Love In The Forbidden City (Completed)

Chapter I - The Fateful Accident - Part III (Revised)

"Let us go back, Second Miss. Lunch session will be served in an hour's time." Stepping in front of me, Qiao Hui also had her hands stretched to her side, blocking my way.

I had to stop my eyes from rolling out of their sockets. Lunch? Didn't I just eat an hour ago? I guessed life at the Eighth Bei'Le's Residence was too heavenly that the residents did nothing but eat and walk around the garden. Even the servants looked well fed. For someone like me who had to skip meals to save money in the Millenium Era, I couldn't get accustomed to the current comfort. Somehow, I had even begun to miss the potted cactus on my office desk in Shanghai.

Qiao Hui walked me down the stairs. A sudden pang of grief washed over me. It seemed that I had to find another way to plot my accident. My real father's face flashed across my mind.

"Qiao Hui, do you miss your parents? Do you fear that your siblings couldn't take care of them well enough?" I asked as we reached the base of the stairs.

"I have two brothers, Second Miss. I am certain that my parents are fine under their care."

"Life offers us no security and it often smites us with unforeseen circumstances, Qiao Hui. It'll be a shame when our white-haired parents have to weep before our cold bodies."

Applause rang behind us before my words trailed away.

I spun around to see two men in fine silk walking towards us. A golden circular design was stitched in the middle of the gown, representing "Heaven". In the circle were the outlines of mountains, representing stability and the earth. Similar designs were also sewn around the collars, hems, and splits. A leather belt clasped around their waists, with Jades clipping around it. The men had their long hair plaited, and the front patch of their heads was trimmed clean.

"It surprises me that a maiden could utter such a philosophy. You must be Ruo Xi," the man with a stouter figure said. He had a tanned face. The square edges of his jaw made them look like they were flattened by a spade. His tone was casual, masking a tinge of indignation.

I stared at them, perplexed. Where did these two strangers come from?

Qiao Hui bowed, wearing a panicked look. She saluted those men with a shaky voice, "Good day, Tenth Prince. Good day, Thirteenth Prince." Shivering slightly, she urged me to do the same.

I bowed halfheartedly.

"This maiden needs to be educated properly, but we do not have time for her now. Come, Tenth Brother, Eighth Brother is waiting for us for some discussion," said the Thirteenth Prince.

The Tenth Prince hurried after his brother. Before he turned around the corner, he put his hands on top of his head, making a gesture of a rabbit.

I giggled. "He looks like a fool."

The Tenth Prince didn't hear me and grinned wider. I recalled in the history book which I'd read years ago that he was inferior to his brothers in all aspects. He was slower in thinking but friendlier; whereas the Thirteenth Prince was bold. He killed a tiger when he was fourteen, using nothing but a dagger. His bravery earned him an alias of "Die Hard Thirteen". Scratching my chin, I couldn't help but think, let's see how history would unfold.

When their shadows disappeared behind the corner, I coerced Qiao Hui into bringing me to the town outside of the Eighth Bei'Le's mansion. I told her that my body would grow mold if I stayed here longer. After long persuasion, she agreed.

Her hands trembled as they landed on the copper door knockers. "Promise that we will return in fifteen minutes' time, Second Miss. Madam will not be pleased if she found out."