"Master!" Xiao Qi wined as she looked up at the Crown Prince. Zhao Xing didn't know whether she was seeing things, but she felt Xiao Qi was acting a bit…spoiled?
Zhang Zhengyang had a small smile on his face, if one looked closer they could see the satisfaction in his eyes as he watched Xiao Qi kneel.
Xiao Chen who was standing behind his master, also smiled at the scene.
Zhao Xing watched them in confusion, feeling out of place, she decided to stand behind Zhang Zhengyang and watched what was about to unfold. Was Zhang Zhengyang really planning on selling Xiao Qi?
"Why don't you get up first?" Said the Crown Prince, but Xiao Qi didn't budge, and Brother Mo, who was like her little faithful follower also remained kneeling.
The Crown Prince shook his head helplessly. "Though I like it when you act submissive like this, I also don't want to receive your submission in vain." He sighed as he looked up ahead, "I only plan on borrowing you to someone for a while, to help me look after them. Don't think too much, among my people, aren't you one of the best skilled? How could I send you away? I'm not giving you to anyone."
Zhao Xing looked at Zhang Zhengyang. He seemed like a gentle master. Here she was thinking he'd be mad and probably go as far as killing people. He didn't seem like those cruel male leads in the stories she used to read. Well he was planning to harm his father so…she couldn't say for sure.
Anyway, he wasn't a character in a story, neither was she in a book, a comic or a drama. It's be good if she was though. It'd be even better if she was some place where she had seen before, so she could at least know the plot, but no, she didn't know where in the universe she was! Or if she was even in the universe in the first place.
Hearing this Xiao Qi's eyes widened, and she quickly got on her feet, Brother Mo following suite. "Master really isn't sending me away, then why all the rumors?"
Zhang Zhengyang didn't answer her and walked away.
"Master, wait ah." Xiao Qi quickly followed him.
Zhao Xing shook her head, "tut, tut, if I didn't know, I'd think Xiao Qi was the Crown Prince's childhood sweetheart. Look at him, look at the way he's smiling." She mumbled to herself.
"Sister Qi is back, the peaceful days in the manor are coming to an end."
"Indeed."
"Everyone is mostly on the Grand Tutor's side, if she knows would bully us?"
"I don't think so…I mean she wouldn't, right?"
"…"
But, Big sister Qi has really changed during the past years, look at her, it' just as the Master had once said, she's indeed turned into a beauty."
"Master said that?"
"Buddy, it seems you're new and don't know…"
Zhao Xing overheard the guards gossiping, and was suddenly interested. She had also thought it was weird. So it turns out that Zhang Zhengyang had actually called a girl beautiful!
She couldn't imagine it. Yes, he looked like a gentleman at first glance, but one would get this sinister feeling coming from him whenever he smiled. He was like a snake, or crocodile, always smiling but plotting evil underneath. So she couldn't imagine him actually being gentle, or sincerely praise someone, not to mention a woman!
With so much curiosity in her, she couldn't help but approach the guards to hear more, it sounded interesting but she had her own questions to ask, so she shamelessly walked up to them.
"Noble Princess." They greeted looking somewhat alert as if they had been caught doing something bad, these days they changed the way they addressed her, from 'Grand Tutor' to 'Noble Princess'.
She didn't have the time for formalities and went straight to the point.
"Eh, you said the Crown Prince actually called Sister Qi pretty?"
When they heard the question, they were stunned, they knew she was shameless, it was the only face she showed them during her stay at the manor, always doing one silly thing or the other, but it always surprised them whenever she did. Now she actually wanted to join them as they gossiped about their master and Sister Qi. Wasn't this young lady terrifying in her own way? Walking up to a group of men and acting so freely.
"…" they were a bit speechless at first, the relationship between the Master and the Grand Tutor was still unclear. Somehow many already took her as the madam in the mansion, and would listen to her and do what she asked. Now that their Sister Qi who was once the pampered lady in the house, was back, they didn't really know who to side with. But who were they to make the decision. Right now the person that was most favored was she, the Grand Tutor. And it seemed even if her looks where ordinary, their master was still unmoved, and even threatened to send her away.
They felt sad for their Sister Qi who had now lost favor.
If Zhao Xing knew what all the people in the manor thought of her, she would surely puke blood, and accuse Zhang Zhengyang of framing her once more, and causing such a huge misunderstanding.
"Y...yes…Master had indeed said so, but that was a long time ago, I don't think Master has the same thoughts now." One of them replied.
"Oh…" Zhao Xing thought something was wrong with the way they answered but didn't care too much and continued asking.
"So that means that Sister Qi…and the Crown Prince, their relationship…" Zhao Xing pried further.
"No, no, no, absolutely not…" The guards felt they were extremely unlucky today to run into this ancestor as they gossiped. In the future they would have to really check their surroundings before they say a word. If the Grand Tutor doubted their words and went to cause trouble with the Crown Prince, it would be finished for them all!
Zhao Xing nodded, and lost interest. She thanked them before walking away with creased brows. She felt the guards were acting weird today. She only asked such a small question, yet they seemed as if their lives were on the line.
