Emin Lan Yixiu

7.

By the time the hunting had finished, it left grandfather Rou with the most captures which upon my request he released. Unbeknownst to him I kept a rabbit probably a couple of weeks old. I did so, so I could pass time during the tortuous nights i couldn't forge sleep.

I had told the stable masters to take care of him till the unwanted guests left. They warily excepted- seemed like I had to work harder on making my orders more appealing.

I looked Yongzhen in the eyes before walking off after he returned with his meagre hunt, I wanted to be surprised by grandfathers capabilities, but with his skill and the lack of a proper opponent he was bound to win.

Grandfather directed them to their room allowing them to rest and I gleefully departed from my role as a soft spoken granddaughter. I began shooting arrows into the board repeatedly to see how many times I could hit the same mark and slice through each arrow. I was well exerted by the end of my annoyance filled session and turned around to the stable boys and offered to them 2 pieces of gold each as a gift for hiding the fox i had found while they hunted, more so for not telling the maids or grandfather about my newly found friends. As i turned away from the stable i heard his voice call bright and clearly- from infront of me i was sure of that but where he was exactly i couldn't tell. 'Seems like focusing on the target board so often has taken a toll on your eyes' my eyes darted to the left and i found him up amongst a fully flourished tree and i rolled my eyes as he lept towards the ground in an obscurely extravagant manner i didn't expect from him. I looked at him for a moment before bursting into laughter, and he seemed pleased to find me amused 'seems like you enjoyed my imitation of that charming man, Nian Yongzhen was it?' This made me laugh even harder, i gasped out.

'Perfect' and his grin widened into a childlike smile. As i finally calmed from my laughing stupor i turned to him as we walked to my quarters 'what do you think of him?' He looked ahead while thinking before turning to face me once more 'i don't think he's someone with a good personality' i nodded in agreement until he continued 'especially since he entered a lady's quarters while she was sleeping' i looked at him bewildered.

'Why didn't you stop him and secondly how are you able to look into my quaters?' His hands that were previously resting behind his head moved infront of him in defense.

'Let's not forget the difference between his and mine position, and secondly i thought you would've been charmed by him if i hadn't seen your face after the hunting game i would've still been sorrowfully deluded' i looked at him with my eyes comically widened with a patronizing head nod so he could sense my sincerity 'stop making that expression, you may doubt my wounded heart for now but one day you will understand my undying devotion to you'.

'Your sincerity touches my heart but it doesn't answer why you were able to see into my quaters' i wasn't amused by the breach of my privacy even if it was friend. He guaffed at my question and answered with a plausible statement.

'Well if you don't remember you seemed to have gone missing while our esteemed guests had arrived so naturally everyone was sent to look for you and i was lucky enough to find you in a hideous state with that miser beside you' i raised i brow as he stopped walking, i walked up the short flight of stairs leading inside my quarters before turning to him once again.

'I forgive your sins for today, as a generous master will postpone your beheading till tomorrow' i grinned as he got on to a knee

'Long live the gracious Emin Yixiu, all praises be to her' we both chortled before parting ways to our seperate quarters a simple wave was our last interaction for the day as readied myself for our nightly meal.

'You smell of an animal lady Emin, as a possible heir you must be more dignified and keep away from the prizes of hunt and war' i looked down, my cheery mood sulled. I knew this was how she was instructed to teach and refine ladies but at times i wished she wouldn't open her mouth at all. As she did my hair to a more elaborate design and scented me with sweet almond again while the lower maids dressed me into a more mature attire with see through silk and organza while keeping a light hold on modesty. I felt bewildered from what they had dressed me in as i had never worn anything like such even when i had wanted to woo Nian.