Chapter 5：First Meeting As Husband And Concubine

It's morning and since I had nothing to do, I decided to start writing poems again. Doing calligraphy was easy because Lu Ming taught me until I was professional. Our calligraphy looked alike though. Like really alike.

As for the art that I painted, I gave it to Hao'er and told her to hang it up in the room. My room was small, but I didn't quite mind. I loved that it was quiet and peaceful here. There wasn't a lot of commotion going on. This life was different from the fast-paced world of China.

And perhaps because of the plants I was growing, the room became even smaller. The plants I grew were herbs. The herbs were helpful in many ways. They give off a fresh smell like fresh air. Whenever you inhale the scent it would help clear your mind. It also helps clear poisons that may be in the room. And if I'm ever desperate for a cure, I can just grab some from my room immediately.

These are just precautions to keep me safe. I want to go back badly, so I have no choice but to be overly cautious. I need to last a year here and I can go back.

Outside the Winter Court, Prince Wu was standing looking at the court.

"It's empty."

"Your highness, when Concubine Xiu just came, Madame had given her the same amount of guards and maids she had given to the other concubines, but she rejected it. She said her court is small and can't fit so many people in there. She also said that she likes the peace of the court, so the Madame should take back her people."

"Are you dumb?"

"Your highness, I'm not finished yet. Concubine Xiu also said that if Madame doesn't trust her and thinks she will harm you, the Madame is more than obligated to have spies. So the Madame sent spies, but after a month, all they reported was that everyday she did things that maids did or, that she did things that the normal woman didn't do."

"The only suspicious thing is that she cultivates. The spies were unable to tell what her rank was, but she seemed experienced is all. The Madame had questioned her about this, but she said..."

"What?"

"If one day she got framed, she can run away."

This lady is straightforward is she not. After a while, a piece of paper came flying out the gate.

"Hao'er, you don't need to chase it, I'm going to throw it away anyways."

"But Sis Ling! It was such a good poem! Why are you throwing away such good poems? Nobody will ever get a chance to admire them again."

"Hao'er, I can write as many poems as you want. Just ask me and I will. These are not any important poems. Besides, there are so many on my desk already that there is no need to chase one that ran away."

"Alright." Hao'er was sad about that poem, but her lady was right, there were hundreds on her desk already.

The piece of paper that flew was caught by Prince Wu who was about to throw it away, but didn't after hearing what the maid said. He looked at the piece of paper and saw the poem,

And even though it's hard

And I may struggle through it all,

You may see me struggle...

But you will NEVER see me fall

It was such an inspiration poem, quite different from all the beauty poems. A poem fit for a uplifting someone's mood. He thought to himself, if she has many more good poems in there and plans on throwing them away, he should keep it, he is her husband whatever they own is his.

With that thought in mind he entered the gates. There was no one to announce that he had entered the building because there were only 2 people living in the court. The master and her servant. Upon entering the entrance he already what he wanted.

He had only wanted the poems that were unwanted, but he saw the beauty, too. It was hard to stay away from her. He knew he should be on his guards instead of thinking of how to make her his, but she looked vulnerable in that moment for some reason.

"Your Highness! This servant apologizes, the lady had just fell asleep."

"In the morning?"

"Last night, Mistress Xiu couldn't sleep, so mistress stayed up doing poetry and art."

"Hao'er, who's here?"

"Mistress Xiu, the prince is here!"

Hearing that, Zhao Ling immediately came out of her doze. She thought the person causing commotion was Zixie, but it was the prince. In her thoughts, 'Why is he here?'

"Your Highness, is there something this concubine can do for you?"

"Your poems..."

"Oh. Did you want them? I'm not sure which one you want, so you can have Shao pick one."

"All."

"How are you going to carry them all?"

Prince Wu waved his hand and all the paper full of writing disappeared from her desk.

Hehe... I actually forgot that this prince has a storage that can carry lots. Zixie even told me. Well, now that he is done with whatever he came for, hopefully he can leave now. I want to protect chastity. Not only that, I want nothing to do with the prince. I'm still trying to form a plan to get the second lead's attention. The more I have this prince's attention, the less planning time I have.

"Your Highness, now that you have what you want, I'm sure you want to leave now. After all, you're a busy man."

"All the others send me gifts everyday trying to get my attention, but you haven't tried one bit. I wonder why?"

"Eh?"

"You should know what I'm talking about. After all aren't concubines woman who does whatever they can to get a son to live. Giving birth is something they are all proud of, yet, you give no effort. I want to know why."

"There's no reason. Your Highness is a busy man and seeing that the other concubines are already knocking on your door, I see no reason why I should try to attract attention when the others are already trying for me."

"Hm?"

"Your Highness, I'm sure you are already annoyed by the fact that they are always giving you nutrition everyday, so that's why I didn't give you any gifts. And I'm sure you hate fragrance bags."

"You seem to understand my life quite well."

"Not at all, I am merely guessing and making decisions on my own."

"Still, you send nothing to me."

"Your Highness, even if I did, you would have told Shao to just throw it away. It would then hurt my feelings and I would feel like I just wasted my energy on something stupid."

"Stupid?"

"I don't mean it in a bad way. I am saying I would feel stupid for trying to get your attention when you don't love me at all. Not only that, you are about to have a wife soon, so I'd rather not be a thorn."

Prince Wu, then teleport to his room with Shao by his side.

"She doesn't understand me what I was trying to get at."

You Highness, she was only saying some true things. Seriously some true things, why are you brokenhearted at things that even you know about.