The King and I

 

Chapter 7 – The spying

Yu Er hurried through the crowded streets and went directly to the restaurants to order some food that can be taken away and stored easily. She sits at one of the wooden tables waiting for her order while enjoying her tea. That’s when she realised she’s being followed by her cousin and his guard. Both men are hiding behind the pillar behind her. She saw them accidentally through the reflection from her tea. She sighs but also amused thinking how desperate her cousin must be if he’s doing this. She laughed secretly and decided to play around with them a bit. She is sure they will follow her every day and of course, she will try to lose them every day. She still doesn’t know how, but it is sure will be funny. It’s been a while since she could play with someone like this. The last time, is when she was 10 and the other party is his father.

The waiter comes suddenly bringing her ordered food in his hand and broke her thoughts about the past. She immediately thought of something and smiled sneakily. She then quietly whispers something to the waiter and slipped a few coins to his palm. The waiter glances at her in disbelief but finally nod a little. Yu Er hurriedly goes up to one of the room which make both men confused. They couldn’t see nor hear anything that Yu Er secretly whispered to the waiter and thus, suspect nothing. After waiting for a while, they saw her come out from the restaurant and continued to follow her. She walks for half an hour towards a quieter place and called a man’s name. Suddenly, a man wearing rugs comes out from the shrubs and she fall into his embrace. Yong Ming couldn’t stand it anymore and comes out from his hiding place, pulling apart the couple and placing a punch on the man.

“How dare you touch her!!!” Yong Ming shouts angrily.

“Ah!! Who are you?” the girl suddenly screams while frantically pulling herself away from her attacker.

“Yu…, wait, you’re not Yu Er! Who are you?” Yong Ming finally realised that the girl that he followed around is not her cousin. Rui Lang could only watch him and muttered to himself, “and I told him to wait too…”

The man finally stands up; still rubbing his face; he furiously saw both stranger that has interrupted his date, “Who are you guys? Are you trying to kidnap my Qing Hua? Or maybe…, both of you guys are stalker or molester?”

“No…no…no…, we are definitely not anything that you mentioned just now. We just mistook her for someone else…” Yong Ming hurriedly explained while frantically waving both of his hands to further clearing his intention. He never thought that it is possible that one day, someone will accuse him for those kinds of people. He is a king for goodness sake! He totally loses his calm and he can’t really come up with any ideas which have never happened before.

“My Young Master just thought you as his cousin. He is worried about her abnormal behaviour lately, please forgive our interruption. We most certainly didn’t mean any harm to the young lady.”Rui Lang quickly took over the situation calmly. His calm demeanour makes a huge impact on the couple and thus, really helps them in this kind of situation. The couple finally believed them and asked them to leave which, both of them gladly comply.

Both men knew they have lost Yu Er after that episode. But they still walk back to the restaurant to see even though they know it’s in vain. Hence, both of them have no other choice than to go back to the manor waiting for Yu Er to come back herself. And Yong Ming is even more determined to find out more tomorrow.

 

 

One hour ago, in one of Fu Qi Restaurant’s room.

Yu Er couldn’t help herself. She needs to laugh, aloud! She just told the waiter to find amateur actor and actress from the street performance for her to help her distract her cousin. She knows it is not nice to play her cousin like this. Especially since they have just made up from the fight and she knew that her cousin followed her because he is worried for her. But still, she just couldn’t pass this kind of opportunity! She is sure, she will receive a hell of scolding when he finds out, but it will be worth it. She hopes she could see his face when her plan is being carried out. But sadly, she doesn’t have time for that, she need to get back to the forest as fast as she could. 

“Knock… knock… knock…!”

Yu Er opens the door and smiled to her visitor allowing both of them to come in to the room. She quickly told them her plan and taking out some money as payment. Yu Er then, ask the girl to exchanged they’re clothes and fixed her hair to ensure that his cousin will be fooled. After all is in place, both of them finally left the place. Yu Er stayed for a bit longer to give them some time to play their part and she too, finally left to the medicine store. She needs to buy some medicine to treat Li Quan after all. After finishing her shopping, she calmly walks back to her house’s back-door where Zui Feng is waiting for her and both of them galloped away to the forest.

She arrived shortly and finds that Li Quan is getting better. His fever is gone, colours coming back to his face and he talks more too.

“How’s your feeling? Feel better?”

“Thanks to you, I do feel better. And you look better too.”

“What do you mean?”

“You look happier than yesterday. I think it’s pretty obvious.”

“…”

“Care to tell?”

“Well, it’s actually nothing big. It’s just…; I just win a game against my cousin.” Yu Er answered while smiling brightly and playfully. She obviously recalled her plan and imagined how it will turn out.

“Your… cousin?”

“Yes, his name is Yong Ming. I just know him from few days ago. I never thought I had a cousin before. Father said he lived in the capital.”

