"(In a calm voice) don't worry yourself too much, the tea set he just broke was a tribute from a vassal state that was given to the late Emperor. Even if it doesn't kill him, it can always create a crack in his path to ascension, and once a glass is broken, it's very hard to fix." I said as the maid bowed agreeing to my statement as we continued walking.
"My lady, your palace is in the other direction." Lu Lu said as she noticed I was walking in the opposite direction of my palace.
"I'm going for a stroll outside the palace." I said not paying much mind to their statement as I continued walking.
"But your highness, if you do this wouldn't you be late for the Emperor's birthday celebration?" The same maid as she looked back at the direction to my palace as we kept on walking.
"(Stopped walking) you, go and tell father Emperor that I'm currently not feeling well. Ensure to add the matter of the crown prince as you report." I said as I pointed at the maid who just finished talking.
"Yes, your highness." The maid said as she bowed and left.
Telling father Emperor I was sick will earn some of his sympathy but adding the matter of him insulting my mother will get me more sympathy and will get that annoying crown princes in more trouble. After sending the maid away, I only had Lu Lu and two guards left with me.
"Lu Lu, go get me some maids clothes. The rest of you are dismissed." I said as I waved the guards away.
"Yes my lady." Lu Lu replied as she started walking away.
Today was the Emperor's birthday but also the day I was supposed to have my first encounter with HIM. In my past life, I didn't have an argument with the crown prince today and we did go out of the palace for a while and I got attacked by a group of thugs, but he stepped in and saved me, getting injured by one of the bandit. This was what fuelled my urge to be with me. I wonder what will happen if I change my actions this time.
. . .
This wasn't my first time out of the palace alone, I normally used to walk around the city a lot, but this time was very different. I was dressed in commoner clothes and did not any guards with me. I wouldn't say I wasn't afraid but at the same I was waiting to see what would happen.
"Looks like a maid but has skin as fair as silk, I wonder what prominent family you come from?" A group of men walked up to me as I was walking down the street.
"And to say that we were just worried about not having an extra treat after having a drink later by one just walks up directly to us." A different person said as he grabbed my wrist.
"Let go."
I said in an annoyed tone leaving my head down while the man still gripped my hand firmly.
"Or what? (Laughs) Listen here, if you serve us well, we might even consider giving you some compensation." A different guy said as he brought out a few notes from his pocket and rubbed against my face.
In total, they were seven men, from the smell of alcohol on them two were already fully drunk, four were partially drunk but were still a little sound in the head, and the other there that were talking to me were completely sane.
"(Sighs) I did try asking nicely." I said as in a soft but audible voice and gave the man who was holding me a kick to the waist.
From the rough shoes, amount of strength used, and his already fairly looking appearance, I could already tell it was a major hit. It wasn't going to kill but will cause some nerve damage to the legs from the impact he had with the ground. At least, some minor fractures and dislocations, at worst he'll be paralyzed.
"Well, my I was thought to always talk nicely to the opponent before getting physical but you guys just didn't want to understand my good intentions toward you." I said as I stood up from checking whether the man I hit was still breathing.
"I HATE IT! I HATE IT! I HATE IT! I hate when I try to mind my business but some useless piece of trash comes in my way." I said as I tilted my head to look at them. I don't know what scared them more, whether it was the fact I knocked one of their men unconscious with one single move, or the weird creepy smile that appeared on my face randomly.
"You want to use me as a play toy? (Screams) Do you even think that you are worthy?" I asked as I threw a face punch to the first man who had started the conversation with me. Unlike his companion this strike didn't cause him to faint, he just had some minor injuries and lost a few, about five, teeth.
At this rate the ruckus had already started to gather merchants, shop owners, maids, common folks, and even low ranking officials that were just passing by. I couldn't expect less, everybody did want a bit of drama.
"And you." I said as I turned to the third man who brought out the money.
I was about striking him on the face when my hand was abruptly grabbed halfway through.
"Tan... Tan Ci?" I said as I looked at the figure behind me that grabbed my hand.
"As a princess you shouldn't be doing this kinds of things outside." Tan Ci said as he lowered my hand down.
I could hear the whispers of everyone in the crowd remarking on Tan Ci's looks. Well I couldn't expect less, his matches that of someone who just came out of a novel.
"How did you find me?" I asked as I dropped my hand down.
"Sir please save me, she is a maniac." The man, who I was about to hit, cried out as he crawled and grabbed Tan Ci's leg.
With his clothes and looks it not surprising they mistook him for an important official in court but could not even identify the real priceless.
"Alright." Tan Ci said as he crouched down to look at the man clearly.
After hearing Tan Ci's answer, I could clearly see a brief look of relief on the man's face, but I knew it wasn't going to last there for long. Trusting the snake king's temper, I knew he was even more lethal than me.
"What did you do to anger her?" Tan Ci asked as he brought out a knife, from who knows where, and stabbed it directly into the man's hand that was on the floor.
"(Screams) Wh….Wh…..Why?" The man asked as he pressed his other hand on the bleeding one that still had the knife inserted on it. "
"You hurt one of my people and still came to beg me for help? Do you think I'm stupid here?" Tan Ci asked as he twisted the knife deeper into the man's hand with every four words he said.
At this point, some people who were disgusted by the scene started leaving, but the crowd still remained. I can't judge people's interesting tastes.
"It much be touching to see someone protect you?" Tan Ci asked as he pulled out the knife from the man's hand with force.
Watching the man groan in pain was oddly satisfying, I was looking for a place to express my anger and a set of punching bags walked directly up to me.
"I could have done it myself either ways." I replied to Tan Ci's question as I walked up to the bleeding man on the floor.
"I hope I served you well?" I asked in sly tone as I lifted the chin of the man up enough for him to directly face me.
"You wretch!" The man screamed as heh lifted his other, uninjured, hand attempting to slap me.
"Do you want to lose that one too? Cause I would definitely not mind taking it." I replied as I stopped his hand midway in the air and twisted it broken.
"(Screams) I swear I won't let go off." The man replied as his two hands dropped down to the ground
"You should first find out how you will take care of your friends. One paralyzed in the legs, the other mute and you paralyzed in the hands. Truly a good friendship." I said as I stood from the floor and stepped on his bleeding hand.
"Next time you see someone walking, remember to mind your business like your remaining friends over there or it might be more than this simple warning I gave today." I said as I started walking away as Tan Ci followed behind me.
Next Chapter to be released within
The period of 1 week.
Stay tuned.