The next morning, Zhao Xing was busy counting the Emperor’s rewards. Her eyes were all green and she was grinning ear to ear, which made Wu Ruyi who sat before her couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“Are you that happy?” Wu Ruyi asked, a faint smile played on his alluring face. His pair of eagle eyes sparkled with gentleness as he gaze dotingly at the young lady.
“Receiving a huge amount of gold and rewards, who don’t feel happy ah?” Zhao Xing didn’t bother to look up, she kept on counting the golds and recorded them on her small accounting book.
Wu Ruyi couldn’t help but chuckled, “It’s only several hundreds of golds! In the future I can give you more than this!”
The last sentence was stated in a low voice, to the point that it was more like a mumble to himself.
“Huh? What did you say?” The transmigrator suddenly lifted her head. She was blinking her eyes as she stare at Wu Ruyi inquiringly.
“Nothing! Forget it!”
Zhao Xing pouted in annoyance. In the next second, the girl changed the conversation topic as she counted more gold, “Ruyi-ah, it’s a pity that last night you can’t see my performance!”
“I—”
Ruyi was about to explain something before Xiao Yi suddenly barged into the inner chamber with a happy face. She was looked so excited till she was slightly jumping while strode over towards her young miss.
“Miss, Young Miss got an invitation from Her Highness, Princess Fangyi!” The maid quickly handed a small booklet elegantly decorated with begonia flowers and branching stems painting to her second miss.
“Princess Fangyi?” Hearing that name, Zhao Xing instantly ditch her golds and rewards. She took the invitation booklet from Xiao Yi’s hands and read the contents carefully.
“Her Highness closest maid, Elder Sister Jing Yuan, said that the Princess is inviting Young Miss to join her enjoying the sunset and dinner!”
This was the first time Zhao Xing made a friend in the capital city. Back then, she was never went outside the manor and never socialized with the noble ladies of the capital. But now that she got an invitation from the Princess, it seemed like the Princess truly wanted to befriend with her miss. Xiao Yi couldn’t be more happy!
“Xiao Yi-ah, there’s not much time left until sunset. Let’s get ready and quickly go to Her Highness’ manor!”
Zhao Xing was super duper excited as well, she was all smiling till her eyes resembled a crescent moon that was hanging at the night sky. This would be the first time she visit her manor idol! Meeting Princess Fangyi was such a jackpot for her. She was not only got a friend, but could have the opportunity to meet with her beloved general as well!
The one and only person who put an annoyed face was Wu Ruyi...
When Zhao Xing and Xiao Yi arrived at Lan Ling Wang’s manor, a middle-aged butler with kind and warm appearance was already waiting for their arrival. Standing in front of the grand, iron gate of the General’s manor, he was wearing a dark green satin robe and was extremely delighted when he finally met with the first female guest of their residence.
“Welcome to our manor, Miss Zhao Xing,” The head butler smiled and bow his head to greet the second miss. “Greetings to Second Young Miss. This servant surname is Li, and it such an honor for this servant to finally able to meet with Second Young Miss!”
Zhao Xing bent her knees and let out a genuine smile to return the warm greetings, “Uncle Li is too polite! It’s this junior who should pay respect to Uncle Li!” The transmigrator used to lives with elderly in the modern world, it wasn’t hard for her to please Head Butler Li. Zhao Xing clearly understood that Head Butler Li held a special position in the General’s manor. Thus, she couldn’t offend him even a bit. And, we shouldn’t offend an elderly, right?
Head Butler Li was truly satisfied with Zhao Xing’s attitude. He was already working for the family for almost twenty years. Being close with the general, the head butler slowly also gain the skill to read a person. In his point of view, this second young miss was exceptional. Her genuine smile proved that the young miss wasn’t only has an etheral appearance, but she was also beautiful at heart!
With smile, the head butler spoke, “Her Highness is already waiting for Second Young Miss at Lian Hua Garden, please come in and follow this servant.”
“Then, I have to trouble Uncle Li to lead the way.”
“Not a trouble at all, not at all!”
Gao Chang Gong’s manor was truly the definition of huge. His residence even several times bigger than Prime Minister’s manor and located at the farthest part of the Imperial Prince’s residence complex. Surrounded by a towering, sturdy grey wall, the layout of his manor was complicated, filled with mazes, and full of traps. In each corner, several members of his elite troop, Dragon Troops, were standing strong guarding the house. One who slipped inside with a bad intention, will undoubtly meet their end. There was even a rumour that the General’s manor was far more safe than the imperial palace!
Right before Zhao Xing lost her breath, they arrived at a beautiful garden that located in the back of the manor. The Lian Hua Garden was no less than the imperial garden. It was both magnificent and elegant. A man-made lake was laying beautifully at the center of the garden. On the lake side, a crimson-painted pavilion that carved with dragon ornament stood proudly. Its color was contrast with the pristine color of the snow, yet it was creating an ethereal view of ancient garden. A flimsy, and see-through pale pink muslin cloth was hanging in each sides of the hexagonal pavilion, giving a privacy to someone who stayed there. Inside it, a beautiful lady in her pink, silken robe already waiting for her while sipping her tea leisurely.
Princess Fangyi quickly put down her tea cup, rose from her seat and strode towards Zhao Xing as soon as she saw that her guest was finally arrived. The Princess stood in front of the pavilion with a bright smile and delighted looks.
