Chapter 12: The ballroom tradgey

"My lady, is the mask bothering your eyes?" a young maid girl who has her hair done in a simple braid. I place my pale hand over the black laced mask that covered my eyes, Cheng Chen acted like a worried mother goose. A sigh left my lips "Cheng Chin please get my black swan fan" I asked in a soft tone.

"Yes my lady" Cheng Chin reply before going through one of my cases that hold serval fans, she came back with a white fan that has a single black swan painted on it.

Knock! Knock!

Cheng Chin ran over towards the door "My lady it's sir Lai" Cheng Chin called out. I slowly got off the chair and walked over to the door. I search through my memories to see if it is appropriate to have a guard as my escort to the ball and sure enough the previous host memories clear away my doubts.

He has a part of his hair tied up into a bun that's being held together with a silver hair stick, the rest of his hair laid onto his shoulders and back. He wore a traditional hanfu that's black and white.

"Your highness I am here to escort you to the ball, since servants can't follow your highness it's my duty to go with you" Sir Lai bowed his head and place his fist into his other hand. I smile genuinely at sir Lai "Sir Lai please take good care of me" I replied with an excited expression.

Sir Lai raised his head and offer his arm for me to take, he began walking me to the ball pavilion where this event should take place, and if it's anything like the previous owner's body home there should be thrones for their royal highness.

Once we had entered a eunuch announced our arrival "eight princesses of Qaihong empire, Qaihong Gho. Sir Lai Shuang from the Qaihong empire famous Lai family" the eunuch exclaimed.

He leads me towards the thrones where the two regal-looking couple state with an air of aloofness. They wore golden robes that are weaved with golden threads which are quite expensive.

I curtsy to show my respect "Eight princess Qaihong Gho greets your majesty's" my voice came out clear and unwavering. Sir Lai places his hands together and lowers his head not meeting the emperor or empress eye level "This humble noble greets your majesties. I am Lai Shuang from the Lai family" He greeted himself with respect lacing his tone.

"You may rise" the emperor spoke coldly, Sir Lai Shuang looped his arm in mine and escorted me off to the side. Sir Lai Shuang Lower his head to my ear "My lady I will take guard over there" he whispered, I nodded my head with a small smile.

Once he had left many nobles swarmed me "It's an honor to meet your highness" the noblewoman stated behind fake smiles. I hold onto my fan with a small smile lingering on my slightly plump lips "does your highness have a finance yet?" they asked behind their vicious smiles.

I pout slightly "No I haven't found a suitable suitor yet, maybe your ladyships have any recommendations?" I asked solemnly, the noble lady's eyes beamed. They began bantering on who son will get to meet the foreign princess first.

I wanted to laugh but if I did that would ruin my image of being a kind and gentle soul. Could I be ruthless? Certainly. But for now, I have to be a frail daughter and find myself a possible fiance who could easily break off our engagement without a second thought would be ideal.

So the question is which man here already has a love interest but can't marry her due to circumstance or maybe a guy who secretly likes other men? The noblewoman grumbled, "Your highness you can meet my boy first Chao Ling" a pretty middle age auntie said.

I follow the pretty noblewoman to the other side of the ballroom, she introduces me to her son "Hello your highness, I am Zhen Li" he greeted me humbly. I smile kindly at him "It's a pleasure to meet you young lord Zhen Li" I greeted the young master back with the same amount of energy he gave me.

After we got to know each other a bit I was whisked away by the other noble ladies who are eager for me to meet their sons. After mingling with some young gentlemen I made my way to my reserved table and sat down, it was much easier to look for suspicious individuals.

Unfortunately for me my rest haven't lasted long "My lady may I have this dance?" a young male voice asked from behind me, I turned my head towards the person to see who it was.

The eighth prince Guiying Shufen filled my vision "Of course your highness it would be my honor" I replied and took his outstretched hand. Once on the dance floor, he leads me into a waltz with a small smile tugging at the corners of his thin lips.

In mid twirl I noticed this one man getting closer to certain nobles, a frown slowly made way to my pretty features "Qaihong Gho?" Guiying Shufen snapped me out of my thoughts. I quickly adjust my features back into a happy expression.

"What is it, your highness?" I replied, keeping my right hand on his shoulder as we swayed across the dance floor. Guiying Shufen drop his small smile "Is something the matter? You looked quite displeased" he asked with concern laced in his voice.

The ball music kept on playing a beautiful melody as if nothing was amiss, twirling around again I enchanted my eyes to take a peek at the people who that oddly behaving guest have got close to. White letters appeared above the individuals' heads with a status that says "Poison" soon enough the guests have begun falling one by one.

All of the guests that have 'fainted' are from high-ranking families, now the question is where is that man who poisons them? The song came to a full stop "what's going on over there?" Guiying Shufen asked with a frown.

I look behind me where some family members started picking up their fallen members off of the ballroom floor. "My child watch out!" Angel shouted, I flew back into the palace walls and coughed out blood.

A well-groomed man clapped his hands "My my what strong survival instances you have young miss" He spoke in a sickenly sweet tone. I shakenly pushed myself off of the wall with a wince, Sir Lai Shuang rushed over and draw his hidden saber.

"My lady!" he scowled at the attacker, his blood lust covered the once lively air in thick killing intent. The emperor and empress of the Guiying Empire gasp in shock, many shadow guards appear to protect the royals of the family.

One of them holds onto a blackout Guiying Shufen. Wheezing as I tried to regain the breath I have lost from the sudden attack I scowled at the villain "Guards capture that scoundrel" Emperor Guiying Dishi Hao's voice boomed.

Bleak lines covered his handsome features upset by the sudden party crasher, The mysterious man chuckled "Are you sure you want to do that?" he mocked his highness with a cocky grin. Tears began trickling down my cheeks since the pain had settled in finally.

Lai Shufen attacked the mysterious strangers with calculated swings of his saber, his weapon turning lime green. The mysterious man dodges sir Lai Shufen's attack while avoiding the other guards.

He pulled something out of his pocket and crushed whatever it is, I enchanted my eyesight and notice explosive qi has been placed all over the ballroom. Only one thought came to mind "I am going to end up bedridden again" I jumped towards one of the normal people and covered them from the big explosion that burned away at my skin.

This felt even worse than that time I absorb too much moon qi, hopefully, this won't leave a scar on this body. I open my eyes and looked down at the person I am protecting. The little girl is bawling her eyeballs out.

No way in hell am I going to let some assassin hurt a child, I saw her over here when I was looking for any danger but instead, I have got hurt again. If I make it I will learn that skill. So hot so very hot I don't think I can say awake anymore.

The ballroom roared with fire-infused qi, Sir Lai Shufen ran towards his already greatly wounded princess and picked her and the small child she want to protect off the melting floors. He ran out of the burning ballroom where the majority of nobles that had gathered burned away into a pile of bones.

"Cheng Chin, get some doctors for our lady!" Sir Lai Shufen called out to the familiar maid, once she saw her master state she ran to the empirical infirmary. Tears ran down her plump cheeks, the sight of her lady looked like something straight from horror stories.

Her skin has been burnt severely and her long beautiful coal color hair burnt away, her once fair skin turned into a melted mess. Cheng Chin wanted to vomit from that sight, she made it to the infirmary.