The Lazy Villainess

The painting of the maid was strikingly accurate, and when Qingye saw it, he was transported to the moment he saw her. She was wearing the garments of a housemaid, but it was her barely concealed beauty that drew him to her. She looked so free one moment, then a single tear slid down her face.

This surprised him and something urged him to speak to the girl. The maid spoke very respectfully, and something about her made him want to burst out in laughter. He placed the painting in his sleeves.

"What are these feelings?" he thought to himself, and went outside the male courtyards to get some air. Just this moment he saw Miss Laing walk by, with her three companions. She didn't seem to notice him, but he watched how she interacted with her friends.

He suddenly took out the painting of the maid and compared Laing to her. The similarities were too sharp to ignore, but he had to think rationally and gather more information before he confronted her.

~~~~~

BANG!

All the attendants and servants outside the wooden doors almost jumped at hearing the noise. The prince was surely very agitated at this moment, so they hurriedly moved away from the proximity of his room.

"Ju Bai!"

"Yes Master?!"

"Who is this Miss Laing?!" he shouted at his loyal shadow, "And in WHAT way is she greater than I?!"

"Miss Song Laing is the daughter of First Minister of Protection, Song Duong."

"Very good…" the prince said slowly, "So, she is Xier's sister. Arrange a meeting with her!"

"M-master?"

"You heard me!" he barked, "I want to see for myself, how good can she really be?"

"Yes Master..."

There was a knock on the door as the eunuch announced a person's arrival.

"Prince Sanghue requests audience with Crown Prince!"

The crown prince sighed. His half brother never willingly came to see him, so he allowed him to enter.

Prince Sanghue walked in with his usual stoic expression. Bowing, he says "Prince Sanghue greets crown prince…"

"Ah, we are brothers," said Tian Mo, waving aside formalities, "No need to be so formal!"

"Yes your Highness..." Tian Sanghue replied anyway, "Here is the package you requested from Myong Pavilion…"

He handed the Crown Prince a package. He bowed and was about to exit the room, when Tian Mo called after him.

"Sanghue, wait a moment!"

"Your highness?" he said turning around, "Is there anything else you require?"

"Actually there is," he said gesturing for Sanghue to sit down.

"You have a class with a young lady named Laing, am I correct?"

Sanghue was surprised a person like his brother knew of Laing. "Yes, she is in my literature class…"

"What is she like?"

"Well brother, I am ashamed to admit it, but she writes poetry better than me…"

"That's the only good thing about her? Okay, you can go Sanghue..."

Sanghue left his brothers office wondering what the hell just happened.

"A girl that is only good at poetry?" thought the prince to himself, "It'll be easy taking her down…"

~~~~~

It has been a pretty okay first week of lessons. We have a single day break from lessons and in this time, we are allowed to venture through the palace, but cannot go outside the gates. The whole week was spent on me waiting for Teacher Kang's lessons, not just because he is a piece of eye candy, but because his lessons are possibly the only times where I can enjoy some peace and quiet.

I've also seen Jin Qingye around, and I'm ashamed to admit, that I hoped secretly that him and Wu Roqing would never meet. I would be really heartbroken if my idol was heartbroken, and that is exactly what Qingye is going to be if he falls for Roqing. I have seen him hang out with my brother most of the times.

Life in the palace is honestly very boring. I haven't seen any of the Royal Consorts or the Empress since the day I arrived at the palace and I'm not sure if that is normal or not. I also really wish to go to the marketplaces, but I'm pretty sure that security in the palace is fifty times tighter than that of the security at home, so I don't think I'll be sneaking around anytime soon.

Keeping watch of all the possible future antagonists is so tiring and so far none of them have stepped over the line. Li Erong seems to fear my influence more than anything, and hasn't made any move towards Roqing.

Everything was going perfectly, just how I wished it to be, right until one terrible, horrible day; the day I suddenly got called to meet with the crown prince.

So I am just relaxing with Shie, Sui and Roqing as it was break day when a royal eunuch approached us.

As etiquette demands, we all stand and bow to show respect to a royal eunuch. I was expecting it to be an order for Roqing to go on a date with the crown prince, but the universe seemed to have other plans.

"The crown prince, Prince Tian Mo demands for a meeting with Miss Song Laing, today in the afternoon."

As soon as my name left the eunuch's mouth, my bodily functions refused to work. My smile was frozen on my face, and my eyes widened. My brain refused to respond, and I am pretty sure my heart stopped for a few moments. The fact that my name was mentioned in the same sentence as the prince's must have blown a fuse in my head.

Immediately after the Eunuch had left, Shie, Sui and Roqing were squealing with excitement.

"Our Laing is soo excellent!"

"Of course she is! She managed to attract the attention of the prince! THE CROWN PRINCE!"

"Miss Liang is truly admirable!"

They turned excitedly I my direction and suddenly noticed that I was a stone statue and that my fake smile hadn't left my face as I stared blankly at the empty space in front of me.