8 CHAPTER 8 : Even if everyone changed, she will still be the one unchanged

From afar, a pair of eyes is watching Li Xi Rui. Watching her retreating back, the man has a complicated look. 'Why did he felt hurt when he saw that woman look at the crown prince? Did he feel guilty of breaking them up? Why did that woman has that kind of look? He likes her recklessness better than that empty cold face of hers now'.

"Second brother, why are you standing there?", the crown prince greeted his brother. Since his beloved already left with her family, he is also on his way to his palace.

"Nothing, I just saw a rabbit in a fox skin", Long Jie replied.

Turning his head at the direction of his brother was looking earlier, the crown prince saw a white silhouette slowly fade away. Smiling, he said, "Are perhaps is interested in a lady?".

"In the matter of heart, I don't have any experience. But that lady maybe held many secret in her heart", Long Jie smile wryly to his brother.

Looking at his younger brother, he knew this brother didn't want to tell the lady's identity. "Everyone have a secret or two. If everyone is as transparent as a glass, wouldn't it be a disadvantage to them?".

"Perhaps everyone can change", Long Jie walk with the crown prince to their carriages. 'Somehow I always believe that even if everyone else changed, she would still be the only one unchanged'. That hurt feeling once more penetrate his heart. At first, when she stepped on the pavilion, he didn't even want to see her. But it's like there is another force pulling his attention to that white robe lady. That face held coldness and aloofness.

When she started dancing, her demeanor change, 'What makes her had that murderous look?'. Has something happened to her that he was unaware of? Unable to tear his eyes of her, he saw her every action. From her cold face, down to the smallest movement. How can he decipher her action? He also didn't know.

Shaking his head, he convinced himself, "I might be over thinking. It's good if she grows up a bit. Everyone will grow eventually".

Outside the Lotus Garden~

"Thank you, your highness for standing up before", without throwing flowery words, she just straight away thanked princess Long. She believed that to show one sincerity, one must be straight forward.

"Pfftt... hahaha! This princess has been betting with herself when will you drop your cold act. It seems like I still have a long way to go", Princess Long talked to Li Xi Rui casually. "It's okay, afterall... I must return your kindness another day. I couldn't stop thinking about the mooncakes!".

Li Xi Rui is a bit taken aback. This Princess Long really have a special personality. In her last lifetime, she didn't have a chance to meet her.

"If princess didn't mind, I could send the recipe to one of your maid. I'm sure they can produce the same mooncakes". She didn't want to seem eager to form a connection with the princess. Even if she is nice, Li xi Rui didn't want unnecessary trouble. And to form a relationship with the royal family will bring trouble sooner or later.

"Why the trouble? You could just make it for me. My husband has been recuperating at my place and didn't have any appetite. I think the mooncakes can make him feel better. So, you can just come in a few days to make it for me", Princess Long didn't leave her room to refuse.

"If your highness say so, this princess couldn't refuse", Li Xi Rui couldn't say no. Accepting is going to get her in trouble, refusing also will bring her trouble. For now, she will just follow the flow and see where will it takes her.

Satisfied with Li Xi Rui's answer, Princess Long leave with her entourage.

Looking a head of her, Li Xi Rui walk to her family's carriage. Sitting inside, her father said, " Xi-er, Princess Long has stood up for you. Father didn't know if it's a good thing to catch her sight. Xi-er should be careful".

"Yes daddy, you shouldn't be worried much. Xi-er has grow up and didn't have any greed to form connection to the royal family", she know her father is worried she is still hung up on the crown prince. After reassuring her father, her father sighed.

In a father's heart, he wanted the best for his daughter. Seeing her heart broken, he also felt hurt. Warning her is a way to give up on the crown prince as Princess Long is still the crown prince's paternal aunt. If she was connected to her, sooner or later, she will meet the crown prince. And believing 'out of sight, out of mind', it's better if she didn't even meet that little bastard!

Looking at her father's determination, she feels happy, 'Familial love is still the best!' The rest of the journey feels like walking on a flowery road.

***

"Last night at the moon viewing event, the Fifth Miss Wei has been banished from the capital and now live as a commoner", one lady said.

"I heard she did something to miss Mu", another lady chimed in.

"I heard she wanted to frame Miss Li?", yet another lady joined.

"Yes, I heard that she wanted to scheme against Miss Li but Miss Mu is the one injured", said the first lady.

"Last week isn't it Miss Wei and Miss Li made commotion in the street? And miss Li nearly beat miss Wei's maid", said the second lady.

"Aiya.... I heard it was miss Wei scheming against miss Li", said the third lady.

