18 Fearing For Her Leg

A very delighted Yu Mei was casually tossing the blood jade she just "earned" up and down in her palm. She couldn't be any happier than this, not only did she take what she had been eyeing for these few long days, she could finally get rid of Prince Shao. Of course she wasn't proud of how she got the jade but there was no helping. It's not like she touched him with any sexual desires in mind, it was strictly all business. She was a "male" and he was a male, surely Prince Shao wouldn't get the wrong idea.

The longer she thought about it, the guiltier she became. Yu Mei paused, moments away from her room, looking up at the bright crescent moon. The night was beautiful, but why did she pout her lips, "WHAT, even you are looking down on me? I'm not that bad of a person, who says I wasn't going to compensate Brother Shao," she pointed her fingers at the moon and scolded it as if it was a person. Yu Mei felt she had gone nuts, to actually think the moon was talking to her. But it was true, Yu Mei felt guilty for stealing his precious jade, so what could she give in return to compensate…

Forget it. The night was long, Yu Mei didn't want to think of anything negative, it could be handled tomorrow. If anything, she would just meet him in three days and bid farewell forever. Yu Mei placed her small hands on the door handle and shivered. She was fine just a moment ago, but why did it suddenly feel like winter the moment her hands touched the handle? She hugged her arms and rubbed them a little bit before opening the door.

*Door creaks opens*

Why did it feel like she was entering an ice palace and not her room? She could see, In the middle of the room was a very pitiful figure…Chu'mei. Her back was faced away so Yu Mei couldn't read her expression. Not only that, she was knelt on her knees. Yu Mei was about to yell out to her but the moment her eyes caught the second figure in the room, she almost lost her wits. Her hands struggled to put away the jade before putting on a shocked face. She was doomed. Who knew he was here.

Someone was sitting on the bamboo bench in the front. Who else could it be but the powerful Pei Nan, her so called husband. He had his legs split a few inches apart with his hands placed at the knee, sitting tall like a statue. She didn't need to take more than a glance to read his mood, fury. Not the fury she witnessed when she first met him but this time…she could literally feel the wrath of his fury slicing her to pieces. Maybe it was better to die now than to face him. Yu Mei couldn't believe she was actually thinking that.

Pei Nan on the other hand, didn't change his expression as he spoke with his all so dominating voice. "Come over here now!"

[Act normal, stay calm Ju Ming, it's only Petty Nan] Yu Mei hesitated for a long time before taking the first step. Only a step was taken before she froze on the spot again. She only remembered now that she was still dressed as Xu Ren. She scrunched her nose and scolded herself. It was true, good things never last. She has only obtained the jade for no more than 3 hours, but now...

Every step taken was like stepping into the pit of hell. One step…two…three…nine…eleven slow steps later and there she was, faced to face with the one person she wished to never meet again. Chu'mei was right beside her, her eyes looked up as if apologizing to her lady. *Awkward laughter* "Your highness, I wonder what you are doing here so late at night,"

"I'm also wondering why you are only returning now?" he chose to ignore her question, instead throwing out his own questions. Yu Mei knew this was going to be a long interrogation. If that was the case, shouldn't he offer her a seat?

Pei Nan's eyes skimmed her body and let out a loud sigh. Of course he didn't find her beautiful but when she was dressed in male attire, he had to admit, she was very cute. "And why are you dressed like that?" Yu Mei almost rolled her eyes at him, couldn't he ask nicer. Did he always have to sound as if she had wronged him? She hasn't seen him in four days, shouldn't he be happy that she's not bothering him, so why it is that he is lashing out on her. [Don't tell me you had a fight with Fei Ning and came here to take it out on me, hmph!] "Chu'mei, leave first," Even if she felt wronged, Yu Mei didn't forget to let Chu'mei leave first. Who knew just how long he had made her kneel on the ground. Chu'mei immediately stood up. "I take my leave," Chu'mei had faith in her lady, after the time spent with Yu Mei, she knew that her lady could handle Pei Nan on her own. With the faith she had in Yu Mei, she limped out. Pei Nan didn't say anything as this happened.

Yu Mei only turned back to face Pei Nan after she couldn't see Chu'mei anymore. "Pei Nan," in the most girly voice she had in her body, she spoke his name as if she had just been blamed wrongfully. She swore she could feel her stomach twist inside. Just hearing herself speak his name so sweetly made her cringe. She made her way over to his side, taking a seat on the right, next to him. Pei Nan didn't know why he didn't say stop her, all he did was watch her make her way to him on her own freewill. Rude, yes she was rude but what could he do. He was stumped.

"Hmph! You are being too unfair?" Yu Mei skillfully switched the subject, turning herself into the victim. Pei Nan stared at her with a blank face. What was she doing? "Unfair?"

