"Miss, are Han princesses crazy or just plain stupid?" Xiao Yu cringed her face in disgust.

"Xiao Yu, your words. We are in the imperial palace." I warned her.

But I agree.

That Princess Lu Se is one special nutcase.

After Princess Lu Se came to tell me her nonsense, she left with a 'victorious smile' and a good mood. As for me, I was left stunned and well, not in a very good mood.

"Miss, that Princess can't just marry into the Chen Manor just because she wants to. She needs to have an imperial edict or have prince Chen Mu propose to her. And if she does marry into the Chen Manor, she can't get rid of you that easily either. You're the first wife." Xiao Yu ranted.

And not only that, Princess Lu Si is acting out of place. Did she forget that she was in my territory and she's just an unwanted guest? She's standing in our land, breathing our own air, how dare she?

I sipped on my cup of tea and let out a sigh, "Any news about Prince Chen Mu?"

"Nothing miss. But I have another news."

I laid my cup on top of the table and looked at Xiao Yu, "What is it?"

"Miss, there are rumors going around."

"Rumors?"

"Miss, someone has been spreading that you don't want the First Prince to take another wife because you're jealous." Xiao Yu

Why do I feel like I know who this 'someone' is?

"Miss, please don't worry too much. It would be bad for your baby." Xiao Yu comforted me.

"You're the one who's worrying to much." I patted Xiao Yu's shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Miss, what should we do?"

"Let them talk."

"But Miss, what if they use those rumors against you? Jealousy is one of the grounds of divorce." Xiao Yu worriedly stare at me.

"They can't do anything to me."

Those people spreading rumors can't do anything to devoid my marriage to Chen Mu. Only Chen Mu can divorce me as he is my husband, and as the husband, he's the one who is going to decide whether I am a jealous woman or not.

"Anything else?" I asked.

"No more, Miss." Xiao Yu shook her head.

"Then let me rest for a while."

"Okay Miss. Call me when you need anything." Xiai Yu said and exited my room.

Its only past noon and I already have nothing to do. The books that were sent to my quarters are all historical records. I would have preferred it if it was romance fiction. I can't go out of my quarters either. Being "pregnant" was limiting and restricting my activities. I feel like if I lay down on my bed once again, my bones will turn soft as mallows.

"Should I try and sneak out?" I muttered to myself.

I heard a light tap.

"Is that a no?" I gazed my eyes on the entirety of the room, looking for a presence or at least, a shadow.

Another tap.

Shadow guards.

"So what about this?" I grinned in glee, "If the answer is yes, tap once. If the answer is no, tap twice. Okay?"

One tap.

So yes.

"Since you don't want me to sneak out, then accompany me here. I'll ask questions and all you have to do is tap." My voice echoed around the round, but not loud enough to be heard from the outside.

One tap.

Okay, let's try this.

"Am I beautiful?"

Silence.

Was my voice too soft? They probably didn't hear it.

"Am I beautiful?" I repeated.

Still no answer.

I cleared my throat and with a louder voice, I asked once again, "Am I beautiful?"

Only my breathing can be heard in the tranquil room.

You are ugly.

Your sister is ugly.

Your entire family is ugly.

"Don't you dare show yourselves to me!" I exclaimed and plopped down on my bed.

A tap.

Are you trying my patience?

"Okay, I'll just ask another question," I breathed in, "Am I pretty?"

As if a crow passed by...

"I give up."

I closed my eyes and tried to get some rest but I can't sleep. I've tried lying onmy front, on my side, rolled all over the bed and still, sleep won't come.

I groaned in frustration.

"Should I summon Xiao Yu? Maybe she can give me a massage or tell me story?"

But I decided against it. Xiao Yu must be resting by this time as well.

"Then what am I supposed to do?"

Another groan.

"Miss..." Xiao Yu called from the outside.

"Come in."

Xiao Yu came in and came towards me.

"I thought you were resting..."

"Miss, I can't sleep either. Do you want me to do something for you?" Xiao Yu offered.

"Ahh, massage?" I cheekily answered and laid on my front.

Xiao Yu quickly positioned herself and in just a few seconds, she was giving my shoulders a pressured touch.

"What do you think is the reason why Princess Lu Si wanted to marry Chen Mu?" I queried Xiao Yu's opinion.

"Miss, the first Prince is an impressive man. It is not hard for people to want to marry him."

"Then do you want to marry him too?" I teased her.

"Miss, what a-"

"Okay, okay. I know that you only have Riu in your heart," I laughed, "But seriously, why does Princess Lu Si want to marry Chen Mu?"

"Miss, why are you asking me this question?"

"I don't understand Princess Lu Si." I scowled.

"I mean, Prince Chen Mu is handsome, that's a fact. He is tall, lean but with muscles. Very, very sexy. If I have to rate his physical appearance, I'll be cheating him when I say ten out of ten so I'll go with twenty over ten. He deserves it." I said.

"He's kind, reliable, loyal, adorable..." I probably inserted all positive adjectives in there, "but..."

"But he can be infuriating too. Sometimes, I understand him, sometimes, he's beyond comprehension. I mean, we always have intellectual conversations and it pleases me greatly," I paused for a while, "note sarcasm."

"There are times when I wanted to pound him with my fis- ouch! Xiao Yu, that hurts." I cried.

The massage continued and the pressure lessened too.

"Then there's those rumors about me being jealous? Me? Jealous? This beauty?" I faked a laughter and snorted, "Chen Mu should thank me I chose him. Out of all the pretty men of this empire, oh goodness, just thinking about all those boys is mak- ouch!"

"Miss, did it hurt?" Xiao Yu walked in front of me and wiped the sweat that formed on my forehead.

"It does hurt. Don't put too much pressure, you'd leave me a bruise. As I was saying, there are a lot of pretty boys in this emp-" I stopped in realization, "Wait a minute..."

Then my eyes widened.

"Xiao Yu, if you are in front of me, then who is giving me a massage?" I slowly turned my head and I shivers ran up my spine.

Is this a horror movie?

"Thank you for marrying me instead of those pretty boys."

He he...

Save me...