Chapter 10: Forgiveness

"HUAA!! HE IS CRAZY!!", Ai Lie is shouting as she run to her bedroom. She is still using Xin Suan's robe. Because his robe is too big for her, the end of the clothes keep sweeping the floor. Now, his robe is dirty.

She enters her room and shuts the door. She is standing at the corner of room and talking alone.

"What the hell!? What are they trying to do to me!? Both Yu Wen and Xin Suan are crazy!!", She slaps her cheeks with both of her hands hardly. Her face is still red.

She couldn't forget how Yu Wen and Xin Suan kissed her hand alternately. Especially when Xin Suan kissed her hand, his cold lips pressed so hard on her skin. She has never been treated this way. Back then, when she still in her original world, the boys will avoid her because she is an ugly weirdo. Even the girls were stay away from her. She couldn't make friends, instead she was always been bullied by her classmates. But now, she is bullied by the asuras.

"A-a-are they actually some perverts? If yes, I have to leave this place! No... But there's no escape here!", She is discussing with herself.

"He acted so tough and intimidating yesterday, but now, look at his true face! So childish, exactly the same with his general!"

"Ai Lie? Are you in your room?", A voice came outside the door.

"W-who is that?", Ai Lie jolted. She was drowning in her mind.

"Hei She. May I come in?"

She opens the door, "W-what...? Is he looking for me?"

"No, but I guess he will come here soon.", Hei She enters the room, "How... Do you feel?"

She shuts the door, "Obviously angry! I don't want to see him! Just say to him that I'm sleeping!"

"I apologize on his behalf.", Hei She shuts his serpent eyes and lowers his upper snake's body.

"W-what? Why should you? It's not your fault!", She is confused. She sits on the floor in front of Hei She.

"Ge Ge, don't do that... you make me feel guilty...", She hugs that small black cobra snake.

"No, I understand your feeling, Ai Lie. But, Ai Lie... His Majesty's intention is actually not to teased you. He tried to protect you from Prince Yu Wen. He was insecure if Yu Wen will attack you, just like what Queen Bai Wu did before when you were alone on the bridge.", Hei She tried to comfort her. He wraps her belly using his tail, as if he tried to give her a hug, and Ai Lie didn't seem to be threatened.

Hei She, he was a wise and kind prince, and his good personality hasn't faded even when he reborn as a preta, and forced to take a snake form because of the brutal death. But sometimes he is naive. He doesn't understand that inside Xin Suan's heart was filled with jealousy instead of having intention to protect Ai Lie from Yu Wen's lips attack.

"...", Ai Lie looks sad. She threw a blank stare to the floor. Guilty is written all over her face. She is having the snake inside her embrace in silence.

"... Ai Lie? Are you okay, my dear?", Hei She is expecting Ai Lie to respond him.

"I'm okay... I'm just a bit confused, Ge Ge. I may have misunderstood his intention, but wasn't what he did is too far?"

"Yes, I think so too. I have never seen His Majesty behaving that ridiculous."

"... You are right, Ge Ge. I, too, was being rude to him. I feel so embarrased, I didn't know how to respond that situation. I have never been treated that way... If his intention was to protect me, then he must be feel offended.", She releases her arms.

"You know, Ge Ge, ever since I came here, I become so sensitive towards small things. I have never been like this before... I'm sorry if you think I'm annoying."

"Don't worry, I have never think that way about you. You aren't annoying at all. Being angry to something that makes you feel offended is a normal thing, Ai Lie. Be more honest about your feeling, the more you hide it, the more it will become a pain in your heart."

"Thank you, Ge Ge, this is why I like you a lot. Eventhough I have an older brother in my world, he never comforted me the way you did. He always ignoring me, bullying me. You are the older brother figure that I always dreamed of.", She smiles at him.

"Don't be hesitate to talk to me. I will always lend my ear for you, my dear. I will do my best to help you."

"Hehehe you are so kind!", Ai Lie seems to have calmed.

"Ge Ge, I think I have to apologize to His Majesty... and to General Yin too."

"General Yin? Why?"

"You know, I fought with him too in this morning..."

"Ah, right."

"Will you accompany me to the kitchen?"

"I will, but what errand do you have there?"

