Gifts

Tianshi Xue had no plans on coming along with the prince. That was at the bottom of her "to do things in life" list. However, he was inescapable. He had clasped his fingers on her wrist as soon as she took her finishing sip of water.

"Can we be excused, Father?" asked Prince Qui.

"Why?" the Emperor asked even though he did not look like he was really interested with the answer. All throughout the mealtime, he was only focused on his food although there was a distant look in his eyes like he was thinking of something else.

"I have gifts for my new wife. It requires immediate attention."

The Emperor waved a non-caring hand. "Be on your way."

Tianshi Xue's jaw set in anger but she bowed to the other royals anyway and let the prince drag her away from the dining room. As soon as the doors closed behind them, she ripped her hand away from the prince and he let go of her, thankfully.

"What do you want?" she asked him.

He sighed, adjusting the sleeve of his shirt. "Do I look like a parrot to you? Do I really have to keep on repeating myself?"

She glared up at him.

"Come along."

She planted her feet on the ground. "No. I'm not going anywhere with you."

He looked up to the ceiling, giving her a view of his throat and the sharp lines of his jaw. "I thought women like gifts?"

"We do. Just not from you."

He rolled his eyes. "The gifts came from my mother. It was not like I wanted to give you something. If you won't come, you'd make an enemy of my mom and I don't think that was something that you would want while you're living in this palace."

There were stories about the Third Prince's mother. They said she was a witch of some sort. There were times that she would be heard cursing one of the officials and soon enough, they would turn up dead somewhere.

Her lips clamped shut. Surely, they were just stories meant to have an effect for situations such as this one, right?

"What? Are you coming or not?"

She crossed her arms on her chest. "What are you giving me? Is it a head on a platter?"

"You're so morbid," he whispered under his breath. "If you want something like that you can ask me for it. But for this time, for Heaven's sake, just come along and see for yourself."

"If it involves anything dead—"

"There wouldn't be a single drop of blood," he said already turning away from her like he was done talking to her.

"There wouldn't?"

"Not unless you force me to drag you then there MIGHT be blood."

**

Tianshi Xue knew that the prince's threats to her were empty. He was not really going to kill her. He would not even dare to hurt her. Princess Yingyue was this empire's most prized gem. She was worth than this whole empire combined. Without her here, the princess' family would've already stormed this place and ended the Yang family line.

She found little comfort in the thought but little was better than nothing. "Where are you taking me?" she asked, looking at the unfamiliar hallways. It was not a place that she had already explored.

"Somewhere there is enough space."

She jogged a little to catch up with the prince, but his long legs kept on bringing distance between them. "What is it that you gave me?"

"I don't know. I told you, it was my mother who had sent everything. It was from me but technically it was from her."

The prince finally stopped and pushed open a pair of doors. There was a huge balcony and under the shade, she saw that there was a huge red carpet with gifts on top of it. They were all gift-wrapped and had tied laces on top.

The princess' jaw dropped when she saw the luxury fashion brands. Oh damn, just how rich was the emperor's mistress? "Is that all mine?"

"Yeah, suit yourself," Prince Qui said and turned away. He already managed to take a few steps when he was called back.

"Hey! Why are you leaving me here?"

"What? Can't you open presents by yourself?"

"I can! But I surely don't want to be left alone here!" There was no one in the whole hallway. Not even Howin was there.

"I'll have your handmaiden sent here."

"No!" she said. "You stay until she comes here. Ring someone. I'm thirsty."

Surprisingly, the prince only muttered something and activated his Linker, pressed a few items in the air. "Well, aren't you going to start opening them up? I don't have all day."

It was not like Tianshi Xue was not already stepping out to the balcony and knelt down on the carpet, the skirt of her dress billowing out onto her sides. She could not decide which one to open first. She got too excited with the huge boxes but didn't want to spoil her excitement so she decided to go from right to left.

The first one was a new dress. It was not up to par with Tianshi Xue's personal taste but it would surely fit the Princess' image. It was light blue in color with a thin fabric. Fit for the summer. The items next to it somehow resembled the same one and she realized it would make a whole outfit. She liked the sandals with long straps. She imagined it coiling around her legs, making it look slimmer.

The next ensemble was of a darker hue and the dress covered her arms. She imagined wearing it during the winter season. While she opened the other boxes, she realized that her mother-in-law (she was not even sure if she would be allowed to call her that, because the prince's legal mother was the first empress) had gifted her an ensemble for all the seasons.

The biggest of the boxes was a heavy bed comforter. The smaller boxes had small jewelries inside. Earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Nothing too flashy but all looked dainty and expensive.

She was more than satisfied with everything that she got. She didn't think that she would be receiving gifts.

All this time the prince was behind her, on one of the metal stools scrolling through his Linker.

"Are you about done?" he asked.

"How is Howin not here yet?"

He shrugged but just then the handmaiden already appeared on the doorway flanked with two other servants with plates of small snacks and a pitcher of juice and a teapot.

Prince Qui gracefully stood up. "I have to go. I have a meeting," he said.

Before he could pass through the doorway, she said, "Among all these gifts, have you chosen one?"

She expected for him to leave without answering the question but he looked back at her over his shoulder. "That black box. It's from me."

Then he was gone.

Even Howin looked surprised but quickly signalled for the servants to prepare food for the princess. Tianshi Xue looked around for the black box. There was no black box. Then she stood up and saw it. Her skirt had covered it. It was a small square just about the size of her palm.

She suddenly felt her stomach plummet. The prince had given her a gift. She had no clue on what it would be. She was downright scared.

"Howin!" she called. The handmaiden was right by her side instantly. "You look first, alright? You tell me if it's something bad."

Howin also looked mortified but she was bound by duty to follow the princess' orders. She nodded and she visibly swallowed.

Tianshi Xue carefully lifted the lid. It felt new as it was hard to open. Howin peered inside the small opening. "I don't think that something is moving inside, Your Highness."

"Does it smell like anything dead?"

Howin took a sniff. "No."

She breathed out a breath she didn't know that she was holding. She turned the small box to her and opened the lid fully. The items inside seemed to wink at her with the morning light.

There were jewels inside in all possible pretty shades of burnt pink to light brown. She pulled one out and saw that it was a hairclip shaped like open peacock feathers.

She was confused for a second why he gave her hairclips, then as an answer, the wind blew and she instinctively reached out to pull her hair to the side and flatten it.

It was like the ground split open.

She didn't want to think that the colors had been a coincidence, but brown shades had always been Shanmai's colors. Amongst all the blues and white… he had given the princess something that would remind her of home.

Her hands shook a little and Howin took the box from her. "Shall I put it on, Your Highness?"

She nodded. She was not the princess. Tianshi Xue was only an actress stuck in her body, and for the first time, the prince actually made her smile.