Ayai held the child’s hand uncomfortably, without even looking at its face. She was forced to lean down due to her tall stature, her long silver-blond hair almost dusting the ground. Eventually, she opted to scoop the tiny human up in her arms for the rest of the way to the Meridian Gate. Past the walls of the Inner Palace, the Courtyard of Longevity spanned the rectangular width of the Jade Palace’s front side. Thousands of branches lay dead in the cold month of Arvan Khoyor. Frost blanketed the vast grass carpets, while bushes moaned in the wind without leaves. Towards the end of the garden’s length, a couple of people gathered around the Meridian Gate, the entrance to the Jade Palace.

The Da Shi, the announcer, kowtowed to the guests that stepped foot upon the stone walkway. Ayai could see that the Crown Princess was smiling.

“Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Hojun al-Qarakh of Silla, has arrived!” The Da Shi boomed with his declaration. The palace musicians nearby began to make their guqins and dizis sing.

The melody reverberated throughout the Jade Palace, while Ayai and Zhen finally met Hojun at the gate. Mister Xiong followed up behind the two. All three of them bowed. Ayai set the tiny human down, who fiddled with her fingers.

“Welcome, Crown Princess Hojun, to our humble Jade Palace,” Zhen lowered his head with a confident tone. “It appears that thou hast recovered well since the events in Buhanggilog.”

Princess Hojun, whom she held a folding fan, put it away and bowed towards them. “It is my honor to visit the Jade Palace in person. I am holding up well, although there are a few nuisances I am currently dealing with.”

Her hair was braided with a cornrow in the midsection of her hair, while two strands of hair fell in front of her ears. To Ayai, it gave Hojun’s aura of regality, yet maintained her own style. Following Hojun, one more person stopped behind her. If Ayai remembered, he was Jorge Tarique, the one that requested to be a bodyguard.

Ayai didn’t lift her head, making sure the child didn’t do any harm. “Crown Princess Hojun and Mister Tarique, please wait a moment while we set up a small banquet in the Courtyard of Longevity. It will only take a couple of minutes.”

“Yes, we shall,” Zhen nodded and stood up, before turning behind him. “Mister Xiong, bring the Jianbing from the Yueliang Guesthouse.”

“As you wish, m’lord.”

“Please excuse me as well.” Ayai also stood, but Zhen poked her shoulder.

“Leave the child with me if thou wouldst like to assist Mister Xiong. That way, thou hast a free hand.”

Ayai and Mister Xiong headed along the side of the Flower Pavilion, back to the route where the Yueliang Guesthouse was situated. The Courtyard of Longevity was surrounded by two pavilions; The Flower Pavilion on the right side, and the Pearl Pavilion on the left. If anything, Ayai memorized the layout of the Jade Palace for its colossal size. Also, their ridiculously long names were easy to memorize.

The door to the Guesthouse was still unlocked, granted that Ayai and Zhen rushed out of it. Ayai pushed the door open and the two filed into the home. The tray of Jianbing was still there.

“Mister Xiong, take the tray. I’ll take care of the utensils.” Ayai commanded amidst scanning the cupboards.

“Yes ma’am.”

Ayai counted the number of people and took multiple pairs of chopsticks. She moved her finger downwards, taking as many plates as required.

“Why are you helping me, Gong Dongye?...” Mister Xiong’s question echoed into the quiet room, while they stood by the door. Ayai silently closed the cabinet and set the plates on the counter.

Ayai was not the same person she was back in the Dineh Kazaàd. She wanted to forget everything that happened back in that city. Yet, an image of someone appeared in her mind. Kwazhak’s face. His actions, his thinking, she’d seen it on full display back in that city. His kindness, his advice, his voice. But now, he no longer existed in this world. Only the remnants written in his will existed, while Zhen and the Laoyuang House carried that will.

Ayai’s face softened, as those lingering feelings resided inside her.

“I won’t let you have m’lord!”

Ayai choked on her saliva, coughing hysterically. “What did you say?”

“I stand by what I said, I won’t let you have him!” Mister Xiong stood firm while holding the Jianbing in his hands. “You’re probably using this as an opportunity to gain the favor of his bodyguard, is that right?”

“Huh?”

“I’ve seen you two many times before together. You two don’t act anything like guest and lord of the residence!”

“Huh?” Ayai’s posture came erect, while she walked slowly toward Mister Xiong. “Say that one more time.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“I… Well…”

Ayai pressed closer to Mister Xiong, towering over him in the corner. “Well?”

“Eek! Please don’t get too close!”

“You… Hm?” Now that she had a closer look, there was something wrong with Mister Xiong’s figure. Ayai didn’t look at Zhen, let alone his bodyguard, but she wasn’t aware of how androgynous he was. She placed her hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t move.”

“Hey- Eek!”

Ignoring his rather high-pitched shriek, Ayai unbuttoned Mister Xiong’s cloak, to reveal the shape of a cleavage. It only took her one glance before Ayai buttoned it back up.

She facepalmed, exasperated. “You’re a girl…”

“Yeah… About that…” Miss Xiong looked away with a nervous smile, her guanmao hat hiding her eyes. Her voice receded into a lighter, feminine tone.

After they set everything down on the counter, Ayai and Miss Xiong faced each other. Ayai couldn’t stop her face of disappointment from showing, which made Miss Xiong sweat harder. Ayai breathed a sigh.

