The Disastrous First Day

"Where are you taking me to, Your Highness?" queried Anchhi while her wrist gripped by the Crown Prince.

Hui Jing stopped and loosened his grip, turning his back to face Anchhi. "Why are you here, Jia? How did you enter the palace?" the Crown Prince asked, cupping Anchhi's shoulders.

"It's not that I ran from my father's home... I was invited by my Royal Aunt,Yimu."

"Did the Grand Herald allow?" Anchhi nodded her head, replying to the Crown Prince's question.

"Are you injured anywhere? Let me see you properly." removing his hands from her shoulders, Hui Jing again stroked Anchhi's face and tried to met her gaze.

On the other hand, Anchhi furrowed her brows while twitching her lips, she pushed him.

"Forgive me, Your Highness. But, I shall take my leave." she bowed him darting in the opposite direction.

"Jia'er." Hui Jing gave her a call but she disregarded it even without turning around.

~~~~~~

"Was he about to kiss me?" Anchhi mumbled, placing her one hand on the chest as she tried to calm her palpitating heart. That's when she saw Court Lady Ming and Shoumen roaming around in search of her.

Waving her hand, she called, "Lady Ming, Shoumen! I am here." then she ran towards them.

"Young Miss! Are you fine?" Shoumen asked hastily.

"Where have you been, Young Miss? I don't know what I would have said to Her Highness if you were lost in the palace." the Court Lady Ming added.

"Calm down you two! Nothing has happened to me." Anchhi assured them with a wide smile on her face. "Listen! Don't tell my aunt about today otherwise, this incident will unnecessarily worry her." Both of them replied with a nod.

"Young Miss! It's going to be dark and Her Highness must be waiting for you." Ming asserted, her word slightly indicated worriedness.

After that, Anchhi sighed and walked towards the Palace of Tranquility where Shoumen and Court Lady Xu too followed her.

~~~~~

In the Palace of Tranquility,

"She was so daring that she almost challenged our YanYan. Sadly, we missed the first part of that drama otherwise, it was so fun to watch YanYan's face filled with embarrassment." Jiang told The Royal Consort about today's event but her mind was not focusing on her son's words.

She was time to time peering at the laden door as if she was waiting for someone? Of course, she was waiting for her niece Fei Jia.

Following the gaze of his mother, Jiang raised his concern, "Mother, are you looking for someone?"

"Oh.. I am sorry, Jiang but I forgot to tell you that we have a guest today. Not guest, she is a part of our family." The Royal Consort stated, ardently looking at her beloved son.

But, before Jiang could speak of something, he was cut by Yimu's words. "Why are you late?" she stood from the stool and moved towards the laden door.

When Jiang turned his back which was facing the door, to see who the guest was, he was astonished to see Anchhi there. He walked in front of them and pointed his finger to her as he spoke in a bewildered tone, "Now, don't tell me that she is our guest."

"She is! Didn't you recognize her? She is Fei Jia, your sister." The Royal Consort replied.

"Fei Jia.. my sister?" Jiang was amused hearing his mother's statement.

At this moment, when she saw the fifth prince she was only wishing that the fifth prince shalln't recognize her. Instead, The Royal Consort ended up introducing them to each other as brother and sister.

"Jia'er, come inside." Yimu firmly grasped Anchhi's hand, taking her inside. They all took their seat on the stool and were offered tea by the maid servant.

"He is Gua Jiang, your brother. The one who always used to fight with you." Yimu introduced her son. "I am also the youngest prince of this empire." Jiang added, clearing his throat.

"You two have met before but now, you have grown up so it's hard to recognize." Sipping the tea, Yimu again asserted. "So how was your palace trip?" she asked as she averted her gaze to faceAnchhi.

"It went pretty well."

"Did it?" Jiang playfully teased her, who was sitting just opposite to Anchhi.

"Jiang, what were you telling me? Forgive mother... I didn't heed attention before. You were talking about a girl, weren't you?" Yimu queried as she placed her tea cup in the table.

"Now... I am doomed." Anchhi muttered under her breath. Her eyes staring at Jiang as if they were signaling him to not tell anything.

Jiang already understood her eyes signal but also he deliberately spoke, "Mother, I was saying that... that daring lady... forget it. I don't want to say it now."

As Jiang didn't disclose about today's incident, Anchhi threw her heavy breathe which she had been holding within her. "But, the maids will let you know by tomorrow." he further added while clasping his hands.

Anchhi was taken aback by his words as she merely forgot that this place is a palace where the news spread faster than any other sources.

"Sister, how are you doing these days? If I am right then we met seven years ago the last time or was it just today?" Jiang asked in a way that mocked her.

"Of course, it was seven years ago." Anchhi sternly replied.

"Mother, if you allow us then may we take a walk in the garden?" Jiang asked for his mother's permission.

"Why not? Enjoy your time with your sister." giving a gracious smile, Yimu allowed.

"My dearest sister, shall we?" Anchhi raised her eyebrows, wondering what talks he want to have with her in private. Then, she followed him outside the garden, excusing herself from the Royal Consort.

~~~~~

In the Garden,

"I didn't expect you to be Fei Jia." asserted Jiang whose back was facing Anchhi.

"I am delighted to meet you, brother." she mustered a small smile over her face while bowing him.

"I must praise you for your bravery. You won't believe me but it's probably hard to make the princess quiet." he chuckled. Plastering a small smile over her face, Anchhi was quitely hearing him.

"By the way, why the second brother took you from there?" Jiang's question made Anchhi out of her words, she was wondering how to reply him!

"I don't know." she shrugged her shoulders. "Hey! Don't tell royal aunt about today. She will send me back to the Fei Manor." Anchhi pleaded.

"I think there is something cooking between you and second brother, am I right?"

"Not at all.." she sneered, rolling her eyes.

"If you won't tell me then I am going to mother's..." Jiang was about to turn that's when Anchhi grabbed his arms.

"I honestly don't know." she spoke.

"Okay, I will ask to the second brother on my own." Saying this, Jiang freed himself from Anchhi's grasp and immediately ran away.

"Don't.... hey!" she tried to call him but he was not the one to listen.

~~~~~

After their dinner, Anchhi bade goodnight to her Royal Aunt and entered her new chamber for a beauty sleep.

"I am so tired..." she threw herself over the soft mattress and closed her eyes while exhaling a deep breathe.

"It's only my first day in the palace and I think my end is near... I met that arrogant man in black as well as got in a fight with the Princess and now this Fifth Prince.....Heavens... Save me." she further yelled, raising her hands.