The Dragon's Flower

XH 105

Xiao Hua had fun at the Xuanwu Kingdom, until one day, her auntie visited for the first time. Fortunately, Xiao Hua's body was healthy and constantly supplied with Nutrient Pill; hence the visit was very much lighter than Le Xiao Ting's tormenting aunty.

However, Xiao Hua found it unhygienic in this time period. It was during times like this she wished she was a male.

On their seventh day in Xuanwu country, the Third Prince received a letter from Eunuch Lau Liu, which prompted them to return to the Guilin Kingdom.

As for the training session with the Third Prince, both of them decided to call it quits and let Duan Xi Ying continue teaching her. The Third Prince knew that he had used too much strength so he decreased it, but he ended up dropping it too much. On the other hand, Xiao Hua was afraid to put more strength into her punches even if she knew her punch did nothing to him.

It's his face! It's that beautiful, delicate face that gave her the impression he's weak!

During their journey back, there were no breaks in between and they manage to arrive back at the Guilin Kingdom in just two days. It was only mid-afternoon when they return to the Third Prince's residence. The Third Prince disappeared to his study with Eunuch Lau Liu once they entered the manor and not long after, Long Lian's fast speed carriage stopped in front of the Third Prince's entrance.

No one stopped the princess from entering and once she got her answer from one of the servants, she ran straight to where Xiao Hua was currently at.

"Xiao Hua!" Long Lian bursts into the room with a loud squeal and glomps the surprised Xiao Hua, who had not even shed her winter attire. "Oh, is this your winter attire? You look adorable!" Long Lian pulled away and gushed at Xiao Hua's light shade of green coat with white furs at the end of the sleeves and collar.

It was actually Feng Jiu that gifted her this attire but Xiao Hua realize she should not say it to Long Lian, for she did not know if the princess knew about Feng Jiu or not. "It's a gift from the Third Prince's friend. It's comfortable and warm."

Long Lian caressed the soft furs before releasing it. "I will wait for you to change your clothes at the pavilion."

Each courtyard in the Third Prince's residence has a pavilion, but in the Spring Courtyard, it was much bigger than the others.

It does not take long for Xiao Hua to change with the help of Duan Xi Ying. When she arrived at the pavilion, Long Lian was eating a bowl of warm tofu pudding, and judging from the amount of empty bowl on the table, this was her second bowl of tofu pudding.

Long Lian beamed when she saw Xiao Hua making her way to the pavilion. Once the other girl seated beside her, Long Lian gestured at the other bowl of tofu pudding. "This was made by the Imperial Chef this morning. Mother Empress is in the mood to enjoy sweet desserts and I get to enjoy it as well."

Duan Xi Ying poured melted sugar onto the tofu pudding for Xiao Hua before taking her post at a distance where the two ladies could talk privately.

"Hmm," Long Lian stared at Xiao Hua with a slight frown. "This hairstyle is rather mature for you."

Xiao Hua had not allowed Duan Xi Ying to tie her hair back to the usual infinity shaped buns. She honestly thinks that side buns hairstyle was rather childish, even if she currently possessed a child's body.

"I like this hairstyle more." Xiao Hua self-consciously touched her hair, which was tied back at the back of her neck with a wide ribbon filled with flower buds. It took a lot of ribbons to make enough flower buds and stitch them all together on a single wide ribbon.

"You are not going to use the hairpin I gifted you?"

The disappointed expression on Long Lian's face made Xiao Hua feels guilty. "I... I will, one day. Ah Lian, right now, it would not be good for me to wear such an expensive hairpin."

Long Lian sighed. "I understand, but one day, you will wear it for me to see!"

Xiao Hua laughed with a nod. "I promise." If she did get adopted, she will be able to wear the hairpin.

"Quick, eat the tofu before it gets cold, or else it won't taste as delicious anymore. Tell me how's the Xuanwu Kingdom looks like!"

With a happy giggle, Xiao Hua complied, telling Long Lian about the snow and scenery. The tofu pudding tasted even more delicious than Le Xiao Ting had before but perhaps it's because of her currently happy mood that makes the tofu taste sweeter.

"I have bought you a pearl from the Xuanwu Kingdom. It can glow in the dark!" Xiao Hua passed Long Lian a square black box that's only slightly bigger than her palm.

