"If I may ask, what's your full name? I feel like Ru Shi isn't the entire thing." Yu Yingyi said, she had a feeling Ru Shi wasn't someone random.
Ru Shi sighed, "As expected, your intuition is sharp."
"Huh?"
"I didn't want to reveal my real identity, but it seems I have no choice but to do so," Ru Shi said as she smiled bitterly. "I'm Zhu Ru Shi, the first princess of the Zhu empire. I'm here to meet you."
Yu Yingyi widened her eyes in surprise and realization. Finally, Yu Yingyi realized why the name Ru Shi was so familiar. If she recalled correctly, the novel stated that Zhu Ru Shi, the first princess of the Zhu empire, was always neck to neck with the female lead which is Song Liya.
When the two became empresses, they would always compete at everything. It didn't matter what it was, they would compete over who's empire was better, which one had the better food, which one was richer, as long as it was something, they would go at it.
Yu Yingyi didn't expect Zhu Ru Shi to show up here, they weren't supposed to meet until a year later. Though Yu Yingyi didn't bother thinking about why the plot already changed since there was no point in thinking about the past.
"Zhu Ru Shi..." Song Liya muttered through her gritted teeth. "Why are you here?"
"Princess Liya, let's not be so hostile. I already told you why I'm here, I came because a friend invited me to," Zhu Ru Shi said.
"Where's that friend of yours? I'd like to speak with her."
"Hmm, I don't think that's a good idea. Around this time, she should be drinking and having fun. She won't be able to answer anything with a drunken mind."
"Or is it because that friend of yours doesn't exist? Perhaps you came here knowing we were here and you're trying to spy on us?"
"I think you're overthinking this, Princess Liya. I came here by myself, my brother is already back in my empire. I came here with good intentions."
Yu Yingyi watched the two go back and forth. This was a perfect example of what would happen whenever the two would interact. It was pretty entertaining though.
"That doesn't matter, you could be spying on us and planning things to sabotage us."
"Why would I do that? Princess Liya, let's be rational here. Our empires aren't even at war, why would I do something that would only harm me?"
Yu Yingyi raised her eyebrow at Zhu Ru Shi. If the Zhu empire didn't have any hostility towards the Song empire, then why were there intruders from the Zhu empire? The question lingered in Yu Yingyi's mind for a while, but she couldn't find the answer to it. In the end, she decided to ask later.
"Alright, calm down you two of you," Yu Yingyi said as the two finally stopped quarreling. "Ru Shi, are you being honest about coming here with good intentions?"
"Of course, there's no reason for me to be against you all anyway."
Yu Yingyi pondered before speaking, "Alright, I'll trust you then." Turning to Song Liya, "Calm down, I'm pretty sure she's telling the truth. If anything happens, you can do something."
Song Liya reluctantly accepted, only because Yu Yingyi gave her permission to use her own strength if anything happened. She even started stretching just in case.
"Thank you, Princess Yingyi. I'm glad you have a rational brain," Ru Shi said with a smile acting as if she didn't insult Song Liya.
"Haha..." Yu Yingyi nervously chuckled. "Did you come here for any other reasons besides your friend?"
"Of course, I still have to explore the city since there's so much to see," Zhu Ru Shi replied.
"I see, where will you be staying? With your friend?" Yu Yingyi asked.
"Where else? This isn't my empire, I don't have an entire palace all to myself."
Yu Yingyi and Zhu Ru laughed, the atmosphere was becoming more familiar between the two which Song Liya didn't like at all. Which was why she inserted herself into the conversation.
"Zhu Ru Shi, there are intruders in the city. Did you bring guards with you? The city isn't that safe," Song Liya said.
"I heard about it, the intruders are nothing compared to me. After all, I'm stronger than all of them. One me is equal to a thousand soldiers," Zhu Ru Shi said smugly.
A tick could be seen forming on Song Liya's forehead, but she stayed calm and let what Ru Shi said go. Yu Yingyi could see Zhu Ru Shi was testing Song Liya's patience, there was nothing she could do since she didn't know what to say.
"If there isn't any proof, then I can't trust what you're saying. How about this, I'll send a couple of my guards to keep you safe."
"I appreciate the offer but there's no need for the princess to do that for someone who's experienced. Thank you for the offer though."
"Are you sure? I don't want someone who's part of royalty getting injured."
"Yes, I'm sure. I won't be getting injured anyway."
And since the two were going to be like this for a while, Yu Yingyi decided to get used to it before their quarrels started to annoy her.
When Yu Yingyi look closer at Zhu Ru Shi, Yu Yingyi realized she had a scary resting face. She had sharp turquoise eyes that seemed to pierce through her soul, she had turquoise strands of hair. Yu Yingyi's eyes lowered to Ru Shi's figure, there was no doubt that she wasn't fit.
Yu Yingyi didn't know anything about Zhu Ru Shi's strength, there was no information regarding Ru Shi's abilities besides that she was smart. Smart enough to rival Song Liya and Song Feng Mian.
When Yu Yingyi thought of Song Feng Mian, she started wondering where they were in the world currently. The last time she heard from them was when Jia Yi told her they were going to travel together. Naturally, she missed them.
Yu Yingyi was snapped out of her trance when the two started arguing again, she sighed and stared at the two helplessly.
'This was going to be a long dinner.'