Chapter 2: Nymphs
It was a hazy, almost incomplete memory, but one which was warm and comforting especially when in this suffocating place. Some nights, in her dreams, she would come back to that time years ago, and in the morning she'd wake up with a warm feeling in her heart.
Zhao ShuiAn never remembered who it was, all she could recall was running together in the woods and into the clearing, with the small pond. Listening to the person telling her stories of wood and water spirits, who giggled and danced all day long, then creeping back into the woods to sneak up on the spirits, to catch them before they hid themselves.
Now, almost a young lady, Zhao ShuiAn found herself sneaking into the small woods near her courtyard for a break from her pestering mother.
It was just so this afternoon, with the sun high up and bright, the girl stole away from her meddling maids to the pond on the clearing.
ShuiAn dipped her hand into the cool water and upon finding it soothing; she dipped her feet into it. Time seemed to be irrelevant as she listened to the birds chirping, the light breeze weaving through the branches and her mind wandering, fantasizing about adventures she could never go on.
From the many books she read from her brothers' library, she could imagined herself riding on a horse along the seashore, although she had not once seen the sea, but still. She could almost see herself climbing a sacred mountain to look for an immortal being or set sail to the south towards Lyca or roaming the streets of a strange city where women walked about like the men did in Hia Qi.
Closing her eyes, she savoured the last rays of the sun. It had been hours and she was sure that the maids were turning the manor over looking for her.
She sighed not wanting to leave this haven but knew that if she dawdled a bit more, her mother would have the maids' heads. And she was just on time, if not a bit late; her tyrannical mother had already started berating the blameless maids.
"Ah, mother. How wonderful, I was just looking for you." She was clearly pretending, as she always did, but no one ever called her out for it.
Zhao ShuiAn's mother was a regal, cold looking woman in her late thirties. It was clear from her magnificent bearing that she was the mistress of the high and mighty Zhao manor. She turned around to look at the troublesome daughter of hers with a displeased expression on her face.
ShuiAn bit down a giggle that threatened to burst from her lips as she saw her mother who looked like she had sucked on a lemon.
"ShuiAn, where have you been? Not the woods I hope." Just like her cold looks, her tone was just as frosty. It seemed to Zhao ShuiAn that nothing she did pleased this mother so she had stopped trying long back. She had learned early that there was never going to be a day when she would be spoken to with warmth and so she efficiently ignored her mother's words with a slight hum and went about asking her own questions.
"If I'm correct, father received a letter from the borders. Was it Brother?"
This successfully diverted the woman's attention, and ShuiAn motioned for the maids to run off.
"Your brother will be returning soon from the Eastern borders. It is nothing for you to worry about." Her words were curt, bordering hurtful. When is it not, ShuiAn ridiculed herself.
"However, the Fungs will be visiting tomorrow at noon and I expect you to be at your best." Eyeing the girl's dress, which was streaked with grass stains and dirt, she added, "Not gallivanting about."
ShuiAn pursed her lips and sulked off soon after to find her second brother.
The next morning, as her maid was brushing her hair, her mind could not help but think of the family who were to visit.
The Fungs were indeed a powerful family. Her second brother, Zhao Yusheng, had told her some things about them to her yesterday. With their eldest daughter married as the crown princess consort and the first son working directly under the Minister of Finance, they were a family not to be taken lightly. They also enjoyed close relations with the whole of the crown prince's faction.
Zhao ShuiAn wondered to herself what their motive was. It could not be a simple visit, aristocratic families like theirs did not do anything for the sake of doing it, this she knew though she was young. She was not a young miss of the Zhao family for nothing.
"Miss, it's done." The maid announced after the final pin was inserted into the elegant hairdo with the utmost precision. There was a slight awe in her voice as she looked at her miss's reflection in the mirror.
Zhao ShuiAn groaned at the weight of the ornaments in her hair. There were not many but it seemed that her mother had specially chosen the ones heavily embellished with jewels. It was indeed a little overboard for just a visit. However when she looked at her reflection in the polished mirror, she bit down a smile.
Wood spirits with enchanting beauty. Nymphs, they were called nymphs.
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