The First Princess frowns as she stares at her face in the mirror. She's not really comfortable with makeup on.
"Court Lady Wen, I really think I look like a prostitute in some cheap brothel." She sounded like a child throwing a fit. "Cosmetics really don't suit me."
Her lips are tinted with the color red. Her cheeks and eyelids are applied with a rogue. Her hair feels heavy with all these ornaments and hairpins. She indeed looks different now compared to her usual simple appearance. However, it's not true that she looks like a prostitute. In fact, she looks charming.
"You don't look like those women, your highness. No prostitute can ever be compared to your beauty. You look lovely." Her court lady smiles sweetly. The other two servants present also nod with smiling faces.
Meanwhile, Liu Chen just arrived at the hall. He steps inside and stood before the screen. He was about to call her highness to escort her towards the Department of Justice but stopped himself when he heard her speak.
"You're flattering me. I don't look as pretty as you say." She said. "I don't need these cosmetics. I am more like a soldier in this empire than a princess anyway."
He can't believe what he just heard. The princess general is wearing cosmetics now? The urge to peep behind the screen surged inside of him. He wants to see how her highness looks like with makeup on! He knows she would look pretty with makeup but he still wants to witness the beauty of his godde--- general. GENERAL! GENERAAAAALL!!!
"I am no flatterer, your highness. And besides, don't you think you're at that age already?" Court Lady Wen said casually.
Liu Chen wonders. Age? If he's not mistaken, her highness is turning twenty-eight this year. What about it?
For some reason, Princess Yin Xiulan felt a little embarrassed talking about the matter. "Court Lady Han, I... I don't have that kind of plan yet. And I think I'm still too young for that."
Hearing her embarrassed voice, he realized what they are talking about. They're talking about marriage, right? About forming her own family? The thought made his heart rate increase.
"Marriage is something we cannot rush. You must know the person you wish to marry inside out. Why not start looking for a potential lover that suits your preferences, your highness? So that you can start getting to know your other half." Court Lady Wen used her wisdom in love to Princess Yin Xiulan. With this statement, she becomes even more embarrassed.
"Your highness, why don't you look around you?" Her court lady added.
"That's right your highness." The other servant agrees. "Who knows? Perhaps the one who's destined to be with you for the rest of your life is just nearby."
Nearby? Liu Chen thinks, how about him? He's always by her highness' side. Will the general consider him as well? That small spark of hope got extinguished immediately by his negativity. Doesn't it sound unrealistic? She's a princess while he's just a soldier. Bound to die for the glory and honor of the empire. It doesn't sound right.
"Really?" The princess raised her left eyebrow. She thinks about the persons who are always close to her. She can't think of anyone who fits but Liu Chen. But then again, Liu Chen is just a loyal subordinate to his superior. Nothing more nothing less. She gives up thinking and asked, "Like who?"
The other servant exclaims, "Like Lieutenant General Liu Chen!"
Then the three servants all nod. Her highness' personal servants can actually see through them. It's just these two are too dense to notice the feelings that the other has towards another! They're aware of the feelings they have towards the other party, it's just they're too scared to approach each other. It's clear that their feelings will be reciprocated!
Who would have thought that two of the bravest people in the imperial palace are cowards in facing love?
Hearing his name, Liu Chen froze. Does he really stand a chance? Just a little is enough for him. Is it really possible?
Princess Yin Xiulan didn't expect to receive this answer and got startled. She almost forgot to breathe as her heart pounds rapidly. "L-Liu Chen?!"
Her court lady chuckled and speaks in a soothing voice as she brushes her hair again. "Your highness, calm down. We're not saying he's the one who's destined for you. We're just talking about the possible persons here."
The truth is, they're actually trying to insert Liu Chen in the discussion. In fact, they can't find anyone who's more suitable for her highness than him. For the past few years, they saw how he treats her highness with pure kindness and sincerity. Although he's a savage on the battlefield, he's like holding a fragile flower when it comes to her highness.
Despite the fact that her highness doesn't need a man to protect him, Lieutenant General Liu can both protect and take care of this Amazon--- princess! Liu Chen can deal with this PRINCESS! With his gentle personality and long patience, he can withstand her highness' bad temper.
Court Lady Wen pushed the matter further. Like a professional matchmaker, she gives her 'advice', "Think about it this way, your highness. Sir Liu is someone you can consider as well. You two are close to each other. He's good to you too."
Liu Chen isn't paying them but if they'll ask for compensation, he's willing to give his one month's worth of salary. He can't thank them enough for recommending him. But of course, he won't be able to do that. He's not supposed to be here after all.
