Chapter 16

Don't reveal yourself. Don't believe it. Don't talk too much. This may all be just a test. A provocation to confirm her conjecture.

I bobbed my head in glee, an act that always appears whenever I'm thinking about playing something random.

"I'm your father, Li Jian Yu! Li Jian Yu is Li Jia Ying! Li Jia Ying is not Li Jian Yu! I am not Li Jia Ying, I'm Li Jia Yu! You now!"

I ushered her. To be daring in mentioning the Emperor's name like this, please grant me death! I'm at your beck call.

"..."

I giggled dumbly staring at her without any sense of direction shown in my eyes. Gazing in hazy enjoyment, laughing stupidly.

"Miss! Miss! Whose Miss? You're turn! Miss, I know you are not Gu Mei Xiang. You now!"

I imitated her expression and waited for her turn to see her reaction. Come, play with me.

"..."

Why are you just staring at me with a frown? Do I have to act more? No, let's just stay like this as if looking forward to her next turn.

Gu Mei Xiang was so silent it's making me itch. Please believe my acting. Please beli— "Young Master, you can't! This place is—!"

"This Duke is a special guest of the Second Princess. Didn't you say she's here?"

"Yes but..."

We heard a commotion outside and that voice seems awfully familiar.

It didn't take long before my question was answered. It was the young Duke!

"You..."

I smiled gingerly and went up to him. "Xianxian!"

"!!!"

His face was like, 'Wtf?!'

"It seems the Young Master Huoxian knows the First Princess. If words spread, wouldn't the Ducal household feel extremely uncomfortable?"

Hey, I don't have any viruses. It's negative.

Hm, Suzan? The Suzan?! Thankfully this time my mind works faster than lightning speed and remembered who this young man was. I see Gu Mei Xiang no wonder you want him to assist you. In the novel, Houxian was truly strong and capable. A great help in cleaning and assisting her whenever her enemies appeared. This guy was also one of her male leads who loved her to death. The female earthlings here have their own reverse harems with numerous love interests and they are all quite capable. Pwe.

Very cunning indeed.

Don't worry I'll give you an outlet. "Xianxian! Cookie! Play hide and seek! Where's my cookie then?!"

Gu Mei Xiang frowned and looked at Houxian, "You played hide and seek with her?"

"It was a mere chance. It was in the garden and I saw here hiding rather indiscreetly behind the bushes."

I was fast enough to catch a blink of an expression from Gu Mei Xiang as if she realized something before she turned to me. "Oh, no wonder you were beaten by the maids it's because they didn't know Elder Sister was lost."

So what if you know? Do you think you or him wants to vouch for me? Ha.

"Then this sister will entertain the guest. Always apply this medicine to my Eldest Sister every morning and every night."

She told one of the maids before closing the door with her signature smile.

"Take good care of yourself, Elder Sister."

"Hehe."

"Creepy."

Oops.

"Princess?"

Nothing, Miss just go on with my treatment.

It's not good to be staying in a place like this. I'm gathering too much attention which the previous Li Jia Ying didn't have.

"Home! Home!"

"Princess you can't. You still need to rest."

I think I'll really rest for eternity if I stay here.

"Hehehehe."

The moment she was done, I immediately skipped past her and opened the door. Aiysh, it's still a trouble to walk. Being lively makes my head bounce like a ball.

"Princess..."

Before the maid could even stop me I bolted outside running as if my life depends on it. Never mind the pain, I must bear with it. A journey to a thousand miles begins with a single step. Was that even correct? Whatever.

I can't think in this place. I need to return to that dilapidated courtyard, Li Jia Ying's courtyard. I'm sure, the maids won't act impulsively because of what the Grand Empress Dowager did to them. This should be used to my advantage.

As I head towards my courtyard I didn't see any maids or male servants like I used to before. Well, this is better than having them sneer at me all the time. It makes me tired just by being with them and acting myself out like a brainless fool.

"Howee~"

Great. Now, I can finally rest in peace.

