"Preposterous!"

I flinched when my usually calm grandfather slammed his hand down the solid wood table causing the cup of tea to crash onto the ground. Servants quickly came and clean mess, while grandfather stood up angrily.

"Zedong"

"Yes father" My eyes went to the handsome man beside grandfather.

"Get the mayor here instantly. I want to speak with him"

"Yes father"

Uncle Zedong left with four men following behind him.

"Wei Lan"

"Yes grandfather" I stepped forward to face grandfather who voice is now calm and gentle as I remembered. "You must have been frightened; it is my mistake to have let you go without proper security"

"Grandfather, do not blame yourself..." I understood it had been an unforeseen incident. "Wei Lan is only startled... Wei Lan didn't think she could cross bandits here..."

From the time I've spent at Jing Province, I had always thought the place was peaceful; the people were all civilized as the province was prospering. There wasn't even a single beggar in the street, letting me know how well the small city was doing. It had been a shock to run across bandits in such a peaceful place.

"You shouldn't have run across bandits at all here" Grandfather voice was stern and serious. "Especially here at the Fa Estate. Li, from now on, take more men with you when you escort the young miss"

"Yes master" Li bowed and replied.

"G_ grandfather" I didn't want to be guarded like a frail princess. "No"

"Wei Lan, this is serious" Grandfather looked at me gently. "You almost got kidnapped. If Min did not came by, you would have been harmed child"

"Because Wei Lan is weak, she is targeted" I looked up at my grandfather with determination. "Please grandfather, having guards around me will not help my growth. Wei Lan will learn to protect herself. Please grandfather"

I could see the conflict in my grandfather's eyes as he looked at me.

"Grandfather, Wei Lan promise to train more seriously in self-defense. Please Wei Lan doesn't want to be guarded like a princess. Wei Lan is not a princess"

There was silence until Min soft chuckles was heard.

"Mei-mei, you are a princess whether you like it or not"

I was startled and looked at the boy who was sitting nearby watching with amusement. I felt upset by his teasing but kept it to myself. When his brow lifted in amusement, I knew I didn't hide my expression well. I never could.

"Wei Lan" My grandfather kind voice brought my attention back to him. "For now, I will have a few men to guard you... only until you are strong enough to protect yourself"

I couldn't say anything else.

"Child, you are my granddaughter, how could I let anything happen to you while you are within my protection? Understand this for me Wei Lan"

I did, so I nodded helplessly.

"Master Fa"

When Zedong came back, I saw the man in an official robe - the mayor of the city. With the mayor's worried expression and my grandfather sudden cold one, the situation got serious again. I didn't complain as grandfather told Li to escort me back to Orchid Quarter. As I passed by Min, I saw his playful wink.

So much for going to the port and see Yun.

"Li"

"Yes young miss?"

"Take me to the martial arts hall"

"Yes?" Li stopped and looked at me with surprised.

I resolved myself in training harder in self-defense and martial arts. I knew if I wanted to be taken seriously, I had to work hard. And because I was female, I had to work harder. I swore to be stronger so which means I need to put effort toward training my body to be stronger.