LOTUS

RECAP CHAPTER

After the banquet ended, the female guests were given the chance to explore the palace. Most of the women were sent to the palace garden to enjoy tea and the men stayed at the hall to interact with eachother.

“Young miss, where are you going?” Ling Hua inquired, noticing that her master is walking in the opposite direction of the garden.

“Can’t you read the atmosphere? I won’t be alive by the time we are to head home if I stay together with those ladies.”

At her master’s response, she understood and agreed at the young miss’  reasoning. Ling Hua  also knows that the young miss do not enjoy crowded places and being the center of attention.

When they could not hear  female voices anymore, they stopped and scanned the area.

They ended up on another garden which was much smaller, but amazingly it was rather much more beautiful than the one the other ladies were staying.

There was a small pond and a well maintained patio that has various flowers growing around it. Differently colored butterflies were scattered, flying freely as if the place is their home.

The two ladies enjoyed the sight and inhaled the fresh air. After awhile , Bei Wei noticed the uncomfortable expression on Ling Hua’s face.

“What’s the matter?” She asked

Ling Hua looked reluctant and embarrassed at the same time, Bei Wei got even more curious at what is going on and raised her right brow to make Ling Hua continue.

Defeated Ling Hua bowed her head in shame and blurted out her response.

“ I am terribly sorry young miss , but my bladder cannot hold it in any longer” filled with shame, Ling Hua’s face reddened.

“That’s it? Then you don’t have to hold it and just go” Bei Wei replied.

“But you’ll be left on your own young miss, I cannot allow that” at Ling Hua’s reply, Bei Wei internally rolled her eyes.

“Ill be alright and Ill stay right here, so go and relieve yourself.” With a stern tone Bei Wei was able to make Ling Hua go away.

She shook her head at her maidservant.Bei Wei continued her relaxation and got immersed with the beautiful surroundings. She walked near the pond and gazed at the crystal clear water. She was mesmerized until a memory from a certain stream floated through her mind. Frustration swelled at the annoying reminder of her stupidity. Closing her eyes she inhaled and exhaled the fresh scent of flowers and the place trying to calm her drumming heart.

“this is unbelievable” she sighed.

Not even a second has passed, she heard footsteps coming her way.

“That was fast, Ling Hua is truly a worry wart” she thought to herself keeping her eyes closed.

The owner of the footsteps stopped beside her and she waited for Ling Hua to talk.

However it’s as if the air froze causing the hairs at the back of her neck stand on end. Her closed eyes flew open at the deep voice whispering near her right ear.

“ So did you find the herbs?”

Her whole body jumped in shock , her alarms going off.Without thinking, she pushed the body away with all her force, fuelled with adrenaline.

The body stumbled back and to her surprise a hand reached out and grabbed her waist.

“You! ” she screamed at the smirking man who was chest to chest to chest with her. Luckily she got her two hands between them.

“Yes?” the crown prince replied tauntingly

Bei Wei struggled from his hold and pushed back with all her force.

It was a bad decision.

As soon as he let go, she stumbled backwards and slipped on a stone.

Her body came falling to the pond and there was no way she can avoid it.

At the last minute a large hand clasped her own and pulled her back like she weighed nothing.

However when she was about to land on her two feet, she slipped on the same stone and went flying towards her saviour.

Bei Wei never hated a stone before as much as she wanted to pulverize the slippery thing that she can almost hear , laughing at her expense.

Her body crashed with the crown prince and now there was nothing separating them.

At the heat of it all, her hands involuntarily wrapped at the princes’ neck  like she was clinging for dear life.

She never felt so weak before. But right now she is ashamed of herself.

When their intertwined bodies fell to the ground. The prince used his body to break the fall so she ended up lying on top of him.

Her silver eyes locked with his black ones and they were held captive like a prisoner.

The both of them stayed still, breathing heavily at the series of events.

She can feel his warm breath , fan her face and it made her insides churn.

The prince was intensely focused on her and she couldn’t think straight at the attention.

It was a split second but her eyes like having a life of their own took a glance at his agape lips.

Realizing her mistake, she withdrew her gaze and went back to his eyes.But it was too late, an emotion she was unfamiliar with bloomed within the princes’ eyes and she couldn’t move at the sight of it.

Slowly the gap between them closed and unknowingly she shamelessly closed her eyes.

Just as she can feel a feather like touch to her lips.

Ling Hua’s mortified gasp filled the air.