The King and I

“Ughh!! That stupid king!! How could he dismiss me like that!! Am I his subject or something?! That’s it I’m not going to talk to him anymore! Let’s see about that!”

Thought the night felt cold to most of the people in the manor, it is obvious to all that the young miss of the house is fuming. And truth to be told, nobody in the house dares to bother her with her like this. They knew better that to ‘waking up the sleeping tiger’. But it seems that the master guests do not understand this phrase well.

Yu Er couldn’t sleep, she kept pacing around her room trying to release perhaps a little bit of her anger in the process. She is sure that her cousin is doing it on purpose just to anger her. Though his motive in doing so is still a blur to her, now that she thinks about it, there must be something important going inside. A court matter perhaps?

Oblivious to the scheme brewing, Yu Er finally gave up and rest for the night. On the other hand, Yong Ming is still trying to convince his uncle about wanting to bring Yu Er back to the palace.

“How can I let her go nephew? She’s too young to handle this burden.”

“Nevertheless, I cannot wait anymore Uncle, Mother is getting impatient. And now that I’ve found her, how can I go back without her?”

“You know, I gave up my nobility for this family, how can I let my only daughter go back to the place I used to abandon?”

“I never understand your decision. I’m sure father will do anything to protect you and your family if anything happens, there is no need for you to leave.”

“There is more than meets the eye. I have to think about it, I can’t give you an answer now. Why don’t you go back and enjoy your holiday first. I’ll give you my answer soon.”

“Alright, goodnight uncle.”

After seeing his nephew leaving, Guo Lin Mu sighed deeply. His nephew arrival has brought back old memories. Memories that he wished to forget, but unable to let go. Flashes of scenes danced before his eyes, things best left unsaid. The man is torn between choices, he has tried to take his daughter away from her destiny, but it seemed that all his effort has been for naught.

While Mr. Guo stays in deep thought all night, Yong Ming spent his whole night devising his plan to make up with his little cousin.

“Your Majesty, what are you going to do if merchant Guo refuses in the end?”

“I don’t really want to think about it, but I’ll use my power if it’s necessary. Though I don’t think Yu Er going to forgive me if that happens.”

“...”

“Let’s leave this topic at that, we should be worrying whether she’s going to forgive me after I dismissed her just now. Not to mention my attitude back then, guess it’s hard chasing after woman.”

The king sighed desperately. Why in the world did he have to fall for this stubborn, head-strong, opinionated little lady? The image of her flown to his mind almost immediately and he couldn’t help but blush. Guess there is no helping it; he just has to watch out for both of them. Trying to kept his expression back to normal (after all, a king do not blush in the middle of the night thinking about a certain woman who is currently sulking in her room), the young king direct his steps to the said woman’s room.

A soft knock on the door.

“Yu Er are you still awake?”

“...”

“Will you open the door?”

“Go Away! I don’t let strangers get in to my room! Especially one that has behaved so rudely to me!”

“Yu Er come on, open the door. I’m sorry okay? I’m in bad mood just now...”

What? He’s going to apologize just like that? Hmph! And he treated me like that just because he’s in bad mood?! I don’t care he’s a king or not there is no way I’m going to forgive him!!

“Go away! I’m not going to speak to you!”

Yong Ming who is oblivious, did not find any fault at all in the way he’s apologizing. So, he tried to get some sympathy instead, remembering that his cousin is a soft hearted creature, he is sure she’ll fall for it.

“You know it’s really cold outside, are you really going to let me stand here all night? I even asked uncle to forgive you just now you know...”

Using what he thought as the most pleading tone while silently hoping that his uncle won’t know the untruth that he spoken just now, the young king started to embark on the journey of no return. And the destination (Yu Er forgiveness) seems to get further away by every word that he has spoken.

“Don’t use that tone on me! I won’t fall for your trickery! I read books on war strategy too you know, and I can tell you this tactics is low! Besides, father won’t get mad at me either!”

