24 Gathering of the noble ladies

That afternoon, Lihua is passing by Chao-xing's bedchamber going to her father's study room when she heard her scream. She was startled and come to her room immediately.

"What happened?" she said her.

Chao-xing looked at her surprised. She did not ask why she was there but instead told her good news.

"We are invited to a birthday party!!!" her face is filled with happiness and excitement as she is holding the invitation.

"Oh?" Lihua's face didn't have any hint of excitement.

Chao-xing face changed from excitement to dismay.

"That's the only thing you can say? It's been a long time since we are waiting for this. Remember, father told us to socialize with other noble ladies,"

"You're the only one waiting for this. You can go then,"

When Lihua is about to leave, Chao-xing stopped her.

"Wait! The invitation says the two of us. I cannot go there alone."

Lihua rolled her eyes.

"Yes, you can. Just tell them that I am sick."

"No! You are making me a liar. I will go and tell father about this." then, she hurriedly went out of the room. Her maidservants followed her immediately.

Lihua just looked at her. She is confident that her father will not push her to attend this kind of things.

But she was wrong. The moment she entered her father's study room, he told her to attend with her sister.

"But father I..."

"No buts, you will attend this party with your sister. Besides, how can a lady just stay here all the time?"

Lihua sighed with frustrations. She saw Chao-xing looked at her with a triumphant smile. She even mouthed 'I told you'.

"Okay fine," she said defeated.

"Yes! I will go now. Father, I have to go out and buy new clothes."

Minister Hu just nodded his head.

Chao-xing went out of the room excitedly. Lihua just shook her head while looking at her sister's retreating figure.

"Are you not going to buy clothes as well?" Minister Hu asked his daughter when he saw her still standing there.

"No need to buy a new one,"

Minister Hu sighed.

"Huiyin, you are a lady. I know you are not used to being a lady, but this is a great opportunity for you to learn,"

Lihua saw a genuine concern on her father's face. She must admit that she is still having a hard time acting like a lady. It is not that she is not a lady, it just that she did not like how ladies are. They always act sweet and gentle and vulnerable which are the opposite of her true nature.

"Okay," she said agreed.

"I asked Mengyao to look for your own maidservants. I don't want others to think that I am being unfair to you."

"But I don't need a maidservant," she argued.

"Yes, you don't need but you need if you want our plans to succeed."

With that, Lihua can no longer argue anymore. They have sacrificed a lot for their plans to work. She will not allow small details to ruin it.

"Fine, but only one maidservant. And I will choose her myself."

Minister Hu nodded in agreement.

"By the way, who has a birthday?" she suddenly remembered to ask.

"One of the nieces of Prime Minister Chao."

That afternoon, Mengyao brought 20 maidservants in front of Lihua's room.

Lihua was shocked to see many maidservants greeting her when she went outside of her room.

"Mengyao, are you planning to build an army of maidservants for me?" she asked surprised.

"Answering to Lady Hu, this is still few. Usually, you can have 50-100 maidservants."

"Mengyao, I only need one maidservant. Give me their profile and I will choose one from them."

"But Lady Hu..."

Lihua glared at him. It is clear that Mengyao is disappointed with what he heard. He carefully selected these 20 maidservants. He was surprised that Lihua is not satisfied with them.

Lihua, seeing the disappointment on Mengyao's face, explained, "I am not yet used to being a lady so I did not require a lot of maidservants. But I am sure they are the best bunch since you pick them yourself."

He looked at her surprised. She winked at her indicating that she knew. He feel good immediately. He looked at the maidservants in front of them.

"You heard Lady Hu. She will pick the best among you. Do your best." he addressed to the maindservants.

"Yes, commander." they answered.

It took the whole afternoon for Lihua to choose her maidservant. She chose Ai as her maidservant. Aside from she came from a good family, Lihua noticed something about her. When everyone left, Lihua looked at Ai.

"Ai, please get me and Commander Mengyao some snacks."

"Yes, my lady."

When Ai is out of earshot, Lihua looked at Mengyao with suspicious looks.

"What?" he asked her.

"Who is she?"

"What do you mean?"

"Mengyao, she's different from the other maidservants. I'll ask you one more than, who is she?"

Mengyao's face shows defeat. He smiled at her mischievously.

"She's a daughter of one of our family's long-time servant. She's very capable. She knows little martial arts and has a sharp memory. I am quite happy that you choose her."

"Is her family also works for the Holy Mountain?"

"Nothing really escape your notice, do you?" he said impressed.

"I am sure you will put someone from the sect. It's good that I can still identify them," she said plainly.

At that moment, Ai returned with tea and snacks. She carefully placed them in the table where Lihua and Mengyao were seated.

"We will attend a party tomorrow. Go and prepare everything." Lihua ordered Ai. The maidservant bowed and left.

"Are you not going out to buy new clothes for the party? I saw your sister earlier buying a lot of clothes," he asked.

"Nope. I have more than enough clothes. Besides, it is not wise to attract a lot of attention this early on."

Mengyao understood what she meant so he did not push it. He would like to make sure that she's doing all the noble ladies are love doing like shopping and dressing up. He knew that she did not have enough opportunities in the past to enjoy those things.

"Do you know who has the party?" she asked suddenly.

"Nope. I heard some daughter of the officials."

"It's one of the nieces of the Prime Minister, Chao Ning."

Mengyao saw some panic on Lihua's eyes. He understood what he is afraid about.

"I am sure he will not be there. He is not the type of person who likes to go to a lady's birthday party."

I hope so, Lihua thought to herself. Even though she told herself that she is ready to face him again, still she's nervous. What if he recognized her immediately? But then again, like what Mengyao told her before, who is she to be remembered by someone like Chao Shen.