The Princess And The Lord

Qian Mu Ting relief Lory believed her words easily "I'm so happy, thank you madam Zhao but call you madam Zhao is too distant how about I called you Ri Yi, is that okay?" she said timidly.

Lory also feel weird being called madam as this age "Of course, I called you Mu ting then" Lory smiles kindly.

"I heard the garden at Yong Heng Manor is so beautiful, I didn't have time to enjoy the scenery when I first came, may you kindly show me the garden" Qian Mu Ting eyes sparkle in delight she sounds very eager to visit the garden.

Lory tilted her head with sweet smiles "Of course, follow me…"

The two girls left the room, Lory lead Qian Mu Ting to the garden and they walk past the outer hallway, behind them their maids following them in a convenient distance which is not too close but not too far either, Qian Mu Ting brings five maids with her all of them is young and beautiful their temperament also more demure compare to the maids Qian Mu Ting brought last time.

"Are they your new maid? They all look different from the last maids you brought last time" Lory casually asked.

"Oh, they are, my old maid is not polite and rude so I changed all of them" Qian Mu Ting replied nonchalantly.

Lory didn't ask farther until they reach the main garden, Qian Mu Ting astonished the garden is so beautiful although is not as big as the imperial garden, but the arrangement is so neat but not stiffed, and the flower that was planted every single one of them are not ordinary flower just judging by the color this is not a simple flower you found in the market.

"I surprised someone like Lord Long Ming would appreciate flower to this extend" Qian Mu Ting covers her mouth in amazement.

But Meng Zuo chimed in "No, the Lord didn't like a flower, before Madam comes, the Lord plant only grass, bushes, shrubs, and bonsai tree but because madam love flower our Lord filled the garden with every kind of flower for four-season" she said with bright smiles.

Meng Zuo has served Zhao Li Xin for years, as a woman she loved enjoy beautiful things but Zhao Li Xin cold and stoic personality make the design of the manor stiffed and rigid, starting from the choice of paint, trinkets, sculptures, and furniture everything is very masculine and firm, Ninjing manor is like that but after Lory comes everything is changed. When people visit Yong Heng Manor they would never believe this place have the same owner as Ninjing manor.

Once again Qian mu ting feel someone stabs her heart, she heard the rumor Zhao Li Xin pampered his fiancée to the moon and back she thought people exaggerated it but who knows it's all true, she didn't realize she clenched her hands so tight and her nail sink to her palm but she didn't notice the pain, hate, envy, and jealousy grew in her heart. Why Zhao Li Xin has given so much to someone like Luo Ri Yi but ignores a good breed princess like her.

Qian Mu Ting has an urged to burn the whole garden to the garden to the ground but she pulls herself back from her wishful thinking 'everything have it times' she said to herself than she shifts her gaze to Lory "You so lucky Ri Yi…" she said with gentle smiles.

"I am" Lory didn't try to be modest "Let's have a seat" Lory take her inside the pavilion where the servant already prepares tea and snack for them.

 The two girls take a sit opposite each other, they give each other friendly smiles and as the maid brew tea for them, after the maid pour a cup of tea for them, she bows at them than maintains her distance so Lory and Qian Mu Ting have some privacy.

"I heard you just got married but I don't hear about the ceremony so I am unable to attend your wedding," she said with regret looks but she just teased Lory for Zhao Li Xin didn't bother to hold a wedding for her. it raised a question if Zhao Li Xin did care about Lory or not.

"Is that necessary" Lory tilted her head in confused looks "I don't have family and so neither Zhao Li Xin, so for who this ceremony held to? is it for friends? but he doesn't have friends the only people who close to him is Hei Shen people and they don't care about that too and I….I don't have many friends either and I don't think my friend would bother with a formal ceremony like that" Lory sips her tea in a relaxed manner it seems she genuinely didn't care about it.

Qian Mu Ting didn't want to yield  she force her smiles and said: "But that's not good, don't you afraid what people would say, the wedding it's a form of appreciation for Lord long Ming to you, it shows how much he cares and love you…."

