114 Prince Shao's Departure

Pei Nan and Yu Mei arrived back in the city early evening. They first made a stop to see his father. After chatting for a while, Yu Mei was politely dismissed so the father and son could have a private talk. Yu Mei knew better than to roam around the palace but she couldn't help but be curious. After all, she had never been to this part of the palace before. And would she ever get that chance?

Even with Chu'mei's constant nagging, Yu Mei still insisted on taking a walk. Thus her maid could do nothing but follow.

They followed the yellow paved path until they came to a grand weeping willow. It looked majestic with its flexible branches drooping down to create an illusion of the leaves protecting the trunk.

The two stood in awe.

Step by step, Yu Mei's feet led her closer to the tree. Chu'mei had a feeling this was a bad idea. She's heard rumors of this tree and how precious it was to the emperor. She dared not take another step unlike her bold and brave lady. She hissed and tried her best to summon her lady back.

Before long, Yu Mei was standing underneath the shaded tree. Her chin slightly tilted up as her hand reached to touch a leaf.

Yu Mei could not be counted as a beauty but at this very moment as the moon illuminated every inch of her body, one would mistake her for the legendary moon fairy.

"Beautiful…" she muttered to herself.

"Tree of Adoration!"

She quickly moved her hand away, startled. Her gaze fell on the man who had just spoken to her. She continued to stare at him while he continued to speak. "This is where my father met my mother. Thus he named it Tree of Adoration. The moment he saw her, he was filled with awe and adoration."

The man continued to walk towards her until he was a few feet away.

She smiled at him. "Oh? And what brings you here so late to the palace?" She comfortably said.

The man sincerely smiled. That sweet and teasing smile could only belong to one man, Prince Shao.

He had just finished visiting his mother when he stumbled across this angelic scene. At first he wanted to scold the woman for trespassing his father's beloved tree. He never expected it would be Yu Mei.

Chu'mei watched them anxiously. The next moment left her utterly speechless. Her heart was beating with fear. Gu Shao had taken a step closer and held onto Yu Mei's hand. If she didn't know their status and relationship, she would have thought they were the most beautiful pair to exist. Especially with their bright white attire that seemed to be made to accustom one another.

"Prince Shao! What are you doing? Let go before someone sees." Yu Meiwhispered as her hands immediately pulled away. She was afraid. Afraid that someone or even worse...Pei Nan would catch this horrendous scene. Her life would be over. Not to mention, Prince Shao's reputation.

Instead of complying with her request, his gaze intensified before he moved her hand to his chest. "Legend has it, if a guy and girl meets under this tree, they are destined for one another." He coolly told her.

Her whole body froze on the spot. This awkward situation was something she did not want to experience again. The last time she had this feeling was when he confessed to her.

Then he did the unthinkable. He patted her head like a little child. "Don't look too shocked. I was only going to say…do you feel my heart? It's not beating fast for you anymore." He chuckled lightly, trying to lighten the mood up a little. "Didn't I already tell you I was okay with just being friends?"

He paused.

"Actually…I wasn't willing the first time I said it but now I can honestly tell you as a friend that I accept this destiny."

"You big jerk!" She grit her teeth. "Did you know how awkward of a situation you put me in again?" She wanted to punch him in the guts a few times but held back.

Gu Shao let go of her hand and leaned closer to her face. He curiously looked at her angered face like a curious young boy. "It's a good thing I met you here tonight. I just came back from my mother's chamber." He explained.

"And…why are you telling me?" She asked annoyed. Clearly still frustrated with his teasing.

Gu Shao arched his brow and put his hands behind his back. "Since you do not care, I won't tell you." He began to turn away before she caught onto his sleeve.

"Stop playing around. If you keep this up, I won't be your friend." She pouted.

He turned to face her with that gleeful look once more. "Ask me nicely then…"

"Why did you meet your mother?"

"I'm leaving in a month." His voice was filled with heavy burden when he spoke those words.

"Are you going on a trip?"

He sighed.

"I've decided to go to the borderline. All my life I have only ever known how to have fun and court women. I have never known responsibility. The burden that my father and Pei Nan has to take on, I never knew until recently. With the current battle going on, it's opened my eyes. It's time I grow up."

Silence.

She understood him but why did it still hurt. She never thought that Gu Shao would leave her in a blink of an eye. In her previous life, her master was her only friend. With this newly given identity, she had people she could call friends. And now one of them was going to leave her. Her heart felt heavy. He was only leaving but it still pained her.

The last thing she said to him before departing was…as long as you are happy, I am happy. And don't forget that you will always have a friend waiting here for you.

***

Yu Mei had lost track of time when she encountered an expressionless Pei Nan leaning on the carriage side. She slowly walked over to him, trying to read his mind.

"Good thing I waited. I thought you had impatiently left me here all by myself. You would have had to stay the night here if I had truly left." He half-jokingly spoke yet also indirectly scolded her for leaving.

"Are you mad?" She asked. Would this be the end of their romance? Surely this petty man would not hold this against her, she thought.

"Mad! Very mad! Get in the carriage." He held out his arm for her to take. Yu Mei wanted to refuse but dared not to anger him anymore. Once they got into the carriage, Yu Mei couldn't help but stare at him from the other side. The more she thought about it, the more she doubted he would be this angry over something so trivial. Before they reached home, she would get to the bottom of it.

Being her usual self, she made a move. Before Pei Nan could protest, she had plopped herself next to him with his hand in hers. "Why is my prince mad? Surely it isn't because I was wandering for a few minutes, right?" She cutely spoke while patting the top of his hand.

Then for the first time in her life, she put her head on his shoulder. His heart almost burst with excitement and nervousness. This woman was so…uncultured. She always did what she wanted but no matter how blunt and unrefined, he could not find an ounce of strength to reprimand her.

"I only went because I was bored of waiting. So can you stop being mad?"

Pei Nan put his arm around her shoulder. "Who says I am mad at you?" He retorted at her accusations.

Yu Mei furrowed her brows. Why it was he who blamed her.

"I am mad at myself. I shouldn't have made you wait out in the cold by yourself. Mad at myself for not being considerate of you. I should have escorted you to my mother's instead." He blamed himself. "And when I saw that you had left, a storm of uneasiness overcame me."

Yu Mei let go of his hand and huffed like a little girl being wronged. "If you weren't mad at me, you shouldn't have sounded as if I was in the wrong. Waste of my time coming up with a way to calm your anger." She was about to go back to her side of the carriage but his grasp on her was just too sturdy.

She ended up laying her head on his chest.

"Okay! I admit I was at fault. I shouldn't have made my little wife worried or angry. I apologize. Will that do?" He cheekily asked.

"Just this once I'll forgive you."