Sofya and ili sat in her courtyard playing ladies, sipping on tea and enjoying the beautiful garden.
As spring was slowly creeping towards sumr, the hydrangeas were blooming like big frilly pompoms. ili adored blue flowers, so she had asked the gardeners to feed them vinegar, which made the naturally pink flowers bloom blue.
Tricky ran about among the bushes snapping at butterflies.
"So pretty ili," sighed Sofya. "They’re like a little piece of sky in your courtyard."
"I know, aren’t they? I wish I could find sothing exactly the sa to wear in my hair so I can carry a little hydrangea about with ."
"Oh, that’s easy, we can definitely find you so hydrangea yanbin clips at the shops. In fact, why don’t we go shopping together now?" the princess asked with enthusiasm.
"That would be fun," said ili, "I’m just not sure mother will let . You co and ask her with . She’s more likely to say ’yes’ if you’re there."
The two girls found Madam Yu in the food storeroom.
"Mother," said ili respectfully, "Princess Sofya would like to accompany her on a shopping trip this afternoon. May I?"
"Hmm," said her mother, "I’ll need to check with your father first. You go back to your courtyard, and I’ll send word after we’ve discussed it."
"Thank you, mother," she gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek. Little devil, thought Madam Yu, buttering her up with a rare kiss.
"Thank you, Madam Yu," added Sofya, "I would really appreciate i ili’s company to help choose so items. I have two guards in the front courtyard who can escort us."
"Thank you for the offer your highness," said Madam Yu. "Lord i will make sure you’re both well-protected, if he agrees to the outing."
Sofya dipped her hand into ili’s hot spring. "Ah, so divine ili. We are definitely bathing in this little piece of heaven of yours soon. You’ll just have to get comfortable with the risk of being spied on."
"No, no, no, Sofya. I still have nightmares about soone watching in there. I just can’t make out his face. It isn’t safe anymore."
"This is your own private quarters. Just need to ask your guards to increase their vigilance."
"Hmm. You’ve given a good idea actually. Leave it with . I’ll let you know when it’s been arranged."
"Yay!" clapped Sofya. "I can’t wait. Make it soon though, before it gets too hot."
"I will. It will be any day now," ili promised.
Madam Yu stood in her husband’s study. Lord i sat at his desk. Their eldest son was there too.
"Husband, Princess Sofya has asked for ili to accompany her on a shopping trip this afternoon," said Madam Yu. "I thought I had better check with you first, given what’s going on in the North."
"You did well wife," said her husband. "There’s a lot of unrest on the border at the mont. It will almost certainly lead to another war. The sentint of the people is turning against the Mongols again. I wouldn’t say this to the princess, but she and her brother will be at risk. They’re high-profile targets. She really shouldn’t be wandering around the capital without a full contingent of guards, and I don’t like the thought of ili being out in public with her. She might get caught up in sothing."
"We need to be careful to maintain the alliance while the Emperor values it and is considering inter-marriage though," said First.
"Absolutely son," said his father approvingly. "We will be being watched while she’s here at the mansion. It’s to our advantage to chaperone her on this outing. Take a contingent of guards and go with them," he said to his son. "Check in with Bai Li and see if he can bring so of the palace guards along with you."
"Yes father," said First seriously. He bowed and rapidly exited the room.
"I’ll let the girls know," said Madam Yu.
"Don’t tell ili why there are so many guards," said Lord i. "I don’t want her to be frightened unnecessarily."
"I agree husband. Don’t worry, I’ll think of an excuse."
He nodded at his wife with approval.
Madam Yu arrived in ili’s courtyard, where the girls were playing a ga of pitch-pot.
"Good news ladies, your father has agreed to the shopping expedition," she smiled.
"Hooray," they both cried. "Thank you, mother!"
"You can thank your father for saying yes. Your first brother will be coming along with you, and so extra guards. We can’t afford for anything to happen to the princess under our watch."
"Yes of course mother, we’ll be extra careful, I promise."
Sofya brightened even further on hearing that i Renlong would be accompanying them on their shopping trip.
The contingent that finally set out included Bai Li, First Brother, the princess’s two guards and another two guards from the i family, as well as Tricky. It seed excessive to ili, but she reasoned that their family was showing respect to the Mongolian royal family with the large escort party.
ili nodded formally at Bai Li. "Commander Bai," she said, trying hard not to blush.
At their last eting she clearly recalled him teasing her rcilessly about telling him he was handso after she had been drinking huangjiu. Both her state of inebriation and her conversation with him on that unfortunate night, were sources of humiliation to her.
"Miss i," he nodded back, unsmiling.
"Good afternoon, i Renlong, Commander Bai," the princess greeted the young n, who were mounted on their horses.
"Your highness." Both n nodded their greetings formally. They were in serious work-mode.
The two girls and Tricky hopped into the carriage. The guards and the two young nobles on horseback, surrounded the carriage on all sides.
ili had actually never been shopping before. Her mother made all of the selections of her fabric and jewellery, and all of her needs were catered for without her ever having to leave the mansion. She peeped out the window in excitent.
Reviews
All reviews (0)