8 Are you a stalker?

"You?" Princess Mei couldn't believe who she saw. The man from yesterday. How did he come here? She is sure that this man is part of the city guard but what is a lowly guard doing inside the palace? And inside the Měilì Pavilion?

"What are you doing here? Do you not know that no one is allowed go here?" she told him without even acting like a noble princess. Indeed this man is annoying.

"I am about to ask the princess the same thing," he said without showing any emotion.

Princess Mei was alarmed. It is true that even she is the princess she is not allowed to go inside this pavilion.

"Mister, I am just a noble lady attending the princess's birthday party how can you call me princess?" she said smiling at him nervously. But the man's expression did not change.

"Let's go out now princess while no one is here yet," he turned around and started to walk towards the door. Princess Mei is still puzzled by this man but decided to follow him besides she doesn't want to be caught. She was relieved when they were able to get out of there without noticing them. The man just continued walking. Princess Mei glared at his back.

"Hey! where are you going?" she yelled at him. But the man just continued walking. To her anger, she just walks behind her. The man's long strides make it difficult for her to catch up with him. No matter how much she yells at him the man just ignored her. Until she suddenly stumbled.

It was like a slow-motion, she felt her body falling forward. She closed her eyes to anticipate her fall but it did not happen. She felt someone helping her to stand up. When she opens her eyes, she saw him on her side.

"You!" how dare him to touch me!

"My apologies to your highness. I did not mean to touch you," he bowed to her. Princess Mei got more furious. Even though his words are saying he is sorry, his tone is sarcastic as if mocking her.

"Who are you? Are you a stalker?" she asked angrily.

Before the man can answer, they heard footsteps. The man suddenly stands up straight and maintain his distance to her while she looked at the direction of the footsteps. After a few seconds, a man and a woman appear. Both of them were startled when they realized that there are people there. Princess Mei recognized the woman immediately. It is the woman who helped her before. She is about to say something when the two of them suddenly greeted her.

"Greetings to Princess Mei,"

Princess Mei is surprised to know that these two knew her. Aside from her family, only a few people knew her appearance. Princess Mei's expressions changed from coldness into sweetness in a split second. The man beside her noticed it.

"Don't stand in ceremony. May I know who are you?" her voice is as sweet as sugar.

"Responding to the princess, my name is Wu Junjie and this is my sister Wu Dongmei," the man answered.

"Nice to meet both of you. Thank you for attending my birthday party,"

"It is an honor to attend your 15th birthday princess," Wu Dongmei said without looking at her. This is one of the things she doesn't like about people, no one dared to look at her in the eyes because of her status.

"May I know who is this general with you?" Wu Junjie asked maliciously.

Princess Mei looked at the man beside her. She doesn't know how to answer Wu Junjie's question because she doesn't know who he is.

"I am her highness' bodyguard," the man answered without showing any emotion.

Princess Mei doesn't know whether she will believe the man's words besides she is not sure if the man is lying or not.

"Oh," Wu Junjie said.

"The princess might be going back now, we will leave first," Wu Dongmei said looking at her brother. The two looked at each other meaningfully. Princess Mei can sense that there is something happening between these two siblings.

"My sister is right, we apologize for disturbing your highness," Wu Junjie said. Both the Wu siblings bowed to leave. Princess Mei acknowledges their greetings and turned around to leave as well but then Wu Junjie suddenly turned around and called her.

"Princess Mei,"

Princess Mei looked back and saw the man closed the gap between them with big strides. The man beside her immediately blocked Wu Junjie's advances.

"How dare you!" Wu Junjie shouted at the man.

Princess Mei and Wu Dongmei were also surprised. The man just looked at Wu Junjie with a dark expression.

"What is it?" Princess Mei suddenly asked.

"Let me through! I am going to give a present to the princess," Wu Junjie said to the man angrily. But the man remained where he is standing, blocking Wu Junjie from approaching the princess.

"It's okay," Princess Mei said. Suddenly she feared the man. Hearing the princess's words, the man steps aside and allow Wu Junjie to approached the princess. Wu Junjie's expression changed when he looked at the princess. He pulls out a small box from his sleeves and offered it to the princess. Princess Mei accepted the box without saying a word.

"I hope the princess will like it," and then, he turned around to leave. He glared at the man when he passed by him before joining with his sister.

When the two siblings disappear Princess Mei moved closer to the man and lift up her hand with the box she received with Wu Junjie. The man looked at her without doing anything. Princess Mei looked at the man annoyed.

"You said you are my bodyguard right? Now, throw this out," she told him annoyed.

"Yes, I am your bodyguard but I am not your servant," the man said without getting the small box from her. He turned around and started to walk again. Princess Mei's looked at the man with hatred.