1.5 AuYeung LaiSan - Where Are You, LaiSan?

While LaiSan was in the spirit realm, Princess MeiMei was still traveling to the Imperial Scholar's residence and had awakened from her nap.

I could no longer felt LaiSan's presence. I tried calling her but she doesn't respond. As quickly as she had come, she left just the same way, without a word.

Since I was already on my way, I might as well continue on the journey. I was also curious about the young Miss AuYeung and I did have that assignment that I must complete for mother Empress.

After about another half hour, the sedan finally came to a holt in front of the AuYeung residence.

An-yi helped me exit the sedan and as I glanced behind, I saw that the carriage that the other maids and the Imperial Physician were riding in, was not far behind.

I waited for An-yi to make the announcement to the gatekeeper and for the Imperial Tutor's housekeeper to come bring us in. By the time the housekeeper was at the door, the other carriage also arrived.

The three maids all exited the sedan and Dai-yi assisted the Imperial Physician. The others were now carrying the presents and supplements for young Miss AuYeung.

As we entered, I looked around the AuYeung residence and even though the royal palace has gardens that are beyond compare, the small one here at the AuYeung residence, was also not bad, it made one feel tranquil.

I entered the Receiving Hall and I addressed my teacher and Madam AuYeung. "Greetings to teacher and Madam. I have brought with me the Imperial Physician and many good supplements for young Miss AuYeung. Let us journey to the inner courtyard so that the Imperial Physician can first attend to Miss AuYeung without delay. I know that madam must be really anxious at this time."

"Okay then, thank you for your understanding, please let me lead the way." The Imperial Scholar gestured for me to walk next to him. Madam AuYeung quietly followed behind us and all the maids followed behind her.

We passed by the garden into the inner courtyard and a cooling breeze blew by, brushing the side of my face, I turned and saw the beautiful orange glow of the late afternoon sun, over the willow trees. It was too bright, I averted my eyes and saw dragonflies dance upon the water in the little stream and a koi jumped and splashed in the water at the same moment. It really was quite a mesmerizing sight, I found myself unable to peel my eyes away. Seeing that I had stopped for a bit now, An-yi said, "Princess" and that brought me back to the present, and we continued the journey.

We arrived at the front doorway of the young Miss' courtyard and I coughed a few times as the strong smell of incense wafted over. It was most likely burnt in prayer to the ancestors for the young Miss' speedy recovery.

We gained entrance and after some words to Madam, the Imperial Physician was allowed to check on the young Miss.

As she lay in bed, a gauze curtain was separating her and the Imperial Physician. With the assistance of her mom, who pulls out the young Miss' arm from under the covers, only far enough to still be within the gauze curtain, the Imperial Physician began his examination. He sat at the stool that was placed next to the bed, then placed a silk handkerchief above the gauze on her wrist and started feeling the flow of the pulse. After a few minutes the Imperial Physician removed the silk handkerchief and asked the madam to please place the young Miss' hand back under the covers.

He rose from the stool, then bowed to me and Imperial Scholar AuYeung and said,"This one is really useless because I can find anything wrong with the young Miss."

He then gave a grand bow and kneeled on the floor saying, "I am willing to accept punishment, I only hope that Princess will spare my family. Please spare my family!"

I turned from the Imperial Physician and I asked teacher whether other physicians had seen the Miss and if they also said the same thing.

Teacher response, "There were three previous ones which had been summoned but they all said the same. So, we had no other choice but to trouble your Highness to bring the Imperial Physician."

Upon hearing this, I told the Imperial Physician, "You may rise, no blame shall be placed. There are some things that cannot be explained, this is not your fault."

Of course I knew that the body was missing a soul, so how could it be detected by a physician. I had hoped that LaiSan had returned to her own body though.

At this time, a servant came to announce that General SzeTo and his parents had arrived and brought along quite a heavy box.

"Oh, I wonder what the General would be doing here," teacher said in a surprised tone. "Princess if you will excuse me for a moment, I will see what has brought the General to this residence today."

"Oh teacher, I have never met General SzeTo in person before, would you mind if I came with you" I asked quite excitedly. I was wondering about this General that will soon be betrothed to Miss AuYeung.

"As Princess wishes" teacher replied and lead the way back to the Receiving Hall.

Upon entering, the young General and the parents rose gave a greeting to Imperial Scholar. But once they saw the Phoenix gown I was wearing they gave a grander greeting, "Good evening to Princess, may this day finds you in good health."

"Please be as usual, I am here today as Imperial Scholar's student and there is no need for such grand gestures," I said.

Upon hearing this, the elderly couple raises a bit but still keeps their eyes lowered. But the General raises his head and gives thanks.