“This official daughter greets Her Highnes, Princess Fangyi.” Zhao Xing bent her knees upon seeing the Princess. The cold winter wind that kissed her skin made her face slightly turned rosy, which made her looked more lovable.
Gao Yi Ning reach for Zhao Xing’s hand and led her to the pavilion. “Little Sister Xing, you can forgo the formalities! From now on, please call me Elder Sister Ning!”
Initially, the transmigrator didn’t dare to do so. However, when the princess give her a certain looks, Zhao Xing could only smile helplessly and changed the way she address the princess.
After settled down at the rosewood, pumpkin-shaped stool that encircled a round table, Zhao Xing took a wooden box and a silken pouch from Xiao Yi’s hand. “Zhao Xing thank Elder Sister Ning for Elder Sister Ning’s help previous day. Zhao Xing brings a small gifts as Zhao Xing’s gratitude towards Elder Sister.”
Gao Yi Ning’s eyes immediately sparkled upon seeing Zhao Xing’s gifts for her. The smile on her exquisite visage widened as she ask curiously, “What is this? Is this really for me?”
At this point, the princess even didn’t use ‘this princess’ to refer herself. It was indicating that she sincerely wanted to get close with Zhao Xing. Not as an imperial family member with her subject, but as good friends.
Zhao Xing who caught this signal couldn’t help but felt warm inside. After four years of transmigration, finally she was able to make new friend. Of course she’d already regarded Xiao Yi and Wu Ruyi as her closest friends, but Gao Yi Ning was different.
“Zhao Xing didn’t know Elder Sister Ning’s preference, so Zhao Xing decided to give Elder Sister a poem and a hand-made perfume sachets.”
“Good, good!” The beautiful Princess opened the paper scroll and amazed with Zhao Xing’s hand-writing style. Every ink streaks looked so neat and elegant, subsconsciously made one would felt at peace when looked at the poem.
The next moment, Princess Fangyi turned her attention to the silken pouches that was embroidered with blooming flowers and butterflies. She drew them closer to her nose and took a deep breath. A bright smile appeared on her face as soon as the sweet and fragrant smells entered her nose.
“I like the scent very much!” The princess continued to ask excitedly, “Did you make it by yourself?”
Zhao Xing didn’t reply as she suddenly felt shy with her handicraft. The transmigrator only let out a grin and slightly ducked her head to burried her slightly reddened cheek. In front of her idol’s younger sister, the transmigrator was so nervous ah nervous!
After passed the gifts to her personal maid, Gao Yi Ning asked the servant to pour the tea and serve some snacks, “Lian Hua garden is the best place to enjoy the sunset. Older Brother also loves this place very much.”
The second miss almost choked from her tea upon hearing Gao Yi Ning’s words. She already forgot that General Gao also live in this manor, until Gao Yi Ning brought her older brother to the conversation.
“Ah, that’s right.” Gao Yi Ning’s eyes went back to Zhao Xing who was sitting before her, she asked with a great interest, “Since little sister’s mother is a princess from the Great Chen, did Little Sister Xing ever visited Great Chen before? I heard that Great Chen has a beautiful scenery, is that true?”
“Apologize to Elder Sister Ning, Zhao Xing has never visited Great Chen before. But mother indeed said that Great Chen has the best scenery and sunset view.”
Aside from ‘my mother said’ part, Zhao Xing was indeed saying the truth. In the modern era, Great Chen was located in the southern part of Mainland China. Guilin, a city that known for its dramatic landscape could be found in that region. Guangzhou, Hainan, and Nanjing also shared the same beauty. Therefore, her answer was not only a mere nonsense.
“Next time I definitely have to visit the Prime Minister’s manor and ask Princess Chao Yang directly.”
Just when Zhao Xing was about to opened her mouth, a trembling eunuch suddenly dropped a teapot to Zhao Xing’s pristine white skirt.
“Miss!” Xiao Yi was the one who went panicked.
The young eunuch quickly knelt down and kowtowed in front of Zhao Xing as he begged for forgiveness.
“Miss, please forgive this lowly servant!” he cried dramatically, as if Zhao Xing would cut his head off.
Zhao Xing might wouldn’t do that, but the host was different case...
“You!” Gao Yi Ning shot a sharp gaze to the young eunuch, “Quickly apologize and go to Uncle Li to receive your punishment!”
Zhao Xing massaged her temple and sighed. It was only a small matters, yet people in this era took it as though this servant was betraying the country and helping the enemy.
“Elder Sister Ning, that’s fine. He’s still too young, maybe he’s not feeling well today.” Zhao Xing stood from her seat and asked the young eunuch to stand up. “No need to punish him, Elder Sister.”
Gao Yi Ning sighed heavily, but in the end her lips still curved into a warm smile. It seemed like she didn’t choose the wrong person to be her friend this time, “Alright, then.”
Expressing his gratitude, the little eunuch immediately bowed his head and kowtowed to Zhao Xing as though she was his ancestors.
“Little Sister Xing, you’ll catch a cold if you keep wearing that wet clothes,” Princess Fangyi said worriedly. In the next second, her gaze went to the little eunuch. “Lin Shui Courtyard is the closest to Lian Hua Garden. Lead Miss Zhao Xing there first, this princess have to take a new clothes at my courtyard.”
“This servant understand.”
Gao Yi Ning shifted her gaze to her guest and smiled, “Little Sister Xing, please head to Lin Shui Courtyard first.”
“Zhao Xing thank older sister Ning.”
