It felt like someone splashed cold water on my face as I froze on spot.
"There's nothing wrong," I quickly replied.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Cu Xing," Teacher bent down so he was looking me eye to eye, "if there's something bothering you, it's better to let it out now before it gets bigger. Teacher will always listen to you," I could see the worry in his light blue eyes.
"I am really fine," I repeated myself, "there's nothing wrong."
"Hmm... then that's good," Teacher rubbed my head before standing back up. I stood up also and grabbed the tin box.
"Then, Cu Xing will get started on a new piece right away," I started to grab a new piece of fabric when Teacher stopped me.
"No need, no need. Since you've been cooped up in your room these past few weeks, Teacher has decided that we need to do some light exercises to go over your martial arts skill. Does this sound good?" he smiled. I threw the tin box on my table and nodded my head.
"It sounds good!" I tried to sound excited but my voice didn't even change at all from its usual emotionless tone.
"Good, then let's go," Teacher led the way as I followed behind him. My heart ran with glee underneath my chest as I quickly tapped my thighs.
-
Teacher handed me a wooden sword as I stood in the center of the garden. Unlike the other royalty members, who used the Royal Training Grounds to train, I trained in a garden that didn't hold too many plants. I gripped the handle of the wooden sword and took in a deep breath as I closed my eyes. I circulated my chi energy before I opened my eyes and slashed the sword out in front of me. The martial arts I practiced was called The Twelve Forms of the Northern Sea that all immediate royalty family members had to practice. One had to master at least the first four forms before being exempted from training in martial arts. I had already mastered the first five forms and was now already practicing on the sixth one. I brought my sword back and dropped it to my side as I glanced at Teacher. He held his chin as he nodded in approval and I felt the corner of my cheeks heat up.
"Very good!" he praised and I tapped my thigh, "your form and posture are both very strong. I think if you keep going at this pace you will be able to master all twelve forms within the next 20,000 years!"
"Cu Xing doesn't deserve such compliments," I held my hands together and bowed my head, "compared to others, Cu Xing is still lacking."
"Enough with the words, you! Get back to training. We're going to train for a couple more hours before Teacher sends you back," Teacher waved his hand. My lips trembled and I firmly nodded my head as I held my sword up in the air once again.
-
I returned to my room as Teacher left to teach the other royalty members. I saw Bai Yu inside filling a bathtub up with warm water. She was dressed in the palace's typical blue maid robes. I looked at her robes and I looked at mine. I couldn't help but compare as her fabric looked better than my coarse fabric. It was fine though because mother gave me these robes and because of that, they are my favorite robes.
"Your Highness," Bai Yu's voice broke through my train of thought as I saw her giving me a bow, "your servant has already filled up the bathtub. Would Your Highness like to take a bath now?"
"Yes. Thank you," I walked into my room.
"Your servant does not deserve such gratitude. Your servant is only doing her job," she moved to the side as I walked passed her. I didn't know how to respond to her and just ran my fingers through the warm water.
"Umm... you're excused for now. Keep watch outside while I take my bath," I said as I remembered how my body looked like. I saw her frown. "I'm not used to anyone helping me bathe or dress so I can take care of these things by myself. You don't need to wait on me regarding these things in the future either," I clarified before she could ask. Her face straightened out as she nodded her head.
"Your servant understands. If Your Highness needs anything then your servant will be right outside," she gave me a bow as she closed the door. I waited for a moment before taking off my clothes. I glanced down my arm and shoulder to see various scar marks. My eyes traveled down to my legs which had the biggest scars that resembled burn marks. I balled my fists before stepping into the bathtub.
"Forgive people. Give them chances. Don't hold grudges. Be kind. Your kindness towards others will eventually come back to help you. To be sincere and genuine is to be true to yourself," I mumbled as I started to wash my body.
After my bath was done I opened the door and had Bai Yu take everything out. I tried to help but Bai Yu kept refusing as she told me it was her job and that I shouldn't interfere with such things anymore now that she was here. I could only agree as I sat on my bed with my embroidery tin sitting next to me. I picked up white fabric that was usually used for handkerchiefs. This fabric was the highest quality that I was given and I ran my fingers across it, trying to think of a design.
"Older Sister!" I heard Wei Xing's voice call out. I looked up to see her at standing at the doorway with a big smile. She waddled inside my room and stood in front of me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. Her big eyes grew even bigger as she focused on the fabric I was holding.
"Older Sister, is that for me?!" she jumped up and down as she pointed to it. I felt as if I got caught red-handed as I stuffed the fabric back into the tin.
"Who said it was for you?" I pushed the lid back on the tin. She tilted her head as she gave me a big smile.
"Older Sister," she put her small fingers on my knee, "Older Sister!" she called out delightfully.
"What?" the word escaped my mouth before I could stop it.
"I love you!" she declared again as she jumped up on the bed and wrapped her arms around my neck. I sat there, frozen, as I didn't know how to react. I felt her lips smack against my cheek as she pulled away and smiled.