"Yes, you held a big dinner with all my sisters but I wasn't even invited. How do you think I felt? I only went out to play because I was mad yet you came here to blame me," she turned away and crossed her arms like a little kid. Pei Nan leaned back on the chair, eyes filled with interest. Shouldn't she be lashing out and crying? But what was this... it was a miracle. Not because she didn't cause a scene but because they exchanged more than two sentences back and forth without him getting angry. A very short smile could be seen on his face but Yu Mei would never know, she never looked at him once. The pleasant look on his face didn't last more than a few seconds before going back to its original serious form. "Why did you go out by yourself? And like that?" his face was filled with repugnance for her clothing but his mind told a different story. He was thinking, "Do you know how cute you look? Tell me how many women looked at you?"

"I am a girl; it is much safer for me to go out as a male. What if a bad man takes advantage of me?" her voice was very confident. Her face sharply turned his direction as soon as she heard that stupid laughter come out of his mouth. "Take advantage of you? Are you crazy? Are you some kind of beauty that someone would want," he sarcastically spoke. He didn't catch himself fast enough to stop those words from coming out of his mouth. "WOW~" a silent gasp of disbelief came from Yu Mei's mouth. She was not going to take this insult, out of nowhere, she stood up and kicked his shin as hard as she could. A loud bang echoed in the room, the kick was that loud. For a moment, she had completely lost control of her rationality. "Ow," a short but loud pained Pei Nan yelled. Yu Mei covered her mouth with both hands, looking at him with horror. He was holding onto his leg. [Oh no! Ju Ming, what have you done? This is probably the first time anyone has ever laid a finger on his precious body, you are done for] If he knew that kick consisted of all the pent up anger she had for him, would he kill her on the spot?

She went forward, stretching her hand out to him. "Are…are you all…right?" she couldn't help but stutter a few times. This was the first time she sounded concern. Of course, not concerned for him but for her dear life.

His head shot up, the moment they met eyes, she immediately withdrew. "PAN YU MEI, YOU DARE?" every word was spoken slow and loud. He was angry, not just angry but very very very angry. "I didn't mean to,"

She backed away the moment he stood up. She retreated one step back for every step he took forward. "I really didn't mean to," she put both hands out, shaking them as if she didn't do it. "It was you who started it, you called me ugly," she did all the talking up until her back met the wall. His body slowly closed in on her, barely leaving a space between them. Her body naturally reacted, escape was the plan. Turned to the right, he placed his hand on the wall, turned to the left, his other hand pushed on the wall. Yu Mei closed her eyes and regretted. She was done for! "Pan Yu Mei, do you know just how precious my body is? You dare to actually hit me? Tell me how you are going to compensate?" not only did he sound furious, it even sounded wicked.

Every breath he took, she could feel it on her skin. Wasn't this type of scene supposed to be romantic, why did it seem more like a horror movie to her. This was the scene just before the protagonist dies? [Don't tell me you want to break my leg?] There was no doubt in her mind that this man in front of her wouldn't order such an act against her. In her heart, he was a cruel and bias man who only had eyes for Fei Ning. If he could ruin her, he would, this she had no doubt of. Her eyes slowly opened, she made up her mind, she would fight him to the death for this precious leg of hers. "Surely you don't want to break my leg, do you?" her innocent question shocked him. Pei Nan almost couldn't control his laughter but he forced it down. Maybe scaring her a little bit would be good for her. "I'm thinking about it," his right hand went down, touching her thigh. [OMG! You know martial arts? Don't tell me you are going to pop a vein or something in my leg? Don't you think that is too cruel?] She closed her eyes like a scared rabbit. Yes, she said she would fight him but when he actually acted upon his own will, she couldn't help but freeze on the spot.

Pei Nan put a little bit more pressure in the hand touching her thigh. This was the first time he has ever paid attention to her. Her legs were skinny, too skinny.

His eyes followed her closed eyes and then to her cheek bones down to her collar bone. She was thin, or at least thinner than he remembered. His hand naturally wanted to reach out and cup her tiny face but the rational part of him stopped him. His face leaned forward, next to her ears. If he never stood this close to her, he would never have realized how nice her scent was also…a very subtle smell of orange blossom. So this is her scent.

"Accompany me to welcome Prince Mu Yan and Princess Mu Yi tomorrow," by the time Yu Mei opened her eyes, Pei Nan had already walked away.

Yu Mei's whole body gave in on her. She plopped onto the ground, lifeless. She was so close to losing her mind. Accompany him? Yu Mei kicked her legs in the air like a little kid. Should she go back and request for him to break her leg instead? Wouldn't that be more humane than to force her to accompany him?