He looks at me directly in the eyes and I'm taken aback. Those eyes were worthy of a valiant hero. Just a look commanded my attention, and sent a shiver down my spine. They literally sparkled in the candlelight and with his stature and the aura around him, it had me stunned in place. Dressed in his General's armor, he looked so galient but I can't say he was very handsome, definitely not compared to my brothers, but for some reason I could not take my eyes off of him.

This strong feeling was really beyond my understanding but all I knew was that when I looked at him now, all I wanted was for this person to only be mine. It was a burning desire, like a man starved for days, and finally seeing something to eat, that burning desire to have it no matter what the obstacles and will not relent until it is all consumed.

Suddenly I heard a thought, LaiSan said, "Yes! So that is my future husband."

So this feeling is yours? Where have you been?

Oh, it is a very long story but I did find a way to leave your body. LaiSan explained.

So, that man there is your betrothed, how are we going to handle this? We can't really do much since Miss AuYeung is still unconscious, and you are still with me. MeiMei stated.

I wonder if I will be able to go back if you are asleep next to my body? The apprentice said that the anchor will loosen if we are asleep, so if my body is in close proximity when you fall asleep, maybe I will go back.

How the heck are we going to accomplish that? MeiMei protested. I can't just ask to sleep in the same room as the young Miss, what reason would I have to do that?

Well you can...

An abrupt cough gets my attention and brought my attention back to the Receiving Hall. I looked at my maid, An-yi, then I smiled awkwardly at the Imperial Scholar.

Imperial Scholar smiled awkwardly and took the initiative to tell the General and his parents to please have a seat, as he walked to his seat as well.

Oh god! They had all been standing and watching me, all that time. We had been so engrossed with our talk that I totally forgot they were all there. How embarrassing! MeiMei screamed in her head.

I am blushing so hard. Trying to avoid further attention, I scampered over to seats across from the General and his family. I kept my head down.

Cleared his throat and finally taking the attention off of me, teacher asked the General why they have come for a visit.

"Imperial Scholar to answer your question" the General's dad started to say, "I have come with my family today in hopes that we can ask for young Miss AuYeung's hand in marriage. The matchmaker has done the calculation and it seems that your daughter is a perfect match for my son and together they are a match made in heaven."

Holding out the red papers, with both his son and the young Miss' eight characters (the year, date, hour,etc used for matching couples) and he says, "Please take a look."

Imperial Scholar's servant receives the red paper and handed it over to the Imperial Scholar. Teacher looks the paper over and the matchmaker has deemed this as a perfect pairing and beneficial to both families. After examining it a bit longer, he raised his head and touched his long beard. Silence was stifling as he continued to quietly ponder the situation. Then as if a hammer hit metal, his first word boomed through the hall.

"Wonderful! Perfect pairing indeed!

General, you are from a good, honest family and it would be our accumulated luck through the generations, to have you as part of the family," teacher said with joy.

Then with a heavy sigh he continues, "But at this time I must inform you that my daughter had mysteriously fallen ill and we do not know when she will awaken. Even the Imperial Physician has said there is nothing wrong with her body but she remains in slumber. As she is my only daughter and the jewel of our family. I will not agree to any betrothal without her acceptance first. If we can leave this issue like this for now and discuss this the next time you return back."

"Oh, I had heard on the way that a couple of physicians had been called to the residence but I did not know the severity of the issue," the General stated.

"Yes, it is indeed the case" teacher responded.

"Since it is so, we shall wait until Miss AuYeung is better to continue discussing this matter," the General said, "we had brought over gifts for you and the young Miss, please at least take it as a gesture of good faith, and our hope for her speedy recovery. Please do let us know from time to time of the status of her condition."

"It is very generous of you, yes we will accept your gifts and blessing" teacher said, "we thank you for your concern and we will send word to you once my daughter is fully recovered."

"Thank you Imperial Scholar, then we will be on our way. We will be heading back to the south in two days and will not be returning for six months. We hope to see Miss AuYeung the next time we return and we can continue this discussion," the General said seriously.

With that the General and his parents, bows at us and took their leave. The housekeeper walked them out.

LaiSan, we can't just let the General leave without the engagement being set, who knows if they will return. We need to take advantage of this time and ask father Emperor for a decree of engagement to the General, right away.

Well okay, let's get that settled before we work on returning me back to Miss AuYeung's body.

"Teacher, as it is also late, I will not disturb teacher any longer, we can have our lesson the next time you come to the palace. Don't worry, in the meantime, I will study hard," I told him.

"Okay then, let me walk you out", teacher then added, "but remember to study hard, next time we meet, we will have a quiz."

I moan and whine a bit and wanted to complain to the teacher. An-yi coughed to remind me that we are in the Imperial Scholar's residence and that I must keep up appearances. I immediately straightened up and thanked teacher for his hospitality.

I see him trying really hard to not laugh.

Feeling embarrassed, I quickly left the residence. Afterall, I did have to take advantage of this time to get things done.