Choices

12 - Laying Plans

A/N: Planning, then and now.

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"That is a terrible plan, Lord Chengyu."

"Indeed it is. So if you have any other ideas in mind, feel free to share it, Siming."

To his credit, the Star Lord appeared to be giving the matter some real thought. "How about convincing Her Highness to just let this debt go? For all we know, Dijun's benevolent deed of rescuing her in Qin Yao Mountain was a mere act borne out of boredom. He might not even remember it."

Hearing this, Fengjiu - who had been content to watch from the sidelines as Chengyu bullied Siming to cooperation - left her perch atop the Star Lord's desk and stalked over to where her two friends stood arguing. "He might not remember, but I will. And the fact that I have an unpaid life debt will haunt me for the rest of my existence. Can you really bear to condemn me to that fate, Siming?"

Siming's face was so crestfallen, Fengjiu really thought she had him. At the last moment, however, his countenance hardened along with his resolve. "Be that as it may, Your Highness, attempting to repay the debt by smuggling yourself as a fairy maid to Dijun's domain is most unacceptable. So I beg Your Highness to reconsider, or at leaset think of another method."

Chengyu sighed, and the disappointment by which it was made was enough to express both her and Fengjiu's feelings on the matter. "I don't get you, Siming. All that Fengjiu intends to do is stay for a few months in Dijun's domain, render silent service, and get out afterwards. How is that unacceptable?"

"Does the Third Prince tell you nothing?" At Chengyu's blank look, Siming's shoulders fell. "Of course he won't, he thinks you are too pure for such matters. I believe so, too, but why does the burden of informing the two of you fall on me?"

"What are you talking about? And what does that rascal have to do with it?"

With a deep sigh of resignation, Siming bade the both of them to take a seat, and began his explanation thus: "It's like this. Those fairy maids sent to Dijun's domain are all handpicked by Tianjun himself, and they fit a certain criteria - young, pretty, and willing. Do you get what I mean?"

Two blank looks met his speech. Siming buried his face into his hands and muttered a very uncharacteristic curse.

"The fairy maids are not just there to clean and cook and do household chores. They are sent to serve Dijun in a more intimate capacity; that's why they undergo a thorough screening process before being deployed. Do you understand now why you can't do this, Your Highness?"

Both Fengjiu and Chengyu's mouths fell open in an 'ohhh'. They exchanged glances, and some silent communication passed between them - much to Siming's consternation - before they seemed to come to an agreement.

"Seems you were right, lass" Chengyu quipped, tapping her fan in her palm in a pattern that suggested deep concentration. "At first I thought it would be enough to put you in a disguise, but now it appears some paperwork needs to be tampered with as well. We really need Siming for this."