AN OFFER THAT CAN TAKE MY HEAD!
Mei-ling waited for Li-na to arrive while she took a stroll in the palace.
If modern day was a beautiful and peaceful as this place she would have loved it.
The trees blossomed and it was quiet.
None of all that loud noise that came from cars and loud speakers on the way.
She could stay this forever.
She thought about it.
What was she really going back home to?
There was nothing there for her at home.
She lived alone in her condo, her parents were gone and she was an only child.
She dated once or twice but there was truly nothing waiting for her.
If the shi-tzu biting her didn't send her back home, then she would make do with her life here.
All she needed to do was accept her new fate and stay away from death.
Two young men came up to her.
"Mistress Mei-ling." They bowed.
She bowed back to them.
She instantly knew they were eunuchs.
She was supposed to have one attend to her and his name according to the book was Chang.
Although this was when the ML had returned.
Which drove a question.
Why hadn't he returned to the palace yet.
"His royal highness Prince Tai-hua has requested your presence in his room." They told her.
She panicked!
He wanted to see her in his bedroom?!
What was this all about?
In the story, Prince Tai-hua and barely paid her any heed and she had ignored him because she wanted the ML.
Not him.
She bowed. "Of course. I will go change."
What was she going to change into? She had no clothes and nothing.
How was she to speak to him dressed in such ugly clothes.
"There is no need." The eunuchs said. "His royal highness will like to see you the way he had seen you this morning."
She sighed. "Alright."
And then she followed them down the hallways and past the beautiful artistic walls until she was at a massive room.
The doors were opened for her and then she saw him seated on a reclining chair.
Waiting for her.
She quickly went to her feet and bowed down to him.
"Your majesty." She greeted.
"You May rise." He said.
And she did as she was told.
"Come and seat with me." He invited.
She swallowed.
She didn't like where this was headed.
She gave a weak smile and did as she was told.
"So you have come to be a commoner for my brother." He said.
She nodded. "Yes your majesty."
"You may have to wait." He said. "My brother likes to spend his time fighting wars he can not win. "
She sipped the tea that was offered to her.
Unsure of how to respond.
"You're a poor woman." He said and Mei-flinched at his words.
He continued. "A commoner. Even in these rags you are still beautiful."
He pulled his arm around her and Mei-ling began to sweat.
How did she get out of this?
"Your majesty is too kind." She managed.
"I have an offer for you." He said.
She blinked at him.
"I will raise you up to the ranks of a first class concubine, dress you in finely garments and give you honor amongst your co-concubines." He said.
There had to be a catch.
"What would you like in return your majesty?" She said. "You have said it. I am a poor commoner."
He smiled and she saw how handsome and yet wicked he was.
"You will answer the calls to my bed." He said.
She jumped up and knelt down to his feet.
That was the fastest thing she could consider that wouldn't send her to the jaws of death.
The first thing she had wanted to land him a slap on his perfect cheeks and wipe that smile of his face!
But she would be send straight to death if she did that.
So she did the only thing she could do.
Stroke his ego.
"Your majesty is too kind." She said. "A poor girl like me would have never known that she could catch the attention of his majesty who is so great and powerful."
Before he could speak she chose her worlds carefully. "But this poor concubine is promised to his majesty's brother. And I wouldn't want to implore the wrath of his majesty's brother on him."
"I'm going to be the emperor!" He snapped. "It is me that my brother should fear!"
She knew that that had slipped out mistakenly.
There was no way in hell he wanted to tell anyone that.
Mei-ling felt a blade against her chin as she was forced to looked at the cruel prince.