Chapter 18

“Beautiful girl, get some shrouds” an old bent woman holding lot’s of white clothes on her left hand and her walking staff on the right hand spoke.

Cai Ruolan was enveloped in fear, what was this woman doing?

Only dead people were covered in shrouds, and she was alive and fine.

“Thank you but I don’t need it” she replied and wanted to start running, but the old woman ran after her.

Cai Ruolan was very shocked to see such an old woman running like a man in his mid twenties.

Tears welled up in her eyes, it was obvious that she was in a grave danger.

“I will help you die then” the old woman smiled evilly showing all of her toothless mouth. “You cannot live as the spirit of this forest, I won’t let that happen”

Spirit?

“You got the wrong person, I’m not a sp..”

“You must die, you cannot rule over me. And you should know that I will be wherever you are, I will hurt you till you become a corpse, and believe me when I say I’ll help you wear the shroud” saying this, the old lady twirled, transforming into nothing but a black, long snake.

* * *

Cai Ruolan woke up shaking in fear, just a nap and she got the worse dream ever.

She looked around where she was to be sure.

She was in her room, seating on the red couch with Wang Eumeh’s diary in her left hand. She might have dozed off while reading it.

Cai Ruolan left the diary on the couch and stood up to leave the room.

The old lady had said in her dream that she will be wherever she was, as a matter of fact Cai Ruolan wouldn’t want to be alone.

She climbed down the stairs in a rush and went out of the main palace to look for someone to talk to.

She wasn’t sure if she would share her dream with anyone, but she must be with someone to prevent the dream from coming true.

Standing outside, she heard the sound of clashing swords coming from the field.

She wondered why Xie Yuxuan would be training his men under the harsh and scorching sun. He was just too stony-hearted for her liking.

She turned to go inside the palace to look for her maid servants, at least if she was in a conversation with any of them, she wouldn’t feel so lonely to the extent of been scared.

But she heard her name been called by a voice she wouldn’t like to hear.

“My sweet Cai Ruolan. What are you doing out here? Weren’t you reading that old book?”

Cai Ruolan paused before turning back to see him.

She had expected to see beads of sweat on his face, but his face looked very smooth and dry.

‘Perhaps he never fought with his men’ she thought within her.

“Why are you so quiet? Come over” He beckoned her.

Cai Ruolan felt a little bit glad as she walked towards him.

She felt assured that staying by his side would protect her from harm. Even if the old lady in her dream could transform into a black snake, Xie Yuxuan’s powerful men wouldn’t hesitate to strike it with their sharp weapons right?

She stood beside him.

“You woke up so early, shouldn’t you be resting? You’ve done a lot of work in the morning” he teased referring to the fact that she was the one who had took off his robes.

Cai Ruolan shook her head vigorously. “Thank you your majesty, I’m not tired”

“You aren’t?” he asked looking at her.

“I wanted to ask if you knew where pr…”

“Xie Peizhi is asleep, I told you that you woke up too early, just come and seat with me at the field” he held her right hand.

“At the field? But your men…”

Before she could finish, he already started walking towards the field.

The men clad in black uniforms were quite surprised to see the crown prince holding a girl’s hand.

Though, they knew the fact that the crown prince was already married, but they never expected him to walk hand-in-hand with his wife.

Their eyes darted towards the crown prince’s little wife seating on his chair. She looked very beautiful, their crown prince had a good taste for choosing this angel has his wife.

Cai Ruolan smiled and waved at the eyes that were fixed on her face.

She felt very glad seeing more than hundred men, along with the crown prince who was her husband, they wouldn’t hesitate to fight the big snake.

Cai Ruolan lowered her head and cursed herself for thinking otherwise. She should learn to protect herself because they wouldn’t be there for her forever.

But who was the old lady?

Why does she want her dead?

Why did she called her a spirit?

Cai Ruolan soon became bored of seating down there facing hundreds of men who barely took their eyes off her.

She gently stood up from the chair, “Your majesty, I’ll be taking my leave” she told him while walking away.

His men could stare at the chair if they want.

Cai Ruolan walked back towards the main palace, she remembered that she was going to be alone at her room, then decided to seat outside.

She thought about her father and step siblings.

She was sure that they were glad that she had left the palace for them.

Cai Yichen especially might probably host a royal banquet to celebrate her departure from the family.

Who cares?

The only person who she would have also cared for was her former teacher. And he wasn’t leaving at the palace any longer, so there was obviously nothing left at Zhangqian for her.

“What is wrong with you?” the crown prince’s voice disrupted her from her thoughts.

She stood up, “I’m fine your majesty”

“Come, let’s go inside” he held her right wrist.

Cai Ruolan couldn’t understand why he loved holding her hand as though as she was a baby, she could walk for herself.

“Come and undress me” he spoke as they both ascended the staircase.

Oh not again.

Cai Ruolan frowned, she hated doing that like how one hated his enemy.

She just can’t.

She gave no reply as she walked with him towards their chamber.

Once they entered their room, Cai Ruolan carried the diary from the couch and went towards her table to get the garden key.

She wanted to leave when he suddenly stopped her. “Where do you think you’re going? Have you undressed me yet?”

Cai Ruolan felt like giving him a slap on his face.

She didn’t respond to him, she just walked towards the door.

Xie Yuxuan wasn’t surprised, he had expected such a behavior from her and was glad she did.

“Seems like you want me to kiss you”

Cai Ruolan looked at him and sneered. “There are many people to help you do that, why me?” she questioned him sharply.

“Because you’re my wife, it’s your job now. How many times do you want me to explain this to you?” he answered.

Cai Ruolan sighed, “I didn’t mean to sound rude your majesty. But I can’t any…” her voice trailed off when he walked towards her.

He held her waist tightly, then looked straight into her eyes.

“Fine” saying this, he crushed his lips into hers.

Cai Ruolan was astounded, how dare he? She never knew that he meant it.

But there was how she felt as he held her waist, the feeling made her even more angry.

Xie Yuxuan felt a liquid flowing from his lower lip, he took his mouth away from Cai Ruolan’s, he licked his lips and it tasted just like. Blood!

Cai Ruolan bited him!

He couldn’t imagine that he would have to go around the palace with swollen lips.

“Why did you do this?” he asked glaring at her.

She shrugged and chuckled. “If you kiss me, I’ll bite you!”