Chapter 7: Death flags

Knock! Knock!

"Lady Qaihong, dinner is ready" a muffled voice from the other side of the guest bedroom door that I stayed in. I place down a poem book onto my side table, Cheng Chin scurried over to the door with that aloof look she usually had around others.

A eunuch in a blue servant uniform smiled at Cheng Chin and then proceed to look my way, I toss him a gentle smile and push myself off of the comfy bed with elegance befitting of a royal princess.

I walked over to the door "please show us the way" I asked in a soft tone, the eunuch nodded his head with a nonchalant expression and showed us the way to the dining hall. He bowed his head and left us be, me and Cheng Chin walked inside the dining room.

Cheng Chin walked towards the walls where other personal servants or bodyguards waited, I kept my head held high and took small steps, and kept my shoulder relaxed.

I made my way to a seat close to imperial emperor Guiying, like all emperors he has that dangerous aura that can snap your body into two. A Eunuch pulled out a chair for me and then pushed me closer to the table.

I thanked the eunuch for the assistance and looked down at the pair of chopsticks 'How do I use these things?' is the thought that ran through my mind, I miss my fork and knife already. At least in my pavilion, I have western cutlery imported from the continent overseas.

Qaihong has always preferred using western-style sliver wear, unfortunately, it's costly so not every continent is willing to use western cutlery. Smiling wearily I picked up the upper chopstick like a pencil and hold the lower chopstick with my ring finger and thumb.

I tried to move the chopstick fluently like everyone else who has begun eating after the imperial emperor took the first bite. I took some congee and place it into a bowl somehow and began eating quietly.

The diner was quiet unlike the ones from my home where my father often tries to dine with us whenever he can. The imperial emperor Guiying raised from his seat "Guiying Shufen!" the emperor shouted at his 8th son.

He looked up and place down his chopsticks "Yes Imperial father?" he replied with an aloof expression for a fifteen-year-old boy. Usually, I would see my gege around that age with a goofy smile stretching out his thin pink lips.

Or from what I can recall from Qaihong Gho's memories, her brothers either had that carefree expression or a scowl ruining their handsome features. Her eyes lowered and a sorrowful feeling welled up into her chest.

The imperial emperor looked at his son with scorn crossing his features "Show eighth princess Qaihong Gho around" he order his son who lowered himself and place his hand on his fist "As you wish Imperial father" he replied in a monotone, his eyes looked blank as if he didn't have a soul at all.

I wiped the side of my cheeks to clean off any unwanted substances on my face. I approach prince Guiying Shufen "I'll meet you at the entrance, your highness" I proceed to scurry away and head to my guest bedroom with Cheng Chin tailing behind me.

I got a black umbrella that has red plum blossoms printed, on top. I met the prince a the entrance like I promise, he had a beautiful carriage waiting at the entrance and proceed to help me inside.

The carriage ride was short before we went off to go wandering around town on our own, he stayed modestly close to me as if afraid someone would sweep me off my feet and run away. Angel flew around with a frantic expression covering his chibi features.

'Angel what has disturbed you?' I asked him telepathically, he flew back onto my head with a frown. "I thought I saw those trouble makers" angel replied with worry laced in his tone 'I'll keep an eye out for them Angel' I tried my best to reassure the heavenly individual.

"Princess Qaihong Gho are you alright?" Prince Guiying Shufen's voice snapped me out of my thoughts "Do you know any good sweet stores?" I changed the subject quickly. He nodded his head and lead me to a lavish-looking cafe, I read the large sparkly sign 'Spirtiual sweets cafe' what an odd name.

We enter the sweet shop and are greeted by a hostess who had pearl white teeth. Her eyes landed on the prince first and respectively bow "Gaun Chi greets imperial eighth prince Guiying Shufen" she greeted the prince before tossing me a look of curiosity.

Guiying Shufen "Raise" she stood back up straight with a lovely smile gracing her mature features "Hello I am princess Qaihong Gho" I introduce myself with a sweet smile. Her eyes widened in shock due to meeting another royal-like myself.

She bowed again "Gaun Chi greet imperial princess of Qaihong empire, please forgive this humble servant for not recognizing you" she spoke in a humbled tone. Keeping on my sicken sweet smile I say "You are forgiven. You may rise" she aroused with bright shining eyes.

"Please follow me your highness's" she turns around swiftly and leads us to a spacious room on one of the lower levels. A bunch of small spirit beasts roamed around inside the room, they glance our way with curiosity.

"Your highness's welcome to the room garden, in here we have fully mature small magical beasts that have been raised since they were born in capacity" Gaun Chi explained. I enter with a starstruck look gracing my fair features.

A low chuckle came from behind me, I twisted my head o the source where prince Shufen covered his lower face with a peach color fan. His eyes shined with amusement "I knew you would love this place, I often come here to help relax my nerves" Prince Shufen stated in a relaxed manner.

He headed over to the Kang table and took a seat on a cushion, I followed him and took my seat as well. After spending some time in the spirit beast cafe, we had left to do some window shopping.

Unbeknownst to me, we are being followed and Angel had been oddly quiet during the whole time. Angel spoke up "Have you tried infusing your moon qi into your eyes?" I stumbled over at the random question "No why?" I replied once I had regained my posture.

Prince Guiying Shufen tossed me a worried glance and offer his arm to help rebalance me, I waved off his kind gesture. The angel hummed a small tone "Try it, you might be surprised by what you see" he replied.

I followed his instructions and enchanted my eyesight with my current moon essence and to my surprise, the surroundings turned into different shades of blue and white letters appear displaying everyone in my eyesight cultivation level and other things such as sickness.

That's when two strong-looking cultivators approached us with smug grins plastered on their faces, they are at the beginning stage of bone refinement. They looked to be around thirteen years of age.

"Angel are these the Guiying twins?" I asked in a worried tone, the chibi angel smiled sadly at me "They are, my child" he replied solemnly. I grab a hold of Guiying Shufen's arm and squeeze it as hard as I can.

He flinched and looked down at my face and noticed my beautiful eyes tearing up "What's the matter princess Qaihong Guiying?" he asked in a panicked tone not sure how to deal with my sudden mood change.

"Can we go back? I feel like someone wants to hurt me" I asked with a pitiful expression, his eyes widen and he began looking around "alright let's head back to the noble square" he replied and turned around with me holding onto his arm like it was my lifeline.

To be quite frank I didn't want to die again so early, I have only been in this world for four days! No way in hell am I going to waltz into the lion's den so quickly! A sinister present got closer, I shivered involuntarily.

Then to my dread, a hand clasp my shoulder "Shufen~ where did you find such a pretty plum blossom?" I froze in shock. Shufen features quickly turned into a scowl "Don't casually touch her! Guiying Xiang" Guiying Shufen fumed in anger.

Guiying Xiang lifts his hand off of my shoulder "My bad gege Shufen, I won't ever touch your girlfriend again" he replied playfully. I managed to turn around and face my dead flags face to face.

Identical twins, they look the same except Xiang has a beauty mark under his right eye and Xeiren has a beauty mark under his left eye. They have sighs of maturing but their faces still hold baby fat.

They looked different than they had a minute ago, when I made eye contact with them they had the look of a tiger hunting down a helpless deer. Now they both look like playful young masters of some noble family.