Chapter 25 - In The Eyes Of Xiao Ling

(From Xiao Ling’s point of view)

I felt more like myself when Master Fa and I joined the others for breakfast. I could still feel how full my insides were and wanted to sigh at the thought of what Master Shen and I had been doing earlier that morning…. But I had to observe proper etiquette and greet our backstabbing hosts with a smile on my face.

“Ara? the Prince does not break the fast with us?” The lord’s wife asked when she saw us.

I shook my head. “My master is meditating; he will join us when he finishes.”

“Mm” She nodded wisely as she served us tea. “We have heard many rumors about his Majesty. Tell me, is it true that he defeated a dozen armed bandits barehanded when he was still a boy?”

I nodded, warily watching the cup in front of me. Beside me, young Master Fa frowned slightly at the woman serving him breakfast.

“And how old was he when this happened?”

“My master was 13. It was a month before he won the Imperial Spring Competition.”

Young master Fa chuckled “Even back then he was a monster in Martial Arts. I sincerely fear for those that seek to do him harm, now that he’s stronger.”

A plate broke on the other side of the hall and the lord’s wife went to check what had happened. While she was away, I glared at Fa Min.

“What?” He asked, confusion painted all over his face.

“Honorable Master Shen is not a monster.”

The man had the audacity to laugh!

“Oh, he is, only not in front of you.”

“And you would know this, how?”

He smiled “I fought him in the Spring Competition, remember? I asked for a rematch, but now I’m not so sure…”

“Not sure you can defeat him?”

The man shook his head “No, I’m not sure he won’t kill me by accident.”

It might have been wrong of me to scoff and glare at a man like Fa Min, but he took it in stride.

I opened my mouth to retort when the door opened and Master walked in.

My eyes flew to him of their own accord, and I had to fight the dreamy smile that threatened to appear on my lips. He looked so handsome, casually dressed in white and black. His eyes met mine and my heart fluttered. Despite the circumstances, I couldn’t help but think myself lucky to have had my first time (and the second one too!) with him.

I curtsied and was about to stand to serve him when he placed a hand on my shoulder and sat between Fa Min and me.

He took one look at my untouched tea and then placed his hand casually above it. A few seconds later, he handed it to me. “Drink, you need to replenish liquids.”

I hid my blush behind the cup.