Chapter 7: Chapter 7: The one who claims to know it all, often knows nothing at all

The queen had reminded Min Li that she was to attend an upcoming function. The day was now here but Min Li’s mind was slightly distracted by something else. It turned out that it was not harder said than done for the crown prince and her to avoid each other.  

Min Li herself had not done any of the avoiding. Why should she have? There was not anything wrong with them bumping into each other every now and then. So, she concluded that it must have been the crown prince trying his best not to meet her.  

She didn’t make up a big deal out of it on account of one fact, her time in slumber had gotten so much better in quality. She figured that it was because of the change in venue, so she didn’t bother to purposely seek out Fenhua to argue about something in fear she would get kicked out.  

The event that the queen had reminded Min Li about was a martial arts class that all the noble young ladies in Xilin kingdom were directed to try and attend. Min Li had been taken part in the lessons since she could grasp a sword, though due to the infrequent meetings, she still wasn’t very good. 

Before the queen had assured her, Min Li hadn’t known whether she should attend the next lesson or not due to her new status as a servant.  

Min Li had convinced Lily to join her as she was in much need of some mental support. Even though Lily was not part of the Elite by any means, Min Li thought that they would maybe let it slide. All the other girls would probably be with their lady’s maid. It was only fair for her to have her own personal companion.  

Min Li had not forgotten about her original purpose for entering the Eastern palace. She had merely been side-tracked for a little while. But with one conversation between the ladies at the field for the lesson, she soon remembered the task she had set for herself.  

Min Li and Lily were currently standing beside a row of ceramic water jars. They had made their way over to the area commenting on how it seemed like a good addition to the space so that the ladies had easy access to water when they were on a break.  

That conversation soon came to an end when they looked and saw that there was only a little bit of water left in two or three of the jars. 

Luckily Min Li’s venture to the ceramic jars was not completely useless. A big group of ladies sharing the hottest of gossip had also made their way to the area.  

Tilting her head towards them, Min Li eavesdropped along with Lily catching the ladies when they were deep in the midst of their conversation. 

“We finally get to see the crown prince back on the military training field.” 

“I have missed the sight dearly” 

“Any time I get to visit the palace, I always look to see if I can see him sparring. But to my disappointment recently he has been nowhere to be found.” 

“Aaahh yes, I find that also to be true.” 

“Does anybody know why?” 

“Yes, does anybody know why?” 

Min Li kept her ears peeled as the ladies got louder and Jess, Min Li’s retired bully, entered the circle of ladies with pride.  

Clearing her throat Jess said, “I happen to be in good knowledge that the crown prince has been spending near enough all his time in the library.”  

Min Li startled at that piece of information. Fenhua’s spending time at the library was sure to throw a spanner in the works. She would have to find the perfect time when he was not in the library to search it.  

Jess continued answering the nosy ladies, including Min Li’s question. “Why is he spending more time in the library?...  I can’t know everything. But I suspect that he is trying to get ready to take over the throne.” 

“Ooh, he’s so amazing, so studious, so princely,” all the girls around started cooing.  

“You know everything about the crown prince, you are so lucky.” 

“Yes, you are going to be our future queen.” 

They all seemed dead set on kissing up to Jess because they thought she was in good favour with the crown prince. 

Min Li didn’t know for sure who the crown prince had in mind for a wife, but she was sure that Jess probably wasn’t on his list. Though Jess hung around the crown prince sticking on him like a lost puppy, Min Li knew him enough, to know that Jess the mess wasn’t his type of woman. 

She also knew that Jess’s source of information must have been very off. The crown prince had been adamant as a young teenager about spending as much time as possible working on himself before taking over the throne. Considering his stubborn nature, I don’t believe he’s changed that much, she thought. 

Besides her, also listening, Lily hmphed annoyed at the Jess’s and her company’s words. 

Hearing Lily’s noise of disapproval, the group of ladies turned their attention to Min Li.  

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All of them scanned her from head to toe taking in her outfit.  

Min Li was always receiving clothes from the queen consort, and she had kept them all in perfect condition. With the addition of her new wardrobe that was fit for a queen, or a future queen, Min Li currently had in her possession the very best dresses suitable for every possible occasion.  

And Min Li happened to be of the opinion that no beautiful dress should ever go to waste. That being said she was currently decked out to the nines in a simply stunning, even if she did say so herself, fiery red, pale pink and cinnamon brown warrior’s dress.  

When the queen had given her this particular outfit, she had said she gotten it from the kingdom of Yilin decades ago. Though Yilin had a very bad reputation for very good reason, before they were defamed, they were renowned for their garments.  

The had the very best leather, the smoothest silk, the softest and strongest cotton, the thickest of wool and most importantly, the very best seamstresses.  

So, it was fair to say that the costume along with suitable jewellery for the costume that Min Li had also been gifted, made Min Li feel, and from their maddened expressions also made the other ladies feel, that Min Li looked simply amazing and tonnes better than the rest.  

“Why are you wearing that?” 

“That is so unsuitable.” 

“Why are you always trying to steal the show.” 

It not my fault, Min Li thought to herself. It's not my fault that they went in their own extensive wardrobes, and they picked out basic, boring, plain outfits.  

Far be it from Min Li to put herself down to help pump up peoples’ egos which were already far too big, especially when they were all of the same age.  

She was in good mind to tell them such.  

But before anything major could happen, Fenhua entered the space along with some of the best martial arts teachers in Xilin kingdom.  

At once everybody stilled down and ran to their positions facing the prince at the front of the field.  

All the ladies and lady maids in the area bowed. Some girls giggled merrily. Min Li alone huffed waiting for the session to start.  

Fenhua quickly greeted everyone and started the session.  

When the crown prince was explaining to everyone the warmup drills they were going to have to do, he appeared to not be able to stop glancing at Min Li.  

Min Li supposed that his avoidance of her caused him to look at her when he had the chance all the more. It was possible that she was so pretty he just couldn’t take his eyes of her. It was more plausible that he was annoyed thinking erroneously that she was wearing clothes meant for his future wife stored in the chamber he had given to her.  

The ladies got to work, engaging in the light footwork drills that Fenhua had instructed them to.  

When it got time for the students to do some light sparring, all the ladies made sure that every strand of their hair was up in a headpiece, with a hairpin keeping it all in place.  

Min Li was the only one who didn’t put up her hair. She had never done so any time before and it had never been brought up as an issue, so she didn’t wait around for comment and started practicing footwork drills with Lily this time with a sword.   

“She is trying to be pretty again,” one particularly annoying girl exclaimed.  

“First, she came with an entirely inappropriate outfit and now she won’t put up her hair,” the girl’s friend joined in on the fun. 

“She just wants the attention of all the men,” little Miss Annoying spoke up again. 

That is when Min Li realised. Little Miss Annoying was a woman on a mission. That mission was to bring war unto Min Li. And unfortunately, although Min Li had the potential to be as scrappy as they come, this was a battle that she knew that she couldn’t fight for good reason.

 

Author’s note: Can you think of the reason that Min Li can’t fight this battle? You may be able to get it if you have paid attention the last seven chapters?

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