Moon River

Mrs. Yu Knows Best

Ying Yue had moved from the pigpen to her own bedroom in the palace. Things have been slow here and there. The King was a lot kinder to Ying Yue and everyone at the palace. Him and Ying Yue would sometimes go back home to visit her father or she would make mooncakes for him. The whole mood of the palace was a lot happier too. People were smiling a lot more and you could hear laughter in the palace. Rumors went around that the King wanted to make Ying Yue his queen since they were always together. The only person who was in denial was Ying Yue herself. People were even talking about it in the palace.

One night while Ying Yue was brushing her hair, Mrs. Yu approached her and looked at her from afar.

She quietly and proudly said, "You look so beautiful, Yue Yue."

Ying Yue looked at her and chuckled. "Mrs. Yu, why are you saying that about of the blue?" Mrs. Yu walked closer to her.

Mrs. Yu said softly, "...Have you noticed that the King has been different?" Ying Yue still kept brushing her hair.

"Different? How so?" Ying Yue shrugged. She grabbed the brush from Ying Yue softly. Ying Yue looked at Mrs. Yu blankly with her big round eyes.

"Yue Yue, I've lived here longer than the King has. I was there when he was born. It's still so vivid in my mind," she exclaimed. Ying Yue's face grew softer and continued to listen. "Since you've been here, the King is much kinder. I've never seen him smile the way he has in this palace, my dear."

Ying Yue turned around again to brush her hair and said, "Ehh, Mrs. Yu don't lie like that. He's still grumpy, what are you talking about?"

Mrs. Yu stood behind Ying Yue. "What do you think about him?" she hesitantly asked.

"What are you implying, Mrs. Yu?" Ying Yue asked back.

Mrs. Yu held Ying Yue's hand and asked her, "Do you trust me when I say that he's different now because of you?" Ying Yue looked at her again with her big, round forest eyes.

She looked down and replied, "Um, I don't know. I don't keep track."

"I think...I think he loves you Yue Yue," she said to her with compassion in her eyes. Ying Yue just looked back at Mrs. Yu in disbelief.

She scoffed and said, "Me..no way. You must be crazy, Mrs. Yu. Who would put someone they like in a pigpen?" She kept brushing her hair.

"He's a child with issues, my dear. He doesn't know how to love. He only does what his parents have taught him."

"That's no excuse for a grown man, Mrs. Yu." Mrs. Yu grabbed both of her hands.

"Listen to me, since you've been here, life has changed. Everyone is so happy. It's been so long since we have all laughed in the kitchen. You are changing him," her voice sounded like it was going to break.

Ying Yue looked at Mrs. Yu. "Okay, Mrs. Yu...I understand." as Ying Yue looked down.

With a lot more cheerfulness, Mrs. Yu quickly said, "By the way, I heard that the King's cousin might come back to live in the palace soon. Be prepared because he is not a very nice guy either."

"Eh? Why?"

"His father thinks Qingshan needs a better lesson. He has just a bad of a temper as Qingshan. These boys" she made a big sigh.  They heard a knock at the door and Qingshan walked in.  Both Mrs. Yu and Ying Yue were stood there in silence.  Qingshan hesitantly waited by the door.

He cleared his throat.  "Yue Yue..tomorrow my cousin will visit.  His name is Prince Rui.  If--if he does anything inappropriate, you let me know right away."

She looked at him through the mirror and nodded her head.  Qingshan left the room and Mrs. Yu held onto Ying Yue's shoulders, "Good night, darling" and walked out with a smirk on her face.

Ying Yue went to bed with thoughts in her head. Was the King really changing and for what reason? She shrugged her shoulders and fell asleep.