The Lazy Villainess

We are back at school today, and everyone looks sad that the holidays are over, but a sense of excitement is in the air. This year, the girls graduate as full fledged debutantes into society, while boys go through a more extensive training.

As soon as I enter through the palace gates, I see Qingye walking up to me. I haven't seen him since New Year's; we had parted ways as soon as the festival was over.

He approaches me with a frown on his face, which worries me a little bit. I am ecstatic because I remember what he said about me that night. Patting my face to make sure my expressions aren't weird or something, I turn to face him.

'Ah, Sir Qingye,' I say politely, 'To what do I owe the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e?'

"Miss Song," he begins, his expression troubled, "Do you know of a man named Fa Mulan?"

Hmm?

What is this?

'Is he jealous?' I think, smiling slyly. 'Should I play with him? Let's see how he reacts…'

'Why yes I do, Sir Qingye' I say, looking innocent, 'Why do you ask?'

"Well I happened to meet him at the Dragon Festival" he says scratching the back of his head awkwardly, "How do you know him?"

'Well he is a very good friend of mine,' I say, 'We met when I was out shopping, and he was very courteous. Then I wanted to know more about him…'

"How would you describe him?"

'Well, he is very handsome' I shamelessly bragged, 'And he is a smart young man, with very good manners…'

Qingye looked sad as he looked up to me. "Laier, do you like Fa Mulan?"

I look at his face and seeing his sweet innocent face, I can't bear to make it sadder than it already is.

I laugh and say, 'Ah no, no. There is a misunderstanding, I like Fa Mulan as a friend, he is a nice person…'

There is a baffled look on his face for a moment before he smiles. His smile is so big, and his eyes are crescents.

"Shall I walk you to your courtyard, Lai'er?" he asks, still smiling.

'Uh,' I say, taken aback, 'Sure, I guess…'

We walk in silence to the Purple Lily Courtyard, where I see Shie, Sui and Roqing waiting. I turn back to him and say, 'Well this is where we part…'

He looks down, "Will I be seeing you soon?"

I smile, he is too pure for this world…

"Of course…"

I give him a small wave and skip happily to my friends.

~~~~~

"Mistress, I have the information on Song Shie..."

"Continue…" Kewang says taking a sip of her tea. She places the teacup on the table and locks her fingers together.

"Miss Song is the one of the daughters of the second branch of the Song family. Her twin sister, Song Sui and she are currently studying etiquette in the royal palace…"

"The royal palace?"

"Yes mistress…"

"Arrange a visit there… I believe I haven't seen the Royal Concubine in a while…"

"Yes mistress…"

The maid leaves the room, and Kewang grabs the teacup and throws it on the ground and watches it shatter into a million pieces.

"The Song family?" she says aloud, "They are quite powerful…nothing my aunt can't handle…"

The maid rushes back into the room, and sees the broken ceramic on the floor.

"Mistress? Are you hurt?"

"Oh no, I am completely fine…" she says smiling.

~~~~~

CRASH!

The vase hits the wooden table and glass pieces fly everywhere. Broken vases, soil and flowers are strewn all over the floor.

Amidst the mess, stands a clearly enraged woman.

"That bitch…" Lady Biyu huffs, staring down at the broken vases.

The servant girls and attendants all cowered away in fear; they have never seen their gentle mistress get this angry. In fact, they have never seen her angry at all…

"WHAT DOES HE SEE IN HER?" she shrieked, her voice resonating through the residence. She grabbed another vase, and threw it out the window this time.

"I have never been refused by a man" she said, her voice laced with hate, "But that man…that vixen must have seduced him…he is mine…no one can have him…"she mumbled like a crazy woman.

Suddenly she straightened up and closed her eyes.

"No…she has to die…"

She smiles evilly, and turns to the frightened servants.

"Someone draw me a bath, and arrange a meeting with the assassin's guild…"

When nobody moved, she got enraged and shouted, "NOW!" sending the servants scrambling to complete their tasks before she could get even more angry.

~~~~~

This is a very awkward situation…

Jin Qingye is sitting next to me.

Our shoulders are touching.

Oh my goodness.

Our legs are touching too!

Shie coughs lightly from the opposite side of the table and gives me a questioning look, indicating to Qingye. I shrug and give her an equally confused look.

It is lunch break right now, and we are enjoying food in the spacious gardens. I didn't think that I'd be seeing him this soon, after what I had said this morning.

I watch him elegantly consume his egg noodles. I am self conscious now of eating as I will probably look like a total slob.

He catches me staring at him, and he turns bright red. This is too cute for me to handle, and I wish I had a camera to capture this moment forever.

He awkwardly scratches the back of his head and I am about to say something, when Sui slams her chopsticks down onto the table.

"Okay you two," she begins, looking very offended, "If you are going to look at each other like this, you should just get a room. I am trying to eat after keeping my back straight for an hour in etiquette class!"

I almost choke on my noodles and cough like mad, before managing to stabilise myself.

"What?!"