3 RULE OF THE QUEEN

Upon entering the main hall, Wang Yu Yan immediately felt the adrenaline in her system die down. She rarely came to this place and every time she did it always ruined her day. But what she just found out is a big matter. And no matter what she couldn't just keep her opinions to herself.

"What is it?",

The queen sat on her throne. A large seat embroidered in the finest linen, the wooden parts of the chair were replaced with pure gold. The entire room contained numerous gold-plated objects, from cups to plates and some of the furniture.

"Your majesty", the 2nd princess's voice became lower than a moment ago. She knew better than to shout at the queen.

"I just received news about my marriage to the prince of Kong state. I hope your Majesty would consider my appeal against the arrangement. I know Your greatness is fair and righteous in your ruling",

"Spare me the flattery. The arrangement is not up for discussion. Now if that's all", the queen proceeding with the scribbling on one scroll after another. Her personal male attendant stood beside her right beside the position of the throne. Folding all the scrolls Her majesty had completed as she continued to pile them up after signing.

Wang Yu Yan was left speechless, all the arguments she'd come up with during her march to the palace, seemed to be nowhere to be found, "Mother, I beg you. I have no interest in marrying the prince. Please reconsider your decision", she almost had tears in her eyes.

"Did I stutter? My decision is final. Now excuse me",

She felt helpless. She always got like whenever she had to talk to her mother. How could the person she loved the most also be the person she feared the most?

"… but…", nobody could hear her voice as it seemed to dissipate as soon as the word left her lips.

On her way back to her chamber she felt the warmth in her entire body. The leaves had begun to fall from the peach blossoms that surrounded parts of the palace. It was too freezing to do without a quilt at this these days.

Wang Yu Yan however felt like she was in a burning furnace. All the emotions were mumbled up into a ball. She couldn't tell which feeling was prominent, was it anger, frustration, or just plain sadness.

Hopeless. That was the only way to explain what Wang Yu Yan was feeling now. All her life she wished to leave this palace to explore the world outside but not like this.

Starting her life anew in a foreign place wasn't what she expected the course of her life would go. Her world was crashing down around her and nothing seemed to be able to rescue her now. She knew the queen was final in her decisions.

The day went by in a blink of an eye as Wang Yu Yan spent the entire afternoon sobbing. Mo Ru Shi tried to cheer her up countless times to no success. She even tried to perform one of the many plays she had seen done by the townsfolk. When running her errands around the town. She knew how the 2nd princess always enjoyed the stories of her adventures outside the palace gates.

Tonight though she was running out of tricks to pull out her sleeve the princess wasn't budging, "I'll leave you alone then",

Mo Ru Shi left the chambers as the princess continued in her painful wailing.

The doors opened once again followed by a series of footsteps, "I said leave me alone, Ru Shi",

"Bad time?", a familiar voice rang in between her sobs.

It was Head of Maidservant Han Mey, "...…"

Wang Yu Yan briefly stopped her crying and slowly wiped off her tears as her number one supporter came closer to her. She was curled up in the fetal position on her favorite seat.

"What is the matter young princess, I could hear your cries all the way from the main palace. What has got out little princess so sad today?", she spoke in a playful manner.

"You know what's wrong, Maidservant!", she exclaimed, "… you probably heard the order upon its first decree. Didn't you think it was best to inform me?", Wang Yu Yan snorted bitterly.

"Hey, you know I'm not the one at fault here. I'm just here to help you", Han Mey spoke tenderly.

"But how could you help me. You know very well that I am doomed. The Queen has already sold me off. No plea of mine will be heard by the queen. I have no one to help me…", She rambled on feeling sorry for herself.

Suddenly Wang Yu Yan paused. A light bulb seemed to turn in her head as she turned to look at the Maidservant for the first time she had arrived. She sat next to her on her bench, "… However…", a smile crossed her face.

Han Mey looked at the princess with a disapproving look. She always knew what that expression entailed, '… however?",

"YOU should talk to her. You know she always listens to you. You are good at that you know",

"I'm good at what? ", She looked at the princess with a warm smile. She was genuinely curious about the young girl's response.

"You know, standing up to her", Han Mey released a small chuckle, "Young Princess, we both that is false. The queen will do as she pleases",

"… but Maidservant Han, I can't be sent off to another state just like that",

Han Mey gently placed one of her hands on the princess's leg, "Don't think of it that way, will you?… Just think of it as the first step on your new adventure. Who knows, …maybe you might end up enjoying it. But you won't ever know if you keep mopping around the entire way",

"But what about you?… I'd be leaving the palace, my elder sister, mother,… and all that I have ever known",

"Don't think about that young girl. There comes a time when every girl has to leave home. It is part of the way of life", Wang Yu Yan shook her head frantically.

"But I will miss you",

Han Mey's voice spoke in sadness, "I'll miss you too young princess", the princess pulled her in for a hug after she heard her words. The Maidservant's heart felt a rush of warmth but at the same time, she felt an undeniable tugging at it that caused her unimaginable pain.

Han Mey waited until the young princess was sound asleep before leaving her chambers. Her little girl would depart from the palace for good at the break of dawn. She glance once more at the girl before saying goodbye internally.