"I want to make something for them as an apologize. Do you have some ingredients that is similar to my worlds? Like flour, fresh chicken eggs, milk, sugar..."

"We do have one. Ai Lie, you can cook?"

"Well, I'm not really professional at it, but at least I still can do that, hahaha...", Ai Lie chuckles awkwardly. She is not sure with her ability.

"Then, let's go, before they arrived.", They both came out from her room.

---------

Xin Suan and Yin Ling are walking to the left wing of Lotus Pavilion. They are standing in front of Ai Lie's room.

"Hey, Ai Lie.", Xin Suan calls her.

"...", No one replied.

"Hey, open the door."

"...", Still no one replied.

"I know you are angry to me right now, but please let me in."

"...", no one replied.

Losing his patience, he forcely entered the room. Yin Ling followed him behind.

"No one is here.", Xin Suan is a bit upset.

"Huh? Where is she? Is she hiding somewhere? And where the hell is Hei She?", Yin Ling is scanning arround.

"I guess no, even if she does, we can sense her presence. Maybe, she's still with Hei She right now.", Xin Suan answered him.

"Then, what should we do now?"

"Let's wait here.", Xin Suan sits on one of the chair.

"... Okay.", Yin Ling sits beside him.

"Your Majesty, back to the topic, I think the Jinghua Ritual isn't working anymore to prevent the Qiong. It keeps spreading to the whole world, contaminating the water and the earth. The weather is affected too, the Lord Fire couldn't control it well. Sometimes the weather is too hot and dry, and sometimes it's too wet and rainy. The animals and the plants will die if this keeps continue. At this rate, we will lose so many food resources."

"This ancient ritual has been performed even when I was still a human. That's impossible that the ritual doesn't work. Maybe something makes the ritual failed.", Xin Suan shuts his eyes.

"Hmm... that makes sense. Something that makes the ritual failed...?", Yin Ling lowers his voice.

"Hmm... In your opinion, what makes the ritual failed? We have been through this matter in this past 50 years. Usually, the Qiong will be vanished after we perform it.", Xin Suan flinches his eyebrows, thinking a way to solve the problem.

"I'm not sure, but I think there are 2 possibilities. First, Lord Water has lost her power. Second, the Sheng Shui lake has been contaminated as well."

"It will be a grave matter if the Sheng Shui Lake is contaminated. That's the purest source of water in this world, if it is contaminated by the Qiong, not only animals and plants that died, we will starting to die too.", Xin Suan sighed. His head feels heavy.

"*Sigh*... I wish we could simply seal the source of the Qiong instead of preventing it from being spreaded."

"Unfortunately, it's not as simple as that, Yin Ling. The middle territory must remain untouched. Even I, the protector of this realm, has no power to seal that area."

"Then, what should we do now? We can't let the Qiong grows stronger.", Yin Ling stares at Xin Suan sharply, wishing Xin Suan to solve this problem.

"To be honest, I have no other idea except performing the ritual once more, and wish the best of luck for it. We have to try even if we have to do that once every year."

"You're right, Your Majesty. There is still a hope."

"Yin Ling, we can't wait too long. I'm afraid what you said is going to be true. We should perform it earlier, half of the month is still too far. Call those three to discuss this matter with me."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will do it as soon as possible."

---------

"Ai Lie, inside this kitchen, you will meet some pretas you have saw in your first arrival. Be polite to them. They are in charge of cooking meal.", The two has arrived in front of the kitchen door.

"Cooking meal? You mean like chefs?"

"That's correct. Come in, I will introduce everyone inside this room."

"O-okay!", Ai Lie is a bit nervous. She has never spoke any other ghosts than Hei She, Yin Ling, the twins, and Xin Suan. She opens the door.

The two enters the room. The kitchen's interior design is conventional, just like this whole manor. The floor and the walls are made of woods. There is no stove here, they use a firebox. The utilities are conventional too, they still use some clay pots for storing the food supplies. There is one big wooden kitchen table in the middle of the room. Everyone inside is starring at her.

"E-excuse me.", Ai Lie bows to everyone there.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE LITTLE GIRL? DO YOU WANT TO BE COOKED? AHAHAHAHA!", Said the pig masked fat man.

