9 Back home

The next morning, as my family began getting ready to leave the capital, I parted on horseback to the palace to deliver the book to the prince. I got in easily and was able to hand it directly to him. We said our goodbyes and I promised that I would visit as soon as I was able to.

When I arrived back to the mansion, I got a glance of the girl that tried to get me in trouble my first day here. Every day I would catch her looking oddly at me from afar, but we barely interacted at all since I spent most of my time with the prince.

With a smile I approached her and asked "Hello, Ling."

She bowed deeply, and I detected a faint blush in her cheeks "Good day, young master."

"Will you be here when we come back to the capital next season?" I asked bluntly, and she blushed even more.

"Ling will serve as long as the Master wishes."

I nodded. "I look forward to meeting you then." I smiled mischievously.

I turned and walked back to the lead servant, who was with my father.

"Mo Fan" I said as soon as I reached my father's side

"Yes, young master?" I knew the old man was pleased that I remembered his name, since none of my siblings did.

"Can I ask a favor of you?"

Both he and my father blinked in surprise. The old man glanced at my father and I saw him nod. Thus, the old servant turned back to me with a smile.

"As long as it is within my power, consider it done, young master."

Without looking away from the old man I pointed to Ling "next time I come to this estate, I want her to serve me my meals." The request wasn't all that strange, but for the fact that Ling had never attended to the family inside the house. She was one of the lesser maids, meaning she would tend to the grounds and the overall cleanliness of the house.

Maids that tended to the lords and ladies underwent a more strenuous training, to make sure they wouldn't offend the nobles but, more importantly, they worked hard to make sure that everything was made to their master's tastes.

I was practically promoting a maid I had only seen once, but I liked her spirit.

Both adults followed my pointing finger and found Ling, who immediately kowtowed toward us. They looked back at me surprise written all over their faces.

My father hadn't objected before, and he didn't say anything this time either, so the elder servant bowed to me "I shall see to that she is ready for when you visit us again, young master."

"Thank you, Mo Fang. I know you won't let me down." I smiled up to my father "The prince sent his regards and wished us safe travels."

He smiled back "I am pleased to see you develop such closeness to the imperial family."

I bowed to him and bid farewell to the old servant while I went to my mother who was smiling brightly at me. She didn't say anything, she just hugged me. Behind her, my sister decided that what my mother was doing was fun and she ended up hugging my waist.

I am still unsure why mother hugged me then, but who am I to reject her?

We said our farewells and finally left for home. As we left the property, I stopped my horse to watch the servants saying their goodbyes. Amongst them a, peach-eyed girl dressed in grey and green, was smiling at me unabashedly.

Who would have known that in the capital I would make friends from every caste.

The day after we arrived home, when I finished my training with master Fa, I asked him about his relationship with the imperial family. He said that he had indeed refused to train the third prince to concentrate on teaching me.

He had recognized my talent from early on and had bowed to himself and the gods that he would make me the best martial artist of the age or would die trying.

I humbly thanked him for his faith, and his time, and decided to give my everything into learning all he could teach me. It would be my way of honoring the man who refused an Emperor for me.