected. "I'm certain he's the one who's behind the recent assassination attempts on Qian Ping."
"Ding Ding, you've said enough already," Prince Ping warned.
"You don't believe my judgement?"
"Who would believe you without evidence?"
"Is there a need for evidence? The political situation of Xia Kingdom isn't a secret," Ding Yiu expressed. "Xia Kingdom relies on the power of the Gods Weapon to remain the strongest in the world. Besides Emperor Xia, there are only 3 other members of the royal family who wields a Gods Weapon. Naturally, ministers of the royal court has formed factions to support one of the 3 to succeed the throne. Am I wrong?"
"You're not wrong but-"
"Xia Zhi Hai may be the crown prince, but he lacks military power. Whilst you, Xia Qian Ping have command over the royal army despite not being next in line to the throne. There's also Xia Lan Ling who leads the Falcons, which are the royal families special investigative unit," Ding Yiu continued. "Out of you three, it's obvious who needs to strengthen their position. Do I need to say more for you to understand the situation?"
"That's enough," Prince Ping warned again, "keep your baseless thoughts to yourself."
[Baseless thoughts? You still think I'm just talking rubbish], Ding Yiu angrily thought. "There's a rule in place that the leader of the Falcons cannot be a commander of the royal army. Therefore if you died, the control over the royal army will be given to Xia Zhi Hai," Ding Yiu finished. "It's obvious that-"
"ENOUGH!" Prince Ping yelled, "Accusing the crown prince of assassinating another prince of this kingdom is a severe offence." He threw Ding Yiu a furious look, "never say such things ever again."
Tense silence filled the room with Prince Ping and Ding Yiu angrily looking at each other. To the side, Jing Ke and Heng could only watch, not knowing how to interfere.
[You narrow-minded, simpleton little Ping. You're actually mad and yelling at me] Ding Yiu mentally scolded. [Don't you know I'm warning you to be careful of the crown prince out of concern. There's a chance he'll make another move today].
[I don't care what reasons you have. Don't you realise you'll get in trouble for saying what you just did? You could be killed if anyone else heard you], Prince Ping wanted to say but couldn't. He was too angry to speak.
"Xia Qian Ping, you're an idiot," Ding Yiu voiced. "I'll prove to you my judgements are right." She stormed past Jing Ke and Heng, exiting the room.
"Ding Ding, you...." Prince Ping gritted his teeth. [You're the real idiot. I don't want you to get into any trouble. Can't you tell that's more important to me?]
"I'll go after Ding Ding," Heng offered, already following after Ding Yiu.
Prince Ping sat down and rubbed his forehead. This wasn't the scene he envisioned, nor what he wanted. He had been looking forward to seeing Ding Ding again, but had imagined them sitting in the gardens, enjoying tea and talking to each other more naturally. Why was it so hard to create another peaceful moment between them?
"Prince Ping," Jing Ke said, whilst pouring some tea for him, "you should've just told Ding Xiaojie that you were worried about her."
"As if she'd listen to what I say..."
"Ding Xiaojie is a fair-minded person," Jing Ke commented, "had you been more honest, I believe she wouldn't have gotten angry at you. Though I must say, her ability to deduce a situation is definitely impressive."
"Jing Ke, you agree with her judgement?" Prince Ping prompted.
"It's not just me," Jing Ke replied, "I know you and Heng agree too."
"Prince Ping," Sixi said, rushing into the room. He gave a bow before announcing, "the crown prince is here."
Prince Ping immediately stood up, a bad feeling slowly gripping him. In his mind, he could only hear Ding Yiu's words 'I'll prove to you my judgements are right'. [Please do not let her cross paths with the crown prince], he hoped, already rushing out of Zheng Palace.
Feeling disappointed and irritated at the same time, Ding Yiu had blindly stormed out the room. She now found herself in the middle of some side garden within Ping Tian Palace. She turned to look behind her at the path she came from. "I'm pretty sure I just headed in one direction from Zheng Palace," she tried to work out. "Zheng Palace is situated kind of in the middle of Ping Tian Palace so...." She sighed, "It'll be easier to walk back the same way."
Ding Yiu started to head back towards Zheng Palace when a girl's cry stopped her in her tracks. She listened carefully.
"Let go of me!" the girl's voice cried out again.