"Y-you..." I narrowed my eyes at her. She gave me another hug as she buried her face in my shoulder.
"Older Sister, you smell so good!" her voice sounded muffled. I stopped breathing as I heard her said that.
"You stink up the whole palace!"
"You dirty brat!"
"No matter how much you bathe you can never get rid of that putrid stench!"
"How about you keep scrubbing until nothing's left? Maybe then you won't smell so much anymore! Hahaha!"
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Voice ran through my head. My hands trembled as I felt my breath caught in my throat. I tried to move but it was like someone held me in place.
"Get your stinking books out of the way!"
"Throw her out! Throw her out!"
"Older Sister?"
"Why are you even here? You don't belong here!"
"You are the reason that creatures keep attacking the palace! Your stench attracts them!"
"Why don't you go die already?"
"Older Sister?"
"You're a curse!"
"You're a curse!"
"You're a curse!"
"It's all your fault!"
"Older Sister!" I felt someone shake me and I took in a sharp breath. I started to pant as I looked down to see Wei Xing's concerned eye looking back at me. "Older Sister, are you feeling bad? Should Wei Xing get a doctor to look at you? Does your stomach hurt?" her eyes got teary as she patted my shoulders. I bit down on my lip and shook my head.
"I'm fine," I patted her head as I remembered that was what Teacher did when he wanted to comfort me. Tears streamed down her chubby cheeks as she pouted.
"Wei Xing... W-wei Xing was so worried!" she stammered out. I looked at her with uncertainty. Worried? Why would she be worried about me? Nobody worried about me. I wiped her tears away with my thumbs.
"Why would you be worried about me?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Be-be-because... because Old-ol-older Sister looked like Older Sister was in a l-l-lot of pain!" she cried out. Pain? "Everyone says that Older Sister can't feel pain or have any emotions but Wei Xing doesn't believe that! Who doesn't feel pain?!" tears continued to run down her face. I felt a sudden warmth spread throughout my body as I saw this little girl crying... for me... I wrapped my arms around her as I felt her chin settle down on my shoulder. I rubbed her back.
"Idiot. If I'm the one in pain then why are you crying?"
"Heeuuughh! B-b-beacuse! If Older Sister is hurt then Wei Xing feels hurt too!"
"Haha... idiot..." ahh... it has been such a long time since I heard myself laugh. Wei Xing stopped crying as she pushed me back. She looked up at me with her big innocent eyes.
"If Older Sister is ever hurt then tell Wei Xing! Wei Xing will help!" she said seriously. I couldn't help myself as I poked her round cheek.
"How are you going to help?"
"I will blow on the area so it doesn't hurt anymore! Concubine mother always blow on my cuts when I fall down!" she replied. I felt a tinge of sadness gnaw at my heart but I pushed it down as I bit my lip. "Older Sister, where does it hurt? Wei Xing will blow on your cut so it doesn't hurt anymore!" she started to search my body with her eyes, before picking up my hands, "there's no cut... let me keep searching," she flipped my hands over. I pulled my hands out of her small ones and patted her head, something that Teacher often does to me which I like.
"I'm not hurt so you don't have to keep searching anymore."
"Really?"
"Un."
"Hmm... okay... but if you are ever hurt, then just tell Wei Xing! Wei Xing will blow on them like this! Fwuu! Fwuu!" she puckered up her soft cheeks and blew air into my face. I felt the ends of my lips tingled as I gave her nod.
"Alright, if I'm ever hurt I'll have you blow on my cut. Now, get going. Don't you have your lessons to attend to?"
"Oh yea!" she jumped off the bed and headed to the door. She stopped before turning around and giving me a big smile, "Wei Xing will be looking forward to the handkerchief! Bye bye, Older Sister!" she ran out before I could say any more. I tapped my fingers on my thighs and for some unknown reasons, I felt as if my shoulders lost some weight. I glanced back down at my embroidery tin before looking back at my desk.
"Your Highness," Bai Yu called out as she walked inside, "lunch has arrived. Your Highness should eat before it gets cold," she set the tray of food down on the desk.
"Bai Yu," an idea suddenly popped up in my head.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"While I eat, can you go find some blue and purple ink for me?"
"Yes, this servant obeys," she gave me a bow before leaving. I jumped off my bed as I picked up a spoon. I swirled it around the bowl of soup as images of the Bai Yu flower flashed through my head.
-
I dipped my brush into the blue ink that Bai Yu found for me as I started to draw the flower onto the white piece of paper. After working for a while, Bai Yu set a cup on the table.
"Your Highness, how about taking a break for some tea?" she suggested. Tea? I looked at the cup to see light brown liquid in it with steam rising out. I looked at Bai Yu before looking back at the cup. I bit my lip unsure of what this liquid in front of me was. "Is something wrong, Your Highness?" Bai Yu asked.