Lory suddenly chuckles lightly "He ruined heavenly jade pavilion, eradicated Lu clan, and provoked Sacred Mountain peak for me, I don't think I need to worry how he felt about me…..action speak louder than words don't you think"

Qian Mu Ting faces become rigid, how can she forgot everything Zhao Li Xin had done for Luo Ri Yi. His action becomes talks through every nation, no men have gone so far for there beloved as Zhao Li Xin did.

Because of it, Luo Ri Yi becomes the object of envy and jealousy of every woman in the world. Luo Ri Yi is right she doesn't need a wedding or dowry, she already has Xin Xen token it means she also has control of Hei Shen Sect, and she has part of everything Hei Shen makes and founds, with all of that why should she bother with a simple dowry?

"You right Ri Yi" she forces her smiles and put her anger behind her back "I don't have much but I have something commemorated your wedding, this is just a simple gift I hope you don't mind" Qian Mu Ting waved her hands and her maid come with small wooden box.

He maid put the box on the table and she slowly opens the box, inside the box there a crystal ball with two different colors fluorescent liquid inside, half the ball have yellow liquid while the other half have red liquid for Lory is remain her with a lava lamp, Qian Mu Ting smiles grew wider when Lory stares at the crystal with awe.

"Isn't this look beautiful? this is my treasure it's very rare" she said proudly "Look, there's a mechanism inside if you twist the ball the liquid will mix together and the light becomes brighter and the color would change"

"Really?" Lory was intrigued, she wants to grab the crystal but Qian Mu Ting promptly stop her "Wait, not here!" she suddenly shouted.

"This place is too bright, it wouldn't look good, it is better you try in your room but cover all the window and you'll see how beautiful it is" Qian Mu Ting convince her with cheeky smiles.

"Oh, okay…"Lory retracts her hands from the box then Qian Mu Ting closed the box, Lory becomes more curious she sighs and drinks her tea, meanwhile, she didn't notice the trembles on Qian Mu Ting hands when she touches the box.

"I think I bother you enough, thank you for your hospitality I better return to the palace now" Qian Mu Ting rose from her seat than she nods gently at Lory but when she turns around her legs suddenly become limps and she falls to the ground luckily Lory was there to catch her.

"Your highness!" her maids scream in unison and they all run towards Qian Mu Ting.

Lory hold her shoulder to stop her from falling "Quick, call physician!" Lory shouted worriedly, it's not good having a dead princess in her manor. Suddenly Qian Mu Ting long eyelashes fluttering and slowly she opened her eyes, everyone sighs in relief.

"Are you okay?" Lory helps her to stand.

"I….I'm sorry, I think my anemia recurred" Qian Mu Ting looks rather pale.

"Your highness you need to rest, you can't go home like this!" one of Qian Mu Ting maids feels panicky.

"I'm fine…." she weakly shakes her head.

"Madam Zhao, do you mind allowing the second princess to rest for a while" the maids stare at lory with pleading eyes.

"Sure, someone sends her to the guest room" Lory waved her hands and Yong heng manor maids lead Qian Mu Ting and her maids to rest at the guest room. Lory watches them left with two maids help Qian Mu Ting to walk until they disappeared behind the moon gate.

Lory let out a long sighs than she looks the small wooden box then she carries the box with her to her room just like Qian Mu Ting said she closed the window in her room then she opens the box and takes out the crystal ball.

[What is that?] Girsha whose hiding inside her suddenly talks telepathically.

[I don't know, it's a gift from the Princess] Lpry shrugged her shoulder.

[I thought she hated you?] Girsha was puzzled by the sudden change.

[Maybe she like now] she answers carelessly, Lory than twists the ball and slowly the fluorescent liquid mixed together and the color change into bright orange and it's glowing brighter and brighter, Lory was awed her mouth make an 'O' shapes.

Suddenly her hands feel hot [It's hot] she complains and the ball getting hotter and the light glowing even brighter and brighter.

[Lo-ry…] Girsha has an ominous feeling.

[Uh-oh]

'BOOOOOOMMMM!'