572 Return my tassel
Ai Fen had been searching for the tassel since the morning. She even asked the maidservants appointed in her chamber, but no one knew about it.
However, when the maidservant, who was on night duty came to the chamber, she informed Ai Fen about the tassel.
“The Second Princess handed the tassel to Lord Chang Shi in reward,” the maidservant stated.
“I gave my tassel to Chang Shi?” Ai Fen was shocked to learn the truth from the maidservant about it.
“Why did I give him my precious tassel?” Ai Fen asked in confusion.
“The Second Princess was drunk last night. We searched for the Princess in the eastern palace but she was nowhere to be found. Lord Chang Shi escorted the Second Princess last night,” the maidservant briefed the incident to Ai Fen from the last night.
“Where does Chang Shi live? I want my tassel back,” Ai Fen said and bit her nails. Whenever she used to get nervous, she would bite her nails. How drunk she was last night? She had no idea. She wondered whether she did some mistakes in her drunk state. But that could be found after meeting Chang Shi.
“Forgive me, Your Highness. I do not know where Lord Chang Shi lives,” the maidservant said.
Ai Fen thought to ask Lóng Wei about Chang Shi’s place. But she dropped that idea since Lóng Wei was busy with other matters. She didn’t want to trouble him.
.....
“Commander Huang Xi may help me,” Ai Fen said and quickly stood up from the floor chair. She asked the same maidservant from the night duty to accompany her and they left for the barracks.
Ai Fen halted in the mid of the stairs when she saw a troop of soldiers coming in her direction. They were going for a military drill. She quickly went to one side of the stairs while the maidservant followed her.
Once the troop left, she descended the stairs and soon reached the bottom of the ground.
Huang Xi, who was on the other side of the ground, saw Ai Fen. He asked the soldiers to go ahead to the equipment room while he ran toward Ai Fen.
Stopping before her, he greeted Ai Fen and found himself getting nervous. “Why did the Second Princess come here?” He asked.
“If Commander Huang Xi is free, then can he take me to Chang Shi’s place?” Ai Fen requested. Seeing the bewildered expression on Huang Xi’s face, Ai Fen continued, “Please do not take me wrong. I mistakenly give my special thing to Chang Shi last night. I would have asked Brother Lóng Wei for this, but I didn’t want to disturb him. Is Commander Huang Xi free?”
“I am free, Your Highness. I will surely take the Second Princess to Chang Shi’s place. Please follow me this way,” Huang Xi said.
Ai Fen nodded and walked behind Huang Xi. After Huang Xi prepared a carriage for Ai Fen, they left.
During the entire journey to Chang Shi’s house, Ai Fen tried hard to recall the incident from the last night. How did she reach the northern palace? She had no idea. How did she meet Chang Shi? Her mind was blank and it was bothering her.
When they arrived at Chang Shi’s residence, Huang Xi took Ai Fen inside and a servant greeted them.
“I will ask my master to come. Before that, I will escort–” the servant could not finish his words as Ai Fen interrupted him.
“Bring him quickly,” Ai Fen said. Huang Xi could find the desperation in Ai Fen for the special thing which was Chang Shi.
“Why does Princess Ai Fen want to see me?” Chang Shi voiced, who was on their left with a sword in his hand.
Ai Fen turned to him and Chang Shi bowed to her.
“My tassel. I want it back,” Ai Fen said and forwarded her hand.
Chang Shi raised his head and looked at Ai Fen.
“Currently it is not with me,” Chang Shi replied.
“What? Did you lose it?” Ai Fen panicked.
Huang Xi was astonished to find Ai Fen talking with Chang Shi in an informal tone. She never talked this way.
“It is in my room, Your Highness,” Chang Shi answered. “Please wait in the guest room while I bring it to you,” He suggested to Ai Fen.
“I will accompany you. I am not here to wait in the guest room,” Ai Fen said.
Chang Shi nodded his head slightly and asked her to follow him.
After five minutes, they reached Chang Shi’s room. Chang Shi took out the tassel from the floor table on whose end several medical books were placed.
He stood up and walked up to Ai Fen. “Here,” Chang Shi showed the tassel to the Princess. Ai Fen almost took it from her when he pulled his hand back.
“Her Highness gave the tassel to me as a reward,” Chang Shi said with an amusing smile.
“But I don’t remember it,” Ai Fen said.
“Does the Second Princess not remember anything?” Chang Shi inquired.
“No. Forgive me if I troubled you last night,” Ai Fen apologized. “Please give me my tassel back,” She urged him.
“Your Highness said as the Princess she must reward me. I refused her, but she insisted I should take it. There were several witnesses of this. A reward is never taken back,” Chang Shi asserted. For some reason, he wanted to play with her a little.
“I said in my drunk state,” Ai Fen said.
“Ahh, does Princess Ai Fen’s mother no longer stop her from going alone with an unknown man?” Chang Shi asked with a tiny smile on his lips.
“What do you mean?” Ai Fen was a little scared.
“Last night the Second Princess refused to recognize me and said that. I wonder how she recalled my name in the morning,” Chang Shi said with amusement.
“Do not trouble me, Chang Shi,” Ai Fen got irked. “Return my tassel and I will return,” She sternly said.