Yao Yue was brought to an insanely spacious room. He gasped at just how.... 'royal' everything was. He wasn't used to this kind of luxurious environment.
"This," the eunuch didn't need to say, "is your room."
Already, Yao Yue wanted to go and touch everything in this room- his room. Such expensive wood this table was made from... The couch and closet were both made from equally expensive hardwood as well.... And oh, he was positively giggly about sleeping in his bed right now.
"Your lesson starts now."
"Eh?" he turned round to face the eunuch. "Lesson?" he articulated confusedly.
The eunuch said no more and simply bowed as he stepped out of the room.
"Ah! Wait! What lesson are you talking about?"
The new prince didn't receive any answer but would find out soon enough when a maid appeared; followed by this old man. Yao Yue didn't take long to notice she had a tray in her hands. And on the tray, were a bowl of rice, some vegetables and meat.
MEAT!
Rarely did he get to eat meat when he lived in the skies. And right in front of him, on the first day, was a platter of meat. This certainly heightened his impression of the dragon palace.
Seeing the carnivorous glint, the old man gruffly told him to sit down at the table. Yao Yue did as told, obedient and excited at the same time. He was damn hungry now for some delicious dragon cooking. He watched, quivering, as the maid set the tray down with so much unnecessary grace. What's the need to slow down time in the face of food? Once she moved away, yes or no, he forgot his manners and snagged the chopsticks.
The next thing he knew, a dull ache blossomed from his left hand. Due to the sudden shock and pain, his gripped loosened and the chopsticks dropped and rolled onto the floor.
Odd, he looked at that (now suspicious looking) old man and then to the maid. They both looked like they hadn't moved at all. Brushing it off as his imagination, he bent down and picked up his chopsticks.
The moment he sat up straight again, the same hard whack was felt again on his left hand.
Yao Yue had this sinking suspicion that it WAS that old man's doing. He bent down and picked up his chopsticks for the second time but this time also, he held it firmly. Right as he back was upright again, the sore hand was whacked again. Twice.
But AHA! He caught this old turtle with his own eyes whacking his knuckles with a fan!
"You hit me with a fan!" he said with all the annoyance he could convey and he certainly conveyed it perfectly.
"Yes I did."
"Why?"
The old man's wrinkled forehead and his hand connected.
"You are a dragon. Use your right hand."
"I'm sorry?" Yao Yue raised his voice. First he received blows from a wooden fan and now he finds out this is the reason? "What's wrong with using my left hand?"
Before he knew it, that stupid old turtle drove the hilt of the fan onto the already pained knuckles of his hand. It happened so fast Yao Yue realized it a few seconds only after he heard his own palm smash against the (why?) hardwood table.
"Ow! AH! AH!!!!"
"Not only are you stupid and un-teachable, you are rude as well!" He then lifted released Yao Yue to nurse his trembling hand.
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"You will eat with and ONLY WITH your right hand. If you cannot learn, then be hungry."
And that was not the end of it for Yao Yue.
Nighttime came after a long, hard day. By now, he learnt that his 'mannerisms' were certainly not acceptable- it was unfair, Yao Yue thought, that he had his upbringing under a totally different species with cultures that absolutely rivaled his current lifestyle. For starters, his avian friends were feminine, soft, gentle, etc. They were left-handed, like him and thus had no problem teaching him how to write. They were merciful, understanding and open to change. They were about freedom, uncertainty, and spontaneous energy. The dragons on the other hand, were about order, certainty and restriction. Everything was done based on procedures and tradition (as it should be to them). There was no mercy. Only judgment. Before coming here, Yao Yue had felt a little out of place in bits and pieces. It was only minor......like how he played a little roughly with the other phoenix hatchlings. Over here, he wouldn't give a second thought if there was any way for him to leave this awful place. After all he'd had today, Yao Yue realized that yes, he was slightly different from his bird family but he was far, far different from these celestial lizards – and his poor, delicate hand was now back and blue all over and it hurt. Curse their whatever right-hand tradition and yin yang bullshit that has to be upheld, he thought. At his bedside, was a small table with a bowl of cold water and a strip of cloth. Yao Yue rolled up his right sleeve and lifted up the cloth. The steady sound of water droplets as he squeezed the water out was the only noise he heard this late. Taking care to be gentle, he wrapped the cloth around the injured hand.
He sighed to himself. Tomorrow will be different.
He meant it. But there was only so much you could do when you're just a small child and you just don't want to go for 'lessons'.
The next morning, his first tutor for the day, which happened to be that stupid old turtle, found him missing. Yao Yue arranged his pillows to make it look like he was asleep before he messily covered the faux body and then making his escape. And that idiot found out because he smacked what he thought was Yao Yue for sleeping in only to be surprised at how soft and motionless it was. Uncovering the bed sheets, he gave such a furious scream that everyone, save for one person, came rushing to see what the matter was. Yao Yue heard the scream and muffled his laughter at the shock it was causing everyone. Haih, what a shame indeed he didn't see that face. He wondered if that thousand year old fool died from a heart attack already.
Alright, now that everyone's gone, it's time to change hiding spots. Staying at one place too long was going to get him caught. He snuck out from behind a stack of fruit baskets but not before snagging some pears and peaches first.
The next place he hid was in some random room. Thankfully, this one had a nice looking bed. Yao Yue, feeling tired from waking up so early, walked up to the bed and immediately decided that a short nap was a terrific idea.
When he woke up, it was not by his will. He was woken up when something sharp poked him. Immediately, he rolled over and sat up, eyes blinking as he registered what was happening.
Oh.....
There were a flock of palace servants and guards. And in front of them, closest to him, was none other than THAT MAN. That stupid-
WHAM! The blow of a cane.
"YOU.....YOU HAVE A LOT OF NERVE TO BE RUNNING AWAY. AND TAKING NAPS IN MY BED!"
Yao Yue inwardly cursed at his carelessness (and also how embarrassing it looked) as he was cuffed back to his royal chambers. Also, no lessons today. He was going to get a severe beating now.
