Enemies to Friends

       "That's a little impossible, Lady Li have been treated equally here along with the other consorts"

Xian's statement got me confused. Half an hour earlier I've told him about the mistreatment of my beloved sister and he listened well with a frown etched upon his face the whole time. After the story telling he took some time to process the ideas I've told and I'm actually surprised at how calm how was.

Was he somehow a part of it?

That would be a no, I thought as I recall the days Xian have been here. He treats my sister...well it was quite well if I think like Xie Xie but the flirtations is a big no to me. I haven't seen any mistreatment even from the Empress herself except for the Empress Dowager that was here an hour ago.

"But Xie Xie came to me crying, she won't cry for no reason" I argued watching Xian nod his head.

"You've been fooled" he deadpanned.

The nerve of this man!

My sister would never fool me, I'm sure he's just lying to cover up for the consorts who mistreated my beloved sister.

I glared at him, clenching my fist beside me. Xian saw it, the way my anger was building up inside me. He sighed deeply, getting off the bed and going to the table where I left the brush pen and paper. I followed his movements as he grabbed those things along with the ink and handed it to me.

"Why don't you ask her yourself?" he suggested. "You'll lose nothing by doing so"

I contemplated whether to believe what he's saying. Can my sister really lie to me? Even if she did I'd still forgive her, I know she have a reasonable explanation as to why she would do such thing.

Even if it's a stupid reason I'll still accept it as long as it came from her.

I grabbed the pen and paper, nodding my head to him.

"If you're wrong I'll cut your tongue" I threatened, pointing the tip of the brush pen to him.

"If you do that you won't be able to share such intimate kiss with me" he stated smugly, sliding his tongue on his bottom lip.

"Shameless!" I snarled.

Xian only laughed, the sound echoing through my room and I hate to admit that the sound of it was music to my ears. He went to ruffle my hair playfully and I groaned, slapping his hand away.

"Quit doing that and get out of here!" I demanded. "I want to get some rest and hand this to the messenger early tommorow"

He shrugged and made a pouty face.

"Can't it sleep here?"

"Definitely no" I pointed out making him shrunk like a puppy who was scolded for eating too much food.

This was the first time I saw this side on Xian, it felt weird knowing we were rivals or it was just me but the drastic change in his personality from the past was good and bad at the same time, good cause I find it adorable and bad cause I have a lot of doubts and what if's.

It's better to stay guarded.

"Get out and let me rest" I commanded, massaging the bridge of my nose cause a headache was starting to appear.

"But—"

"No buts" I interrupted making him shrink in defeat.

He walked pass me and opened the window sills.

"You're not gonna use the front door?" I asked.

He only shrugged before looking at my way one last time with a wide smile on his handsome face.

"Goodnight"

I stared at the window, stunned. The previous happenings were confusing and shameless but who should I blame other than myself?

But I also can't ignore the relief I felt when he laughed instead of making a disgusted remark. Somehow earlier there was a fear inside me that I couldn't explain. All of those thoughts were giving me an even painful headache so I decided to stop. I shouldn't stress myself out, I have something even more important to know other than the things that happened between me and Xian.

Did my sister really lied to me?

I won't deny the fact that I would be hurt if what Xian was saying is true, I didn't have any evidence to prove my sister's story of being harrased here in the palace, I have suffered no mistreatment from fellow consorts and concubines, the Empress Dowager was a different story.

I should rest for now and find out tommorow, it will not take long for the messenger to deliver my notes to my beloved sister. I should also prepare myself to know, I shall not blame her and listen to the reasons behind her lies if it was somehow true. Hopefully it wasn't.

And Xian shall prepare himself if my sister was telling the truth.

I slowly lay down and closed my eyes. I had a big day tomorrow, this rest is needed to clear my mind and absorb all the info I would be receiving tommorow.

Whatever happens I will not gate my beloved sister. I promised myself before sleep overcome my stressed mind.

Morning came, it was same as always. Clean up, ask a servant to do my make up, tend the garden and have breakfast.

After those I bid my farewell and went outside, finding my way towards the large entrance gates of the castle. On my way there Consorts who would see me or walk along the path I was in would wave their hand and greet me a good day. I was anxious. This actions was making Xian's statement true. As I neared the gates the guards bowed and greeted me with a warm smile, I greeted back with a forced smile, I couldn't bare to smile properly, my anxiousness was so potent as I spot the messenger standing at the gates, waiting for more notes and messages.

"Good Day My Lady" the old man greeted, removing his straw hat from his head and bowing.

"Good day to you too" I slowly handed him the paper that was stored inside a sealed envelope.

"To where My Lady?"

"The Li Manor down south" I responded, wiggling my fingers behind my back anxiously.

"Ah yes, The Noble Family" he stated. "Are you expecting a letter back?"

I only nodded my head to the old man.

"I shall take my leave then My Lady" he bowed once again before departing, I stood there and watched till I could not longer see him from afar.

"You're here!" Xian's voice came from behind.

I turned around and faced him, the guards bowed down in respect as he made his way towards me.

"Hey..." I murmured, I wasn't feeling well right at that moment, knowing that Xian's words have a high probability of being true.

"Go with me around town" Xian suddenly suggested.

"Why?" I asked confusedly.

He moved closer to me and whispered in my ear.

"To cheer you up"

I frowned curiously, watching him pull away and look around.

"I don't want to..." I answered, walking past him but to my irritation he grabbed my arm and pulled me back gently.

"I won't take a no for an answer and you know that"

I didn't have any choice as he dragged me outside the large gates. The guards went to close it and stood outside to guard.

Spending the day with my rival who's trying to cheer me up knowing he was the reason why I was like this in the first place. Sounds fun...not.

We stalked around town, catching a lot of people's attention. I didn't know if it was normal for Xian to exit or roam outside the palace with no guards but I could care less right now.

As I noticed that we were about to go to a pub I stopped him in his tracks, earning a groan.

"What's wrong?" He asked, foot tapping the stone path.

"I agree to go out but I'm not in the mood for this" I answered in a bored and uninterested voice. Xian looked back and forth at the pub and me before shrugging.

"Same" he snorted before pulling me somewhere else.

We spent hours going in and out of shops and as time passes by I was starting to enjoy his company and forget about my anxiousness.

We first went to buy some street foods being sold and I was surprised that he liked it, next we went to the pub again much to my disappointment yet we didn't really care about the woman who was trying to get Xian into bed with them, all we did was enjoy our drinks and laugh at each other's jokes.

Funny how I'm spending the day with my rival like we were best friends for a long time, it actually felt good. I felt so free and just happy.

We came back home around noon, our laughter mixing together as we neared the gates then I stopped when I saw the messenger standing infront, bowing his head respectfully as we neared.

"My Lord" he politely greeted. Xian stopped joking around and regained his composure, nodding his head to the man as he stood and waited for me.

"My lady, a letter from the Li Manor" the old man stated, handing me a scroll.

I almost laughed at it, the fact that my sister needs to use a scroll to tell me something even though I was just asking a yes or no question, guess Xian was right.

I grabbed the scroll and thank the messenger. I inhales deeply and glanced at Xian for a moment.

"Go on" he spoke softly, his voice full of reassurance. I nodded and went to open the scroll, not waiting to get back to my own manor here.

Welp this is it.