56 Catching Them

That night, Yu Mei slept well. Even though the first half of her day was bad, Gu Shao had made up for the other half. At least her stomach was happy.

When she woke up the next morning, she called Chu'mei over. "What should we do today?" a very sleepy Yu Mei casually tussled her hair as she spoke with eagerness. Chu'mei sighed. Her lady was up before the sun just to go out and make trouble.

"Xiaojie, you were out all day yesterday. How about you obediently stay in today?" Hearing Chu'mei's words, Yu Mei was left utterly shocked. Stay home? No way! She slammed her hands on the bed. "I must take advantage of the time I have while Pei Nan is away. When he is back, I won't be able to go out so freely anymore. Don't you understand me?"

"Xiaojie~ What if the Empress comes to find trouble with you today? Do you know how scared I was for my life? Don't you care about me?" Chu'mei started to sniffle. All her lady cared about was having fun but left her taking care of the mess. What excuse was she supposed to come up with if the Empress summons Yu Mei?

For the first time, Yu Mei realized how selfish she had been towards the loyal Chu'mei. She crawled out of bed and towards the tearful Chu'mei. "Fine, fine. I'll stay. Now can you stop crying?" Yu Mei pat Chu'mei's hand, trying to sooth her. "Promise?"

"Promise. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stay in my palace. I'm going to go see Ji Er." Chu'mei badly wanted to say something but when she thought about it, this was better than having her lady go out.

After getting ready, Yu Mei was walking towards Ji Er's Plum Blossom Pavilion when she became mesmerized with the sound of a beautiful melody. It was as if her body was controlled by the sound. Step by step, she followed the sound. "Xiaojie, that's not the way to Consort Nuan's." Chu'mei said after she noticed her lady was heading towards the Northern Palace."Chu'mei, who is playing such a beautiful song?" Yu Mei ignored Chu'mei's words.

"Don't know either." It didn't matter, she was going to find the source of the sound anyways.

Finally, Yu Mei stumbled upon the source of the melody. Sitting under a white pavilion was the beautiful Fei Ning stringing on the guzheng, accompanied by Gu Shao's flute. From afar, Yu Mei leaned her back on a large landscape rock as she listened. Even if she didn't like Fei Ning, she had to admit, the woman was skilled. The more she listened to the melody, the more she was sure Gu Shao and Fei Ning were close. To be able to match each other's tune and speed meant that the two must have practiced together often, whether now or in the past.

When she thought about it, her heart became unhappy. For some reason, Pei Nan popped up in her head. Did he know that Fei Ning had a very close relationship with Gu Shao? She didn't know why she was even thinking about his feelings? It wasn't like he cared about hers. Even though Yu Mei kept telling herself not to care, her body was reacting differently. Before she realized it, she had made her way over. Gu Shao was the first to see her. His fingers stopped. Fei Ning looked up too.

"Consort Pan, you are here. What a nice surprise." Fei Ning happily greeted her.

"Hearing such a masterpiece, of course I had to come see. I didn't know you had a private guest." Yu Mei sarcastically spoke as she looked at Gu Shao. She didn't mind that he liked Fei Ning from a far but to actually act upon his feeling while Pei Nan was gone was really too low. Gu Shao put his flute away as he happily greeted her. "I didn't know sister-in-law was coming over."

"I didn't know I was going to be here either. May I ask what his highness is doing here so early in Consort Ning's courtyard?" she arched her brow.

"I came to sharpen my flute skills.": he casually spoke to the cold Yu Mei. Even as he spoke, he could sense the change in her attitude.

"Consort Pan, don't get the wrong idea. Gu Shao is only here to accompany me as I practice my guzheng." Fei Ning had also spotted the suspicious look on Yu Mei's face.

"I can be rest assured then. I hope Consort Ning and Prince Shao can keep a clear conscience. I'll excuse myself then." Yu Mei coldly spoke as she rolled her eyes and turned to leave. Fei Ning watched as Yu Mei left. She was clenching her jaw tightly. The eyes she was giving Yu Mei was also as cold and deathly as her thinking. Gu Shao on the other hand was in a daze. What did she mean by keep a clear conscience? She didn't really… Gu Shao suddenly ran out on Fei Ning as he chased after Yu Mei. "Your highness," Fei Ning called out. It was as if Gu Shao forgot about her, he didn't turn once when she called him.

