28 Invitation from the Imperial Palace

In the Minister Hu's residence, Lihua is busy practicing archery. Ai is on the side waiting for anything that her miss will need. She just fired another arrow when she heard her sister's scream. Her ears are hurt because of that sudden noise. She looked at Ai and asked her silently what happened. At that moment, another servant approached Ai. He whispered something to Ai. Then, her maidservant approached her.

"Miss Huiyin, an imperial decree arrived. You are expected at the receiving hall."

Lihua gave her bow to Ai and immediately went to the receiving hall. Her father and sister are already there.

"Why did you just came in now? Hurry, let's receive the imperial decree," Chao-xing said annoyed as they are all waiting for her.

"An imperial decree arrived. Please accept it," said the eunuch who delivered the decree. Everyone kneeled.

"As the heaven permitted, the imperial palace invites Hu Chao-xing and Hu Huiyin of the Minister of War Hu Yang household to attend the Imperial Banquet for all the noble ladies of the land. End of the decree." After the eunuch read the decree, Minister Hu received it.

"We accept the decree," everyone responded.

"Minister Hu, the royal banquet will happen three days from now. Royal palanquins will arrive at your residence to pick up your daughters," the eunuch added.

"I understand. Thank you for coming."

When the eunuch left, Chao-xing screamed again.

"Aaahhh!!!"

Everyone's ears are hurt because of her squeals.

"What's wrong with you?" Lihua asked her sister irritably.

"I am invited to enter the palace!"

Lihua rolled her eyes.

"What's the excitement in entering the palace?" she asked annoyed.

Chao-xing's eyes widened with shock.

"How can you say that? All the noble ladies dream of entering the palace and meeting the king."

"So, maybe I am not a noble lady because I don't feel that way."

"Huiyin!" it's Minister Hu who spoke this time. It is evident that he did not like what she said. She knew that he is very sensitive to the topic of her being not a noble lady.

"Okay, fine. I am sorry! I will try my best to be a noble lady."

"You've been saying that for the past five years," her sister said crossing her arms in front of her.

Lihua glared at her. She really knew how to piss her off.

"I think I have to teach you how to be a noble lady before the banquet. What do you think father?"

Minister Hu and Lihua looked at each other. They don't know if they will agree with Chao-xing's suggestion. Lihua hoped that her father will not agree to it but to her dismay, he did.

"Okay, I will put Huiyin to your care. Make he a noble lady before the banquet."

"Yes, father!" Chao-xing's face lit up with excitement. Seeing this reaction Lihua had a feeling that she is planning something. The, she looked at her seriously.

"And enough with your veil. I am tired of making up stories about you having an ugly face."

With those words, Minister Hu is satisfied. Lihua looked at him asking for help but he chose to ignore her by looking somewhere else.

It's been two days since Chao-xing made that promise to turn her into a lady. Every minute she spent in her sister's room is torture. She would not let her off unless she got everything perfect. Her sister taught her how to walk, sit, bow and serve tea as a noble lady.

Lihua, who could not take it anymore, stormed out of the room. She heard her sister's screams, calling her to come back. She just ignored her and continue walking. After a while, she bumped into Mengyao.

"So, how's your training so far?" he said sarcastically. He knew that she hates everything about being a lady.

"Don't say anything or I'll beat you to death," she threw him a deadly stare.

"Oh, I'm scared," he said pretending to be scared. Lihua punched him playfully on the shoulder.

"Stop it!" she said laughing.

"Alright! Alright!" he is also laughing. He raised his hands as a sign of surrender.

"Mengyao.."

He was taken aback by her sudden call.

"Hmmm?"

"Let's go somewhere,"

Mengyao saw sadness in her eyes. He nodded in agreement. Whatever it is he is sure that she is worried about something.

The two of them went to the horse table at the back side of the mansion. Before Lihua could ride her horse, Chao-xing saw her.

"Huiyin! come back here. We are not done yet!"

Lihua immediately rode her horse and signal Mengyao to move immediately. Before she kicked her horse, she said to Chao-xing, "I'll be back later, promise!"

And both Lihua and Mengyao left the Hu mansion.

Lihua is laughing as they left the house. Mengyao looked back at her and happy to see her this way.

They came into a clearing a few miles away from the capital city. Then, they tied their horses in a tree. Lihua lay down on the grass while Mengyao sits next to her. She raised her right hand and looked at the sky through it. Mengyao is amused by what he is seeing.

"Do you still remember when I escape the Hu residence in the southern border?" Lihua said looking at him.

"Hhmm," he said nodding.

"I feel so angry with my father when I learned how my mother died. I could not believe how he allowed her to feel such grief. Only if he had told her that I am still alive, maybe, she is had the will to live."

Mengyao just sits there listening to her monologue.

"But then, again, I realized if my mother knew that I am still alive, she will never allow me to live at the Holy Mountain. I shouldn't have been the person I am today."

Lihua took a deep breath. There is no anger or hatred in her voice.

"And then, I finally accepted my faith as the blood princess. I know that being that person requires me to be strong and those events prepared me for this."

Mengyao doesn't know where all of this is coming. He just listened to her. Being the person she can talk to about her deep thoughts and feelings, he is happy.

"I will protect you as you fulfill this mission," he said with conviction. He looked at Lihua with seriousness. Lihua smiled at him weakly.

"I know. And I thank you for that." Hearing those words, he also smiled at her.

"But, I don't want you to waste your life with me as well. You have a good family. You deserve to live a good life."

Mengyao suddenly sits straight facing her.

"No, I am not wasting my life. I want to do this with you. I want you to succeed. And when it all ends, we can..." his words were cut off but the sound of the horses coming. Both he and Lihua looked where the sound is coming and saw three men wearing military armors approaching. One of them get off his horse and approached them.

"Greeting Lady Hu. Greeting Commander Pan."

Mengyao acknowledged his greetings.

"What is the matter?" he asked.

"Reporting to commander. There are some movements with the enemies in the southern border. Minister Hu wants you to go and check it."

Mengyao's face turned dark and gloomy.

"Okay, I will go there now," he said, then he looked at Lihua feeling sorry for what just happened.

"It's okay, I can go back to the mansion."

"No, I will bring you home first," he said firmly. Then, he looked at the soldier in front of him.

"I will meet you at the city gate after two hours. Prepare everything we need."

"Yes, sir!"