"Be polite to her, Mr. Han. She is His Majesty's guest. Ai Lie, raise your head. This is Mr. Han, he is the head chef.", Ai Lie raised her head just like what Hei She ordered.

'This fat man is a head chef?', Ai Lie feels a bit disgust of him because of the terror in this morning's "breakfast" that the twins offered to her.

"WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?", His voice sounds so hoarse.

"I-I want to borrow this room, and ask a bit of your supplies, sir.", Ai Lie is nervous.

"YOU WANT TO COOK? THIS SPOILED BRAT ACTUALLY CAN COOK?"

'Spoiled brat!? Does he know what I usually do in my home?', Ai Lie eyebrows are flinched a little.

"She wants to make something, please lend her your kitchen and your servants."

'The servants?', Ai Lie is scanning the room. There are some other people in this room, about 6 more. 4 women and 2 men, they are all using weird shaped masks, and they dressed in somewhat shabby robes, maybe they were commoners. Their masks are scary, just like the demons.

"BAH! WHATEVER! DO WHAT YOU LIKE, BUT DON'T BREAK ANYTHING HERE!"

"T-thank you, sir!", She bows to him.

Ai Lie starts to cook. She wants to make pancakes, it was her favorite dish when she wants to eat something sweet. With the help of the servants, she make the batter using all ingredients that they have. She mixed the flour, egg yolks, sugar, palm oil and milk into a big clay bowl. There is no butter here. In order to make the pancakes fluffier, she beats the egg whites until it becomes meringue manually with whisker, and mix it with the batter softly. After she cooks it, she serves them on two big ceramic plates. There is no maple syrup, so she exchange it with some fruits. She has done with her cooking, now it's time for her to deliver them to those asuras. She puts the plates on a wooden tray, ready to go back to her room.

"Everyone, thank you for helping me to do this, you are all very kind!", She bows to those lowly pretas.

"You're welcome, miss.", A woman she doesn't know her name replied. Those servants are smiling at her. They seemed to be friendly.

"Sir, thank you for letting me borrow your kitchen, and allowing me to take a bit of your food supplies.", She bows to Mr. Han that was watching her cooking in the corner of the room.

"BAH! GO AWAY!", Mr. Han seems a bit flustered. No one has ever said 'thank you' to him because he is just a lowly preta.

The two left the kitchen. They are walking from the Yin Pavilion to the Lotus Pavilion. When they passed the corridor, Ai Lie realized that the sky is brighter than before. She thought that the sun has died when Bai Wu and Xin Suan finished fighting.

"Ge Ge, why is the sun raises once again?"

"I guess Queen Bai Wu just wants to show off her power. It should have been set by now."

"Ha... What a weird woman. What time is it, Ge Ge?"

"Should be around 6 pm."

"What? That late?", She widened her eyes.

"Aren't you supposed to have dinner, Ai Lie? Are you not hungry?"

"I'm not. Usually, I only eat once or twice a day. I was too poor to eat. Hehehehe.", She chuckles.

"...", Hei She couldn't reply anything.

"I hope they will like this."

"Don't worry, they will. Especially you made it with your heart."

"Hehehe I hope so."

The two entered the left wing and go to the room. As expected, when Ai Lie opened the door, those high rank asuras have been waiting for her.

"Ah, you are here.", said Ai Lie.

"Come here. We have to talk.", Xin Suan's finger pointing the other empty chair, asking her to sit across them.

"...", Yin Ling didn't say anything, he is starring at those pancakes.

"Here, I cooked this for the both of you.", She serves those pancakes to each of them on the table.

"What is this?", Yin Ling is confused. He doesn't know what kind of food that she cooked.

"We called them pancakes. They are actually a breakfast dish in my original world. It has a sweet taste. Please try it, I hope you like them.", She sits on the empty chair.

"Ai Lie, tell them your intention cooking them this food.", said Hei She that is standing in front of the opened door.

"Ah, right! Um... Actually, I cooked them for my apologize. Your Highness, General Yin, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I was being rude to the both of you. I will try my best to be kind in the future. I'm so sorry...", Guilty is written on her face as she bows to each of them.

"...", Both of the asuras are stunned. They are speechless, because the little girl in front of them acting more mature than them. They were the one who bullied her but she is the one who apologize first, as if she is the one who had sin.

