Seeing Her Tears

"Ayia, Jiao Qingxiao, where is your mind again?" 

Zhao Wenrui impatiently slammed the back of the brush on the shū àn. 

Jiao Qingxiao flinched. 

That day she had requested mother to let her enter the palace as a tutor for the princesses, not because she was attracted by confucianism nor because she found purpose in preparing princesses to enter political marriage alliance, but only because, she had to enter the palace and have some power in hand to stop Tang Fanhua from ascending the throne. 

She was tired of copying obedience to father before marriage, husband after marriage, son after husband's death again and again till her hands and eyes were tired. 

"Jiao Qingxiao is sorry for her absentmindedness master. She will rewrite it again."

Zhao Wenrui sighed in exasperation looking at the obedient looking girl before him. How could a girl look so obedient yet her handwriting reflects nothing but rebelliousness? 

He shook his head. 

"Jiao Qingxiao, I had only agreed to your father's request of tutoring you because he said that you are genuinely interested to learn and enter the palace, contributing to the empire in a meaningful way. But your behaviour hasn't been reflecting that. I am afraid I can't continue to teach you if this continues." 

Jiao Qingxiao lowered her head. Teardrops threatening to spill from her eyes. She didn't look up as Zhao Wenrui walked away ruthlessly. Instead she kept on repeating the strokes of the brush, as if trying to imprint the virtues of women and how nothing is worse than a jealous wife in her heart. 

Tang Yunxiao looked at the girl through the window shade. After days this was the first time he could finally see her. Her lowered face made him unable to see her features clearly. 

"How long do I have left?" He murmured under his breath softly, directing at the annoying koi floating around his head, visible to noone but him.

"Reporting to the host, the host still has around 20 minutes left till the skill runs out."

Minutes, it still took Tang YuanXiao a while to calculate inwardly in his head. There were numerous words that this fish used that he was unfamiliar with. He still needed a while to even get used to the interface first. 

"Two skills can be used at the same time?" He asked again, suppressing the impatience in his heart. 

"Reporting to the host, yes, but it takes away 90%...basically almost all the time away from the first skill. You would barely have any time to look at this lady if you were to use the time control skill right now." Xiao Kui explained patiently, guessing what he was trying to do. 

Tnag Yunxiao was disappointed. Just as he made up his decision to merely stand and stare at her, she lifted her head up, tears running down her cheek, her brows furrowed, nose turned red.

Panic rose in his chest. He changed his mind within seconds.

"Handle the guards, I will make it up to you later." Leaving those words to Xiao Kui he leapt inside the room through the front entrance. 

"Aye! Wait! You don't have enough coins in your account."

"Host you can't just leave like this. You would have to take multiple missions to make up for this." Xiao Kui kept screaming, making Tang Yuanxiao snap.

"Then do it, take up all the missions needed. Just handle the situation now." 

Jiao Qingxiao was stunned as she heard the commotion. Looking up she noticed the man from that day standing in front of her, as the guards were rushing in to attack him. 

No…this is her golden thigh to hug, she coudln't let him get hurt. Maybe he is here to join her instead of that Tang Fangxiao. 

"Wait!." 

The girl rushed in front of the Tang Yuanxiao, giving the guards a scare.

"Miss….this..

"This is a guest I had invited earlier. How dare you disrespect a guest?" She spoke up sternly.

Tang Yuanxiao's lips unknowingly curved upwards, his heart filled with a strange warm feeling. It didn't feel so bad to be protected.

"This..Miss…it's not right for a man to enter your study like this..

The guard in front spoke, his voice clearly stuttering. 

"Is this the place for a mere guard to question their miss in this manner?" Tang Yunxiao spoke coldly, his eyes piercing through the guard's soul.

The guard immediately lowered his eyes. This man was clearly one of authority, no he couldn't offend him. 

But the head of the house must know. He needs to report about this incident to the master.

Thinking so, he spoke up immediately, "This servant dares not. Miss, please forgive this servant's audacity." He bowed down before leaving.

Tang Yunxiao had a flicker in his eyes. He could guess the guard's mind. As soon as the guards left the study, he instructed xiao kui to take care of the incident afterwards.

Xiao Kui was about to deploy an A grade memory eraser , happy to earn a hefty commission and level up. However, just then it saw the lady take a stand for its host. 

It had already started pouting, blaming its bad luck, when the host again instructed it. Xiao Kui couldn't feel luckier.

"Greetings third prince, what brings you here?" Jiao Qingxiao asked politely, as she quickly brought over her seat to him, gesturing at him to take a seat. 

Tang Yuanxiao looked at her tears stained cheeks, her eyes still slightly red. If not for the situation he would have surely pulled her into his arms, and kajoled her, promising to solve all her worries. 

But as he couldn't, masking his concern under a nonchalant tone, he asked, "I wonder, what has happened to make the prized daughter of the finance minister this upset?"