Yong Ming became desperate, seriously, who would have thought that a young girl would read war tactics strategy? But that beside the point, it seemed that he has dug a deeper hole right now. Not only, she hasn’t forgiven him for acting up just now, now she caught him lying too! Seriously, how is he going to ask her to forgive him if she won’t even talk to him properly?

No choice I just have to break my way in then.

“Rui Lang breaks the door down for me.”

“Your Majesty, i don’t think it’s a good idea. Maybe you can come back in the morning when she has cooled down?”

Determined to see her tonight, the young king stubbornly refused. Rui Lang gave him an expression that said ‘I have warned you, don’t blame me later’ and proceed to carry on with his orders.

The sound of the door crushing to pieces disturbs the whole house to waking. Some even thought there are robbers inside the house. But after a careful explanation provided by Rui Lang, the entire household knew to avoid the young miss’ parts of the house right now.

“What are you doing?! It’s the middle of the night!”

“I have asked you to open it you know, but it seems that the request is ignored, I have no other way but to searched other means to get in.”

“By breaking the door?! You really...”

Yu Er really is shocked by this stupid king’s logic. Which part of ‘I’m not going to talk to you’ that he did not get??? Besides didn’t he know that going in to al lady’s private chamber is inappropriate? Especially in the middle in the night! She is sure that by now, the whole household knew about it.

Yong Ming knew exactly what is she thinking the moment she thought about it. After all, it is clearly written in her face. He smirked in response, if there truly is rumoured spread out tomorrow, who is he to prevent it? Yu Er is destined to be his anyway. Maybe these rumours will help his uncle in his decision too.

The king calmly walked towards the table and sat elegantly like he owned the room. Yu Er is so mad, that she loses her ability to speak and yell at him. Rui Lang who understand the situation, smartly choose to stand outside, after all he is the one who ‘broke the door’. He really does not want to incur the wrath of the little tigress inside. Though, it seemed like the king hasn’t figured it out yet, and blissfully thought, that everything is still under his control.

“Aren’t you going to sit?”

Yu Er finally returns from her daze, and hearing his cocky reply did not help her temper either. She chooses to ignore him all together and walk outside. ‘That’s it! I’m going to ignore him for the rest of my life!’

“Wait! Where are you going?!”

Seeing his marvellous plan backfired (he thinks it’s marvellous), he dashed in panicked stride to prevent her leaving. Now that the full force of her anger has reached him, he is forced to think twice about his approached of the matter.

“Please wait, I really wish to talk okay. I know I behaved badly and I apologized. So please come back into the room.”

Abandoning every last dignity as a king that he has, Yong Ming hold her wrist to prevent her from leaving, while giving her the most sincere look that he has. His eyes revealed more than he intended to reveal, and she can see regret, worry, and care for her inside those orbs. Her resolve weakens, but she sure is won’t show it to him. The stupid king really needs someone to show him his place as a human being!

Sensing her weakened resolve, the young king hurriedly pulled her back into the room and let her seat beside him. In his haste, he forgot that he has already broken the door, and almost embarrassing himself by asking Rui Lang to shut the non-existent door. It’s good that he remember it at the last minute though.

“Are you still mad?”

A short glare from her answered her, and he cough in response.

“I’m really sorry. I’m just worried something might happen you know. After all, the crown price is from our enemy’s kingdom. Rumour said that he is ruthless and cruel, I was afraid he’ll do something to you.”

“...”

“Still won’t forgive me?”

Hearing his desperate plea moved her. Yu Er knew she never really mad at him, just sulking at his attitude towards her. Thus, Yu Er decided that it’s time to stop bullying him around.

“He’s not that bad. He’s quiet good if you talk to him, he apologized to me too. And, I’m sorry I lied to you too...”

Though listening to her complimenting other man in front of him pissed him off to no end, Yong Ming decided to make no other move to aggravate her.

“Does this mean we’re good now?”

“I’ll call it even if you fixed the door yourself.”

Smirking playfully, Yu Er stands from her seat, and walk towards the other room to rest. Leaving a dazed king and an amused guard behind to accomplished an important mission which is to fix her door.