New World's Empress

A knock could be heard on the main door. Xiao Ran looked at Liu Mei that was about to take off the clothes. She was on mid of movement but then changed her mind and closed again.

''Let's see who is it. Go open the door.'' Liu Mei just gave up. Even if she was really tired and just wanted to be lazy, raise both legs on the long chair and enjoy some peacefulness, people always have something to say. How bothersome.

Xiao Ran opened the door and looked out. A cute servant of the same age smiled at her and announced her lady. ''Our Lady Hua Lan is asking for permission to meet your mistress. If possible now.'' With motion, she pointed at the carriage and ladies' face peeking out of it with big smile as well.

From the back of Xiao Ran came to sound out. ''Let them in.''

Liu Mei was wondering, she never met any nobles directly, who is that lady?

Soon trough the door came a young lady with protruded belly and cute expression. Her pink hanfu style dress with white and flowers, pink jewelry and pink shoes were all that she could call, fluffy pink bunny? This lady indeed liked pink, did she?

On the other hand, the lady was stunned by the young woman on the opposite side. Her clear eyes, surprised and speechless expression was so cute that she just wanted to pinch her cheeks. Yes, lady Hua Lan was one of those playful people. She walked in front of still flabbergasted Liu Mei and hugged her out nowhere. ''From today on, I am your friend. I will protect you until I die.''

Her heroic hitting at her c.h.e.s.t and her yell were contrasting to her bunny-like appearance. Liu Mei was still standing there wanting to say something but then behind the Lady Hua Lan, she could see her servants holding or on their heads, their eyes or just hitting their own c.h.e.s.t in, as it seems, grievance.

Why are they aggrieved. Liu Mei looked again at her and thought crossed her mind. ''Lady, you must really feel so lonely that you want to play with this commoner. You should go home and drink your medicine. Your mind probably brought you to the wrong house. After you take a nice rest at home you will realize your mistake. This lowly one is afraid that such a simple house is no playground for such miss of highborn house.''

Hua Lan froze and saw sympathy in her eyes. She was quite a straightforward person so she just asked. ''What are you talking about? What medicine? Did I miss the doors? You are not Liu Mei?''

Liu Mei looked at the servants that just stood there with ''I give up'' look. When Hua Lan turned around and saw them their expressions and her sympathetic eyes her mouth became flat.

''I guess I should not wonder. I wear pink, am pregnant, my servants act like I am some crazy person and you probably have the wrong impression of me. Right?'' At first, she was stunned but thinking about all that just happened in these few moments she understood the whole situation.

Her voice became loud and cold making the bigger servants scared. ''It seems I have let my servants forget their place. You three have served me now for half a year. Go home and get the dowry I prepared for you in advance, its time for you all to get married. Chin Bao stays with me. You still have a lot to learn. Look at the girl by lady Liu's side. You should learn from her. Amazing. Where did you find such a good girl? I could use some good servants by my side.''

''She lost her family while working at Roya Hotel. I felt alone so I asked the manager to sell her contract to me. It was quite pricey but if she didn't ask to follow and serve me I probably wouldn't have gotten such an idea. She is a good child. Works hard, lives just with me in this house and gats paid only a few coins. I feel sorry for this child. Lady, would you like to come in and sit down? The sun is too strong lately and we both might just burn.'' Liu Mei realized that she just misinterpreted her intentions.

Anyway, it was too hot. If she asks her to leave even before drinking a cup of cold herbal juice, that would be mean, wouldn't be? She didn't see the coldness flashing trough her eyes while staring at Xiao Ran. But she did and shook her head behind Liu Mei's back while looking straight at Lady Hua Lan.

That stunned the lady and her servant, but they didn't lose their smiles.

Liu Mei took them to the coldest spot in the mid entryway. She sat down and looked at the main door where the girls still stood and people could peek inside. She scoffed. ''It seems some people really hate me here? All day I am trying to hide myself, but your servants really want to show me off like on some plate in front of everyone. I really don't want that, it feels so, disgracefull.''

Hua Lan just realized that the main doors were wide open and some people started appearing and peeking inside. That kind of thing really was strange and felt dirty. Now she realized why she wore a hat. People were too curious and the more they wanted to look, the more she would pull back in, like a snail into her shell.

''Guards!!!'' She yelled and few guards appeared on the door with bowed head. ''Close door and get those damnable servants out my eyes. To disrespect my friend, it seems some people got more guts as they should. Find out who paid them to do that. Bring my husband the report. And leave a few guards here to protect us from too curious people. Understood!!!'' Her vigorous yell echoed trough whole street and people suddenly disappeared in fear.

They all recognized her. ''Crazy War Queen.'' The only girl in a military clan that could beat up any man. Not only that, in the war she killed hundreds if not even thousands and came back without a scratch. Making her angry, bad idea...Really bad idea.

But from other side, Liu Mei looked at her with adoring eyes. She just became her fan. In her past world, she always liked strong heroines that could make people scared even with a snap of her finger. Meeting one of such people was such honor.

Hua Lan saw her open eyes and was about to apologize when she felt suddenly Liu Mei's hands on her own. ''From today on I accept you as my friend. But is that even good? I am commoner...'' Liu Mei just stood there with pouted lips.

Hua Lan was amazed by the cute appearance of this young woman and pinched suddenly her cheeks.

Liu Mei was surprised as she saw her face suddenly close to hers and her face became red. ''Whoa, not only you are so vigorous, you are beautiful as well. You must have made many good things in a past life to have gotten so many good things. Wait don't tell me. Your parents adore you, you have a loving husband and this is your first child?''

Hua Lan and Chin Bao's face was suddenly shocked. Hua Lan took her by hand and blinked. ''How did you know?''

Liu Mei first was stunned as she just guessed but then started laughing. As her melodious laugh resonated through the yard another knock could be heard on the main door.

Xiao Ran went to the door and opened it just a bit. She spoke with someone and then bowed and closed the door while holding a few packages.

When she got close Liu Mei realized that these were medicine she should continue to be taking for her health. Doctor Zhao got a bunch of herbs from her and she asked him to make her last batch. to make health medicine teas so she could get healthier. Her body was still too weak. He accepted that and now once a week he would send her batch of the medicines.

Hua Lan just saw medicine packages and got worried. ''Are you sick? If you are I can send you good wester medicine I got from some foreigners.''

Liu Mei shook her head. ''I am fine. I just pray lately for this drought to stop and my health just became a tiny bit weaker. So I ordered some strengthening medicine. I still want to live a very long time.''

The two women started laughing and as it seems they understood another from then on very well.