"No... You did nothing wrong, Ai. It should be us who apologize to you. Forgive me.", Xin Suan throws away his view from Ai Lie's face to the floor. His eyebrows are flinched.

"Uh... Me too. My deepest apologize. I called you stupid and started to insulting your family. I'm sorry, my mouth is always this mean. I'll try to watch my words next time.", Yin Ling seems a bit awkward. He feels guilty but a part of him doesn't want to admit it.

"Then, we are even.", She smiled to them cheerfully.

'It feels like I'm raising a bunch of children', Hei She said that silently. Well, he has the right to say that, in fact he is the wisest here.

"Let's eat.", Xin Suan grabs a fork and a small knife that Ai Lie has prepared for them.

"Yeah.", Yin Ling cuts the pancakes to small pieces brutally, and starts to eat. Ai Lie tried her best not to laugh.

"H-how is it? Is it too sweet?", Ai Lie is nervous.

"It's good.", Xin Suan seems to enjoy the human food.

"It has fluffy and soft texture. This is new to me.", Yin Ling is also enjoy those pancakes.

"Thank goodness, actually I'm not really good at cooking, hehehe.. ", Ai Lie chuckles.

"How about you? Have you eat?", Xin Suan stops his hand from eating.

"I'm fine, I usually only eat once a day, hahaha...", She laughs awkwardly.

"What? You may not be like that... This is not your house anymore, you have to eat properly.", Xin Suan moves his chair next to her, leaving Yin Ling alone.

"Eat this with me.", as he slices the pancakes elegantly as if he is cutting a steak. He tried to feed her with his fork.

"E-eh? You don't have to, Your Majesty!", Ai Lie's cheek is blushing once again. The main problem is there are also Hei She and Yin Ling in that room. They are obviously watching this moment.

"Just eat. Open your mouth.", Xin Suan moves his fork, until the pancake pressed to Ai Lie's lips, forcing her to open them.

"O-okay...", She can just surrendered to the situation. She pulls the piece of the pancake with her teeth. She wished she could die by embarrasment.

'The taste is actually different... because the ingredients aren't complete. But as long as they like it, then it's fine, I guess...', Ai Lie silently judging her own cooking.

"Eat more.", Xin Suan keeps feeding her with his fork.

"W-what? No...", She shooked her head a few times.

"That's an order.", Xin Suan voice become deep and cold, as if he tried to threatening her.

"...", Yin Ling and Hei She, once again, are speechless watching this moment. Yin Ling seems to be disgusted with Xin Suan's flirty action.

"Uh... Excuse me...", Ai Lie opens her mouth awkwardly, "But Your Majesty, you have to eat too, I cooked this for you, not for me..."

"I will.", Xin Suan eats the pancakes, but he keeps feeding her too until finally, Xin Suan's pancake has ran out.

"Good girl...", He pats her head and throws a soft smile, "Yin Ling, can you take us some water?"

"What? Why me-", Yin Ling seems to be reluctant to do that, but Xin Suan stares at him cynically, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"And Hei She, can you asks Jiu Lan tu clean the table?"

"Yes, Your Majesty.", The two are leaving the room. They understand that Xin Suan wants to be alone with Ai Lie, so they shut the door and slow down their steps.

"Ai Lie."

"Y-yes, Your Majesty?", She turns her head to his face.

"You are still wearing my robe.", He stares at the end of the robe that is touching the ground.

"Ah!! I forgot!! I'm sorry...", The end of that robe is already dirty. She didn't take off the robe because she feels comfortable inside it.

"I-I'll wash it tomorrow, I promise!"

"You don't have to... Just throw it away, I have plenty of those."

"What? No! This is still fine, it will be a massive waste!", She thought this man is so arrogant, why would he throw something that elegant and has no scratch at all?

"Alright, then give it to Jiu Lan, she will take care of it."

"No, I will clean up the mess I made by myself. I'm the one who is responsible for this.", She answered him with no hesitation.

"Fufufu... You are so patriotic eventhough you are still very young. I like that side of you.", He chuckles.

"Uh... That is the right thing to do. If you make a mistake, you have to apologize. If you make a trouble, you have to solve it by yourself. And if you have a debt... You should pay them.", She lowers her voice at the end of her words.

