Chapter 19

Liang Lia Jiao laid on her bed. The light mood from earlier while she was eating was long gone. Now all that was left was the darkness and her thoughts. She was too afraid to go back to sleep. She pulled the gown that Zhao Gui had given her closer to her body, trying to warm herself. She felt cold all over, deep in her bones. The scent coming from the clothes reminded her of Xiang gege. She breathed in a little deeper. It was sweat from a man with a hint of soap. She allowed it to finally lull her to sleep. She dreamed of the time they played in the stream, and when she woke up, her heart was filled with a bittersweet tenderness and longing.

She cleaned herself up and had a little breakfast then did her best to look presentable. She stared at herself in the bronze mirror, feeling like the person staring back was a stranger. It had been a while since she looked in a mirror.

When Prince Yi Feng walked in, he saw her staring at herself. The vanity of a woman was nothing new to him. When she suddenly began pinching her cheeks and rubbing her teeth, he stopped walking and stared at her. She played with her long eyelashes as if seeing them for the first time and moved her mouth opened and closed, squishing it together then out again.

"I look a lot different now, don't I?" She said. He was surprised to hear the sadness in her voice.

"Do you like it?" He asked.

"Like what?"

"The way you look now," he answered with annoyance.

She looked back at the mirror and stared at herself for a while. "I can barely see my mom in my face, but I'm sure that my eyes look like my dads. And my nose is his too." She smiled and rubbed her nose with gentle tenderness. "I like it." She said quietly. What was in her heart she wouldn't say. 'If Xiang gege saw her now, would he recognize her?'

"Get dressed, we're heading out," he said with a hint of anger. Her answer bothered him.

"I am dressed," she said mildly. She was still wearing Zhao Guie's clothes. The smell was nice, and it was still clean enough. She suddenly thought about it and turned to him, "Will he get angry if I wear it again?"

"Take it off," he bristled. He was starting to think she really was stupid.

"I like it," she said quietly.

A servant walked in, carrying a pile of clothes and some hair accessories. She spotted the Prince and hesitated near the door.

"Bring it in," he ordered. She nodded her head and quickly set the stuff on a table and left the room. She thought she would be there to help her dress but knew better than to interrupt the Prince when he was with a woman.

Liang Lei Jiao stood up and walked towards the clothes that were brought in. They were like the clothes she had been wearing the last few days. They were always tight against her back and made her feel clunky and uncomfortable. She didn't want to wear them. Prince Yi Fengg stared at her as she looked over the clothes. He knew women loved gifts, they were easy to please.

She sighed and turned her eyes back towards him. There was a doe-like pleading in her eyes, a limpid tenderness that stunned him. "Can't I just wear this? Or maybe you can let me borrow one of yours?"

He grit his teeth, "why would I let you wear my clothes?"

"Then what does it matter? I'll ask him if I can wear it again. If he says no, then I'll wear one of these stupid tight dresses that make my legs and back and shoulders feel like their being pinned down by some invisible hand." She gave him an angry glance, then stepped out of her tent. The guards were all standing outside, each with varying expressions. She turned to Zhao Gui and looked at him with soft eyes. "Can I wear this?"

He was very clear on what he should do, but she was staring at him with such big hopeful eyes and a sweet innocent expression. He didn't want to say no. He actually liked seeing her in his clothes. "Don't you think you would be more comfortable in clean clothes? I wore those all day yesterday. Doesn't it smell filthy?" He was trying to coax her into changing her mind.

She pulled up a corner and smelled it. "It smells nice," she admitted. Some of the smell had already left, but there was still that faint hint of Xiang gege there.

Prince Yi Feng suddenly stepped out and threw his outer robe at her. "Put it on. It's cleaner than that filth, at least." He glared at Zhao Gui and motioned for a servant to bring him a new robe.

She sniffed this robe, it wasn't as pleasant as the one she was wearing, but it wasn't bad.

"Thanks," she said, giving him a broad smile. She went back in and changed into his big robes. They were even bigger then Zhao Gui's clothes. She felt very free in them. She tightened a belt around her waist and reached for her sword, feeling upset when she remembered she didn't have it anymore. She wondered if someone would find it one day. She pulled her hair into a tight but on top and picked out a plain-looking hairpin. She looked at herself in the mirror again and smiled. She really did look like her father, especially dressed like this.

She strolled out of the room and met up with the Prince and his guards. Prince Yi Feng glanced towards her, feeling unhappy to see her in his clothes, but somehow seeing her in Zhao Gui's clothes had made him angry too. Like someone trying to steal a toy. Even if you didn't want it, that didn't mean other people could have it.

She smiled at Zhao Gui, who gave her a gentle smile, disappointed to see her in the Prince's robes. He wondered if she liked the way those clothes smelled too.

"Am I going to follow you around for now on?" She called out to the Prince. "Or do you have something else for me to do?"

He stopped his steps and looked back at her, "You don't like following me around?" he had a wicked smile that made her take a step back feeling uncomfortable.

"How could I not like it," she lied. She was terrible at lying. "I just was curious."

He raised a corner of his lips, wanting to slap her around. "You will stay with me until I say otherwise." He was impressed by her ability yesterday and was thinking about making her into a guard. He didn't have any female guards, and there were some instances where one would come in handy. "Give it to her." He said, turning back around.

A bundle was thrown to her by Mao Guanglie. She deftly caught it and opened it with curiosity. When she saw her sword and bow, she was so happy she squealed. She ran ahead of the Prince and bowed down in thanks her eyes shining with gratitude. Even though he was the one that took them from her, she was so happy to have them back; she didn't care.

She suddenly stopped and turned her head. Her eyes were like daggers, and the sword was drawn. She swiped it with a quick motion, and an arrow dropped to the floor. Her eyes were steeled and bright as she looked in the direction it had come. She let out a loud whistle, followed by a short one, and a responding cry followed. Shortly after Xiang-Xiang was circling over them with alert eyes searching for any predators.

Lia Jiao kept her eye on the hawk for a few minutes before letting her guard relax a little. If there was imminent danger, he would have called out by now.

Prince Yi Fengg, Qin Weimin, Zhao Gui, and Mao Guanglie were all aware of what had just happened. It was planned out to get an idea of her abilities. Her sense of hearing was even above what they imagined. There was no doubt that the only reason she hadn't realized they were there yesterday was because she was so caught up in her mourning and was distracted.

"A lot of people hate you," she said flatly. Inside, she was bristling because she had told this man she would even die for him, but she didn't want to. If he had people chasing after him every day, when would she ever have peace?

Qin Weimin let out a guffaw, which he quickly contained after seeing the look the Prince gave him.