'Maybe, they're suffering from trauma due to the battles they've been through in the past?' She thought. She heard about soldiers being like that back in her world. She shook her head, feeling they were indeed pitiful.
Unfortunately she didn't think they'd be any doctor that could help them in this world.
When she arrived her place, Nuo Nuo and Lan'er where waiting for her.
"Grand Tutor."
They greeted and she nodded at them, she was exhausted and wanted to sleep. The thing about Xiao Qi, and brother Mo, it was fine if they weren't going to be sold out or punished so she could put her mind at ease.
"You two, I'm going to sleep, let no one disturb me, not even that Master of yours."
The two maids were used to her vulgar way of talking and didn't say anything about it, they bowed in acknowledgement and helped her get ready for bed. It was around three o'clock in the afternoon, though the weather was indeed getting cold, on afternoons like these the sun was still high, and it would still be a bit hot, in addition, she had eaten too much, 'sleep' was the only thing in her mind at that moment. Anyone who dared disturb her was dead meat.
Meanwhile, Xiao Qi had followed her Master along with Brother Mo and Xiao Chen to the study.
She didn't know who her master was going to 'borrow' her to. That time she was on a mission, but then word came to her that her master had asked for her to return to the capital, but who knew that on her way back she'd hear a lot of rumors among the Crown Prince's people about him giving her away to other people. She didn't ask any questions, whatever it was she would have to hear it from the Master himself.
"Master…"
"Um?"
Xiao Qi took a deep breath, "Then the person Master wants to borrow me to..?"
Zhang Zhengyang smiled mischievously, "Someone you're very familiar with."
Xiao Qi became serious, and thought back on the many people the Master had sent her to in the paste, including those she had to investigate, she was completely oblivious to what her Master had in mind.
"Then does the Master require me to disguise myself?" She was used to her master not being straight whenever he was ordering people to do something. It would require them sometimes to probe further to get a clear understanding of their mission. Sometimes if they were lucky he'd go straight to the point, other times he would reply them coldly, and they would have to use their brains.
"Um." He replied plainly, then continued. "In a few days Zhao Xing would be leaving to her Noble Princess manor."
Xiao Qi looked a little confused at the sudden change of subject. "Master..?"
"You'll be following her, she's the one I'm borrowing you to, you'll treat her as if she was your Master."
'What?'
"Zhao Xing you come out!"
"Sister Qi, you can't…Grand Tutor is asleep…"
"Umm…"
'What's all the commotion about?' The noise outside woke Zhao Xing up, making her annoyed. She had clearly said that no one was to disturb her. In fact, she knew that no one would actually disturb her, even the Crown Prince gave her some face and would let her be when she rested. She wondered who dared to make noise when she, Zhao Xing was asleep. She sat up and sighed in frustration.
"Who?"
It seemed one of her maids heard her voice and rushed into the room. "Grand Tutor…Sister Qi is here, she said she wanted to speak with you, I already told her that you were asleep, but she still insisted on coming in and wouldn't listen!" Lan'er's voice carried a bit of annoyance in it. But she hadn't ranted enough when the culprit came walking into the room with long strides.
"Zhao Xing, ah, you're really good, you actually made Master cherish you so much!"
Zhao Xing was already in a bad mood, seeing this lady that always like to pick a fight come barging in she became even more irritated, she tried taking deep breaths to calm down, but it seemed Xiao Qi didn't notice that the person in front of her was at the verge of exploding and went on ranting.
"I tell you, there's no way I'll serve you, over my dead body."
"Heh." Zhao Xing scoffed. She had days of peace, and recuperated with peace of mind. She had long forgotten how it was with Xiao Qi back at Little Merchant Valley, when they argued every day. She had even taken Xiao Qi as her good and close friend along with Brother Mo, and had also lied for their sake, so that they don't get punished.
But Xiao Qi remained Xiao Qi, on this day, when she was tired and weak from her wound and poison… from eating too much, she just had to come and disturb her.
Was she someone that people could easily mess around with? Of course not. Since Xiao Qi had asked for it, she shouldn't blame her for not being courteous.
As Xiao Qi went on yelling, Zhao Xing suddenly held her chest, and showed a pained expression that scared both Nuo Nuo and Lan'er.
"Grand Tutor?" They both rushed to her side.
Zhao Xing's breathing became heavy as she gasped for air.
Xiao Qi only just noticed that something was wrong and her face changed.
"Zhao Xing? Zhao Xing, what's wrong with you..?" She also rushed to her side and held Zhao Xing's shoulders.
"…My chest…it hurts…"
Hearing this Nuo Nuo didn't tarry and quickly rushed to tell the Crown Prince.
Xiao Qi also panicked, she quickly took Zhao Xing's hand to check her pulse. Her eyes soon widened.
'Why is it like this?'
Zhao Xing continued holding onto her chest, and soon she started crying, "Xiao Qi…I don't want to die."