Princess Yin Xiulan sighs quietly. "Well, I don't think Liu Chen would like me. I mean, he's a gentleman. I think he prefers women who are more lady-like than me. I think he's just following me because I am relying too much on him. I guess he's just fulfilling his sense of duty towards me."
Liu Chen pursed his lips. He admires the princess ever since that night in their camp. Ever since then, he wishes to stay at her highness' side out of free will and not because of his sense of duty. Although he wants the general to think the way she thinks the things between them right now, there's still a part of him that wants her to know what he feels deep inside.
His eyebrows twitched. He thought, "What do I really want her to think about me?"
This is an emergency! This is a critical situation for Lieutenant General Liu!
Meanwhile, her maids look at each other. It seems they arrived at the same conclusion after the three-second duration of eye contact.
"What is her highness' preference for a man, anyway?" Court Lady Wen asks again.
Princess Yin Xiulan thinks for a while. "Hmm... I'd say, I want someone who I can share my worries with. Someone I can trust. Someone who's not wary of my presence but respects me in any way."
The servants once again look at each other and nod. In unison, they said, "It's Sir Liu Chen."
Liu Chen, on the other hand, feels like his blood all rushed towards his head.
"Wait... no, no, no." She denied it immediately. She smiled weakly. "You see, Liu Chen is too soft. I don't think someone as ruthless as me looks good with someone as gentle as Liu Chen." The princess looks at her reflection in the mirror. To her, her face looks wicked. Not suited for someone like him.
She thought, why is she like this anyway? Why is she not lady-like? Was it because she was a cultivator? Was it because she lacks the knowledge and wisdom that a lady should have? She hates this.
Liu Chen decided to silently leave the room. If someone like him isn't suited for her. Then, he's willing to change. Before he left the hall, he sneakily peeps behind the screen.
His eyes sparkle the moment his gaze landed on the general's face. She looks pretty without make-up. She looks beautiful even though she wears a fierce expression on her face. And with some cosmetics on... she looks wonderful. Truly worthy of praise.
He wishes to stare at her a little longer but he's afraid that his presence will be discovered. The only thing he could do is to remember it clearly. To carve the image of beauty as alluring as a goddess in his mind. He will remember. It's alright. It's enough. He won't forget.
"Lieutenant General, why is the general not with you? Is she not reporting to her office for today?" An official under the Ministry of Justice asked Liu Chen the moment he enters the Department of Justice. "I worry that there are some matters that she needs to deal with as soon as possible."
"Don't worry, Officer. The general will be here soon." He responded in an unusual indifferent tone. His face is filled with dark expression as well. In just a glance, one would believe that he's in a bad mood.
"Lieutenant General, sir..." The officer has something in mind but is hesitating whether he'll open it to Liu Chen or not. In the end, he decided to say it anyway. He scratches the back of his head and asks, "Is it just me, or you do look different today?"
The question made Liu Chen excited. "You think so?" The smiley Liu Chen took over his body again. Like a dog wagging its tail. Then Liu Chen realized his 'unnecessary' action and cleared his throat. He's acting cold again.
The officer got confused. He really does act strange this morning! He forced a smile and asks, "Is something bothering you, sir? Perhaps the general is throwing a fit again?"
The second question of the officer made Liu Chen's eyebrows knit. His acting becomes his reality. With an ashen face, he warned the officer. "Throwing a fit? Don't you dare talk about the general like she's some kind of a child. She is strict but she is never unreasonable. I don't want to hear you talk about her like that again. You lack respect."
The poor officer got terrified of him. He had never seen the Lieutenant General get mad before, and wished he never witnessed his murderous aura. "I-I apologize Lieutenant General Liu! Please forgive me!"
"I'll let you go this time. Don't be so disrespectful in the future. Now, get back to work!"
"Yes, sir!" The officer immediately fled away.
Liu Chen sighs. He got overboard and felt sorry for the officer. He may be a lieutenant-general in the imperial army but he doesn't have the authority over the Ministry of Justice. Now, he wonders why that officer is so scared of him when he's not his superior?
Actually, it's not just his attitude that he tries to change. His way of dressing up as well. Even though he's just wearing the soldier's uniform, he wears it differently. His lapel is open, wider than usual. He also changed his hairstyle. From a high ponytail, he ties his hair in a half ponytail now. Also, he applied black eyeshadow near his eyelids. The lieutenant general's bright face got replaced with a dark one.
Actually, earlier that morning, after 'changing' himself, he met Eunuch Xu on his way to the Department of Justice and wait for the princess there.
