Bloom Pavilion
The next morning, Xu Ling Ai woke up by the sound of loud steps and loud commands from outside.
Yesterday, she sew her clothes until late at night. Yawning all over again, she forced herself to get up and head to take a quick bath.
Since she got no planned this morning, she decided to wear less clothes. Living in the ancient era force her to wear double robes.
Xu Ling Ai respect her old ancestors culture and she likes wearing robes. But sometimes she do miss wearing a simple clothing which is top and pants especially on a hot day.
She open her window and check what is going on outside. Rubbing her eyes with her hand trying to clear her vision.
"What are they doing?" Her hair were totally messy. Based on her state right now, she couldn't go out and ask so she decided not to become busybody.
"Gu Mama gonna nag at me if she know I haven't take a bath yet." Xu Ling Ai mumbling at herself for her stupidity while heading for a bath.
After their last conversation about Li Zhi Ming or Xiao Zhan, Xu Ling Ai did not meet Li Zhao or saw him anywhere. It's like he did not live in the manor.
But she did not care as long as he allow her to live and eat there. She knew he got no feelings towards her and she neither.
When she first arrive in the manor, she also heard the servants chitchatting that Li Zhao has never went to the brothel house. So he won't treat Xu Ling Ai like his consort.
The servants were right though. Xu Ling Ai and Li Zhao never sleep together, never talk to each other properly or eat together.
Some of them even said that before Xu Ling Ai's marry him, people said that he likes man. Which means he is gay in the modern world.
So Xu Ling Ai did assess Li Zhao on their wedding day. And they were right he did not treat woman specially.
She is an expert when it comes to detect any emotion from someone eyes. But Li Zhao's eyes shows nothing. Don't even talk about love.
Even lust can't be seen which a normal man had it when they saw a woman who are basically wearing nothing but a night robe.
So she predicted that he might not like a woman at all. She is a modern girl and she is very open minded if he happen to like someone else. It's just that she wants to go back before she became a widow.
"How am I going to tell him that I don't mind if he dates a man?" Xu Ling Ai touch her chin while thinking.
She is currently wearing her handmade clothes. It fit her perfectly. Her arms, neck and legs were exposed. She feel chills and cool due to the wind.
"Will he feel offended? I can't even to talk to him now because he always went missing. I'm pretty sure that he wanted nothing to do with me." She grab the antic and started to comb her long hair.
"Ouch!" She suddenly screamed when her hair get tangled. Xu Ling Ai pat her own head trying to ease the pain.
Suddenly an idea popped up, she tie her hair high just like Ariana Grande. Using the the comb as a mic as she sang Ariana's song.
"So one last time I need to be the one who takes you homeee.." She sang quite loud while trying to reach the high note.
Unknown to her, Li Zhao were standing opposite her pavilion. Her window was open widely that anyone passed through there can see what she was wearing.
But no man will pass there except the ladies servant which had been assigned to take care of Xu Ling Ai.
He couldn't stop thinking about her weird action. Li Zhao wanted to know whether she is pretending or she is just pure sociable.
Li Zhao had enemies everywhere so a thought came to him that Xu Ling Ai might be the empress people.
It was weird that they met in the forest and she is also the one who he get married to. Li Zhao don't believe in coincidence. And he never will.
However, now he is definitely sure that Xu Ling Ai is one weird and crazy lady.
Fortunately, he did not send his subordinates or Wu Xi to check on her or they might faint seeing her deranged singing and her clothes..
Li Zhao finally notice her attire. His eyes went dark when he saw her in that vulgar clothes. Her skin were full on display.
Even worser than the first time they met. At that time, he was pitying the guy who will marry her as she had no shame.
"What is she wearing?!" He is mad but he doesn't know where did the anger came from.
He still couldn't believe that he is the one who marry her. Li Zhao wanted to scold her but his attention turns to the scissors that she is holding.
"Is she trying to suicide again?" Li Zhao thought. His heart told him to stop her but he stop the urge.
'If she really wanted to die, then let her be.' He told himself sternly. Trying to convince himself. Li Zhao's hand clenched tightly.
He unknowingly let out a heavy sigh when the scissors cuts her hair. Li Zhao again feel confused with her unexpected movement.
