9 Grandmother (1/2)

Mingxia didn't understand how the second prince found out about her identity but she knew that from now on, she had be careful when coming out. She arrived at her house and purposely walked towards the back door. She jumped up the wall and climbed into her courtyard.

”Lady Mingxia! You're finally back!” Xing quickly ran over and helped Mingxia land on her feet.

”I was only gone for a while, why are you so worried?” Mingxia laughed and walked towards her room.

”Of course I was worried! You failed to come back after so long and your grandmother came earlier.” Xing reported as she helped me change into blue robes.

”Grandmother? What did she say?” Mingxia took out the blue pouch and touched the vines sewn on it.

”She said that she would like to have lunch with you but since you weren't here she told me to tell you to go have a cup of tea with her when you come back.”

”I see. I'll go now I guess. Xing, grab the blue dress. I'm going to wear that one.” Mingxia pointed at a sky blue dress hanging in her closet.

Xing nodded and took it out.

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”Grandmother, the weather is quite nice today isn't it?” Mingxue awkwardly tried to start a conversation with her grandmother. However, her grandmother ignored her attempt and acted as though she did not hear. Mingxue bit her lips and took a long sip of her tea.

”Grandmother,” A calm voice said and Mingxue turned her head towards the voice.

”Xia er! Come quickly, let grandmother see you!” Grandmother opened her arms and Mingxia gently hugged her.

Mingxue dug her nails into her dress and bit her lips.

”Mingxia… Mingxia... Mingxia… Why is it always her?! I can do what she can a hundred times better but why is she the one that gets everything?!”

Mingxia was shielded by her doting grandmother, so she did not notice her sister's darkening heart.

”Now tell me Xia er, where were you when I went to visit earlier?”

”Uhhh. I was out?” Mingxia's response resulted in a gentle glare from her grandmother.

”Sigh. Xia er ever since young, you have been, well... different, from other girls. But now that you are a young women and going to turn 16 soon you will have to act like a woman now.” As she said this Mingxia's grip on her cup tightened.

”Grandmother what is it that you want to tell me?” Her grandmother looked surprised by Mingxia's straightforwardness but in the end sighed.

”I would like for you to be more ladylike so I have hired teachers for you everyday. These teachers are not like the ones you have had in the past, they are strict and have tolerated things worse than what you have done before. You will have classes for sewing, guqing and drawing first. Once you have adapted to those classes you will have-”

”I will not take these classes!” The porcelain cup in Mingxia's hand broke from Mingxia's grip leaving multiple cuts of blood on her left palm.

”Mingxia! How dare you speak to your grandmother like this!” A high pitched voice interrupted their conversation.