The Lazy Villainess

My brother looked at everyone with a scary expression on his face.

"Who bullied you Lai'er?"

I shook my head and said, 'I didn't get bullied, but my very close friend did. But tell me… what is their punishment?'

Just then, I heard a eunuch's voice outside announcing the arrival of The Crown Prince. At this point Erong's face was almost chalk white with terror, and those who I suspected helped with this incident, their faces looked like they would rather die than have the crown prince deal with them, which would result in their demise either way.

Me and Xie'er walked outside to meet Tian Mo, who I can see was staring at the crying Roqing, who was being comforted by Shie and Sui.

'Ah, Crown Prince,' said my brother, bowing and I do the same. The crown prince looks at me, then back at Roqing.

"What happened here?," he asked angrily. He looks at me and give me a questioning look. I gesture for the crown prince to go inside, and me and my brother follows after him. Inside, at the sight of Tian Mo, all the girls fall onto their knees, know extremely terrified.

'Your highness,' I say, turning towards Tian Mo. 'Miss Li Erong was the one that placed worms on Miss Wu's bed, knowing full well that Miss Wu is frightened of them. I beg your highness to give Miss Wu justice!'

I inched closer to Tian Mo, 'Your highness, this is a chance to show Roqing that you care about her. It would be good if you were not lenient on the punishment s…' I say quietly, so that only he can hear. His eyes widen and he turns angrily towards Li Erong.

"There will be no bullying tolerated in the palace! You know the punishment for those who do so. Guards!"

The guards grab the now shaking Erong, while the crown prince barks of more orders.

"Ten strokes with the baton and notify her father!"

"Yes your highness!"

I nod, a suitable punishment for someone who hurt my friend. I go outside to the still sobbing Roqing and give her a hug. I let her cry a bit more then tell her she can sleep on my bed for now. After she goes to bed, I go back outside to thank the crown prince.

'Thank you your highness, and of course thank you brother for rushing here!' I say graciously.

The prince just waves his hand and walks away with a weird expression on his face. I turn to brother and excitedly thank him.

'Brother!' I exclaim and latch on to his arm, catching him off guard, 'Thanks for coming to help me!'

"Alright, alright, now go to sleep!"

I can see him trying to not look too pleased. How cute!

~~~~~

The crown prince's mind was a mess. He had just rushed to that irritating girl's rescue, only to find that she wasn't in trouble at all.

Xie'er was rushing out of the residence in a hurry early into the night when Tian Mo was going out on his nightly stroll, and they happened to cross paths.

"Xie'er, where are you going in such hurry? It is very late!"

"I'm sorry your highness, my sister urgently called for me. I think she is in some sort of trouble…"

"Ah, is that so? Hurry along then."

"Thank you your highness!"

"That annoying girl is in trouble?" he thought to himself, "Who cares, it isn't my business anyway…"

He was about to turn back for his residence, when suddenly headed towards Purple Lily Courtyard.

"Your Majesty, where are you headed?" asked Ju Bai.

"That arrogant girl might need help," he said, "I'm only doing this because she offered me valuable advice…"

But when he arrived, he found Wu Roqing crying which confused him a little bit. Then Laing comes out seeking justice for Roqing and quietly advising him to give a harsh punishment. He was just watching Laing in awe at her shameless way of using his power to her advantage, but was even more surprised that he himself decided to play along with her.

Once Tian Mo got back to his room, he was still pondering over the events, trying to figure out what came over him to actually do everything that pesky girl had asked of him.

~~~~~

The morning after the incident, we woke up to very shrill screaming, and rushed outside in our sleeping clothes to see what was going on.

It turns out that Li Erong was being sent home by her father to avoid being further embarrassed by her. She was obviously kicking and screaming while being dragged outside by the guards, and I felt really bad, but what happened, happened.

The other girls looked at us with more fear now, and most of them avoided us like the plague, but we were happy that way, in our own little bubble of craziness.

During lunch break the next week, Jin Qingye coincidentally ended up at the same table as us, along with my brother. He turned red as soon as he saw me and avoided my gaze. However, I caught him looking at me multiple times during the meal and just to mess with him, I winked at him when I caught him staring, causing him to choke on his food. My brother thumped him on the back and this scene was so funny, I was in pain from laughing so hard, which was disapproved heavily by my cousins and Roqing.

"Cousin, get a hold of yourself, everyone is watching…" whispered Shie,

"Lai'er calm down…" said Roqing, nervously looking around.

'I know guys, but that was hilarious!' I said wiping tears from my eyes. When I looked up, instead of the disdainful look normal people would give me, my gaze was met with the warm smile of Jin Qingye.

'Omo, why is this guy so damn beautiful?'