CHAPTER TWO (2) THE CONTEST/ FEAST

THIRD PERSON'S POV

The next day, Later in the afternoon, Li hua was in her court yard having tea and cakes, then her hand maid, Biyu Mùchén who happens to be her best friend runs in to the court yard panting; "Princess, I saw Lady Shu threatening the maidens of the lower class not to participate in the forth coming contest if they want their heads to remain on their bodies." She said.

Li hua laughs and pours some tea into a cup and hands it to Biyu "Have some tea and watch my game unfold." Biyu sips from the cup and keeps it on the table. "Let's go to the town, I want to see how the other girls are preparing for the contest." Li hua said and Biyu replies "Princess the king has forbade you from leaving the palace since the day you almost drowned at the boarder lake." Li hua sighed and rolled her eyes "Poor and naive Biyu, I know father forbade me from leaving the palace, that's why I prepared a disguise before hand. We will disguise ourselves as men and apply some makeup to make our face look stiff like that of a man, and no one would tell who we are." Biyu nodded in agreement, but the only problem was how they would leave the court yard dressed as men without being noticed.

So Li hua thought of a brilliant idea. " Biyu, the two guards standing outside the court yard, aren't they brothers? Xiu Feng and Chao Feng? Why don't you invite them for a snack break." Biyu understood Li hua's plan, but she didn't think it would work, but she eventually invited them in for a snack break. "Your Highness you summoned us, is anything the matter?" Chao Feng asked and Li hua replied "Yes, I summoned you to have tea with me, is there a problem with that?" " No your Highness." He said and blushed.

Xiao Li hua and Chao Feng engaged into small talks, while Xiu Feng and Biyu kept staring at them.

Li hua found out from Chao the sufferings of the villagers, they were neglected, they suffered from famine, droughts and plagues but they were never given supplies, and they didn't give them elixir to cure their diseases, instead the infected ones were burnt. "But father gathered physicians and alchemists to brew elixirs and medicine for the people. I was present when father gave Prime minister Hong Bingwen a chest of gold coins to buy food for the poor people who were affected by the drought." Li hua said. "That is true your Highness, i was also present when the king did all of these, forgive me your highness, but i think 80 percent of the blame is on he's Majesty because didn't supervise. But I also think the prime minister is responsible for everything." Chao said.

Li hua changed the topic to Chao's personal life, she found out he was not engaged to anybody, but he had a girl in mind but she's out of reach because her status is much more higher than his. Li hua's discussion with Chao almost made her forget she had something to do... "Can you do me a favour?"...

IN THE TOWN***

Li hua runs around and people looks at her like an insane man, that's because she was dressed as a man running around the market. "Princess, slow down you might get hurt." Biyu yells and Li hua glares at her and said " I told you not to call me Princess, what if someone heard you, we would be in so much trouble. My name is Xiu Chao and you are Feng Feng, got it?" " I'm so sorry princess, i mean Master Chao. I can't believe Xiu Feng and Chao Feng would let us wear their clothes why they fill up for us." Biyu said looking all happy. They went to a stall where There were plenty young ladies shopping for the contest and they decided to gather information about their preparation for the contest. " So a princess and a maid disguised as men. Can this day get any better?" A man eavesdropping behind a bush said smirked.

After gathering all the information they needed, Li hua and Biyu decided to take a rest near a lonely alley, Li hua started feeling uncomfortable, like someone was following her. "Why do you hide like a coward? Why don't you face me head on." She said and a man, nope that's an understatement, a drop dead handsome man, but not as the king, with eyes as red as a flame stepped out of the shadow and said "Nice to meet you princess."

THE DAY OF THE CONTEST***

The whole palace was decorated with lanterns and flowers as the queen had instructed. Kings, queens, princes and Princesses of many kingdoms were present at the function. Drinks and all kinds of delicacies were all set for the feast.

Li hua who really wanted to make an impression dressed in a very revealing clothe made of the finest silk. She was adorned with all kinds of pearls and Jewels and it really made her happy because no one in the whole of the kingdom matched up to her beauty as she still remained the sun of Ji kingdom.

Everyone was so happy, especially Li hua, she really can't wait for the contest to begin, or she really can't wait to see Shu Bingwen fool herself. As Li hua kept thinking of how the contest would turn out to be, King Ling Jun walks in with Queen Mei Lien as their names were announced and everyone stands up "Attention! Attention, the descendant of the great ice dragon, King Xiao Ling Jun and he's wife and Queen, Queen Mei Lien graces us with their presence." "Father Is looking like a god in this attire." Li hua thought.

Ling Jun sits on his throne with Mei Lien next to him, and they look to the place where other royal familys are and greets everyone, Mei Lien smiled at her daughters who sat next to each other.

To commence the program, the king invites Li hua to read out the rules of the games as she is in charge of the games. As she walkes up to the centre of the hall, a loud gasp went across. Everyone was stunned to see the princess, she was like a fairy, even the king could hardly believe his eyes. " The rules of the games are: every contestant must perform a dance, play a song, sing a song, write a poem and draw a nice portrait of the king." Li hua said. And the first contestant which obviously is Shu Bingwen comes out to perform a dance. " Lady Shu will definitely win this round, she's the best dancer in the whole of Ji kingdom." The crowd said. "Don't be too quick to judge." Li hua thought and smirked.

Just as Shu Bingwen began to dance, her stomach began to growl, and she released gas which caused foul smell to circulate the hall. "Hahaha, pufftt. Lady Shu, I didn't know you are this talented, i really want to learn from you. Hahaha." Li hua said while laughing so hard. "No wonder her father named her Shu, it's the same sound as her gas, shuuuuu. hahaha." The prince of Bowen kingdom said. And Li hua laughed even harder and she said " Lady Shu, sorry to tell you this, but you are disqualified from the contest. A well trained woman must know how to control herself in public." Shu Bingwen fell on the floor and cried, and her father helped her up and took her out of the hall. " If Lady Shu could fail so massively, what about us? Do we even stand a chance? I'm quitting. " One of the contestants said and the other ten also quit. This made Li hua's work so easy. "Since the contest has been cancelled, let's move on with the feast." The King said, as if relieved from a mighty borden. "Wait your Majesty." A man said, and the king replied "How may I help you?" "I'd like to ask for your daughter's hand." The man said and walked up to the centre of the room, and Li hua said out loud "The red eyed man.!" "Can we talk about this later, we are about to observe a feast. You are invited to feast with us." The king said and the man nodded but declined the invitation.

When the feast was over, Li hua was sitting on a bench in the garden, watching her father send off the other royal familys who attended the feast, and then Shu Bingwen walks up to her and sits on the bench and said " I know you conspired against me princess Li." Li hua looks at her and said "why would i conspire against a nobody, remember I am the princess of this kingdom, the princess of games in the whole of the seven countries of our continent, why would I conspire against a daughter of a common prime minister, don't make me laugh Shu Bingwen.." "Princess, your status maybe higher than mine now, but I'll make sure to be the head concubine, and then you will now at my feet." Shu Bingwen said and Li hua couldn't hold back her laugh "you think being a concubine will make me bow to you? Go and ask how worthless a concubine is other than having children and satisfying the needs of the king." Li hua and Shu Bingwen didn't notice the king was eavesdropping.

Few minutes after Li hua went to her room to freshen up, she was summoned by the king.

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