“So? How did you even become Zhen’s bodyguard in the first place?”

“Actually, my dad was his last right-hand man in the first place… But when he passed away the Laoyuang House was recruiting, and…”

“And?”

Miss Xiong swallowed her spit. “I applied. As my dad’s son.”

“...” Ayai folded her arms, cocking her head to the side. “Let me get this straight. Your father was the former bodyguard of Zhen. He died, and you decided to take his place by lying about your gender. Why did you do this?”

“Prince Zhenbyoung is really, really, cool, like he always takes care of the people under him, and he gives head pats, and-”

“Okay, okay, that’s enough, I already want to punch him in the face.” Ayai interrupted her, sticking her arm out. “But what’s strange is how far you’ve gotten without him noticing.”

“I thank the Yyvubia that I’ve gotten this far,” Miss Xiong let out an exasperated sigh, “But you, Gong Dongye, need to be stopped! He visits you every morning, and you just let him waltz in the Yueliang Guesthouse, doing whatever he does in here!”

Ayai slammed her hand on the table, as the tray and tableware hopped in anger. “The Guesthouse is Laoyuang property, I can’t just deny him entry, though I would love to!”

There was a knock at the door. “Gong Dongye? Mister Xiong? One has been taking their time in there, perchance there is a situation with the cutlery and porcelain?”

“M- m’lord! We shall be out promptly!” Miss Xiong’s voice went deep once again, the one Ayai had been hearing the entire time before this revelation.

Back in the courtyard, Hojun and Jorge were already seated. Other attendants decorated the outdoor tables with intricate dragon cloths, while Ayai and ‘Mister’ Xiong arrived with the light snacks and tableware. They enjoyed the view, looking out onto the Flower Pavilion with its mystifying pond and water lilies.

“Miss, so you haven’t forgotten why everyone is gathering at the Jade Palace?” Ayai gently seated herself beside Hojun, who politely took a bite of the oriental crêpe.

“Izato is hosting a meeting debriefing the final whereabouts of Thiệu, correct?” The Princess lifted a teacup, while ‘Mister’ Xiong poured one for her. “I believe Suruj, Izdaha, and Tvuj will be here shortly.”

“Precisely. I know the three are invigorated to finally go after the CEO of Al-Wa.”

Hojun chuckled, before asking Jorge of the same merit. “Mhm. That is a name we wish to forget.”

“Pardon me, when those three do arrive, we shall move to the Hall of Eternal Knowledge in the Inner Palace.” Zhen ate some of the Jianbing, while keeping smooth control of his chopsticks. Meanwhile in his other hand, was the tiny human’s little hand.

Ayai shook her head, knowing that everyone was both thinking the same thing: the destruction of the Al-Wa Corporation.

"How are you faring with the politics back in Silla, miss?" Ayai changed the topic, "'Crown Princess Hojun al-Qarakh' has a new ring to it."

"Oh..." Hojun stared at the plate in front of her. "My father and I argued quite a bit, and at one point he even threatened to exile me to the Walang Sahar de Islas. But eventually, his threats subsided and he refused to acknowledge me as the first in line to the Al-Qarakh House."

"However, the Laoyuang House recognizes thee as the Crown Princess of the Al-Qarakh House. I am sure thy brother Prince Zhenjin is proud." Zhen commented, sipping some tsaa 'Mister' Xiong offered.

Hojun nodded, but then she paused. "That reminds me, I have something for you. It's not much, but I thought that if you visited my chambers someday, you might find it useful."

She took out a black case, and when opened revealed a sheet of parchment. Protected by the glass, Sillan calligraphy decorated the papyrus paper, written completely in Sillan Renhua. In the corner at the bottom was the Al-Qarakh Royal Seal.

"Forgive me for not writing in Renhua. But I hope you trust that it is an official apology to the Laoyuang House for Tayang." Hojun stood and bowed her head respectfully to Zhen.

"It is a very kind gesture indeed. Thank you." He smiled softly, before returning and gently closing the black case. "However let it be known that we never apologized for the oppression of the Al-Qarakh House, and I am having my family work on that in the Palace of Wise Brilliance."

After they finished their light meal, the Da Shi shouted from across the garden. “The honorable guests, Izdaha Saya, Suruj Zundui, and Tvuj Hosyi, members of Izato, have arrived!”

The musicians did their usual greeting in Yuefu style, while Ayai and the others stood up and bowed.

When the three made it to the Courtyard of Longevity, Izdaha stepped forward with Suruj, Izdaha wearing a more rigid uniform. Suruj and Tvuj were the same, wearing the Izato uniforms that Ayai designed herself.

Izdaha silently bowed to Ayai, before turning to the others.

Suruj did the same. "Good day. Since we haven't met in a long time, I'm Suruj Zundui. Here is Izdaha Saya, and Tvuj Hosyi."

"I never forgot how you all helped me in Buhanggilog." Hojun smiled and walked up to them, shaking each of their hands.

Tvuj did the same. "We thank you in return, Lady Hojun. Hiya Jorge!"

She waved at him, while Jorge gladly stood up and gave her and Suruj a hug. "Have you been well? I've missed you all."

"Yup, we are doing fine. And so is the Izato LK Company." Tvuj looked at Ayai, followed by the rest of them.