LoT Phoenix 1

Chapter 40: The Sparks

4th Day of New Year, heavy snow.
The pines and spruces look extra dim between the heavily guarded walls. Lights are on all day long in the hallways on gloomy days like this one. An endless path covered in red.
You crouch in the tea room. The stove warms up the whole room, making you a bit sleepy.

Hui Xin: [Opens the door] You look pretty tired. Let me introduce you to Mr. Cao Xueqin.

Cao Xueqin: Thank you for your help last time, miss. Please let me know if you need anything.

Xiu Ying: [Stand up quickly] Mr. Cao, you are too kind. I always hear Hui Xin talk about you.

Hui Xin: [Blushes] Let's walk a bit outside, shall we? Shu Xian, Shi Lian and Yin Yin are all waiting for you.

Xiu Ying: No, I'm not going.

Hui Xin: [Winks] Fu Heng as well!

Xiu Ying: No, I'm not going.

You persistence forces Hui Xin to give up and take leave of Cao Xueqin.

Maid: [Closes in] You seem to be pretty close with Fu Heng?

You shake your head quickly. Rumors from the past have traumatized you already.

Xiu Ying: Not at all. I don't know him that well.

Maid: You are pretty close with the princes too?

Xiu Ying: No. I'm not really close with anyone.

Maid: Why are you so scared? We've known each other for so long already. I won't spread rumor. You avoid it like the plague, but I'm really jealous!

Xiu Ying: Well, if you are, then you could try going out and maybe you'll bump into a prince or Fu Heng?

Maid: That makes sense!

The tea room returns to peace after she leave in her excitement. The only sound are the crackling of firewood.

You get ready to rest a bit, but footsteps come through the door.

You look up. It's Yin Zhen. Handsome with deep, dark eyes.

Xiu Ying: (I don't even know if I should say this is a bad time.)

Yin Zhen: It stopped snowing. Want to view plum blossoms?

Xiu Ying: Thank you, Your Highness. But I only wish to stay in the tea room.

Yin Zhen: That's fine. It's warm here.

He looks at the chair as he speaks. Looks like he's going to stay.

Xiu Ying: [Reminding] Your Highness, it's best to keep a distance as we are alone, man and woman.

Yin Zhen: [Nonchalantly] We hid under a table together. Do we still need to keep a distance? Plus, I can just pretend that you're not a woman.

Xiu Ying: (That shut me up.)

Yin Zhen takes the chair and sits down. He even pours himself a cup of Tea. As Yin Zhen does all that, you decide to shoo him away.

Xiu Ying: Your Highness, this is the tea room, a place for the servants. Your grace must not be tainted in a place like this. 

Yin Zhen: [Joyfully] Don't worry. My father always tells us to have empathy. It's a perfect day to practice. 

Yin Zhen brings out the Emperor, which completely repels all of your arguments. You stare at him cautiously. Yin Zhen sips his tea, and puts down the cup.

Yin Zhen: You are so obedient to the Crown Prince, but show your claws only to me?

Xiu Ying: (As I thought, he knows that I have plots for the Crown Prince.)

Yin Zhen: [Scoffs] However, I think it's best that you act this way.

Xiu Ying: What are you trying to say?

Yin Zhen: You don't have to be so cautious in front of me. I won't give you a hard time, whether you agree to this or not. After meeting you, I truly understood that a spark can set off a wildfire. How about siding with me?

You are caught off guard.

Yin Zhen: [move closer to you] Xiu Ying, let's work together.