QT: Against My Will

189 4.13 – Headache – Dangerous Angels

Bing Shi called out for a staff to clean the mess, “Does your Highness know that an accidentally broken dish symbolizes a new beginning?” She picked up a small triangle shard, “Those shards are an indication that after a bad accident, good luck follows. People would assume that shards are useless and not worth keeping, but maybe they’re useful? As for me, I’ll keep one as a lucky charm.” She wrapped the shard in a cloth, walking towards the hanger, she placed it in the inner pocket of her cloak, “In case of emergency, I can use it as a weapon.”

Bing Shi’s message was clear. Don’t jump to a conclusion before looking over it carefully. The first judgment could deceive many.

As she played with the strength pill under her tongue, Bing Shi sat back at the sofa, “What is your Highness’ opinion on this matter?” She watched how the man surged behind the desk, taking out a stack of papers and a brush with a nip made out of glass, he dipped it into ink and began to jot down a war strategy.

“I can’t agree more,” Zhao Rong answered without acknowledging his loss, “Lack of information will lead you to a trap.”

Zhao Rong might won physically, but Bing Shi turned the table around verbally three times in a row.

[Host, what if he gets more interested in you? You might fail one of your missions.]

[“If his interest would mean more opportunities in the future, I won’t say no. Kuro, we have to look at the bigger picture.”]

Having a prince as a regular might open the door for her little Tian Shies sooner than planned.

[Are you going to take revenge for what he did to you?]

.....

[“Petty revenge is not for me. About the things he did to me... If an opportunity comes, I’ll make him regret his actions hard.”]

Bing Shi rubbed her temples, the static noise from the shattered bowl still lingered in her ears, bringing back bad memories from her childhood.

‘Xuan Mu, my head hurts...’

‘I had to go on all fours and beg for mercy. I allowed someone to beat me. I didn’t fight back when someone pulled at my hair. So tell me, why do I still feel no hatred and anger?’

‘Somewhat, I’m scaring myself with my thoughts.’

· · — · ???· — · ·

Jumping down from a thick branch of a willow tree, Ru Quan, in a black uniform, crouched before Fei Lan, “Get on. Quickly, before the patrol appears.”

Fei Lan, in commoner clothes, shyly climbed up his broad shoulders. Hearing nearing footsteps, Ru Quan disappeared from the spot with additional baggage. Up at the tree, he felt Fei Lan’s hot breath tickling his ear. Afraid of falling, she held onto him like a clamp, her hand around his neck brought a fresh scent to his nostrils. Ignoring all the effects she had on him, Ru Quan climbed up the wall when the surrounding was clear, putting a hand on a ledge, he swiftly leaped over the wall and landed on the ground, sprinting towards a cart behind a horse, he told the girl to hide in the cart. Taking the reign of the animal, they galloped into the depth of the night.

“I’m taking you to a safe place, where you’ll stay for the time being,” Ru Quan looked at the road ahead. The inns were out of the questions. “I have to return and continue being a guard to avoid any suspicion.”

Fei Lan wanted to pump her head against a wall. She nodded in acknowledgment, not wanting to give him any more problems.

· · — · ???· — · ·

Hasan stood up abruptly, pointing his finger at the all familiar face before his office doors, exclaiming, “W-what are you doing here?! Guards!” He called out for help with no response.

Ru Quan sat down before Hasan’s desk, looking around, “I’m looking for Tian Shi.”

“Y-you! Who do you think you are?!” Hasan slammed his hands against the table. Then, he remembered how this simple guard bypassed his security, “Hmpf! She is currently catering to his highness, prince Zhao Rong!” This should be enough to scare him and the person behind him away.

From their conversation, little monster should be only a courtesan in training. How did she jump the ranking so fast? Well, it’s little monster; nothing about her could surprise him anymore. Feeling another presence, Ru Quan turned around.

“What happened to our guards?” A tired Bing Shi poked an unconscious guard on the floor with her foot, “If you are curious why I’m here this soon... His Highness allowed me to return sooner due to my headache.” She walked behind Hasan, “Master should go to sleep, I’ll take care of our guest from now on.” After the outraged Hasan left the room, she sat at his spot. When she first saw Ru Quan, she had an urge to grab a strawberry chapstick and smear it all over his parched lips. Believing that he didn’t eat nor drink properly, she slid Hasan’s plate of desserts before Ru Quan and poured him a cup of tea.

“How did you get yourself injured?” Ru Quan asked in distress, seeing the wound on her cheek, he remembered her pierced arms in the past. A heat of anger began to radiate from within his heart, previously filled with nothing but ash, the irritation was short and violent, “You have the power to prevent such things! So stop laying yourself out for others to hurt you!”

“Huh?” Bing Shi opened her eyes wide in disbelief, “You should put yourself first before you start caring about other people. Don’t speak like you know me! Why are you even here?”

“I...” Ru Quan calmed down, “I wanted to talk to you alone,” he gave her a box of sweet potatoes.

Bing Shi looked at him strangely, “You are not courting me, are you?”

“W-what? No, I went through that passage of life a long time ago, and never again,” Ru Quan facepalmed at her shamelessness, “I brought a female friend. She is running away from her marriage. If possible, could you hide her for the time being?”

“Oh, I’ll think about it,” Bing Shi placed her pointer at her chin in contemplation, “How old are you?”

“I thought you’ll ask for something in exchange first,” smiling, Ru Quan counted his first lifetime, skipping all others, “Thirty-seven. You?”

“Depends on the type of girl you brought,” said Bing Shi with a grin, “Forever twenty-six.”

“You died young,” Ru Quan was curious about what happened, “How?”

Studying each other, their inklings never stopped. Knowing how manipulative the other could be, they over though until they got sick of it.

Before even realizing it, they breathed in the air, which unknowingly tasted like home. Both souls recognized the other in a manner, unbeknownst to them. Not ready to cast this scene to memory just yet, they wanted it to be their present for a while longer, to fill their senses.

Bing Shi rubbed her full tummy, “Where is your female companion?”

“Outside,” Ru Quan finished his cup of tea.

“What?! And I thought you were a gentleman,” Bing Shi hopped down the chair, “What if she catches a cold?! We need to hurry!”

“I’m,” Ru Quan followed after her, “I gave her a thick blanket.”

“Bwahaha, how nice of you ??.” Bing Shi kneaded her temple.

‘Hurray, my headache finally disappeared!’

· · — · ???· — · ·

Fei Lan, watching the situation inside, wanted to slam the foolish Ru Quan’s head against a wall. Did he see a human trafficker’s house as the safest place? Why Bing Shi out of all people? She rolled her eyes in disdain. They just met this morning, barely knowing each other. ‘Trusting too much kills you. They are too ignorant.’

· · — · ???· — · ·

Standing at the entrance to the mansion, Bing Shi peeked her head from behind the door, her calculative gaze followed a black silhouette.

‘Ah, everyone is taking advantage of me today.’

Ru Quan faded in the darkness like an exhilarating blur; his legs had enough power to cross the garden in seconds. Passing over a high brick wall, his movements were soft, practiced so often, until perfection. Initially, there was no safe place. What about Little monster? She was far from safe. Ru Quan had to create a secure place for Fei Lan by threatening Hasan’s life, Bing Shi’s so-called meatshield. Knocking off fifteen guards and ten servants, he put pressure on her. Not knowing her true strength, he took advantage of the person she was looking for and hazarded with his life. Now, thanks to Fei Lan, he had an excuse to visit little monster more often. Also...