TASTE OF FREEDOM

The horseman heard the call for him to stop. The horse in front of him came to a halt as he pulled on his ropes. The guards from the front and back also stopped walking. They stood as a barrier between the royal cart and town folk. One of the guards came to the entrance of the royal cart and called for her highness, "What is the reason for the delay, Your highness",

It was a male voice that called from outside. Suddenly the princess felt panicked. The guards would definitely recognize her. Her plan was surely up in smokes, but she knew she couldn't back down now. She was so close to getting a little taste of freedom. She had to try her luck until the end.

"I want to send my attendant to the market to buy something I fancy", Wang Yu Yan heard her heart pounding in her chest. Bad heart, what if you get me caught?

"What is it your highness, one of the guards can get it for you",

"No, no…. I mean only Mo Ru Shi can get me exactly what I want. I'm afraid any other person would just really be confused", the princess continued to call out from behind the closed doors.

"What is it your highness, maybe I may be able to give it a try",

"No! I want Maidservant Mo to go and that is final!", her voice had a slight irritation in it.

"Yes, Your Highness", Wang Yu Yan released a huge breath of relief hearing those words. She couldn't believe that worked.

Mo Ru Shi glared at her making her more nervous as she sat with her highness's royal robe. She had a veil on due to her soon meeting her future husband, all which now Ru Shi had on.

She opened the doors and gave Mo Ru Shi a pleading look as she was hoping she would play along. Wang Yu Yan could sense her disapproval even under the covering on her face. She stepped out of the carriage and took a step down. She almost fell because there was no staircase.

She was used to having a staircase laid for her whenever she left and entered the cart. Adjusting to being in the shoes of her Maidservant was proving to be a challenge already.

Getting down from the cart took longer than she expected but finally, her feet landed on the dusty ground.

"Maidservant Mo Ru Shi, why do you have a mask on",

The princess swore beneath her breath, this time she had been caught. Talking was not an option as her voice would sell her out. Wang Yu Yan had torn a piece of cloth from her maidservant robe. She knew very well that the guards would recognize her without it.

She bowed her head silently and proceeded to walk away from the guard. Her steps came to a standstill when she felt the force of the man's grip on her arms.

"I am afraid I will have to see what you are hiding under the mask, Miss Mo", Wang Yu Yan felt helpless as she saw the man's hand inch closer and closer towards her face. The was no way out now, she couldn't speak as Mo Ru Shi with her voice. The princess held her breath as she prayed with all her might.

"Quick now, let my servant go lest we remain here in further delay!", a voice sounding like that of the princess shouted from inside the cart.

Wang Yu Yan felt the man's grip loosen on her arm indicating her freedom to go. How did Mo Ru Shi do that, she was really good at imitating her.

Even the princess thought that her voice was speaking not of her own lips.

Either way, she was finally free. At least for a few minutes, Wang Yu Yan thanked God that the guard did not ask to escort her. Though it would not be a problem if he didn't catch on to her disguise. It was just that Wang Yu Yan wanted to explore freely.

In the midst of the crowds, she wondered about. Stopping to inspect everything she saw in the market. There were stands of different kinds on both sides of the path that all the townsfolk walked through.

The stalls carried goods, from selling food to robes and even some jewelry. Walking around she even met some drunk-looking folks that came out of a building. The name West pavilion was printed boldly on top of the entrance.

Wang Yu Yan caught a glimpse of everything big or small. Until something caught her attention. She neared the stall and instantly picked up the piece of jewelry. In her hand, she held a stone shaped like the crescent moon. It was red in color as the moon-shaped stone hung in the center of the rope.

"You like that, I see",

"What is it?", Wang Yu Yan gave a reply to the man as she lifted her head. A curious look on her face.

The man behind the stall was dressed in old rags. He was in old age, Wang Yu Yan could tell from his white beard, but he looked much younger than his grey hair foretold.

"It's the red crescent moon jasper necklace",

The princess was fascinated, "I didn't know the moon could be red", she had often watched the moon and never had it turned red in front of her eyes.

"That is because it occurs once in many moons", the man spoke as though he had seen this red moon.

Wang Yu Yan was skeptical not ignoring the fact that this man looked a little out of his mind. Putting the necklace back in its place she felt a hand stopping her.

"No My Lady, please take it?",

"No, no…", Wang Yu Yan tried to refuse but the man forced the jewelry into her palm.

Wang Yu Yan was hesitant as she held it, "… but…", she tried to protest but no words came to her.

"Quick, Your Highness. Hurry back, you can't keep them waiting", the man replied with an alarmed look.

Wang Yu Yan immediately remembered the carriage and the royal guard. Rushing back she noticed the crowd was denser than she remembered. The carriage was in her sights when she felt some sort of relief.

She started walking steadily and thought back to the man in the stall as she held the necklace. How did he know her identity?