The Ageless Dream

2.2 Royal Family (6)

On the way towards the carriage, Ying Zheng suddenly halted as Dong Li Hua did the same. "What do you think of Li Si?" he asked without facing her, calmly intertwining his hands on his back.

"Mm... Scholar Li is a bright man with complete reasoning and clever at plotting against his enemies." Dong Li Hua answered while pinching her chin. Seeing someone who resembles her older brother, she wanted to help him get enough recognition in front of the emperor. Furthermore, Li Si, in the future will succeed Lü Buwei and will become Ying Zheng's trusted aide.

"Is there more?" Ying Zheng faced her while raising a brow. However, she just blinked in puzzlement. "What about his..." he paused abruptly, trying to find a proper word to use. "What about his looks?"

"Eh?" Dong Li Hua nearly staggered backward. Why would Ying Zheng ask that? Could it be he likes... Not possible! She straightened herself and awkwardly responded. "Scholar Li is indeed gorgeous. With his clever personality, servant is sure Scholar Li will have a bright future. Aside from his wit, once Scholar Li have a proper position in court, surely there will be officials fawning on him by gifting their daughters and some women would idolize him for his fame and beauty."

"Oh." Ying Zheng lowered his head, seemingly at loss. He continued to walk until they reached the carriage and the two entered. None of the eunuchs or imperial guards dared to say a word against this since they knew the young boy king favored the foreign maidservant.

"Li Hua, what man do you dreamt of?" he asked once the carriage moved. His question made Dong Li Hua furrow her brows. She cant read what is in his thoughts.

"Well... I don't have a plan to find a man nor marry but I like a man with gentle temperament." Dong Li Hua spoke while recalling something from her childhood. Though she had forgotten what that kid looked like, his way of treating her back then was deeply imprinted in her mind. For every single bruise after getting bullied, he would be there to give her a free treatment.

The winter solstice finally arrived after two to three weeks. A banquet was prepared inside the imperial palace. "Your Majesty, this is not a good idea." a hesitant sweet voice echoed within the dragon chamber; the guards who stood outside glanced at each other in confusion

"Why not?" the childish tone of a young boy resonated afterwards. Inside the dragon chamber, Ying Zheng was furrowing his brows. "You don't like the dress?" he asked, sitting on the edge of the large opulent bed while he stared at the shadow in the folding screen.

"Well..." Dong Li Hua slowly stepped out, wearing a light green wrap around skirt that matched her green colored eyes. Her blouse is in the shade of soft white which further enhanced her snow jadeite skin. Matched with an elegant white lotus waistband, even thought it is simple, the high quality of silk and its color blended well with her figure and visage that made her look like a flower blooming amidst green lushes of grass.

Ying Zheng opened his mouth as if about to speak but he quickly closed them. He just came in after the female servants arranged Dong Li Hua's hair and applied a light makeup. Two cute buns were on both side of her head while most of her dark lustrous hair was left cascading down below her waist region. A faint blush applied on her cheeks; her eyebrows painted into a slender arc while her previous pink lips turned into a seductive shade of red from the paper lipstick used.

"Your Majesty, if I were to go there, wont they oppose me?" she is truly hesitant. Dong Li Hua is worried she can affect Ying Zheng. With her stay beside him, almost every afternoon they can be seen within Yecheng Palace playing go or other games. That is when rumors around the court started spreading. Even if she is there, palace maids were against her and speak aloud saying that she enchanted the young king. Ying Zheng seems to be unaware since he kept bugging her all day to stay with him even if he is studying. If she were to go out now and with a silk woven hanfu, it can implicate Ying Zheng and her.

"Oh, you're talking about the rumors?" Ying Zheng lightly laughed. He reached out to his sleeve pocket and took out a small jade box. "They wont dare to do anything to you and the rumors, I will take care of it. There is a saying, beating the dog is like beating its owner. If anyone tries to go against you, that means they are also opposing me."

"So, you regard me as a dog now instead of a maid?" Dong Li Hua secretly thought. She sometimes wanted to rebuke at him but Ying Zheng is way too adorable for a scolding. There is not a day where he would leave her alone and that sometimes annoys her. However, Ying Zheng's charm and childishness can dissipate it.

"I asked a palace artisan to create this for you." he stood up and opened the small jade box before arriving in front of her. Ying Zheng showed a pair of white jade lotus earring. Dong Li Hua looked amazed outside but, in her heart, she is crying with blood. Is he really planning to dig a pit for her early grave?! If others were to see her wearing a silk woven hanfu and a genuine white jade earring, the officials will think of her as a woman with ill intentions to their king. Petitions for her execution can arrive to Lü Buwei's hands and since Ying Zheng is still powerless, her death chances are at 75/100.

"This... I am just a servant-"

"Li Hua has been one of my closest friends for weeks. Its a gift and I, as a king, orders you to wear it if not..." the young boy tilted his lips upward into a devious arc, making Dong Li Hua accept them.