'Is she really crazy?' He thought because ladies are not allowed to cut their hair as it is a symbol of their beauty and concerning any other taboo.
Xu Ling Ai had seen this a lot on TikTok. It was either successful or failed. But she wanted to try since she got a very long hair.
Bending down her head, she grab a scissors and cut her hair a bit. When she feel it work well, she continues cutting it until it was about elbow. Just enough to ease her when combing.
Xu Ling Ai then comb it into half and tie it into two pigtails. Looking at the mirror, she smirk feeling satisfied with her own skill.
"Bitch naneun soloooo!" All of a sudden, she danced once again to Jennie's Solo.
"I'm going sololololololo!" Her mood instantly turn very bright. No one disturb her when she is dancing and singing.
Li Zhao eyebrow scrunched when he saw her dancing weirdly. No one dance like that. Ladies in Han's country dance very smoothly.
His lips was about to turn into a smile but a sound brought his attention to real life. Li Zhao's ear perks up as he heard a footsteps to his direction. It was Wu Xi.
"What are you looking at Your Hi..." Before Wu Xi could lay his gaze on Xu Ling Ai's room, Li Zhao's use his martial arts and kick him out of there.
Xu Ling Ai was altering her hair a bit when a screaming surprise her.
"Princess Consort! What are you doing!" Gu Mama stand at her door chambers in a horror state. She couldn't believe what she just saw.
"Gu Mama you shocked me!" Xu Ling Ai picked up the scissors on the floor which fell due to Gu Mama high pitched voice.
"Princess Consort! This is wrong! Cutting hair was considered unfilial to your parents!" Gu Mama seriously said. She snatched the scissors from Xu Ling Ai.
Also hair cutting is sometimes used as punishment in ancient China. To have your hair forcibly cut is a great humiliation. That is why they have a long hair.
And Xu Ling Ai were slow-witted to realise that she did a very wrong move. She started to feel panicked a bit but then her defensive mode came back.
"I only cut it a bit." She said while kicking away the hair trying to hide it.
"Princess Consort don't let this window open when you wear that vulgar clothes! What if someone saw you in that clothes?" Gu Mama's mouth couldn't stop blabbing.
"Who will see me Gu Mama? Even His Highness did not visit me.." Xu Ling Ai fake her sadness as she knew Gu Mama will pity her when she talk about Li Zhao neglecting her.
"His Highness is busy. Don't take it to heart." Gu Mama take the bait and persuade Xu Ling Ai.
"Your hair! His Highness is going to be mad. Aiya!" Gu Mama hit her own forehead when she look at Xu Ling Ai's hair.
"His Highness. His Highness." Xu Ling Ai mimicking Gu Mama's while pursed her lips.
Gu Mama then turn Xu Ling Ai to the left and right. She is thinking on how to fix this without anyone knowing it. Gu Mama feel somehow relieved that she arrived on time or the hair is gonna be very short.
"Gu Mama didn't I look amazing with this hair?" Xu Ling Ai remarks bring a shake head from Gu Mama.
"Look at me! I literally look like Jennie Kim!" Xu Ling Ai started to pose like Jennie.
"Didn't I look pretty? Don't be mad Gu Mama. I didn't think seriously about it. I'm sorry." Xu Ling Ai begged. Gu Mama is the only companion she had.
"This old woman is not mad." Gu Mama only laugh at Xu Ling Ai's face.
While Gu Mama combing and styling her hair, Xu Ling Ai ask her something about Li Zhao.
"Gu Mama. Have you seen His Highness with a lady?" Xu Ling Ai hesitantly ask.
"No." Gu Mama simply respond.
"With man?" After a lot of considerations, she finally had the courage to ask.
"Of course a lot. His Highness is the general so he met a lot of people. Ahh I forgot that His Highness do associate with a lady." Gu Mama said remembering the lady. The only one who always cling onto Li Zhao.
"Who?" Curiosity on display on her face.
"Princess Ning Jing."
"Wh.." Before Xu Ling Ai could ask any further, Gu Mama cut her off. And it make Xu Ling Ai feel curious even more.
"I have made some breakfast for you. Change into a pretty robe and come to eat." Gu Mama then leave her with questions.
P.S.
Is he gay? And who is Princess Ning Jing?
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Thanks! 💖 - R