"No," I responded as I picked up the cup. I looked back down at it before bringing the cup up to my lips. I sipped a little of the warm liquid and my eyes widened at the wonderful taste. I tried again and felt even more satisfied at the bittersweet taste. "Bai Yu, what is this?" I blurted out.
"Hmm? Uh, does Your Highness mean what type of tea it is?" she furrowed her brows. I nodded my head. "Replying to Your Highness, this is just ordinary green tea."
"Green tea..." I mumbled. How can such a thing be called ordinary when it tasted this good?
"Excuse me, Your Highness, but is this your first time having tea?"
"Yes. I usually only drink warm water or honeyed water. This is really good. Please continue to serve me this in the future, Bai Yu," I took another sip before putting the cup down and picking my paintbrush back up. I didn't hear a response and I looked back at Bai Yu to see her looking at the cup of tea with a sad expression. Did she also want some? "Bai Yu?"
"Huh?" she bowed her head.
"Do you also want some tea? If you do then you can also have some."
"N-no, your servant is fine. Your servant understands and shall follow Your Highness's order," she bowed her head again. Hmm? If she didn't want any why was she looking at the cup of tea that way? I thought for a moment before just brushing it off as I handed her the embroidery tin.
"You can sit on my bed and continue your embroidery. It's really pretty."
"Your servant thanks Your Highness for the compliment. This one doesn't deserve it," she took the tin and bowed before heading over to the bed. I didn't want to dawdle with her any longer as I turned my attention back to my paper.
-
Two weeks passed before I finally was content with my painting. I tried embroidering on a few scrap pieces of fabric before finally getting started on the silk fabric that I prepared for Wei Xing. I had also asked Bai Yu to get me some yellow threads. When I was experimenting with the colors on the paper I found that yellow helped bring out the blue and purple colors. It was an interesting find because I didn't know that colors could look so different and pretty when put together. Wei Xing also came to visit often and I always made sure to have Bai Yu keep guard so I could hide the drawings and scrap fabrics.
"Cu Xing," I heard Teacher call out to me. I set my embroidery down as I turned around to see Teacher holding a basket that contained a bunch of orangeish pinkish balls.
"Cu Xing greets Teacher," I bowed before looking back up at him. He gave me a smile before handing me the basket.
"Happy Birthday," he congratulated. Birthday? Oh yeah, it was my birthday!
"Cu Xing thanks Teacher," I bowed before taking the basket. I brushed my fingers over them and felt its smooth surface. "Teacher, what are these?" I looked back up at them.
"They are a type of fruit call peach."
"Peach?" I held one up to my nose and took in a whiff. Hmm... it smelt so good.
"Yes. Teacher had to try very hard to obtain these so enjoy them to the fullest! Teacher already washed them beforehand so you can just go ahead and dig in," he patted my head. I felt my cheeks warm up at his touch before I took a bite out of the fruit. My eyes grew as I tasted the somewhat sweet and sour fruit. Waahh! It's so good and crunchy! The ends of my lips trembled.
"Teacher... it's so good," I nodded my head in approval as I continued to devour the fruits in the basket. Pretty soon the full basket only had a couple of peaches left. I stopped myself before taking one and handing it to Teacher. "For Teacher."
"Aye, silly one. Teacher gave you these as a present so how could teacher accept one?"
"What Teacher gave Cu Xing is now Cu Xing's, so whatever Cu Xing decides to do with it then it's Cu Xing's own matters," I held the peach closer to him.
"Haha... alright! Then, teacher thanks Cu Xing," he gave me a small head bow before taking the peach. I watched as he took a bite and glee ran into his eyes as he nodded his head in approval.
"As expected, peaches from the Celestial Palace tastes very different compared to regular peaches."
"Celestial Palace?!" my jaw dropped as I looked down at the peaches. Anything from the Celestial Palace was always better than anywhere else! Not only that but they were difficult to obtain if you weren't a member of the royal Celestial family."T-teacher! Cu Xing can't accept this gift!" I shoved the basket back to him. He let out a hearty laugh before pushing it back.
"Silly one, you already ate so much and you want to give me the leftovers? Teacher doesn't want it. Keep it, it's your gift."
"B-b-but Teacher!"
"Tsk! Tsk! Are you disobeying teacher right now?!" his voice made the ends of my hair stand up as I shook my head.
"Cu Xing doesn't dare. Cu Xing doesn't dare."
"Good student!" Teacher praised as he patted my head. The ends of my lips tingled as I lightly tapped my thigh. "That's right. Teacher has to look for something for Princess Wei Xing also."
"Hmm?" I looked up at him. He frowned back at me.
"Don't you remember? It's Princess Wei Xing's birthday is next week?" he asked. Oh, that's right! It was going to be Wei Xing's birthday soon! I glanced at my embroidery tin and felt my heart pounding nervously underneath my chest. Will she... like it?