The royal physician was summoned hurriedly to the manor, his footsteps echoing on the cold marble floor. Hua Lian lay on a narrow cot, her body aching but the wounds superficial—mere scratches from the earlier skirmish with the wolves.
The doctor glanced at her with a faint sigh. "Not bad," he muttered, dabbing a cloth with cool herbal water on her reddened skin.
Before he left, a cold voice cut through the quiet room. "Hey, little maid," Li Yuyan said, stepping forward without a hint of warmth and a single smile. "It's not like I care about your well-being. I only did this so you could return to your duties faster. You better recover quickly—there's much work waiting for you. And don't you dare leave this place without my permission. I am your new master."
Tianxue nodded in agreement.
" Don't worry. Get well soon " Tianxue reassured with a smile when Li Yuyan left.
Yuyan was happy that her condition wasn't really bad. It was just a surface injury. He had to instil fear into her so that she would not feel that he cared about the welfare of people.
Maybe, what they said about him was true but she had begun to doubt the rumors.Mingxue had helped her on the surface when she had fought with Renshu.Before, she entered the imperial palace she had heard a lot of good things about him. She was a fan. She had even seen on several occasions how he helped lowly people and tried to act as a peace maker; the palace rang of his praises. But she had seen his true fangs by that hunting competition. He was a deadly person.
Anyway, she decided that she would see the true face of her master Li Yuyan. She wanted to confirm the rumors herself without getting caught.
She silently crept into the dark room of her master. She could barely see. She saw Tianxue in a deep sleep; she waved her hands in his face and was sure he wouldn't wake up. She proceeded to where her master lay with his eyes shut and a beautiful sword by his side. She braced herself to take the risk to satisfy her curiosity. With a deep breath,she stretched forth her hands to take off the bronze mask.
His eyes snapped open—cold, sharp, and gold-flecked like a hawk's.
In one fluid, terrifying motion, he sat up and lunged. Before Hua lian could run, a powerful hand clamped around her throat, shoving her against the wall.
The ugly maid flinched. "So I will die today. Why did I intrude his privacy? Curiosity has killed me today. I will definitely die "
The grip tightened. Then—hesitation. The young man's gaze flicked around. He looked at her with anger as if he could read her mind. Then he left her.
Hua lian had red marks on her pale neck. She was coughing so hard and trying to get her breath back. She would have actually died if he didn't live her at that moment. His blazing blue eyes and tight grip reminded her of the arrogant stranger whose life she saved and her near death experience.
" Who are you? Who sent you?"Li Yuyan growled
She explained her intention but his facial expression showed he didn't believe a word she said. He looked at her with total disbelief.
" Get out!!!" He roared
Without hesitation she ran and scampered for safety. Her heart was pounding fiercely.She felt really lucky that he didn't kill her. This guy was really strong as rumoured but he had spared her life.
Li Yuyan looked at his dozing body guard and shaked his head pitifully. So if it was really an assassin, Tianxue would just be sleeping like a log of wood. The painful aspect was that he didn't move a limb for a moment. Some one could assume he was dead the way he slept. But Tianxue's skills were topnotch. Amongst the personal bodyguards he was the best. The only problem was that he overworked himself beyond his limit.This was the result. He didn't behave this way all the time.
Li Yuyan was deep in thought. Maybe this girl was a spy. She could be sent to monitor him or kill him through poison. He would watch her more carefully and keep his distance. He could feel there was more to the girl. She wasn't as simple as he thought.He had noticed something about her and he would discover it the next day.
The next day, the whole princes were gathered in his palace drinking jasmine tea and having some friendly discussion. The air was filled with laughter, the clinking of porcelain cups and fragrance of the tea.Maids from their different palaces were walking up and down rendering some services . Li Yuyan was a bit happy that his new maid was in his manor because she had transformed his place of residence to a beautiful wonder. All the princes were amazed at his beautiful palace. A place once cold and grim now bloomed with delicate flowers, serene ponds, and bright lanterns.
Hua lian was sweeping the courtyard meticulously,the soft whisper of her broom blending with the warm hum of courtly banter. The princes laughed and cracked jokes while sipping their tea.
Li Yuyan suddenly stood up without warning armed with his bow and arrow. He targeted Hua Lian's face with calm precision and mastery. The others were startled by his action especially Li Renshu.
"Why would he save her and still want to kill her? Is Li Yuyan crazy?"
Hua Lian's ear was apt to detect something strange while sweeping but the perpetrator was an expert in shooting arrows because it was too late for her to make a move. It wheezed past her ear and tore her mask apart revealing the most beautiful face any one had ever seen.
Hua Lian,she was not just beautiful—her beauty was almost ethereal, as if carved from moonlight.The girl stood like a delicate porcelain doll, her features so finely chiseled that they seemed almost ethereal. Her skin was as pale as jade. Her eyes were like dark, shining pools of water, fringed with luscious lashes that fluttered like butterfly wings as she blinked.
Her nose was small and straight, her lips full and inviting, painted a deep crimson that seemed to glow with an inner light. Her hair was as black as the night sky, cascading down her back like a waterfall of silk, with a subtle sheen that caught the light and shimmered like the moon on a still lake.
She wore a traditional cheongsam, its intricate embroidery and delicate patterns accentuating her slender figure. The fabric seemed to cling to her curves, highlighting her petite waist and the gentle swell of her hips. Her feet were tiny, clad in delicate embroidered shoes that seemed to be made for a fairy.
As she moved, her body seemed to sway like a willow tree in the breeze, her very presence radiating an aura of elegance and refinement. Her beauty was not just skin-deep; it seemed to emanate from within, a reflection of her inner grace and poise.
In her presence, one couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and reverence, as if beholding an angel from ancient mythology. Her beauty was a work of art, a masterpiece that seemed to transcend the mundane and enter the realm of the sublime.
The princes stood in awe with their eyes glued to her. She was not just cute but extremely beautiful. She was the most beautiful girl they had ever seen. Mingzhao stood with his mouth agape. Wenjin had to remind him to close his mouth. Renshu was amazed and pride filled his chest. He never imagined his friend would be this pretty.Fenglin was spell bound that he kept sipping tea from an empty cup. Wenjin kept staring at her smiling like a sheep. Even the maids stopped their actions in wonder. Everyone was stunned because her beauty was rare.
Li Yuyan's own expression tightened. Though he concealed it behind cold indifference, he could not deny her breathtaking and extraordinary beauty. It unsettled him, made him suspicious. This girl—once the palace's ugliest maid—was not what she seemed.
"Who is this girl?" he muttered under his breath. "She's far more dangerous than I thought."
His heart screamed that she was a spy. He was sure of this.
And with that thought, he vowed to watch her closely and become more guarded.
It turned out that the ugliest girl in the palace was the most prettiest lady.