Chapter 6 Introduced

Rong marches her way to the dining room unbothered with Chui Yuan on her side. But just as she entered the room, she regretted coming of out her room.

She thought she already outwitted the young man from yesterday. Yet it looks like she was the one who is outwitted.

She was about to turn her back and return to her chamber when the young man who was having a conversation with one of her brothers, looked up and met her gaze.

The young man greeted her with a sly smile. Her eyes narrowed at the sight. She glared at him. Unfortunately for her, the young man started to speak.

"Greetings to you, Lady Su." The young man said with all smiles. This caught her brother's attention.

She discreetly clenched her fists in frustration.

"Rong'er!" Lim Tan recognized her.

"How have you been?" Wan Ni asked.

"Does your head still hurt?" Guan seconded while Eno Tang walks toward her.

She was about to answer her brothers honestly when she saw the young man's teasing smile again. Once more, she glared at him and spoke to her brothers.

"I still feel like the house is spinning..." She replied in her weakest voice and touched her temple.

But Eno Tang who just arrived in front of her snapped her role-playing.

"Oh dear, I know you were embarrassed at what happened last night," Being annoying himself, Eno Tang started. He puts her arm on her shoulder and continued.

"Besides, you have not yet formally introduced to each other, have you," He said and gestured his other hand towards their guest.

"I am afraid but...I have to agree with you Tang'er." The guest seconded and smiled at them.

"Right. Come, join us Rong'er." Guan spoke.

Chui Yuan could already feel her exasperation. She grimaced at her.

"Rong'er?"

"Alright!"

Without a choice, she heads toward the seat with a heavy heart. She could see the guest's triumphant smile from afar.

'Don't worry, life is like a wheel. Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down. Watch out you minx!' she whispers to her mind.

"There my friend, I would like you to meet formally our youngest Rong." Guan started.

The guest pursed his lips into a teasing smile and spoke.

"Now I am finally able to see your true face. You should wear something like that more often."

"Do I look like I need your opinion?" she looks away and murmured. But Guan heard her.

"We did not raise you to be rude to people, Rong'er. Especially to a Royal Highness." Wan Ni reprimanded her.

"Well, he is not a part of the Royal Family so he can manage, right?" Rong asked confidently.

The guest, Eno Tang, and Lim Tan laughed at her remark while Guan and Wan Ni folded their arms crossed in displeasure.

"What?" She asked cluelessly. Guan let out a heavy sigh.

"You surely did not recognize this man?" He asked her frustratedly.

"Would I dare to ask if I already did?"

"She is right, Guan'er. Besides, our guest has not spent much time living here in the capital..." Lim Tan defended her. "She has had been to Cheng for summer when he visits, too."

"I see." The guest spoke. Guan nodded in consideration.

"Alright. Now that you finally met, I expect you the give the same respect you have for us your brothers to this man. He is Prince Zhang Hwa Jin, son of Concubine Qi Jiao Huian."

Both her and Chui Yuan looked at each other. Their eyes widened at what they heard.

"A small courtesy from you would be much appreciated, little Rong." Hwa Jin teased.

Now she has more reason to hate him even more. She wouldn't bow to him no matter what happens.

"Did you hear him, Rong'er?" Guan said in a warning tone.

Looks like she has to swallow what she has just sworn earlier. Thus, she looked at him with a straight face and courtesied.

"Very well. You may rise." And she did without wasting any second.

'This will be the last time I will bow to you, Hwa Jin, you jerk!'

"Shall we head to the dining room?" Wan Ni gestured the room and Hwa Jin followed together with his brothers.

But before she could step her foot forward, Guan spoke.

"What's with you, Rong'er? Where are your manners? You've been gone so stubborn and misbehave these past few days!"

Chui Yuan immediately stepped out after hearing his master's angry voice.

Then it hit her. Indeed, she has gone above and beyond. She should have not let her emotions rule over.

"I apologize, Guan'er. Perhaps, I was just... so eager to help you, my brothers." She said and looked away "...And the letter allowed me to do that."

Guan lifted her chin to meet his gaze.

"Listen, Rong'er─ you don't need to worry and exhaust yourself by helping us. Rather, it is our responsibility to do the opposite to you because you are our youngest. You are our sister."

She unconsciously nodded.

"And about the letter, forget that matter and live it to us. I promise to find whomever that shameless man who dared to infiltrate our home and threaten you."

"But─"

"Just stay out of it. That is my only request." Then Guan left her without hearing her response.

Chui Yuan came and comforted her.

"Are you alright, My Lady?"

"He wants me to stay out of the investigation, Chui Yuan."

"well, he only wants you to be safe─"

"I can take care of myself Chui Yuan─ You all should stop treating me like a child!" She angrily said which made her voice raise.

This caught her brother's attention.

"Is everything alright?"

"Come here already."

She sighed heavily.

Everyone has been treating her so well that she thinks she is going to suffocate. She is thankful for all the love and care they showered. But getting tailed to wherever she goes, everything settled without hearing her opinion, and not being able to do what she really wanted upsets her. She wanted to move on her own. She wanted freedom.

She sighed and made a final decision. She will seek that freedom.

She then entered the room. Lim Tan patted the seat next to him urging her to sit there.

Unfortunately, Lim Tan sat in Guan's opposite direction who was at the center of the rectangular wooden table. With Wan Ni and Eno Tang sitting in the latter's right direction and the guest on his right, the seat which Lim Tan patted is the only seat available. The seat is next to the guest, too.

Chui Yuan could already feel her exasperation. She grimaced at her.

"Rong'er?"

"Alright!"

Without a choice, she heads toward the seat with a heavy heart. She could see Hwa Jin's triumphant smile from afar.

When seated, Guan and the others offered her food. She then takes the offer carefully, afraid of having any contact with the guest.

Once settled on her choice of food, Guan asks her about the incident yesterday.

Unfortunately, she could not win over them and received sermons instead.

"But really, Guan. We need to ask her some information about what she saw." Hwa Jin said seriously.

She could almost roll her eyes at them bluntly. Thankfully she restrained herself.

Guan dropped his utensils but their brothers act as nothing happened and did not bother to listen.

"I believe that that's not included in what was planned, Hwa Jin," Guan replied and looked at him seriously.

"Oh Guan, it'll be just a small talk. You don't need to worry."

Guan looked at her.

"What?"

"Alright. But not here."

"Better!" says Hwa Jin like he hit the jackpot.

She was about to protest when Guan spoke again.

"You've always wanted to go out and spy on our jobs, right?" Rong lifted her gaze at him with interest. "I am allowing you to come with us."

Her eyes twinkled in delight at what he said.

"Nice. Someone is going out─ I just hope she won't get herself into trouble again." Hwa Jin teased her. She rolled her eyes back.

"In one condition..." Guan said which caught all of their attention.

"You must wear your men's clothes."

She scoffed. Even Lim Tan and Eno Tang were surprised.

"Now that's something new." Said Eno Tang.

"She can dress herself to whatever she likes, Guan. No need for specific details." Said Hwa Jin.

"No. She must wear men's clothes." He said and looked away. "There are so many men on the camp. I won't let any man see her!"

They laughed at him.

"Then why did you invited me for a meal if you don't want any other man to witness a sight to behold?"

Rong accidentally drops her utensils with his remark. Then they all turned to Guan.

"Because I trust you."