***

After resting for some days, I sat down and thought about everything that has occurred until now. My mind has become a paste for the past couple of days while I was laying in my bed. Thankfully, I'm a bit powered up now.

"Maybe I should write everything that I've remembered."

It's better if some of the novel's events that pops in my brain every now and then should be written down.

But the important thing to think yet again is do I have a pen and paper?

"..."

I don't have one. I'm not good at calligraphy either! What a shame.

"Yuh."

I combed my hair in frustration.

Seems I have to use keywords or images as my vessel to memorize what I've remembered.

"Those maids must be resting."

I smiled. There's no way I'll feel sympathetic about them, it makes me happy to see them suffer even if it's not enough. It's better that they all just die and I'm the only one remaining in this place. Anyway, they are not useful.

Ah, how petty of me. "Hehe."

I haven't gotten any decent meals these days too. But that's alright, as long as I can eat a spoonful of rice or water and can still walk then it doesn't matter.

"Laying on this bed is always the best."

Well for an introvert who's always a stuck-up hikikomori like me.

The courtyard is very quiet, eerily quiet that I could hear how the wind blows from time to time. My peace. I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep. I sighed deeply, to think I grew accustomed to this place. There's even this strange scent. Huh, did my room always had this smell?

Uh...

Wait...

Somethings wrong here...

Why can't I open my eyes even if I force myself?!

Oh dear, this...

***

A splash of cold air caused me to forcibly open my eyes. It was really ice cold.

"Another one."

Ano...? *splash* "Ah! Stop! Stop!"

Enough already! Gahhh!

"Raise her head."

"Understood, Your Majesty."

"Hukk."

My scalp, aiyo. Majesty? The Emperor?

I immediately came back to my senses looking up to a man that's straight out of manhwa with the greatest graphics. All I could say is he is extremely handsome the epitome of Apollo yet looks younger as if in his late twenties. Though, this ominous and murderous feeling is quite overwhelming. It's better if I should cower in fear rather than act fearlessly.

If I can't cry, I should look terrified with some trembling effect.

"Not interesting."

Oh my goodness this line, it never gets old. Interesting! Interesting! Not Interesting! Well, that's where I'm aiming at!

The soldier unceremoniously pushed me down.

Phew. I did a great job hiding my emotion. That took me tremendous control just to not stare at him more than I could.

I clenched my fist, my hair covering my face.

"Fath...Father."

Why is this Emperor looking so young and handsome?! I'm not even exaggerating when I said he is extremely handsome. Fvck. I need to concentrate. Jun Xue, snap out of it. You're a vain woman who loves aesthetics but now is not the time! You're in danger.

"Who's your father?"

"..."

"This filth dares to run away from my daughter. Now that she is looking healthy it would be a waste to not let her play like she always wants."

Yo, I'm also your daughter. Moreover, Gu Mei Xiang was the one who went out first, brainless stud horse. She also rejected playing with me, her Elder Sister.

"Take her to the cell filled with rats."

"..."

"Let's see how she'll escape her little life."

From all the people in this novel, it's only this Emperor's looking down an expression that made me feel dissatisfied to the nth term. Adding that he is the father of Li Jia Ying who only favors one daughter.

Despicable. Throwing your daughter to the rats while letting the other daughter be doted upon, you're sick. This kind of favoritism, I hate it the most.

"Get her out now. She irritates me."

My foolish grin twitched.

Your aesthetic appearance is the only thing I admire. Son of a....tch.

"Understood, Your Majesty."

"Eh? Um. See you again, father~"

"Quick, get her out!"

I laughed foolishly acting childish. Aiyo, it's good to irritate someone the more they dislike you even though it's a tiny little bit. Fufu.

"Father, Li Jia Ying saw father. Yey~"

Okay, that's enough, too much might have me dead. If only he could kill me on the spot whenever I irritate him to the point of being enraged. Too bad, his pride won't let him.

That is if I kill Gu Mei Xiang.

Kill? Haha. What am I thinking...