7 7. Remembering the past

Chao Shen immediately went home after the incident in the king's study hall. He never thought that Lihua will show up and cause such trouble. He knew that going out of the palace is not a problem for her so, he went straight home. He even declined the crown prince's offer to play chess with him. He needs to talk to her right now. This is the first time she did this to him. She's always been obedient.

The first young master's gloomy face was seen on the Prime Minister's manor earlier than expected that day. All the servants who saw him immediately scramble on the side to avoid him. They can easily tell that he is in a bad mood. And the best thing to do when he is in such a mood is to avoid him.

He saw the person he wanted to see as soon as he entered his manor. That girl is standing outside of his room waiting for his return.

Lihua immediately sensed Chao Shen the moment the young master entered the Prime Minister's mansion. His heavy steps can be heard all throughout the house. Lihua knew that she will receive a heavy punishment today. She did not just ignore him since yesterday but she also caused trouble in the palace.

Lihua stared intently on the ground below her when she sensed a cold and domineering aura in front of her. She immediately smelled his scent but she also smelled something else, anger.

"Tell me everything," his serious and cold voice brought shiver on her.

"Master, I..."

"Make sure that you will tell me the truth."

Lihua looked up. She tried to stay focused and looked at him in the eyes. This is the only way he will believe what she will say next. Being with this man for nearly five years, she knew that Chao Shen is not a person easy to deceive.

Five years ago.

Lihua was brought back by the first young master in the Prime Minister's manor. Her plan worked. Before exposing herself to the Minister of Finance's manor for stealing food, she already had prior intelligence about the first son of the Prime Minister. Though the Prime Minister is known throughout the kingdom for his arrogance and power-hunger image, the first young master is his complete opposite. He always abides by the rules and wants to uphold justice to all. They said that he will never allow injustice in front of him.

"I never expected that..." she unconsciously has spoken her mind when someone spoke.

"You never expected what?"

Lihua immediately turned around and bowed down when he saw the boy. Even though the boy is just about 13 years old, he already exuded an aura of authority.

The young Chao Shen is waiting for her to answer his question. When the girl realized this, she spoke instantly.

"This servant never thought that young master will save me."

Chao Shen chuckled. He also asked himself that question a hundred times last night. When he saw the young girl being beaten up by three big men he could not help but do something, which is normal for him. What makes him bring this girl in their mansion is what makes him wonder as well.

"I value life so no need to thanked me." with that, he waved his hand to signal for her to stand up.

Lihua slowly stood up. She focused her eyes on the ground.

"Look at me" Chao Shen ordered.

When Lihua looked up, Chao Shen looked at her in the eye. Looking at the girl's physical appearance, everyone will say that she is weak and fragile but her eyes. Her eyes are blank. He felt like he is looking into something so deep that even he, Chao Shen, the first son of the Prime Minister cannot reach. This sparks some interest inside of him.

"What is your job under the Minister of Finance's manor?" he saw that the young girl was startled by his question.

"Young master knew I came from the Minister of Finance's manor?" her voice is small, sign that she is indeed weak.

Chao Shen did not answer her question.

Lihua immediately understood that she is there to answer questions and not to ask them.

"I worked in the kitchen."

"You know how to cook?" with this question, he saw the panic in her eyes.

"I only saw the head cook how to do it, but I did not know how actually cook."

If Chao Shen will ask her to cook for him, it will be the end of her. She still remembered her older brothers in the Holy Mountain comments about her cooking. Since then, she was banned from cooking.

Chao Shen nodded. He seemed to be thinking.

"I know how to clean, fetch water and gather woods," she said immediately, afraid that the young master will decide to kick her out because she doesn't know how to cook.

"Okay, but..."

Lihua waited for him to continue.

"You said that you blame your circumstances. What if I will do something to change your them for the better?"

Lihua could not understand what he is trying to say now. She just stared at him confused.

"What if I can make you strong so no one can bully you?" he is not looking away. He wants to see her reactions.

"Please pardon this servant but I don't know what to answer young master" but Lihua had a feeling that she made a right decision to go this path.

"I will make you strong but you have to follow two rules." when he saw Lihua nodded her head, he continued.

"You have to follow everything I say," he paused and waited for Lihua to agree. The girl in front of her nodded her head in agreement. "and, you have to tell me everything. No lies, no pretending, no hiding things from me. Do you understand?"

"I understand."

The next six months consists of extensive martial arts training. Even though Lihua already know how to do martial arts, she needs to pretend that she doesn't. She would even fake a fall or wound herself intentionally to show that she is weak. But, everything changed when Chao Shen clearly saw that she intentionally let the arrow hit her right shoulder inside the secret training room.

"What the hell are you trying to do?" his voice is full of rage. It only took him three long strides from where he is standing to where she fell on her knees. Lihua looked at him with disbelief. Chao Shen looked at her shoulder.

"It's not deep," he said, then helped her stand up.

"Why you did not avoid that arrow? We've been practicing this routine for 3 days now. With your ability now, you can easily avoid it." frustration is clearly heard on his voice.

Lihua smirk, "is your highness thinks that I did this intentionally to myself?" she even pointed her mouth to her right shoulder.

"Yes"

Lihua had to reassess the situation. In the past, she can easily get away with this little trick to hide her true ability but this time it looks like Chao Shen finally saw through it.

Lihua shook her head in disbelief. "the pain in my shoulder right now is not something I wish for."

Chao Shen's expression suddenly changed. She saw concern there.

"Is it?"

"But I can endure it." she immediately added.

"No, wait here I will ask the doctor to come over."

"No, master." Lihua stopped him at once.

"Why?" he asked him confused.

"People might talk."

"But the arrow in your shoulder should be removed."

"I can take care of it later. I will just go to Master Zu." Master Zu is a Holy Mountain ally that is posing as a commoner's doctor in the west side of the city.

Chao Shen thinks about it for a moment.

"Master does not need to worry about this servant. I can take care of this. The important thing now is that this servant remains as a servant in the eyes of the people outside so this servant can achieve young master's greatest goal."

"Then, why did you do it" it is clear that Chao Shen is not letting it go. "You disobey the second rule!"

Lihua kneeled down instantly.

"This servant deserves punishment"

"Yes, you deserve to be punished! But let's do that later. Go to Master Zu now to treat your wound."

Since that day, Lihua thinks of different strategies to deceive him.