No one could mention how frightened Xiao Qi was at that moment. She held onto Zhao Xing's hand tightly, "The Crown Prince will be here soon, nothing will happen to you as long as Master is here."
"But it hurts…"
Seeing her look so pitiful, Xiao Qi somehow felt guilty. The girl had been poisoned, and had to take bitter medicine every day. Today because she was angry with the Crown Prince's arrangement she came here to look for trouble with Zhao Xing. The poor girl was sleeping and she caused a ruckus like this to disturb her. Was all this happening because she had scared her awake?
Soon Zhang Zhengyang arrived with a physician.
"Zhao Xing" He walked up to her.
"Zhangyang…" Zhao Xing looked at him pitifully, making him stunned for a moment.
Something was off about the way she acted.
Zhang Zhengyang allowed the physician to check on her as he turned to the rest in the room, signaling to them to meet him outside.
"What happened?"
The three of them looked at each other.
Both of Zhao Xing's maids didn't dare talk when their superior was here and waited for her to explain instead, after all, she was 'Sister Qi' before their Grand Tutor, she was the tyrant of the whole of the Crown Prince's Manor.
Xiao Qi on the other hand felt guilty, she didn't know what had happened and why Zhao Xing suddenly became like this, but the Master didn't ask her about Zhao Xing, but what had happened before the whole thing transpired.
"It was this servant that came to look for Grand Tutor, this servant caused a ruckus and disturbed Grand Tutor's sleep, then she became like this…" She explained in one breath.
Zhang Zhengyang didn't looked pleased at all, Xiao Qi knew this and her heart sank.
"You can leave." He said, he bypassed her, reentering Zhao Xing's room.
Xiao Qi had a sad expression on her face, her master had never acted like that to her before. Why was it that after this girl came, her master started treating her differently?
She was angry. She took one last look at the door to Zhao Xing's room before leaving.
"That was too cruel don't you think?" Zhang Zhengyang said. He had already asked for the physician to leave. It was only the two of them in the room.
Zhao Xing who looked like she was about to die just a moment ago, looked normal, with no trace of the pained expression from just now.
"She asked for it." She grimaced. "How did you find out?"
Zhang Zhengyang chuckled. "Do you think you can fool everyone? Such childish trick"
Zhao Xing glared at him. But then a big smile suddenly appeared on her face, "What do you say about my acting skills? What do you think, wasn't it flawless, even the disguiser, Xiao Qi didn't notice."
Zhang Zhengyang smiled at her, "You won't make her leave you alone using these little tricks."
"I know that, this is just a small punishment, beside I asked for you to praise me."
"What's there to praise?"
"What do you mean, what's there to praise, my acting, may plan, see how the enemy fled."
"Um."
Seeing how disinterested he sounded she got bored. "Tch never mind, I forgot, you don't know how to please people."
She then thought about what the guards said the other time. "You even went ahead and told Xiao Qi that she was pretty, you can't even tell me something like 'your acting is quite good'."
Zhang Zhengyang frowned when he heard this. "I said that?"
"Still want to deny it?" Zhao Xing didn't believe it, it was either he forgot or was plainly denying it, besides those guards had no reason to lie against their Master.
Zhang Zhengyang looked as if he was trying to recall something.
"There was indeed a time I said this."
Zhao Xing looked at him as if he was hopeless. 'Tch, he remembers now."
"Hey, Zhang Zhengyang, what exactly is your relationship with Xiao Qi?" She was really curious. Xiao Qi acted as if she owned the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince acted differently towards her. She just had this feeling that their relationship wasn't simple.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm curious, I want to ask so I ask." She said a matter-of-factly. She's always acting so high up, among all the people under the Crown Prince, she hasn't seen anyone as troublesome as Xiao Qi. She was so stubborn. The Crown Prince didn't say anything about it, there must be a reason behind it, right?
"What other relationship could there be?" He said looking relaxed, but it didn't make Zhao Xing believe him.
She thought about so many stories, so many scenarios; noble falling in love with a peasant, love between master and servant…. In short, the possibilities where endless.
"Is that so?"
Zhang Zhengyang didn't respond.
"I'll leave you to rest, Xiao Qi is gone and won't be disturbing you for the moment." He said so and began to leave.
Zhao Xing didn't stop him, he was like that all the time, he evaded a lot of her questions, she had already gotten used to it.
Zhang Zhengyang walked out of Zhao Xing's courtyard.
"Master…" Xiao Chen who had waited for him, came up to salute him.
"Let's go." He looked into the distance, he recalled a few memories of when was younger. When he first met the troublesome child, Xiao Qi. He chuckled to himself, as he walked away.
Flashback.
[Then Zhang Zhengyang was just the 'Second Prince' his father had only recently ascended the throne. He was young and carefree. He also liked to run around, along with Xiao Chen as his companion.
He remembered his mother who hadn't yet been crowned Empress, had taken him out of the palace during her second pregnancy, they both lived in another palace far from the hustle bustle of the Capital, this place was relatively calm, during that period he could have fun the way he wanted and wasn't restricted to palace rules.
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