Eternally Ambitious Wangfei

Chapter 11: Ice Cold Eyes

-"If you ladies would please follow bengong."

Mingxia Jie's table followed closely behind Princess Xiao. On their way to the surprise; the soft sound of a bamboo flute could be heard. Princess Xiao explained they would be taking a detour before they arrive. The flute became louder until they reached a courtyard filled with white azaleas. In the middle of the courtyard was the man Mingxia Jie knew as General. When the women saw the General, they were staring starry-eyed at him. The General noticed the gawking women and stood up and made him way towards the group. He avoided every woman and looked down at Princess Xiao and greeted her. They had a friendly chat with each other before the General couldn't help but stare at Mingxia Jie. Princess Xiao took the opportunity to ask:

-"Have you two met?"

-"No."

The princess had never received such a curt answer before. Normally women would say yes when they meet a man of the General's calibre and ruin their dignity. Princess Xiao was become increasingly interested in Mingxia Jie. The princess spoke in a delighted mood:

-"General, come join us. I have prepared a surprise for these women and I would love if you could come."

The General immediately accepted because of Princess Xiao's status. The whole time they walked beside each other talking and laughing about multiple things. Everyone gaped at the sight of the surprise. It had turned out that the emperor had constructed an artificial lake for Princess Xiao and had also given her a boat as a random gift. Mingxia Jie quietly snorted; 'It's not that great. Western Zhousan has much better lakes then this puddle'. The moon hung above everyone's heads has they boarded the large vessel. As the night dragged on Wu wangfei had recovered her pride and challenged Mingxia Jie to a zither playing contest. No matter who won or lost both women would become the subject of multiple sharp tongued women. Mingxia Jie couldn't help but roll her eyes internally; it wasn't her fault that the woman was so damn annoying and prideful. 

Wu wangfei told Mingxia Jie to play first because it was customary for the wife of higher ranking to go first. Mingxia Jie sat down and began to play depicting the scene of the magnolia trees losing their flowers and how it the loss of something beautiful but spring would return and so would the beauty that was lost. It represented the loss of a beauty's heart when the man she loved went to war and returned in the spring to the beauty. Tears streamed down multiple women's faces, they clapped at the elegance and grace Mingxia Jie carried. Princess Xiao asked:

-"What is the name of the song?"

-"Falling Blossoms."

Wu wangfei had felt pressured to now play something more beautiful; her hands were shaking as she sat down. She had begun with the wrong note and her face turned as white as paper. She lowered her head as she heard everyone mocking her for not knowing how to play zither. Wu wangfei had gone back up the deck to escape the madness of the other women laughing. Mingxia Jie was no longer there with the group and had gone updeck to look at the moon and talk with Lan. Wu wangfei saw Mingxia Jie smiling and talking with her maid, Mingxia Jie had put a blanket around her maid. Wu wangfei had the intention of pushing her maid into the lake, but Mingxia Jie had noticed and stepped forward and lightly push Lan'er to the ground stepping in Wu wangfei's path and smiled at Lan'er before she was shoved over the railing and fell.

Lan's scream pierced the warm summer night. Everyone came back on deck to see Kangxi wangfei's maid screamed 

-"Miss!"

Before trying to jump off the railing. A male servant grabbed her before she could fall into the lake. Lan has tears fall down her face as she explains that Kangxi wangfei had been pushed by Wu wangfei and went fell overboard. The boat went on high alert. Mingxia Jie looks up at the disappearing moon and struggles to get back up, but the outfit she is wearing is too heavy and is dragging her down. But with enough force, she temporarily breaks to the surface.

-"Look! There she is!"

The General was the first to react and dived into the water and sees Mingxia Jie's dress open out under the water making it seem like a drowning camellia. As Mingxia Jie tried again to go back up, she realizes her ankle has been trapped by seaweed. Mingxia Jie looks up at the faint moon and thinks 'I can't die.' She looks around in the dark lake to see the figure of someone approaching. As the General approaches, he is shocked by what he sees. He had never seen such a calm woman; her eyes unwavering and cold. It was as though he was the one drowning. Mingxia Jie points to her ankle and the General gets the message as he takes out a blade he was carrying to undo the seaweed. When they tried to swim back up the weight was too heavy and they were running out off air. With the blade in hand he ripped off all of Mingxia Jie's outer layers as they reached back to the surface.

With his help they both broke to the surface of the lake gasping for air, as he holds her he notices that she is more beautiful under the summer moon. His face flushed and tries to focus on other things but couldn't help but feel attracted to her beauty. As they get back onto the boat Lan'er tackles her and they both fall to the ground. The General was about to step in but seeing Mingxia Jie's cold eyes become tender and caring he stops. They both get up and Lan'er cries in her arms. A towel is brought to Mingxia Jie and Lan'er dries her off and brings her to get changed. After the boat reaches the shore Mingxia Jie leaves one of the rooms in a different dress. She walks up to the General and bows deeply before looking back up at him:

-"Thank you."

The General stared at her departing back as he thought to himself 'Her eyes. They were so cold that they didn't hide the hatred she felt for herself. To think such ice-cold eyes existed.'