1.13 AuYeung LaiSan - Meeting the Crown Prince

Okay, if you could please show the Crown Prince to the Receiving Hall. Please serve him our best Jasmine tea and some pastries," I instructed the housekeeper.

Slowly, I made my way towards the hall, I needed the assistance of the maid that came with the housekeeper. I peered over at her as we walked. I did not recognize her, she was quite young, a little petite thing that was probably not much older than MeiMei. As we walked, I wondered what was her story and how she came to work here.

Finally reaching the Receiving Hall, I saw the Crown Prince elegantly sipping tea.

"Your Highness," as I say while giving a low curtsy. "please excuse this commoner's tardiness in receiving this most honored guest."

"No need for such courtesy, please rise," the Crown Prince stated.

"Thank you, your Highness."

I rose with the help of the maid by my side and she assisted me in sitting in the chair next to his highness. We were separated just by a side table where the tea and snacks were set.

"Your Highness, what brought you here to our humble home today?" I asked in my most demure voice, while still keeping my head slightly lowered.

"You are MeiMei's good sister and therefore my friend as well, there is no need for such boundaries between us. Please raise your head so that we may speak as friends." The Prince's tone was demanding and yet kind.

I raised my head and for the first time seeing this Prince so closely with my own eyes. With his almond shaped face, straight nose and commanding eyes, this person did not have to speak to give a command but when he did, you knew to obey well. His whole demeanor showed that he was the Prince of this land. I believe that even if you changed him into commoners clothing and you will still feel his regal presence.

I raised my head for a moment but I soon came back to my senses and lowered my gaze again. Afterall, no matter how friendly he may seem at the moment, he was still the Crown Prince.

He sighed then said, "Well. I heard that young Miss had awaken so I thought I would pay you a visit and check on your condition. Also wanted to ask whether there was anything that you needed, that I can help with. I am sure Mother Empress and MeiMei were quite concerned during this past week."

Feeling guilty, I instinctively knelt down. I dropped down quickly, my legs were too weak to support my decent. I experienced a fair amount of pain from that fall so I winced before saying, "I truly deserve a million death to have worried her highnesses."

Before I could even react, he had already scooped me up in a princess carry, as he agitatedly said, "What are you doing? You had just awoken, your body must still be weak." He gently placed me back in the chair. As he was releasing me, our eyes met and time seemed to have stopped, we stayed that way for awhile. I was first to break the silence and said, "Ah…" and with that he regained his composure and moved back to his seat.

Shy, now from the close contact, I lowered my head even further and quietly said, "Thank you."

He fake coughed a couple of times, as he took a seat. Changing the subject he said, "I've brought something for you." He held out a temple talisman for good health.

I looked at the talisman, it was a yellow piece of paper with the blessing written on it. It was folded into the shape of a triangle not bigger than a silver dollar. It was tied with a decorated string knot loop, that allowed the person to hang it from their belts. As I reached for it I raised my head to look at the Prince and I saw that his face was touched with a bit of pink and when our eyes met, he shyly looked away.

I thanked the Prince but he said, "No need to thank me. MeiMei had that delivered to my palace this morning, saying that she had forgotten to put it in the letter that she wrote to you."

With a big smile at the thought of MeiMei, I said, "Well, then please help me thank her Highness when you see her."

"She also asked me to help her deliver back any responses that you may have for her," the Prince said smiling back.

"I am sorry to have to trouble your highness, actually right before you arrived I sent a maid with my response to Princess Mei to your palace. If you can please have someone deliver that to her highness, I would greatly appreciate it."

"No problem. MeiMei had already guilted me to being her messenger pigeon when I visited last night," Crown Prince said exasperated. The look on his face was like a little kid being told he couldn't have candy.

I could not hold it in, a small chuckle came out. I quickly covered my mouth with both my hands and looked at the Crown Prince for his reaction. I was so scared that I almost knelt down again. But before I could move, he laughed and raised his hands in defeat, "Yeah she pretty much has me wrapped around her little finger, I feel so sorry for the future Prince Consort." We both openly laughed at that comment. It was then that finally the heaviness of the atmosphere seem to dissipate and we truly started to speak as friends.

We had spoken for an incense worth of time when finally my stomach gave a not so polite growl. I immediately held my stomach, hoping to calm it's incessant complaining.

The Crown Prince looked at me wide eyed and unexpectedly laughed without thought of status nor manners for that matter.

I pouted at him.

"Well I guess it is time to feed the little piggy. He used his knuckle, fleetingly touched the tip of my nose, then said, "Would you like to go out to eat with this Prince? I heard that there is a new restaurant that just opened. Do you like spicy foods?"

