4 A Horrible Servant!?

I smiled when Xiaoyuer started to open up more. I was worried that he would continue to be scared. I never thought too much of it before, but he is adorable. I am getting exhausted, but I never ate anything. Well maybe if there are leftovers. I was surprised from the noise of my stomach growling.

"Are you hungry Ruby? I can share the soup with you while it's still hot." Xiaoyuer said."

"I-I can't do that...I might get in trouble for sharing a meal. I am too scared."

Wait a minute...why in the world do I sound so weak... maybe because I really am, and because I really am scared. Should I accept his offer...or turn it down. I don't know what to do-

"Here eat this, you don't have to speak." He said while shoving the spoon of soup in my mouth.

"T-thank you Xiaoyuer." I muffled, and looking to the side out of embarrassment.

I ate the soup that Xiaoyuer shared with me, and it was magnificently delicious. I almost cried, because it reminded me of when my father first taught me how to make this soup.

"Now that you are finished with your meal, I will take my leave. Thanks again Master Xiaoyuer." I said.

I headed back to the kitchen and did not see Lady Mira. I cleaned the dishes, and looked around a bit more, she was nowhere to be seen. Maybe she went to bed early...I should go back too. I went to bed and had a goodnight's sleep. Before I knew it, it was the next day, and I was in Xiaoyuer's room, chatting with him while he was eating his morning meal.

"BANG! BANG! BANG! OPEN UP! NOW! THIS IS THE EMPRESS'S ORDERS!!!"

It was the sound of two men. They kicked down the door and ran towards me. Then, they had began to drag me away. I was so scared, I didn't know what to do. I had know idea what I could have done so wrong to receive this kind of treatment. I don't understand...what did I do wrong!?

"Xiaoyuer! Please help me! XIaoyuer!" I yelled while crying out to him.

"Let go of her! She is MY servant! You have no right!" He yelled to the guards.

"Sorry sir, but these are the Empress' orders, and we can not disobey her." They said while dragging me outside.

I was kind of mad that Xiaoyuer didn't do anything else, he just stood there while I was being dragged away. I'm so frustrated, confused, and angry. I hate this!

"What did I do so wrong!? I never harmed anyone, and all I did was follow orders." I said while crying.

I don't why this was happening to me, but I need to find out why. I was dragged to the Queen's room and thrown onto the floor. There was a mid-height wooden table, and a wooden pole with ropes. I was even more scared than before. Am I about to be tortured!?

"Miss, please tell me why this is happening, I don't understand." I said in tears.

"How dare you come to my home and steal from me!? You insolent barbarian!" She said angrily.

I was shocked to hear her words, but I knew that I have never tried anything troublesome since the day I came here. Someone must have framed me... but who? I have to do something to avoid this punishment...

"Miss, I have never done anything to harm you or your family. If you could be so generous, and give me the chance to reveal the truth, I was framed!" I said in nothing but honesty.

She hesitated before speaking, and I waited nervously for a response. I don't want to get beaten.

"Fine, you have two days to find the true culprit and have evidence, then present them to me. If not, you will not only be beaten, but starved for 3 days." She said seriously.

"Y-yes Mistress." I said.

I was a bit relieved for her to give me a chance, but also very worried about the consequences. I needed evidence...

"Oh, Mistress. May I ask what went missing, and where it was before it went missing?" I asked.

"In the latest king's bedroom on a shelf, there was a sword with a handle made out of pure white Jade. If you go there, you must take a guard with you, so I can be sure that you will not cause anymore trouble."

"Okay." I said determined.

I knew what I had to do. I would find as much evidence as possible today, then use those clues to find the culprit. I stood up off the ground shakily, and walked out to the king's room. I believe I will win this battle. I entered the room and asked the guards to make sure nobody followed us, because the culprit may be watching from afar. I looked to the left and seen a shelf with an empty sword holder. I walked closer, and found what seemed to be white hair on the shelf...it was and had appeared to be my hair! I looked around even more until I came to a stop, it was more of my hair, but it was seemed to be a trail leading me somewhere... I know this may be a little evidence, but I might have found enough evidence. Someone framed me by placing my hair around this room, and I am the only one at this household with white hair... that means I had to be framed. I followed the hair to another place. I stopped and thought. How would a someone be able to get my hair... they couldn't have cut it, because the hair does not look cut, but more like it was shedded. I thought to myself... It couldn't have been the Empress playing tricks, or Xiaoyuer either, because he was sick and under my care. But what about Lady Mira? I let her do the chores while I took care of the young master and sent her to get herbs. Our garden was not that far from Xiaoyuer's room, and she was the maid who also took care of me when I first came here, which means she would have my hair from brushing it. In conclusion, Lady Mira framed me and stole the White Jade Sword! I followed the hair, and it led me to a house, It had to be where she was staying. I peeked through a window, and there sat Lady Mira. She was taking white hair out of a brush, and I looked to the other side of the room where I saw the White Jade Sword. I told the guards to arrest her. I was a bit sad because I actually thought she was a good person, but she is not, I am also very disappointed. We headed back to the Xiao household and turned her in.

"Empress, I found the culprit, and I have proof and evidence, as well as the guards as witnesses." I spoke.

"Okay, you may speak." she said.

"Lady Mira is the culprit. When I first came here to this household, I fainted from a back injury, she was the one who cared for me at that time, she also changed my clothes and washed, dried, and brushed my hair. The brush she used was green with a gold lotus carved on the back. Even though I fainted, I was still gaining my conscience, so I could still see a little. She took the white hair from the brush and placed it on the shelf, I followed the trail that she accidentally left, and it led me to her, I saw her trying to take my white hair out of the same brush from before, I also found the White Jade Sword, and brought the evidence, the guards saw all of my discoveries and also believe it is her.

"Very well, I apologize for wrongly accusing you, and thank you for finding my late husband's sword. I will reward you for being a loyal servant and for finding the culprit. You can also decide the punishment for this mere servant." She said calmly.

"Wait! She is lying! I was... helping the young master, he got bitten by a snake because of her!" she yelled.

"What!?, my son was harmed!?" The Queen said.

"Miss, I would never harm your family, It was not me!" I said truthfully.

The door slammed open and out of surprise, it was Xiaoyuer! I was kind of happy to see him, even though he did not do anything while I was being dragged away... what is this annoying feeling?

"Mother! I can explain everything to you, none of this was Ruby's fault." he said.

"What do you mean?" she said.

"I was reading a book in my room, when I heard a strange noise from the roof, a few seconds later, a snake dropped from the ceiling. It appeared that someone dropped that snake into my room. Then, when I called Ruby, whoever was on the roof must have fallen because I heard a loud sound hitting the ground, then an "Ouch", which appeared to be in a female voice. I ran to the window and saw Lady Mira on the ground, but I did not let her see me. When I turned around the snake bit me, then I kicked it away. I called Ruby again and not shortly after she had entered, I fell to the ground. She called Lady Mira, who was supposed to be doing laundry, Lady Mira showed up a bit too quickly. Shortly after that, I fainted. Clarifying that it was Lady Mira who had caused the incident, and Lady Ruby who was caring for me. So mother, do not be fooled by her." He explained.

"Now, I understand the full situation, thank you for telling me the truth. I will punish her for this, you may leave now you two." she said while smiling at us.

I was a bit shocked to hear him say all of that. I thought I was going to get in trouble again. I guess I can forgive him from earlier. I wanted to hug him and thank him for helping me. We walked out of the room and shut the door behind us. Victory was truly ours!