“And your father is…?”

“Oh, he’s a merchant. His name is Guo Lin Mu.  I heard that he is quiet famous. Have you heard about my father?”

“Wait! You said, your father is the infamous merchant Guo?”

“So, he really is famous. I never believe it before. Well, he is my father. Is there something wrong?”

“No… nothing’s wrong”

Yu Er knew that there is something wrong. It’s quiet obvious seeing his shocked expression. She heard people said that his father is famous, but come on! No matter how famous, he’s just a merchant. How shocking can it be? She knew she won’t get any answer even though she asked. So, she just walked away to gather some fire wood and preparing the medicine for him while searching for her missing bracelet.

Li Quan is shocked beyond words. He never imagined, not even in his dreams that he would met someone from the royal family. It seems obvious to him that Yu Er is one of the royal family’s descendants. Not to mention that his father is the infamous scholar Guo Lin Mu. He heard that no one is able to stand side by side with him in art and literature. But, the most shocking news is that knowing the enemy’s king is just nearby. If he is in his best condition, Li Quan wouldn’t throw this kind of opportunity for anything in the world! But that aside, it seems that his saviour didn’t know a thing about this. Otherwise, she wouldn’t easily tell him this kind of ‘top-secret’ information.

“What are you thinking? You seemed like you’re in deep thought or something. Do you feel unwell anywhere?” Yu Er who has gone back from collecting fire woods asked him in worried tone.

“No… it’s nothing, just thinking the situation back home.” Li Quan lied to her instantly. Well, it’s not all lies, he truly is thinking about the situation back in his country. He needs to think something to get payback from his brothers. He wondered what would they think when they see him all well and unscathed. Maybe they’ll scream and bow to him seeking for forgiveness. He smiled cunningly in response. He quickly hides it though, because for some unknown reasons, he didn’t want to show his ugly side to her. He wants to keep a good image in her mind. Thus, he quickly avoided the topic and talk about something else instead.

“Is it good for you to come here so often? You might be found out someday, that you’ve helped me.”

“Of course it’s not good, but I still decided to help you anyway. And I’ll make sure no one shall finds out. Besides, it’s not like I’m doing a bad thing. I’m helping people not killing people. It doesn’t matter where did you come from or which country’s people you are.”

“You might be punished if the officials finds out.”

“It’s all right… stop worrying about useless things and focusing on getting better instead. If my prediction is right, you should be able to move in a week time.”

Li Quan knows that he should advise her on leaving him alone. She should not come here again, especially since he is getting better and he should be able to take care of himself now. But he couldn’t, he wants to spend more time with her, getting to know her, and understand her better. He deeply sighs, he knew that this kind of thought will lead to trouble, but he just couldn’t help it.

“By the way, have you seen a bracelet around here somewhere? I lost mine just a few days ago.”

“A bracelet?”

“Yeah, it’s a memento from my mom. I really need to find it. But no luck so far…”

“I haven’t seen it; I’ll keep my eyes open for it.”

“Thanks a lot! It’s a jade bracelet with butterfly pattern and it’s connected by gold chain. It’s one of a kind, you wouldn’t miss it.”

 

 

Yu Er sneak back through the back gate, expecting to bump into his cousin again, he carefully hide behind any objects that is larger than her before stepping forward. The problem is, she couldn’t hold her laughter if she suddenly see her cousin. She had a hard time to repress her imagination about what happened to him. Hence, she really couldn’t afford to see him now.

“Stop right there!”

“…”

Yu Er really wished she could just turn around or pretend that she is deaf to avoid him, but Yong Ming called her from a not-so-far distance that it is impossible for her not to hear him. It is obvious to anyone, that he is waiting for her arrival there just to stop her on her way to her bedchamber.

“Where have you been?”

Yu Er heard his voice from behind and unwillingly lifts her head. She smiled to him in response without saying a word.

“I just went to the market, that’s all.” well, it is not all, but it’s not a complete lie either. She did go to the market this afternoon.

Yong Ming could tell on first glance that she is lying. It is true, that she went to the market, but she went to other places afterwards, a place that she is unwilling to tell him. It frustrates him, knowing that his cousin is doing something that God only knows, what it is and going somewhere without him did not help the situation either. He knew by experience that he couldn’t demand an answer from her. So, he tries a different approach instead.

“Is that so? Then, why don’t we go together tomorrow? I want to walk around too. It should be more interesting with more people around.”

“Eh? To… tomorrow?”

“Yes, you want to go there too anyway. So, it’s better to go together. It’s decided then.”

“But I…”

Yong Ming walked away before she could refuse him. There is no way he’s going to stay after forcing her to go under his surveillance tomorrow. It is wiser to him to avoid her. Hence, he hurried his way with Rui Lang behind him into their living quarters.