Chapter 142: Sweet Dreams (1/2)
That same night, at the Crown Prince's mansion.
Zhu Fenfang sat on a cautioned seat at the balcony facing the front of the courtyard, head bent over a rolled out book. She had picked up reading books after getting married. It was a popular romance story published and sold at the capital. Her ladies maid Xiao Chu stood behind her, she glanced up at the night clouds with a furrowed brow.
It was getting colder but her mistress stubbornly refused to get inside, she bit her lip thoughtfully and glanced towards the gates. Her gaze landed on her mistress's half nearly empty cup of tea, she walked forward, picked up the dark brown hot kettle of tea on the small lit tea stove and refilled the teacup by her mistress's right.
She pushed the teacup within Zhu Fenfang's hand reach and stepped back to her previous position standing at Zhu Fenfeng left-hand side. Zhu Fenfang felt a slight pain at her right knee and raised herself, straightened her knee and bent it to the side such that she sat on her left-hand side. She felt more comfortable in that position and relaxed.
The lamp was a little out of sight, Xiao Chu cams forward to reposition the lamp. As she did that, she saw Zhu Fenfang feel around for her cup of tea. Xiao Chu picked up the cup of tea and placed it in her mistress's hands.
”Thanks”, Zhu Fenfang whispered.
Xiao Chu looks at her mistress's paling lips and sighed, ”it is getting late mistress, why don't we get inside”.
Zhu Fenfang never looked up from her book, ”why? Are you bored of keeping me company or is it that you don't want to serve me anymore? Is it hard for you as a servant, so you want to get an easier life?”
Xiao Chu's face pales immediately and she fell to her knees. ”Mistress! I was wrong! Please don't misunderstand, that is not what I meant. It_ it is just that_ I am worried about your health mistress! You have been waiting here for hours, it is getting colder. I am scared that you might catch a cold if you stay any longer!”
Zhu Fenfang smiled, without looking away from the book. She brought the cup of tea to her lips and took a sip before returning the cup to the saucer.
”It would be good if I caught a cold, that way his highness will pity me since I got sick waiting for him. He would feel touched and think of me often. Xiao Chu, after following me for so long. How come you cannot see something so obvious? Do you think I have been seated at this spot for the last four hours for nothing? All this is a strategy to get a full grip on his heart.
”A man's affection is fleeting, I want to get deeper in his heart. Until only I occupy one section of his heart, the fastest way to do that is by appearing frail and fickle to him. Men like women that made them feel strong, I intend to feed on his pride. If I appear weak, he would like to protect me better”