Zheng Lei threw an arm over her eyes, groaning as a beam of early morning sunlight fell across her face. Scrunching her eyes shut, she remained there for a time in the comfort of silk sheets and soft bedding. Zheng Lei would never understand why so many cultivators gave this up. Wasted time they said! Sleep was as much a part of life as wine and song and love. How could you be wasting time living life!

Of course, she thought, the morning wasn’t perfect. She’d have liked to wake up feeling a warm little body curled up at her side. But, you couldn’t have everything she supposed. Zheng Lei sat up, squinting at the closed window that let the mocking little beam of light in between its shutters. It only took a moment to remember where she was, the unfamiliar walls and furnishings coming into focus.

Hm, hm big room, lots of blue, every piece of furniture carved from rich jade or wood that probably cost more per bundle than a baron's manor. Zheng Lei smiled faintly, reminiscing about how she’d gotten here. The gentle rocking of the boat, the searing taste of their meal on her tongue and the challenging golden gaze daring her to complain. And later, those eyes burning in the dark, and the feel of agile hands and sharp fangs.

She rolled her shoulders reaching up to rub one of the many faint red marks left there from the night before. Surprisingly rough girl. She should have guessed it, Zheng Lei thought, chuckling. Still, a shame she’d cleared off so early-

“Are you going to continue staring at my window like an ignoramus, or are you going to move aside and make room,” Bai Mingzhu asked tartly, and Zheng Lei nearly jumped out of her skin, instincts blaring in alarm.

Zheng Lei very deliberately glanced over her shoulder, refusing to let that show. Sneaky princess. What could you expect from a snake? “Well you know, not used to seeing real rooms you know. Just caves and furs for a lout like me,” she drawled.

She turned, silk bunching up around her waist as she sat on the side of the bed, giving the Bai an appreciative once over. Garbed in a thin silk shift, her hair unbound and pooling on her shoulders, it was a very different sort of beauty than the woman had in public. Unlike some of her kin, Zheng Lei didn’t dislike the overly elaborate fashions of the court. With their layers and sashes and lace, she just thought of it as gift wrapping. The longer it took to get to your present the more the anticipation built.

The Bai paused at the bedside, steam rising from the pot set on the teatray in her hands. “I did leave you a sleeping gown, if you somehow missed it.”

Zheng Lei glanced at the grey thing hung over at the dressing table, and then down at herself, and smirked, giving a small flex of her shoulders. “Nah. Why bother dirtying it?” Zheng Lei said, shrugging.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Heh, up and down went the princess’ eyes. Sneak up on Zheng Lei, would she.

“Barbarian,” Bai Mingzhu huffed, sitting down beside her. A tap of her fingers set the tea tray hovering between them. In addition to the teapot there were a pair of cups and a plate of some kind of dumpling, bite sized little things. “Serve yourself,” Bai Mingzhu said flippantly.

“Don’t mind if I do!” Zheng Lei said, immediately popping a dumpling into her mouth, only to freeze, remembering the spices from the night before. But no, she chewed, and no fire lit in her mouth. Still, too careless!

Bai Mingzhu sat silent beside her for a moment, looking straight ahead. Zheng Lei had thought she’d loosened her up, but apparently Bai were quick to snap back to form.

“You must know that this cannot happen again,” Bai Mingzhu began haughtily. “Even this once was impulsive on my part. You will need to be satisfied with the one taste of heaven you have gotten.”

Zheng Lei considered the other woman's words with the gravitas they deserved, slowly chewing a second dumpling. She’d let the snake have her pride, last night was pretty great, though heaven was a bit much. “Okay, bit of a shame. But if that’s how it is, that’s how it is.”

The room was silent as Zheng Lei poured herself a warm cup and inhaled the scent. Wow, this was fancy stuff!

“What.” Bai Mingzhu said, finely turning her head to look up at Zheng Lei.

“I had a great time, but if you don’t want to go again, we don’t gotta go again,” Zheng Lei said, befuddled. Had she spoken with her mouth full?

Bai Mingzhu’s eyes narrowed, and a spark of thought bloomed in Zheng Lei’s head. Her own eyes widened.

“Oh, oh dang, this is that thing where you pretend you don’t want me cause you want me to pursue you! Master told me about this. Crap, sorry. Can we start over? I’m actually good at this roleplay stuff if I’m awake.”

Zheng Lei put on a winning smile. Bai Mingzhu stared blankly at her.

“No,” Bai Mingzhu said coldly and with great dignity, standing up. “Your master is a fool, and I meant what I said. This will not happen again. Finish your meal and leave my manor. Discreetly if you would. I assume you understand the meaning of the word.”

Zheng Lei scrubbed a hand through her tangled hair, wincing. “Yeah, yeah I get it. Not totally dumb.”

Honestly she wished these foreigners would be clear about what they wanted from the start.

“For what it’s worth. I had a lot of fun,” Zheng Lei said, standing up herself, pushing the tray aside. Kinda killed the mood for snacking. “Not just the bed stuff. You’ve got a mean arm with a fishing spear.”

Bai Mingzhu merely sniffed and swept out of the room.

Zheng Lei sighed and began to search for her clothes. Least she didn’t have to escape out the window. Really was a shame though.