"Yes! I love spicy foods," I said excitedly. But the excitement was short lived as I realized there would be no way my mother would allow me to have that type of food at this time. So I sadly responded, "But unfortunately, my body is still weak and I don't think my mother will allow me to venture out at this time."

"Okay then we will go for more milder foods. There is a nice vegetarian restaurant that I frequent. And just so your mother would agree, why don't you ask your youngest brother to accompany us? He and I would make sure nothing happens to you while we are out. I actually do have some business to discuss with him as well," the crown prince suggested.

"But I still can't walk very fast won't your Highness find it very troublesome to wait for me?"

"No worries, I have no other official business to attend to today. I can wait."

"Okay then, let me go ask them."

I left the crown prince's side and left with the maid. But since I didn't want to take up too much of his time I asked the maid at my side to go inform my brother to meet me at my parent's courtyard.

As I was now walking alone, the progress was quite slow. I had hardly made it thirty feet away from the Receiving Hall when I stumbled but before I fell, I felt a pair of strong arms around my waist to stop me from falling.

I turned and there was the Crown Prince at my side. I turned beet red as I saw him. After he assured that I was steady, he let go and he said slightly bowing, "I apologize for my inappropriate behavior just now. I saw that you dismissed your maid and I was worried that you might need assistance, so I followed behind you." After speaking he raised his head again, observing my reaction.

Looking up at him, meeting his eyes, I said, "Thank you, your Highness." I didn't mean for it to happen but my voice came out as small as a mouse.

He stared at me without blinking, and not responding. So we stood there in awkward silence for a moment when I couldn't stand it anymore. I turned away from him and said, "Your Highness I should continue inside."

That seemed to have snapped him back to his senses and he responded, "Yes, please let me accompany you along the way. I'll remain in the center garden and wait for you, when we get closer to your parent's courtyard. I know it is inappropriate for me to venture any further but I worry that you may trip again."

Truly, I was worried too, so I guess I had no choice. "Yes, I am sorry to have to trouble you again."

"It is no trouble," he said as he gave me the biggest smile.

We walked very slowly side by side for about 10 minutes before the maid from before, caught up to us. "Your Highness, thank you for escorting our Miss. I can take her for the rest of the way," with her head low, she walked by the Prince and took my arm.

Having been squeezed out of his position by my side, he said, "Yes, of course. I shall await your return back at the Receiving Hall then."

"Thank you, your Highness, I shall return promptly," I said, bowing slightly, we turned and continued to my parent's courtyard. I was quite relieved to leave him for the time being. For some reason again the light and carefree manner that we shared while speak had dissipated and replaced with heaviness again. The weight of it while we were walking together drained me and I felt really tired and hungry. I was thinking about ways to back out of the lunch together, so I can just go back to my room and sleep.

Finally we reached my parent's courtyard and I meet my youngest brother at the hallway. I asked the maid in the front of the room to announce us.

As she does, I took my brother's arm and said tiredly, "Brother, the Crown Princess has invited us to lunch but I am really tired. Would you please go on my behalf and accompany him to lunch? He said he had something to discuss with you. I also figure it is better that I am not there anyways while you discuss business."

I gave my brother a tired look and stare at him pleadingly until he agreed. Mission accomplished!

"Mother good afternoon!" We both said as we entered and greeted her.

"Good morning darlings, what brings you here?" she said in her motherly tone as she walked towards us. She took me by the arm and led me to the nearest chair. She held both my hands and stared at my face with concern. "What have you been doing? You are all flushed and you look so tired?"

I responded, "Nothing much. The Crown Prince came to visit and we were just talking. He invited brother and I to lunch but I feel too tired to attend. Brother can go on my behalf."

"Good, if you are tired just rest at home. Ah Shang," my brother's name AuYeung Shang, my mother commands, "you go now. Please apologize to the Crown Prince and say that your sister is just healing and too tired to venture out at this time."

"Yes, mother. I will take my leave now," my brother responded, then he turned to leave. But not before he shot me a dirty look for making him do this.

"Heehee." I could not help but laugh at my silly youngest brother. "Mother, I shall return to my courtyard and rest. See you at dinner time. Have a good day."

"Good girl. Go, see you soon," as mother pats me on the back of my hand before letting go.

The maid helps me up and we walk back to my courtyard.

As I sat at the round table in my room waiting for the kitchen to prepare lunch, Jo-yi returned from sending the letter. She met the other maid halfway back to the courtyard and so she was holding lunch on a tray. There was enough for two portions so I asked her to join me. We ate in silence as I was truly tired. After a few bites I told her to continue as I made my way to the bed. Of course she did not listen, she made her way to my side and assisted in the removal of the outer layers of clothing and helped me lie down in bed before continuing her meal. I looked at her a little bit before my eyelids grew heavy and I fell asleep.