The Ageless Dream

3.1 Second Rank Minister Li (9)

Dong Li Hua groaned after sitting upright. She rubbed her eyes to get her vision clear when she saw an unfamiliar place. "Oh great! How did I end up like this?! Buddha, why choose me to time travel? Wuwu~."

"Its all that kid's fault! I told him not to but he kept showing his favor to me!" she stopped struggling, blaming Ying Zheng but recalling his innocent look, her anger got replaced by grief. What awaits her outside that door might be her worse nightmare. The door opened; Lü Buwei entered with a guard behind him.

"Take her. Young girl, don't try doing something stupid or you'll be kept here." he sneered. Once Lü Buwei left, the guard removed the rope tying her hands. Dong Li Hua lifted her foot to kick him but the guard grabbed her arm and forced it behind her back.

"Ow!" she hissed in pain.

"Left Prime Minister asked you to stay obedient or else." the guard threatened before pushing her forward. Dong Li Hua was taken to a garden, snows descending across the sky and covering the frozen courtyard. She suddenly heard a familiar voice that ignited her hope.

"What does Marquis Wenxin means?" Li Si's voice resonated.

"I have seen your admiration to King Zheng's personal maid. Perhaps this can make you agree." Lü Buwei turned towards the moon gate just as Dong Li Hua entered. She stood in front of the pavilion where scholars are, glancing at the two from time to time.

"No... He's not Brother Chun Wu. That is Li Si!" she kept reminding herself. Dong Li Hua staggered back and avoided Li Si's shocked gaze. She is planning to runaway when the guard who forced her to get there was standing close. He pulled Dong Li Hua's wrist anf flung her to the pavilion.

"Ah!" Dong Li Hua was in pain, her abdomen hitting the staircase  she sat on the snow-covered ground with teary eyes before glaring to the guard. How can he be so disrespectful to a female, ah?!

"Marquis Wenxin, she is His Majesty's personal maid- how...?" Li Si furrowed his brows, turning suspicious of Lü Buwei. It cant be that the young king is becoming a puppet under Left Prime Minister's control, right?

"Its not me. Her Highness, Queen Dowager found her as a threat to King Zheng. She seduced His Majesty and as a punishment, gave her to me as a servant. Scholar Li, both of us know how you looked at her during the banquet yesterday." Lü Buwei whispered his last sentence. He is trying to drag Li Si to his faction to add more wise man under his control in order to overthrow Ying Zheng in the future.

"Lies!" Dong Li Hua gritted her teeth. She glared to Lü Buwei in resentment. However, if she were to spill the beans to Li Si, both of them will die here. Lü Buwei is powerful and Li Si is just staring his career here in Xianyang.

"Hmph!" Lü Buwei snorted. "Scholar Li, your choice. To take her or not. If Scholar Li refuse, then the little beauty can be one of my concubines."

"Shameless old bastard!" Dong Li Hua cursed. Knowing Lü Buwei is using her as a bargaining chip, her bottled up feelings erupted. Lü Buwei was annoyed and glanced at the guard. He immediately understood and pulled Dong Li Hua up.

"Girl, your allure is as poisonous as your tongue." Lü Buwei stepped forward, raising his hand to slap Dong Li Hua. She closed her eyes, blaming her stupidity for letting her modern side overwhelm her.

"Marquis Wenxin, stop." Li Si spoke. Dong Li Hua opened her eyes, looking at Li Si with hope and confusion. "I'll take her with me " he took Dong Li Hua's wrist and led her outside the courtyard, not sparing a last glance to Lü Buwei.