"I thought it was Miss Li who is vicious, but that Miss Wei is really too much", said the 1st lady again.

"Even so, the most kind hearted is of course miss Mu", the 3rd lady said with the other ladies agreeing.

From the top floor of the tea pavilion, a two women are looking at that scene. The one wearing a veil is Li Xi Rui while the one standing beside her is Xiao Xi.

"Eldest miss... maybe we should go back", Xiao Xi is worried about her miss. She didn't want her to hear those gossips.

"No hurry Xiao Xi. It's true what they've said. I will never measure up to her and I didn't want to either. So just let them talk. I'm used to it", sipping her tea, Li Xi Rui replied to Xiao Xi.

Gritting her teeth, Xiao Xi pretend she didn't hear the ladies' gossip anymore.

'So, what ever I do, I will always be inferior is it? It seems like that heroine is really the daughter of heavens', she mentally complained. She knows she told herself plenty of times to ignore everything, but how is it possible to not feel hurt? She is just a weak lady.

While keeping her eyes on the petals in her cup, she recalled some events in her past. In a few days, there would be someone breaking in her manor. They will steal something but her father refused to tell her what has been stolen. In the end, this item will be the one thing causing the Li clan's downfall.

Waking up from her daze, she looks at the dishes in front of her. This tea house not only serve tea, but they also serve hot dishes. Frowning, she called a waiter over to her table.

"What's wrong miss?", the waiter ask.

"Will your chef accept special order?", Li Xi Rui asked.

"Our chef can make anything if miss want but of course the price will be more expensive since it's unusual for the customer to request special order", the waiter has a glint in his eyes.

"That's fine with me but you need to take me to see him as the recipe is quite confusing", Li Xi Rui probed.

"Please follow me miss", the waiter politely asked her to follow him. As long as the customer paying, he will accept every request. This is the kind of people he is. 'Money runs the world' is his motto.

As Li Xi Rui and Xiao Xi step down from the stairs, the customer at the first floor is watching her every move. In their mind, 'where is this fairy like lady come from? With her straight eye brows and porcelain skin, truly a sight to behold. But the one mesmerizing them the most is her pair of eyes. The thick eye lashes framing her doe like eyes. Only one word can describe her, 'enchanting eyes'!'

Walking past the mesmerized men, she stepped into the kitchen. After the waiter pass on her request, the chef meet her. The chef attitude slightly made her stunned. The chef is polite and didn't speak with arrogance. Now she knows, this tea pavilion didn't only get their reputation from their popularity, but because of the chef and his humble disposition. The chef is willing to take on any recipe and didn't stuck with only 1 signature dishes. He is not proud enough to start believing he is above everyone else. His humble attitude in improving his cooking made her admire him.

Smiling at him, she said, "Prepareducks' legs,some garlic, ginger, star anise, rice wine, stock, red wine, soy sauce and sugar. Then fry the duck to make the skin crispy, braised the duck in the prepared ingredients. After that sprinkled 5 spices and roast the duck for 45 minutes. Meanwhile the duck is roasting, fry the potatoes till brown".

Following her instructions, the chef quickly and skilfully maneuver around the kitchen. Waiting for the duck to be roasted, she told the chef on how to plate the dish. She said, "Food is not only to satisfy our stomach, but if it's beautifully decorated, it can also satisfy our eyes".

Agreeing with Li Xi Rui's view on food, the cook feel a connection between them. It's rare for a young lady moreover a noble to be this passionate about food.

"Miss is so wise. I have never had a chance to meet such a unique character as miss before. If miss wouldn't mind, please take this old chef as an acquaintance and feel free to call me Old Tai", he cupped his fist showing his respect.

"Old Tai is sure is humble and polite. If elder has requested, this young one will not refuse", she bow slightly showing her agreement. She liked honest person the most.

As the duck is roasting, Li Xi Rui and Xiao Xi head back to their seat.

After a while, Old Tai come personally carrying her special order, "Braised Duck Legs with Fried Potatoes".

"Miss, this is your special order. This miss truly has broaden my view today. Is miss perhaps interested in selling this recipe to this old chef? I would like to sell it here in tea pavilion. Of course miss will get commission for each plate we manage to sell. How about it?", old Tai persuade Li Xi rui.

As her stomach has been growling since earlier, she didn't pay much attention and just agreed. Before old Tai left, he ask her to come tomorrow so they can draw a contract. To be honest, she didn't care about the commission at all. She just want to eat quickly because she was hungry. If agreeing will make them go, she will agree. Eating her favorite food, she concentrate on the plate in front of her and invited Xiao xi to join.

Looking at the duck in front of her, Xiao xi quickly sit herself and start digging in.