12 CHAPTER 12 : What a bad Luck! Meeting the Crown Prince again

"Eldest Miss, madam ask Miss to go to her quarters", Yu Momo come suddenly.

"Is something the matter momo? Is mother okay?", Yu Momo is her mother most trusted aide. If there's nothing important, even regular maid can conveyed her message. Now seeing Yu Momo here, she is a bit worried.

"Ah.. nothing young miss, it's because Princess Long sent an invitation for eldest miss", Yu Momo explained.

Releasing a deep exhale,"Oh, it's good mother is not sick. Then, let us go so mother will not wait for too long". Elegantly they stride to her mother's quarter.

"Eldest daughter greet mother", Li Xi Rui courtesy.

"Good morning my daughter. Quickly sit beside mother", waving her hand she patted the space beside her.

"Yes mother. Xi Rui heard princess Long sent an invitation to us? Invitation for what mother?", Li Xi Rui asked.

"Ah. Yes. She sent an invitation for you to come to her home. We're not in the place to refuse so mother already accept and made some preparation".

"Xi Rui understand mother". Princess Long cannot wait to mee Li Xi Rui again after that night. But what she really wanted is, to eat her delicious food!

After chatting a bit with her mother, the madam quickly rushed her to go to meet Princess Long. Chuckling, she said, "Mother is so eager. If Xi Rui didn't know any better, Xi Rui would've thought mother is in love with the princess".

With her fan, the madam knocked softly on her daughter's head, "What nonsense are you talking about. Quickly, make haste don't let the princess wait".

Leaving her mother courtyard, she and Xiao Xi prepared to leave the mansion.

Leaving the mansion. Li Xi Rui brought a box of crysanthemum tea as a gift. Princess Long is wealthy, what gift she hasn't seen before? So to be safe, it's better to bring a small ordinary gift. It's not like she wanted to make a connection to Princess Long.

Arriving at Princess Long's mansion, she slowly disembark from the carriage. Looking at the simple design of the front door, one wouldn't know that this is princess Long's mansion.

Princess Long is the only blood related sister of the emperor. She married the empire's general after they fell in love. From their union, a princess has been born. Princess Long has a weird temperament from all the rumors that she'd heard.

One time, a maid had been caught stealing at the mansion, and not only she not punish the maid, she gift more jewelry to the maid. One must have thought that she was benevolent. But another time, a servant knocked a cup of tea on her and she proceed to punish the servant severely. So, Li Xi Rui really couldn't pinpoint her personality. To be safe, she will just behave moderately.

Giving her name to the steward, they were shown in. Never in a million years she had thought, she will run out of good luck that day. In front of her now is the crown prince! He is there to visit his aunt.

Stopping in her tracks, she couldn't move. The crown prince also just stand there and look at her. After finally calming down herself, she said, "Li Xi Rui greet your highness crown prince". With a courtesy, she didn't look at that disdainful face. 'What a bad luck! Why is he here of all times?!'

At first Long Qing cannot believe that he will meet Li Xi Rui here of all places. As Li Xi Rui didn't wear any veil to the princess mansion, he could see her fine features clearly. He haven't notice, Li Xi Rui is really attractive if she behaved and tame her wild personality. Bewildered, he nodded his head. But before Li Xi Rui walk away, he opens his mouth, "Aunt said she will come shortly, if it's fine, you could wait with me at the rose garden".

As Li Xi Rui stopped again, she looks up to that once her most loved person. Searching for any enmity in his eyes, she said, "If it's not a bother to your highness, Li Xi Rui accepted your offer". When she seen none, she accepted the offer. She really is not in a status where she could reject a royal family member's 'invitation'. She also couldn't be as casual as she once were even when the crown prince being as casual as he used to.

Hearing Li Xi Rui accepting his offer, he nodded and starts walking to the direction of rose garden. Not too close, yet not too far, Li Xi Rui walks elegantly behind Long Qing. If one didn't hear the rustling sound of her dress, one will not know there is someone walking behind at all.

The walk to the rose garden is so quiet that Long Qing doesn't realize he had been frowning, 'This woman, why hasn't she said anything? In the past, she will chatter endlessly'. Long Qing didn't know what to say to make the situation less awkward. 'Maybe it was really presumptuous of me to suddenly break their engagement in front of the court. But I just couldn't stand her anymore at that time. With the rumors going rampant, with her thoughtless act, how could I like her? Maybe, when she was a child, the attitude seems adorable but in adulthood? How could she handle being the future empress?', Long Qing reasoned with himself. Now, remembering all the rumors going around, he couldn't help but feels disdainful again. 'Why did he invited her to wait with him?'. He really regretted his decision.

As for Li Xi Rui, she remained oblivious in her own world. She couldn't refuse the crown prince nor she wanted to be friends with him. He is the one who ruined her reputation after all. 'If not because you are one of the royal family, I wouldn't even talk to you!'. It seems like Li Xi Rui has developed a stronger mentality when she faced her ex-fiancee. She try as best as she can to ignore her hurt and react as uncaringly as she can. She will try to exercise endurance. 'Endure Li Xi Rui! ENDURE!'