"A gift for me?" Long Lian beamed before carefully opening the box to reveal the content. She let out a joyful gasp and lifted the hand-sized pearl onto her palms carefully.

"It's beautiful," Long Lian gushed. "Oh, thank you, Xiao Hua! I will treasure it as long as I live!"

"I'm glad you like it." But what's with the 'as long as I live?'

The penniless individual that goes by the name of Xiao Hua had to ask the Third Prince to loan her some money to buy the pearl. She had no concept of monetary value, but she wanted to buy something nice for Long Lian and Heise. Feng Jiu approved of her choice so it should be fine.

She had debated whether to ask for her salary, not that she has done much work, to begin with, but then the Third Prince said he would not accept money from her to pay off the loan.

"I will be expecting you to repay me. Not in coin, but in some other form...you don't get to choose, of course."

The Third Prince seems to be looking forward to it and Xiao Hua wondered if she had just agreed to an unfair agreement but there was no one else she could trust not to cheat her.

"Hey! Miss Xiao Hua!"

It was the loud shout that got Xiao Hua and Long Lian to turn to the direction where it came from. Yang Ling, with his swaying ponytail behind him that would be right at home in a shampoo commercial, was waving his arms madly at Xiao Hua. He would have run towards Xiao Hua and possibly knock her over if Duan Xi Ying and Da Bei had not blocked him.

"Lord Yang Ling?" Xiao Hua stood up, eyes filled with confusion.

"I need to talk to you!" Yang Ling said loudly. "Call them off and let me pass!"

"Lord Yang Ling, do you have the permission from the Third Prince to speak to me?" Xiao Hua asked politely, but her body language was not welcoming.

She had known about Da Bei being punished for letting Eunuch Heng enter her room. Despite trying to explain to the Third Prince that it was not Da Bei's fault, the punishment was already handed out. Xiao Hua does not know what the punishment entails as the Third Prince does not want her to know. Da Bei remained mute on the matter and she decided to let it go.

After that, she knew better than to get Da Bei into trouble because of her again. Whether she gets to talk to Yang Ling will depend on her boyfriend or her bodyguards.

"No," Da Bei answered for Yang Ling coldly, staring at the intruder as if he's a bug that should be far away from Xiao Hua.

"Hey kid, is this how you should act to your elder?" Yang Ling stared at Da Bei in disbelief.

"Give me some respect that I deserved! I have been your master's friend for four years! Do you know how damaging it is to my mind and heart-"

"Lord Yang Ling," Duan Xi Ying interrupted with an amused giggle. "Master will beat you up, again, if he heard what you say."

That shut Yang Ling up fast.

"Lord Yang Ling," Long Lian called out.

"Princess!" Yang Ling greeted brightly, treating the princess as his saviour. "Please let me talk to Miss Xiao Hua. It won't take long! I promise!"

Xiao Hua’s polite smile was strained. "Lord Yang Ling, Xiao Hua is just a servant. ‘Miss’ isn't an appropriate title for this servant to use."

"Hah! You won't be a servant much longer anyway if Long Zhu has his way!"

"What did you just say?" Long Lian's voice was calm but her stare at Yang Ling was cold, silently demanding an answer from him. Her third brother wants to remove Xiao Hua from his personal maid position? Did he finally feel pressured from Mother Empress?

"Ho? Princess Long Lian does not know something about her favourite brother? Yang Ling feels honoured~"

"Silence!" Long Lian snapped as she slammed a palm at the table, which trembled wildly from the force. Xiao Hua's eyes widened in fear upon seeing the shaking bowls but fortunately, they did not fall from the table. "You will tell me why the third brother wants to remove Xiao Hua as his maid!"

"I will happily tell everything to you, Princess, but Yang Ling wishes to talk to Miss Xiao Hua. But the Third Prince's bodyguards are blocking me-"

Long Lian rolled her eyes at his shameless attempt to bargain with her. "I will give you my word that I will explain to the third brother on your behalf! Now, tell me everything!"

Yang Ling grinned cheekily. "Then I will count on you Princess~" He sneaked a glance at Xiao Hua, wondering how she would react, but instead of the full-blown panic he had expected, Xiao Hua indeed looked a little worried, but nothing dramatic as one would hear about her possible loss of a job.

Eh... That isn't what he expected.