The Ageless Dream

4.1 Letting Go in Reluctance (12)

"Its fine. You ended up here because of me." Li Si faintly smiled. He looked back at her, meeting a pair of jade green eyes that enchanted many hearts and impressed countless men. In truth, the moment he saw her in the banquet, even with the veil covering half of her face, he was amazed of her eccentric eye color. Other than that, she has a slim figure and a beauty only aged people can resist. At first, he thought she is a seductress using Ying Zheng but after days of staying with her, his impression changed. She is a stubborn girl with a sharp tongue and can defend herself against bullies.

"Li Si, now that you're a second rank official, be careful." Dong Li Hua kept hesitating then she heaved a deep sigh. Without a warning, Dong Li Hua embraced Li Si. "Thank you for everything, I won't forget you." she softly said. Li Si is often busy reading books or scriptures, writing calligraphy or writing flowery reports but he never forgets to entertain Dong Li Hua. She is satisfied with his personality, reminding her more of her older brother since the two have a lot in common.

Li Si was taken aback from what she did. He is not used being touched this intimately but he cant understand why he didn't push her away. Instead, there was warmth spreading through his heart. He did not reciprocate but Dong Li Hua is fine with it.

"If ever we meet again, you wont mind me if I call you... Brother Li, right?" she playfully asked after letting go, hiding her sadness from leaving her sibling's replica.

"Its fine as long as you let me refer to you as.... Uhm..." Li Si cant think of anything. Hua'er or Xiao Hua would be fine but that can cause a misunderstanding for its way too intimate.

"Little Plum can do." Dong Li Hua helped him. Most of the time, Dong Zhenzhen and Dong Chun Wu call her that. With her name meaning 'winter plum flower', they teased her as Little Plum instead and soon got used to it.

"Alright, that's enough! Li Hua, lets go. Thank you for your time Minister Li." Ying Zheng suddenly pulled Dong Li Hua, making her stagger follow him. She smiled at Ying Zheng's childishness, immediately forgetting her discomfort. Unbeknownst to her, the moment she left with a dazzling smile directed to Ying Zheng, Li Si kept that image in his heart until the next eight years.

"Why are you angry again?" Xie Er asked, seeing Ying Zheng's frustrated look as he entered the carriage with Dong Li Hua.

"Xie Er, you forgot to call Zhen 'Your Majesty'." Ying Zheng remarked once he sat down across Dong Li Hua, glaring outside the window.

"You know, living inside the royal family gave you a palace heart. Not all people cant be trusted." Xie Er sighed then she looked up to Dong Li Hua before leaning on her shoulder. Dong Li Hua let Xie Er since she has no girl friends around the palace and Xie Er seemed to be a decent girl.

"Palace heart?" he furrowed his brows in curiosity.

"Mhmm. That's how commoners refer to every person who wont trust one to three people in his lifetime. Its not a secret to us that the royal family are scheming each other thus, most members barely placed any trust to others. That is where the term palace heart came from." Xie Er yawned. "I'll be honest, Queen Dowager just bought me from a slave merchant that came from Yong Ancient Capital City. She asked me to monitor you but why should I do that? You're a king and every king are wary to those around them."

"So?" Ying Zheng raised a brow.

"If I were to follow the path of spying on you, when the day you stand on your feet comes, I'll be dead. That is why, I decided not to spill anything and remain under your authority. Anyway, Im confident you'll be a powerful king in the future. I heard from other scholars at the marketplace that serving a ruler and helping him secure a throne will give us unlimited wealth!" she clenched her fist while determination can be discerned in her eyes. "Im not a fool like those ministers in court. From the day I served you, I noticed how wise you are. However, you never wanted to make friends so I am volunteering to be one by staying true to myself. Not like those noble hypocrites who hid knives under their words."

"You're just after wealth." Ying Zheng sneered while Xie Er glared at him but after a moment, she nodded.

"Why don't we make a deal? If you can help me with something, I'll be loyal to you. Did I mention Queen Dowager hired a martial master to train me? See, I can be of use one day. Maybe you can send me to assassinate your enemies in the future." her words stunned Dong Li Hua. She never thought the frail looking Xie Er have such plans in her life!

"... Deal!" the you boy held out his hand and Xie Er did the same. "How can I help you then?"

"Mmm... I actually forgot where I came from. I want to know if I still have a family or not. If one day you become powerful, please help me find my origin."

"You're this confident I can turn into a successful ruler?" Ying Zheng asked, raising a brow but Xie Er has long fallen asleep. His expression turned ugly while Dong Li Hua let out a soft giggle. "Is there something funny?" he frowned.

"Your Majesty seemed to have found a future wife instead of a loyal servant." she smiled. Usually, in most drama she had watched, the love between the male and female lead would start with quarrelling often and if the male lead showed gentleness, that's when they realized they had fallen.

"Who? Xie Er?" Ying Zheng suddenly burst into laughter; he wiped the nonexistent tears from the corner of his eyes.