On a warm afternoon, Hu Li lay on her side on the open space boudoir facing the garden. The butterflies are flying around her as she lay on her side to read the book she found in the library. It is an old classic book written by a famous scholar. She decides to read it to kill time.
Prince Wang Cao is strolling into her courtyard. The maid bow as he walk pass them. He did not notice anyone but his sister. She is laying a couch in an open space on a platform. The surrounding is like a bed canopy with curtains surrounding the couch. With the wind blowing the curtains are drifting in the air with the butterflies. While strangely, the light above the couch is shining on her as if a spotlight is forcing on her. As he walk nearer, he notice that the wind have blow gently the hem of her dress. They dance on her white skin and he see her bony ankle. Her white feet without the shoes are lay on the couch elegantly. He bow to her and she put down the book beside her. She look at him as he sits down on a side chair.
"Why are you here today? Yamen doesn't have much to do?"
"My eldest sister. Today is my day off. Why, these days you seems to be annoyed that i am appearing in front of you?"
"Am i? I am just ... wondering why am i seeing you that often. That's all."
He look at her feet while talking to her. Her bony ankle and feet is rather strange to him. He does not remember that her white feet is long in shape. Her nails are strangely in a long shape as well. He look at her long fingers with long nails. He doesn't remember that he sister likes to have long nails. She used to have short nails because of the outdoor actives that she does. He smile and adjust his long robe hem.
"Well i thought of going out to play with you."
"Oh what are you thinking of?"
"Since you enjoy horse riding, we can do that."
"I am tired of ridding horses. Forget that."
"What about ChuiWan?"
Hu Li doesn't understand what that is so she shake her head.
"Archery?"
"Boring."
"Kite flying."
"Boring... You ..."
"Then how about opera theater in the city."
Hu Li look at him with interest. She put down her book and lean over to pick up a grape on the fruit plate on the small table which is next to her. She sit up and lean over and push it in his mouth.
"Now that i like. Wait, let me go change my outfit."
He watch her get up with the book in her hand. She walk away without shoes nor slippers. He remember that his sister hates getting her feet prick by the rough rocks on the ground. Why have her character change over night?
They take the carriage into the city. She look outside with amusement. After they get off she rush to every stall that is peddling their goods. As Wang Cao follows behind, he smell a strange familiar smell that he knows. As he watch her back, the image of someone creep into his mind. He walk with cautious he walk with curiosity. Who is she who is blinding everyone to believe she is Princess Wang Ching. Only when suddenly she turn around to look at him with those bright eyes, he remember Yu Bing. That boy who vanish in think air that no one can find him. Could he be this person now?
Siting in the opera tea house, they have the most expensive seating at the top front floor looking down to the stage. Fresh tea, peanuts and pastries are serving. Even if they require a person to massage for them while listening to the opera, it is possible by spending some coins. Wang Cao who is not watching much of the opera is watching the person who is now his sister. The person have carefully cover all details of his sister appearances. Everything but her manners are not so it must be the original character of the copier. A person who seems nicer and playful in nature. His sister is never nice nor playful. There is a lot of things she dislike in life and will torture the maids repeatedly when she is displease at anything. He recall there was once at the stable the hose who is newly arrived in the stables refused to obey her command, she whip it mercilessly. When he fall because of the wet floor after the rain, the maids are send to get thirty canning. She is an unreasonable person who thinks that the world on her feet. She never smile to anyone including her own brother. When she is happy she smirk and walk away with her fan in hand. This new sister is different the total opposite of what she is for the last few days. Wang Cao did not feel uneasy with her in the same room as he used to feel. Instead, he quite like the new sister. However, he wants to know who is this person siting next to him. The lady with the long nails and a smily face. Is she Yu Bing?
After the show ends, they are about to walk off when Prince Wang Cao meet the fellow noblemen. They chat and look at Princess Wang Ching. They bow to her after knowing her identity. She return the bow and hurry downstairs. She hear laughter behind her and some people exiting the theatre. In the rush, she happen to knock into someone. She look up and see Fei who is pretending to be loosing his direction.
"Kind missy, Can you direct me to the nearest restaurant?"
"Oh sure! Come let me hold you and guide you!"
As they walk out he whisper that Wang Cao is suspecting her. She should stay away from him. Hu Li noted and they walk out of the theatre. She happily point to the direction and he wink to her. She watch him slowly walk off with the cane in hand and she turn around to walk the opposite direction.