"Lieutenant General Liu!" Eunuch Xu greeted. When the eunuch got closer to him, he noticed the other's physical changes. He smiled like crazy and elbowed Liu Chen. He asks, "Are you hitting on someone?"
The lieutenant general got caught off guard with the question. He didn't expect Eunuch Xu would see through him. He denied, "N-no! Who would I hit to? You're mistaken, Eunuch Xu."
Mingming the great didn't buy his acting. He's the great Casanova in town! He knows these kinds of 'moves'. "I know you're trying to impress someone. Your image really changed, huh? Is it her highness the first princess?"
With the general being mentioned, his stuttering got worse. "Wa-- why would I h-hit on h-her highness? Y-you really got the wrong idea! I'm not hitting on someone!"
Eunuch Xu tilted his head. He thought, it's not Princess Yin Xiulan? "Really? You don't like the princess? The aura around you is intense. I thought you're trying to impress her." He sighs, "I thought I could give you some love advice, turns out you're not in love. Anyway, I have to go now. You know... the emperor is temperamental. I bid you a good day!"
Love advice? He knows he needs love advice more than anyone else. He wants to ask Eunuch Xu for some help but his pride won't let him. And so, he pursed his lips then bids him a good day against his will. "Uh... yes. Good day."
"Liu Chen! Did you know I waited for you? If you're not coming, at least inform me? I just wasted more than half an hour waiting for nothing."
He jolted when Princess Yin Xiulan yelled on his side. He's too lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice the general's presence.
"..."
He's gone speechless while looking at his superior. The general didn't remove the makeup on her face! The more he stares at her, the prettier she gets... or at least for Liu Chen.
She looks at him from head to toe and vice versa. She comes closer to the other and fixed his lapel that's wide open. "Why are you not wearing your uniform properly? And that eyes..."
She looks at those eyes again. Though he looks valorous with the black eyeshadow on, she still prefers that cinnamon roll confidant.
"Forget it." She sighs inside. Though she prefers his bright and soft appearance, she won't deny that this look suits him too... or at least in the eyes of her highness the first princess.
"..." The stare that Liu Chen throws at her made the general feel a little embarrassed. Princess Yin Xiulan's cheek feels a little warmer than usual. She knits her eyebrows, trying to hide her discomfort with a fierce face. "Why are you looking at me like that? Haven't you seen a woman who applied rogue on her face?"
Internally, she said to herself, "This is so embarrassing. He looks at me in a strange manner. He doesn't like it. I knew it, I should have removed this before leaving my hall!"
She took her white handkerchief from her sleeves and was about to wipe her make up but what Liu Chen did next caught her off guard. He grabs her wrist to stop her from wiping off the makeup.
They're staring at each other for a good while without any of the two speaking. For some reason, their hearts start to race, and the sound of its beating gets louder. They're both anxious that the other would hear it.
"Sorry." Liu Chen immediately withdraws his hands as soon as he realizes what he's doing.
Princess Yin Xiulan on the other hand and averted her eyes. She wonders why he can't look at his subordinate in the eye.
Still not receiving any word from the general, the lieutenant-general thinks that he should at least say something. Casting his eyes at the side, he said, "Don't remove it." He slowly moves his eyes to see her face again. "That looks good on you."
Princess Yin Xiulan's eyes bulged due to shock and subconsciously looks at the other with surprise evident on her face.
Embarrassed, he voices out his thoughts, "Really, you look wonderful."
Then the next thing he knows, he got pushed against the wall violently. He looks at the general and sees a complicated expression filled in her entire face. Their faces are so close they could feel each other's warm breath.
"G-General?"
The princess looks at him then averted her eyes then looks at him again. She seems to be hesitating to say something but ends up saying her thoughts anyway.
"Will you go out with me?" Her artificial blush looks redder than earlier.
Liu Chen thought, Go out? Going out? As to get into a romantic relationship with her? But isn't their situation a little strange? Isn't he supposed to be the one who should ask her and not the other way around?
Liu Chen was about to utter his words but the princess speaks before he could.
"I want to eat wonton noodle soup. I know a restaurant outside the palace." Princess Yin Xiulan retracted her proposal, and casually changed the course of their conversation. The Princess General really can't. She just can't. This is just too much for her!
All the Lieutenant General's wishful thinking got trampled down with just two sentences. So this is what she was talking about?
Lieutenant General Liu forced a smile and replied, "General, if you permit, I'll just cook some for you."
When will their hide-and-seek in love ever end? When will they finally meet on the same page? Two valiant soldiers, both dense in romantic matters, one love battle. Will they achieve their victorious win on this battlefield as well?