"Hahahahaha! Indeed, I agree with you. I like the way you think, Ai."

"Hehehe....", She laughs awkwardly. She doesn't want him to remember her debt, she have nothing to pay him off.

"Ah... Now I need to be more serious.", Xin Suan moves his chair closer to her.

'It's too close! Is this man really likes to do physical touch?', Ai Lie feels uncomfortable, but she can do nothing.

"Ai, I'm really sorry for what I did in this afternoon. I didn't mean to attack you like that... It's just..."

"... Yes?", She is waiting for him to complete his words.

"... I don't like to see you treated that way by the other men. Especially he is that old woman's son, I couldn't keep my cool."

"W-what??", She widened her eyes. She noticed that Xin Suan was actually jealous of Yu Wen.

"I just don't like it. What if he does something dangerous to you? You barely know him yet."

"... I'm sorry, Your Majesty... I will be more careful next time.", She threw her gaze to her hands, feeling guilty.

"Stop saying 'Sorry'. I told you, it's not your fault. It's mine, I should have pay more attention to you."

"B-but... If only I knew your true intention, I would not dare to say such rude things, like "you are childish", and "I won't forgive you"..."

"No, you were right though, I'm childish. If I were you, I will say similar things.", He strokes her cheek.

"... Your Majesty.", She stares at his crimson eyes sharply.

"Just stay by my side. I will try my best to protect you.", He is smiling at her.

"Are you still feeling cold?", He hugs her again.

"I'm okay...", Ai Lie pressed her head to his chest. She fell into his embrace once more.

"Very well. You must be tired by now, go take some rest. I will leave.", He stroke her hair softly. He is ready to go now.

"Okay...", a part of her still doesn't want him to leave. She still wants to be hugged and stroked just like this. Her palms are squeezing his clothes without her knowing, prohibiting him to go.

"Hmm? What's wrong?", Xin Suan noticed that.

"E-eh?", She suddenly realized her strange reflex.

"Do you still want me to be here?", He teased her.

"N-no, i-i-i-it's not that! I'm sorry!!", She pushed his chest away, and he released his embrace. Her face is boiling red.

"Hahaha look at you, your face is red again!", He pinches her cheek softly.

"Y-your Majesty! S-s-stop that!", She covers her face with both of her hand.

"Don't worry, I'll hug you more if you want me to do it. I'll gladly grant your wish.", He teased her once more.

"N-no! You don't have to!", She wished she could die right now.

"Hahahaha!", He laughs so hard. He just simply loves to tease her.

"Ahem... Excuse us.", Yin Ling voice coming from the door. Gratefully, the door was closed, so none of them could watch.

"C-come in.", Ai Lie changes her focus.

Hei She and Yin Ling came with Jiu Lan and other women servants behind, dressed in pale green simple robes. All of them are wearing cat shaped masks, similar to Jiu Lan's, but each of the masks have different shapes. It seems they are in charge of cleaning the manor.

"I have to go now, take some rest.", He pats her head, and leaves the chair that he sat on.

"U-uh okay!", She nodded twice.

"Hey, then what about this?", Yin Ling brought a wooden tray with a glass and a water jug.

"Just put it on the table, so she can drink whenever she wants.", Said Xin Suan.

"Thank you Your Majesty, General Yin, and Ge Ge Hei She!", She stands and bows to each of them.

"See you tomorrow.", The three came out from the room. Jiu Lan and her friends have finished cleaning her table, now they are ready to leave.

"Ah! Thank you, Jie Jie!" , She bows to Jiu Lan and the others.

"My pleasure, Xiao Mei.", She smiles at her, now they are leaving the room too. Jiu Lan shuts the door, leaving Ai Lie alone inside.

"Huaa I'm so tired! It's a long day!", She throws her body on the bed.

She took a bath, and washed all of the clothes, including Xin Suan's robe. There is a wooden tub, placed in the corner of the bathroom, she put her dirty clothes and washed them manually with her hands. Xin Suan's robe feels so heavy, but she tried her best to wring out the robe until it was half dry. Then, she opened the window, and put the half dried robe there, wishing the robe to be fully dried sooner. Because she was too tired, she fell asleep right after she laid her small body on the bed and put a blanket on her.