18 The Tea-Brewing Competition (1/2)
(This is part 2 of my DOUBLE-UPDATE, so, sorry about any spieling mistakes or repeated words. I'm still working on editing! Hope you guys enjoy!)
'Oh God, Ying Yue! Why is it that you seem to have left such a mess behind?!?!' she cried internally, finally being able to shove him away and take a good look at the guy.
It almost looked like he was hurt.
”Is it your habit to go around hugging unsuspecting girls on the street?” she exclaimed annoyedly, giving the guy a dirty look.
All around them, everything seemed to quite, not even a fly could be heard.
”Yue'er” he frowned, suddenly just inches from her once more, his voice barely more than a whisper, just enough for her to hear ”I know you are mad... I know I didn't protect you! But you have to trust me! If I had know Tong...” he gulped ”what she was planing, I swear, I would've done anything to stop it!”.
Sam wanted to massage her nose, almost feeling the curious, almost judging glares at her back.
”Listen kid” she started, not caring to control the tone of her voice ”I really don't know who you are or what the hell you are talking about... Besides, this is not the place to have this conversation”. Finally, she spotted Ah Mei at the sides, looking deathly pale ”I should really get going know...”.
”Jiang Ying Yue!” he whispered fervently, grabbing her by the arms so she could not get away, his voice still low, as if not wanting anyone else to hear them ”Is it everything I deserve? After all we've been through... Is this all that you'll give me? Your indifference?”.
'Oh God!' Sam closed her eyes tightly, wishing to be anywhere else but there. AH-ah! Why couldn't things go well just for ONCE?
All around her, she finally became aware of the whispers.
”Why is the Crown Prince talking to her?”
”Wha is the meaning of this?”
”Could it be he wants the crazy Jiang girl to be the new Queen?”
Sam gasped, turning to him once more.
His eyes still felt hard, his posture defiant. The Crown Prince.
She felt like spitting blood. 'Heavens... This must be bad karma accumulated from hundreds of lifetimes... Why, WHY can't it go well a single time?'.
Just before she could say anything, the sound of roofs and running feet interrupted them, making everyone turn their faces.
”The Royal Guards are Here!!” someone on the crowd shouted.
What follows was a real pandemonium, with everyone trying to get away as fast as possible. Using the confusion to her advantage, Sam was able to free herself, stumbling backwards and almost falling before she was able to regain her balance and run away, catching Ah Mei's cold hand on the way and dashing forward.
She was still able to hear a voice calling out to her, but didn't dare to look back. It was not the time. Something inside her said nothing good would come out of that meeting, and for some reason, she believed it.
”XiaoJie...!” Ah Mei gasped, looking over her shoulders at the guards picking up people and shoving them down while arresting others ”Miss! There!” she pointed at a large tea house at the corner of the street.
They could probably hide there and wait for things to calm a bit... Just for a few minutes.
Understanding her line of thoughts, Sam started slowing down, until they resumed a seemingly carefree walk at the establishment's door, trying to hide their labored breaths with a refined smile as an old merchant offered to show them an empty table.
”You will have to excuse this servant, miss, for as you can see, we are quite crowded this afternoon!” he beamed, pointing with a hand a small table ahead, just below a beautiful window. It was a bit hidden, and too close to the kitchen door's for anyone to want it, but for Sam it was perfect. What better way to go unnoticed?
”Sir, we thank you very much, this is perfect!” she assured him, looking curiously at the front of the shop, where a large stage was set, with what looked like four empty seats and two young ladies brewing tea ”Hum... What is happening here today? It seems quite popular!”.
”Ah, Miss is right! You have very good eyes!” he assured her ”We are having our annual tea-brewing competition! People all over the Kingdom, and I was told, even beyond it, come here to watch and participate! Quite popular, it's quite popular indeed!”.
And just like that, he left them to themselves, assuring Sam someone would come to take her order and bring some snacks. Once they were completely alone, she sighed on relief.
”God! I though we were truly lost this time!” she confessed, looking at Ah Mei ”That guy... Ah Mei, tell me, was he really the Crown Prince?” she finished her question in a whisper, trying no to be overheard by the suddenly clapping audience.
”Good!”
”Very Good!”
”Miss... This servant deserves death!” Ah Mei sniffed miserably, her head hung low ”This servant knew of what happened... This servant should have insisted we go when I noticed it was the Crown Prince!”.
Sam frowned.
”What do you mean by 'what happened'?” Sam mumbled, having a really bad feeling about all that ”And what...” she stopped talking suddenly, gasping at the stabbing pain she felt suddenly at her side.
Her hand flew to her ribs, as if expecting to find a knife buried there, but there was only smooth fabric under her fingertips.
”Miss” Ah Mei called, worriedly ”Miss, are you all right?”.
Before she could answer, Sam looked back feeling like there was a gaze burning wholes on her head. Instantly, her eyes meeting the cold, snidely smiling face of one of the competitors. The girl's lips quivered a little, showing an almost venomous satisfaction at Sam.
”Ah Mei” she whispered soberly, not daring to look away ”Who is that girl?”.
The servant stiffened, her face looking positively terrified.
”Ah Mei!” Sam ordered, a bit harsher than she intended ”WHO is that girl?”.