Fallen Goddess

Punishment

"Father, I am just disciplining an unruly girl," Princess Mei Ling replied with a soft smile, her expression now calm.

"I didn't start it!" The girl exclaimed, indignant.

The Heavenly Emperor turn his head toward her and frown, and while everyone around her quake at the Emperor's obvious displeasure, the young celestial frown back at him.

"Explain." The Emperor orders, letting go of his daughter's chin and turn fully toward the girl. He had not seen anyone daring to be so arrogant toward him in millenniums, and while he is irritated, he is also fair and want to hear both sides of the story.

"I was minding my own business, on my way to deliver my teacher's medicine to the God of Many Treasures, when that maid," She pointed to the one near the Princess. "Bumped into me. SHE bumped into ME, and yet she demanded an apology! Just because she's escorting that lady there around, doesn't mean she can be pompous! Why should I apologize when it wasn't my fault? And since I did not apologize to her maid, that lady there told her guard to grab me and make me kneel!"

"Do you know who this lady is?" The Emperor narrowed his eyes at her.

"Yes, I do," The girl frowned harder. "She's the First Princess, isn't she?"

"And you dare to call her 'that lady there' when knowing full well who she is?" The Emperor's voice was frosty, making the maids and guards shivered.

"Oh, not you too!" The girl sneered. "Are you going to demand me to give respect to her as well? Those from the top should be respected while they get to disrespect everyone else? If she wanted me to call her 'Your Highness', she should have corrected her maid instead of trying to push the blame on me. And now you're doing the same thing! You are all the same!"

"Insolent!" the Emperor lift his hand and thunders crackle.

"Your Majesty." A voice calmly called out, and a soft aura permeates the area, easing the heavy tension. Everyone turned to see the Medicine God approaches, his gait slow, expression calm, as if he is merely out for a stroll.

"Medicine God," The wrinkle between the Emperor's brows smooths out, and he lowered his hand, standing dignified again. "Are you sightseeing? If so, don't mind the noise here."

Unlike any other deity who bow when they see the Emperor, the Medicine God just greet him with a smile and came closer. "The Imperial Garden is vast indeed, I was guided here by a little bird; as pleasant as it is, I'm looking for a specific flower." Yi Yao's eyes glance at the Princess, the maids, the guards, stopping at the young celestial, who smiled widely at him. Yi Yao's calm expression grew softer, and he smiles gently back at her. "Xian Dan, what's taking you so long?"

"Teacher, it's not Xian Dan's fault. I was wrongly detained." The young girl pouted.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, studying the girl carefully. "She is studying medicine under you?"

"Yes, she is my pupil." Yi Yao replied but did not explain more, instead, he surveys the guards on either side of her for a moment before speaking again. "Dan'er, come over here and tell me what happened."

The young celestial stood up, rubbing her knees with a glare toward the Princess and her maids, then bounce happily over to her teacher, retelling her unfortunate morning, ending with another pout.

Yi Yao chuckles at her pouting face, he pats her head then turn toward the Emperor. "It is fortunate that I arrived in time, a young and weak one like Xian Dan would not have been able to bear Your Majesty's strike."

It was Princess Mei Ling's turn to raised her delicate eyebrow, remembering the young celestial was able to withstand her slap of medium force without a scratch, how weak could she really be?