His Majesty And I ✔️

Freedom

Yes!!! I'm back!! So excited!

There has been a subconscious mistake made by me in Book 2. I have been calling Mistress Kei, Mistress Ki. I thought of correcting it back but it's too much pasting of chapters on word docs to replace the name, that I was like we will just continue calling her Mistress Ki.

Please hang on because I am uploading  a bonus chapter today. I'm just doing the few touches of editing. It's my way of saying thank you for waiting. Thank you everyone. Me loves you.

Chapter 37

Imperial Concubine Wei
Capital

"Mistress Ki! Where are you going? Wait!" Li Lian ran after her.

At the call of her name, Mistress Ki sped up, throwing away the fan to hold up her skirts. She snaked around the oncoming traffic of people as they headed deeper into the Capital's marketplace.

Li Lian was faster than her as she was gaining distance and nearing her. "Mistress Ki, why are you running?"

The mistress was met with a table of fruits that she carelessly flipped over, sending the fruits dancing in the air. Shrieks from the vendor followed them as she protested death curses on them.

Because of her exhaustion based on age and unfitness, Mistress Ki slowed down and came to a stop, resting her hands on her knees and trying to catch her breath. She went on to rest her back on the black brick wall of the inn at the end of the road taking the left turn.

"Why is Mistress running like I'm here to take her life?" Li Lian was also trying to breathe normally. "Are you back in Nevoria to become Court Lady Ki again?" Wishful thinking.

"How is that possible? I retired," she scoffed. "You are still dumb as usual. Worst student I ever had." Mistress Ki winced as she massaged her back.

"I can do that for you." Li Lian reached out but got a thwack, pushing her hands away. She awkwardly cleared her throat and went on, "Then if you are not here for the palace, what other reason could it be?"

"Personal matters. It has nothing to do with you my lady." Her back cracked in appreciation when she stretched and twisted. "I will be on my way now. In another life, let's meet." She bore farewell.

"Mistress Ki," Li Lian pulled her by her sleeves, "If you need anything, you could call for me anytime."

The mistress sighed. "I don't need your help. It is 'my' unfinished business and I am claiming what belongs to me. I don't need help to do that."

Nodding, Li Lian murmured. "Then could I ask for something instead?"

"No."

"Please take me to your place, let me spend the night."

"Are you out of your mind? I just saw you with the emperor, he would bring the whole Capital to its knees if any of his women disappeared. I do not wish death to befall me."

"I can ask him. I will tell him I wish to visit my family, or a long lost friend has come back, please, Mistress Ki."

"I don't want to do anything with you." Mistress Ki whipped Li Lian's hands from her. "And besides, I was always harsh and rude to you. Why are you after me?"

"Does it matter? You still looked after me."

"It was my duty. I was getting paid for it. I cared not if you died or lived."

Yes, but she carried the semblance of home. She was the epitome of Li Lian's childhood. Most of who Li Lian was, was shaped by this woman. If Li Lian was to yearn for home, what else could she yearn for except Mistress Ki? Her mistress was her home.

Li Lian had no other. It was this mean woman who seemed to know everything there seemed to be concerning life, her teacher. Always guided her and told her what to do and now that she was alone and had to make all the calls, it was overwhelming and Li Lian needed her. Mistress Ki was always the villain in her life until now where Li Lian had so many things to ask.

"But I need answers, I don't know what to do."

Mistress Ki tsked. "Do you pay me?" She turned, leaving.

"Please!" Li Lian fell on her knees and clutched on her skirts. "I need answers... I don't know who I am, who is my mother, what to do with my feelings... I don't know anything." Tears began to gush on her cheeks, a sob being buried in her throat. "I don't know anything.

"Let me go." Her mistress sternly rebuked her.

"Bù yào." (No)

"I said, let me go!"

"I don't want to." Li Lian wailed.

Mistress Ki condemned her. "We are in public, and you dare throw that ruckus?" She forcefully attempted loosening Li Lian's hands off her skirts. "You act as if I taught you nothing all those years."

"Think what you may."

"If you don't let go. I will remind you how to be lady-like."

"No!" Li Lian objected.

"What?" Smack! She slapped Li Lian hard, her head snapped to the other side and more sobs flooded from her. "A lady does not shout, she is composed."

"I don't care, kill me!" Li Lian cried.

Another slap as loud as a clap, cracked on Li Lian's face and stung, she was sure she reddened. "A lady does not speak back arrogantly."

"I don't care for these useless rules. Don't you understand? All I want from you is love, sweet words for once. Why is it hard for you to be kind?"

A flicker of compassion danced in her mistress' eyes before she blinked it away.

"Just say one nice thing to me. I need it, I want it, I'm desperate for it." Li Lian let go of Mistress Ki's skirts and untidily smudged away her tears. "I don't know what to do. I am tired of all the unanswered questions, all the lies, all the deception, it is all feasting on me."

Mistress Ki straightened. "You know what you really need? Instead of all these silly things?"

Li Lian's eyes darted up, her eyebrows lifting in curiosity.

"Freedom."

"Freedom?"

"Unless you truly get freedom, you will never be as happy. Without freedom, there is no human dignity and human spirit. Fight for freedom Li Lian, because no one will bestow it on you or give it freely unless you fight to achieve it."

Those were the last words Mistress Ki said before she disappeared. Like it was all a dream. Like Li Lian was not holding her skirts just moments ago, smelling her velvet scent. Mistress Ki, the woman with walls, gates, spikes and fire around her heart. Who can truly get inside?

"She is here! I found her! She is the one who flipped my table and threw away my stock." A mob of vendors circled her, holding sticks. They looked furious and ready to tear her apart. "Beat her!"

"What? It was not me." Li Lian defended herself.

"LIAR!" Cabbage leaves were thrown at her, some rotten tomatoes, smelly food.

"Kill her! She deserves to be stoned."

~Author's Note~

Missed writing so much.

Random, random.

I realised my biggest fear as a writer is to have a boring book. I am here to annoy you, to make you cry, to make you laugh, roll your eyes, gasp in shock, hate me, love me. But the worst is to get no reaction because of boredom, then that means the person is unaffected and your work is meh... Hope I never have you bored (^_-)

S.V