Yu Mei had barely left the Northern Palace when she heard Gu Shao call after her. She was too angry to acknowledge him. Her steps quickened. Poor Chu'mei had to try to match her lady's steps. She almost lost her balance when a running Gu Shao passed her like the wind. Gu Shao stopped in front of Yu Mei. "Did you not hear me calling for you?" he asked, trying to catch his breath.

"Hmph!" Yu Mei took a step to the right, trying to walk pass him but was quickly stopped once more.

"Move away." Yu Mei pushed him out of the way. Gu Shao walked in front of her once more. This time he placed both his hands on her shoulders, making sure she wouldn't attempt to escape again.

"Yu Mei, are you angry at me? What for?" he looked her in the eye.

"Not angry. Disgusted!" in front of him, she was not afraid to be blunt.

"Disgust?"

"You're shameless! I thought we were friends. Who knew you could be so sly and go behind Pei Nan's back with Fei Ning like this. I can't be friend with you any longer."

"Yu Mei, listen to me."

"Don't want to." Yu Mei roughly pushed his hands off her shoulders and stomped away. Gu Shao helplessly watched as she left. He knew it was pointless to talk to a hot headed Yu Mei at the moment.

Yu Mei's mood had already been spoiled. She had no mood to go visit Ji Er or do anything to be exact. Morning until early evening, she mopped around her room trying to get Gu Shaos' betrayal out of her mind. Once in a while, Pei Nan would pop up in her mind.

Yu Mei was still in deep thought when a soft knock came from her window.[What is that noise?] Yu Mei looked around the room when she heard the faint knock. At first, Yu Mei thought she was just hallucinating but that soft knock came once more. Yu Mei was getting scared. She regretted sending Chu'mei away early. Her eyes looked over at the closed window. {Ghost?] Just the thought shook her up.

Once again, the soft knock sounded from the window. Yu Mei closed her eyes and put her two hands together as she prayed. "Ghost lord or queen or whoever you are...please don't haunt me. I am a good person. Go haunt Fei Ning instead. Please go to the Northern Palace. I promise to pray for your soul if you can scare her bad. Please leave me alone." Yu Mei opened one eye. The sound stopped. [It worked!] Yu Mei pat her chest as she tiptoed over to the window. With a cowardly heart, she nervously reached for the window to lock it. *Swoosh* "Ahhh…GHOST!" Yu Mei had never run so fast in her life to her bed. She hid under her covers as she started chanting.

From the window, Gu Shao jumped through the window. Just now, when he heard Yu Mei scream, he almost fell to his death. Her scream scared him badly. To be precise, the two of them scared each other. Luckily he had fast reflexes or else he would have fell flat on his face. [Ghost?] waW his first thought. He had been hanging on the window sill for a good few minutes but Yu Mei had not answered his knock once. So this was the reason she didn't open him. Hearing her call him a ghost, he let out a naughty smile.Gu Shao quietly tiptoed towards the bed where a covered and shaking Yu Mei hid. He stopped at the foot of her bed. "Wuuuhoooo~ Yu Meiiiii ahhhhh~"

Under the cover, Yu Mei started to sweat badly when she heard the creepy boohoo's next to her.

"Please go away Mr. Ghost! I think you've got the wrong room. You are looking for Consort Ning, right? I'll take you over to her place, just leave me alone. Okay?" Yu Mei started to make crazy suggestions. Gu Shao almost burst out laughing. "I only want youuuuu~" still in a ghost voice, Gu Shao leaned over and grabbed the corner of the blanket nearest to her feet. Yu Mei started to shake badly as she felt the blanket under her move. [Screw it! You're only a ghost. I don't believe I can't beat you up.]

"Ahhhhh!" Yu Mei screamed at the top of her lungs as her legs went crazy, kicking left and right. *Whack* *Cough* Yu Mei'sfoot had kicked something hard. She stopped to think for a moment. A ghost with a hard body? That didn't make sense. Her first thought was that it was Fei Ning who thought of this stupid prank. With pent up anger, she roughly pulled the cover down and yelled, "Ghost by butt! Who dares to play with me?" The moment Yu Mei's eyes caught sight of the so called ghost, her eyes doubled in size. Prince Shao was leaning on the bed pole holding onto his chest. "Prince Shao?"