46 Refusing His Help

The first thing Yu Mei did when she got back to her room was take off her shoes and make a dive on her soft comfy bed. Who knew Pei Nan was going to go to the Grand Palace (Emperor's palace) as soon as the sun rose. She was sure he did this on purpose. They were only going to inform the Empress of the plan. It could have waited but he did it to annoy her.

It was barely passed 10am when Yu Mei came back. On usual days, she would be sleeping until almost noon.

Yu Mei took a hold of her pillow and cuddled it like a person. She tried to get some shut eye.

"Xiaojie. You can't sleep. There is too much to do." Chu'mei grabbed onto Yu Mei's sleeve and tried to wake her up. "Xiaojie!" she continued to complain. After a few minutes, Yu Mei was fed up. All she wanted to do was get some sleep. "Leave me alone." She muttered.

"How can you sleep when there is so much to do? If you don't get Empress Ping's banquet done like she wants, who knows how much trouble she will create for us." This time she tried to reason with Yu Mei. Thankfully it worked. Yu Mei immediately opened her eyes. She didn't open her eyes because of Chu'mei's warning but a reminder to start her tricks. She was ready to put her plan in action.

She quickly sat up in bed. After asking Chu'mei some questions, she was ready to start. "Chu'mei, I've got it. Jot down my ideas." As she eagerly wrote down her ideas, the look on Chu'mei's face got darker and darker. She was beyond shocked at her lady's ideas. What she didn't know was that Yu Mei was actually going less bold when giving her ideas. Yu Mei wanted to do more but this was Empress Ping, Pei Nan's mother and her mother-in-law she was scheming against. There was only so much she could do to this woman. If it was Fei Ning or Ming Yan, that would be a different story.

When dealing with the most powerful woman in China, she could only sigh and tone down her plans. It couldn't be so obvious or else she would truly get punished.

By evening, Chu'mei had taken down all the notes. Just by looking at her face, anyone could tell Yu Mei's ideas were no good. "Make sure to not let anyone here about this." Yu Mei pointed her finger at Chu'mei, warning her seriously. Chu'mei proceeded to fold the papers and put them into her sleeves. "But Xiaojie, are you sure we won't get caught? What if Empress Ping finds out you did it on purpose?" the only person in the room nervous for both their safety was Chu'mei.

"Relax, she won't know if you don't tell." Feeling good about her plans, Yu Mei rolled back onto her bed, crossing her legs in the air. *Growl* Yu Mei held her stomach and then stared at Chu'mei. "I've been so busy I even forgot to eat. How can I forget to eat all day." She joked before givng Chu'mei a dirty look. "How could you let me forget to eat." Chu'mei felt her jaw drop all the way to the floor. Her lady was actually blaming her? "Xiaojie, how can you be so shameless to blame me. Hmph!" Chu'mei crossed her arms angrily.

Yu Mei rolled on her belly as she smiled at the cute yet angry Chu'mei. "I didn't mean to. You know I am not myself when I am hungry. Go get us food."

"What do you want to eat?"

"Whatever you want. We'll be eating together." Chu'mei's face lit up with excitement. "I can have whatever I want? Really?" The anger she felt vanished that very second. She couldn't believe it. Her lady was letting her eat whatever she wanted, and together? This was truly too shocking. Who has ever heard of a master and servant eating at the same table? Yu Mei was probably the first.

As she waited for Chu'mei, Yu Mei went back to lying on her bed like a lazy dumpling. The foot that was in the air was shaking with comfort. Too comfortable to be exact. The posture she was in was far from ladylike.

*Ahem* a loud cough came from across the room. The still relaxed Yu Mei didn't take much notice. "Chu'mei, put it on the table and help me up." Still with her eyes closed, she lifted her hand up for Chu'mei. Why didn't she open her eyes? Her eyes could rest for another ten seconds or so. Every second of sleep was precious to her. That was her motto. Sleep when you can.

"Pan Yu Mei." Yu Mei opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. She prayed it was just Chu'mei who somehow magically gotten a voice change. Her head slowly rose high enough to see who it was. Staring back at her was none other than a fuming Pei Nan with his arms crossed.

Two seconds later. How did Yu Mei get up so fast? That was a question she was wondering herself. "Hehe, your highness," her hands quickly flattened the wrinkles on her skirt. "What brings you here this late?"

"I came to see how the progress of my mother's birthday is coming along." He took a few steps closer. "It seems you haven't even started yet."

"I'm done already." She quickly answered his question.

"Oh? Done already?" he asked as if he didn't believe her. Yu Mei couldn't believe he didn't believe her. Was she not good enough?

"Aren't you going to offer me a seat?" he disinterestedly asked.

"Have a seat." She gestured with both hands. Her mouth welcomed him but her mind was shooing him away. It was written all over her face and Pei Nan saw it. But he simply chose to pretend he didn't see it. Yu Mei took a seat next to him. "You are here because…"

"Tell me what you've come up with so far."

"It's a secret. It'll be grand for sure though." Yu Mei proudly assured him. But Pei Nan didn't believe her. There was no way she could finish planning in one night. That was why he was here. "Yu Mei, just admit you didn't come up with anything yet. If you're too embarrassed to ask for help, just admit it and I'll help you." Yu Mei didn't know where he got that confidence from. She got this under control.

"Don't worry about it. I am a pro at planning." More like planning tricks and mischief. Pei Nan gave her one last look.

Before he came over, he was sitting in his study room day dreaming. When he decided he was going to help Yu Mei out with this banquet, he was already feeling happy with himself. For two hours, he sat there with one elbow propped on the desk as he laid his chin there thinking. So many scenarios of how thankful Yu Mei was going to be when he offered to help her. His first scenario was of Yu Mei covering her mouth stunned. She had become she stunned, there was tears rolling from her eyes. Her words to him, "Pei Nan, you are too kind. I take back ever calling you petty." But how come reality wasn't as he imagined it to be. She didn't cry tears of happiness; instead she was being sassy with him. What a waste of his time, he complained. There was no way he could leave just like this though; he wanted to try one more time. "I will help you on my own free will. All you have to do is ask. You don't have to be embarrassed."He actually sounded sincere. Yu Mei stared at him strangely. This was unlike him. Why was he being nice to her?

"Your highness shouldn't be too worried. I really have this under my control. Please leave. I need my beauty rest so I can work day and night like a slave these next few days." She didn't forget to call him out. Which person in their right mind gives someone a task this big three days beforehand?

Pei Nan didn't care to answer her question. "I'll take your word for it but I'm here if you need guidance." What else could Pei Nan do but leave. When he came in, he was already prepared for Yu Mei to thank him earnestly. Now he was leaving. All that excitement bottled up in his chest was shattered. She literally crushed all the excitement for him.

Just like that, three days had passed. Yu Mei had indeed been busy planning the banquet. To be exact, the task of decorating was given to Chu'mei. Yu Mei locked herself in a small room within the Grand Palace with some maids and servants every day she came over. All the maids and servants that Yu Mei had Chu'mei gather were given a script the first day. With Yu Mei's guidance, everyone earnestly practiced the play that was written by Yu Mei for the empress.

The banquet finally started...