Ding Yiu ran straight towards the girl's voice, taking a turn around some massive rock ornaments. She clenched a fist at the scene before her. A maid was being sexually harassed by a male guard. He shamelessly draped his arm over the maid's neck, his hand upon her chest. Rage instantly flared up inside Ding Yiu. She went for him.
"Let go of her/Don't touch Yilan!" Ding Yiu and another woman demanded at the same time.
Ding Yiu and the other woman looked at one another. Both were sprinting towards the maid and male guard. For a split second, their gaze interlocked and they nodded at each other. The woman reached for the maid, dragging her to the ground in time as Ding Yiu swung her left leg through the air, landing a heavy kick to the male guards face. The guard faltered backwards, letting out a low growl from the hit. Blood streaming from his nose.
"Yilan, are you alright?" the woman asked the maid.
Yilan nodded, "I'm fine Hui Xiaojie."
[Hui Xiaojie...] Ding Yiu repeated in her mind. She took a closer look at the woman, who was wearing a beautifully refined, pale yellow dress. [I've seen her before. This person is Consort Mu].
Consort Mu turned to look at Ding Yiu, "young miss are you-"
"How dare you interfere?" the male guard snarled, pulling out his sword towards Ding Yiu.
"So you want to fight?" Ding Yiu snarled back.
Consort Mu immediately pushed Yilan away and stood side by side with Ding Yiu. "Young miss, thank you for helping my maid Yilan," she whispered, "but there's no need for you to get involved any further." She gently tugged on Ding Yiu's robe, "leave. I'm Prince Ping's consort. I can handle punishing a mere guard like him."
"He's not a guard of Ping Tian Palace," Ding Yiu stated. "Would he really listen to you Consort Mu?"
"You're rather observant bitch," the male guard hissed. "You're correct. I won't be accepting orders from a consort of a mere second prince."
"Leave. I'm not Prince Ping's consort," Ding Yiu imitated, "I can handle beating up a mere scumbag like him."
"Who are you?" Consort Mu mouthed, staring at Ding Yiu.
"Someone who wants to get justice for Yilan too," Ding Yiu answered.
[She's one meddlesome girl. But I don't really mind] Consort Mu barely smiled, [somehow, she's making me feel like my old-self again]. She caught Ding Yiu's gaze and the two nodded at each other.
Consort Mu and Ding Yiu now raised their hands and got into an attacking stance. Standing side by side, they simply said, "come at me."
Pissed off, the male guard lunged for Ding Yiu first. He swung his sword at her head, moving one step too slow. Swaying her body to the right, Ding Yiu kicked the sword out of his hand. At the exact same moment, Consort Mu had moved to the left. She landed a precise hit on the guard's neck, stunning him. Ding Yiu then spun to the man's behind and together with Consort Mu, she slammed her palm on the guard's back, sending him face first to the ground.
"Serves you right for doing that to Yilan," Consort Mu and Ding Yiu both triumphantly said.
The two looked at each other and a smile formed on their faces. Their small victory didn't last long though. They were soon surrounded by five men, all dressed in the same green guard's outfit as the man they beat up.
"You two, how dare you do that to our comrade?" one of the angry looking guards shouted. "Do you know what attacking us means?"
"I don't," Ding Yiu replied honestly. "I just know you aren't a guard of Ping Tian Palace. Since your master isn't Prince Ping, why should I be scared of offending you?"
"You're not afraid to offend my personal guards," a deep, husky voice questioned, "are you also not afraid to offend me?"
Emerging from behind the guards was a man dressed in satin black. The golden dragon sewn upon his robe encircling his body. With his hair tied up in a neat bun, his deep set eyes were in full view. They seemed to enhance his high nose, thin lips and stern expression. Upon seeing him, Consort Mu immediately bowed. Her mouth went dry and she couldn't speak.
"How dare you? Hurry and kneel down," one of the man's guard demanded.
The man raised a hand to signal his guard to be quiet. He continued to leer at Ding Yiu, "girl, do you not know who I am?"
[Xia Qian Ping, you're an idiot for not listening to me] Ding Yiu thought, [If I get anymore pissed off today, I'll make you pay]. Reluctantly, she gave the world's quickest and most unnoticeable bow. She then indifferently said, "Your highness must be the crown prince, Xia Zhi Hai."
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