Villain Lady

"In that case, I'll be watching from the side."     

Wei Liuying smiled. "Have you finished your painting, Lady Gao?"     

"it's more or less finished," Gao Ling pointed to her painting, which was already exceedingly similar to the flowers that the servants arranged in front of them. She smiled lightly. "You don't think that I don't have the skill to paint, right, Xiao Ling."     

"I would never dare," Wei Liuying replied hurriedly.     

Gao Ling chuckled. She had met some young ladies who thought that she couldn't do any of the arts because she had been living at the frontline for a long time. However, Gao Ling still honed her skill so that she would be able to perform better as a young lady. She didn't want to lose even if she had to learn archery.     

That was one of the condition that her father imposed to her when she started to learn martial arts. She shouldn't slack off at her education as the young lady. While she might not be the best in the entire kingdom, it was still far better than most people.      

"My skill in archery and swordsmanship can barely protect me as it is," Gao Ling said with a bitter smile. "All in all, I'm still a young lady who had to focus on arts for my study."     

Wei Liuying nodded. "You're amazing, Lady Gao."     

"Shouldn't someone like you is the one to be amazing? There's not many people who can be like you and roam on the battlefield freely without the need to worry."     

"There are things that need to be paid attention to when you're at the frontline, Lady Gao. The overall situation of a battlefield could change in a blink of eye if you're not careful enough."     

Gao Ling sighed. When it came to talk about strategy and so on, she would never be able to answer. Her father had asked her to study back then, but she still couldn't see the overall situation that well. It took her a very long time just to be able to understand what her father meant.     

In the end, it was decided that she would only act as one of the archers who helped them to reach victory.     

"The food is here," Strategist Yang said. He looked at the two of them. "Did I interrupt something?"     

"Not at all." Gao Ling smiled. "Please join us in the meal, Strategist Yang."     

"I wouldn't be so impolite," Yang Xian refused immediately. It would be better for him to not share the same table with the two of them because of his gender. He didn't want to hear rumor flies.     

Especially if it came to Prince Ji Sheng's ear.     

Yang Xian wouldn't have any peace for the next few weeks because Prince Ji Sheng would never let him off for eating with his fiancée. Obviously, he also didn't want to court his own death, so it would be better for him to eat at different table.     

"In that case, enjoy your meal, Strategist Yang."     

"Thank you."     

There were two tables prepared. Gao Ling had no other choice but to eat by herself because Wei Liuying was acting as a young man. If she ate with Gao Ling on the same table, rumors would never stop at all.     

After their lunch, they continued with their lessons, or to be exact, just doing the arts according to what they were capable of.     

"The next one would be music. Can you play zither, Lady Gao?"     

Gao Ling giggled. "Of course I can."     

"In that case, please."     

The servants hurriedly came inside and brought a zither inside. It was beautiful and from the craftsmanship, it was clear that the zither was persevered well. The faint engraving on the surface was showing beautiful view on top of a mountain.     

Gao Ling blinked her eyes. "Is this, His Highness's Zither?"     

"Yes. General Sheng ordered us to prepare his zither for you to use, Lady Gao," Yang Xian explained.     

Hearing that, there was a tinge of red on Gao Ling's cheek. It was clear that she was embarrassed, yet she didn't try to say anything and lightly touched the string. Happiness could be seen on her eyes as she started to play song.     

There were additional two ordinary zithers prepared for Yang Xian and Wei Liuying, but they chose not to interrupt Gao Ling. In any case, they couldn't play music properly, so it would be better to not embarrass themselves.     

The wind blew softly.     

Beautiful tunes carried over by the wind to envelope the garden.     

Flowers were dancing in rhythm accompanied by the leaves that fell and fluttered before they reached the ground.     

It gave sense of peace inside a beautiful view.     

When it was finished, Gao Ling's face flushed red. She looked at her two audience with a wry smile. "My apologies. I'm too excited when I know that this is His Highness's zither, so I went and play songs."     

"It's alright. We're lucky to be able to hear such beautiful song from you, Lady Gao."     

"Yes. It's very beautiful."     

Gao Ling smiled. She sighed lightly. "Until when do you plan to keep on your polite demeanor?"     

"There are some servants around."     

"They're only my maidservants," Gao Ling said unhappily. "Do you know how tiring it is to talk formally all the time. I have to think very hard on what to say just in order to not offend anyone. It was so tiring!"     

Wei Liuying could only smile bitterly. She knew the feeling all too well. Whenever she had to face with her mother, father, and many others, she had to pay close attention to what she said. If she spoke wrongly, her mother will hit her and punish her. If she spoke impolitely, her father would punish her and lock her away. If she spoke badly in front of others, they would mock her.     

It was not easy.     

Yang Xian sighed. He really wanted to talk informally too, but there were Prince Ji Sheng's men around the area watching them. If Prince Ji Sheng caught him too be too comfortable around Gao Ling, he knew that it would be his end.     

Prince Ji Sheng would never let him off.     

He rubbed his forehead, thinking for a way to solve this without having himself getting punished badly by Prince Ji Sheng.     

"Shall we just try to play song? It'll be a waste to just leave the zither the servants have prepared here," Wei Liuying changed the conversation.     

"Strategist Liu, you're trying to avert the conversation, aren't you?" Gao Ling asked back.     

Wei Liuying smiled bitterly. "Please understand, Miss Gao. We're General Sheng's subject while you're his fiancée. It's only understandable that we'll act polite around you when it's outside with so many people watching."     

"So many people watching?" Gao Ling looked around in confusion. She couldn't see anyone but her maidservants around here. Who in the world that Wei Liuying talk about? She glanced to Yang Xian's face and noticed that he was also giving the same smile.     

In that moment, she understood.     

Her fiancé must have sent some men to watch over the area.     

"You… should just play."     

"Thank you, Lady Gao."     

Wei Liuying looked at the zither in front of her and sighed. It has been such a long time since the last time she touched this zither. If she had to be honest, she had high doubts that she would be able to play anything properly considering how she used to play before.     

Well, she should just try.     

The notes began to play slowly but surely. Wei Liuying continued to play the song, but it was clear that many were off tune. It was a bit unbearable to watch and hear. Gao Ling felt as if her ear would be wrecked if she continued to listen.     

It was so… torturing.     

"Strategist Yang, would you please try too?"     

"Sure."     

Yang Xian noticed that Wei Liuying stopped as she understood that her play was so poor. In that case, Yang Xian started his. Melodies began to play, but it didn't take long for Gao Ling's face to turn sour.     

It was so bad!     

These two were often off tune and plucked the wrong string. She felt that it was so unbearable to watch.     

"Can you two… play zither?"     

"Truth to be told, this is the first time I ever touch zither," Yang Xian admitted with a bitter smile. When in the world would he had the time to touch zither and play it in the past? He was too busy to arrange everything for war and battles.     

Wei Liuying fidgeted. "I have touched zither before, but I still can't play it properly."     

She was not given any time to practice by her mother. Every time she returned back from the academy, what she had to do was to read the books that her brother had to learn. In that kind of situation, she had no other choice but to learn as hard as possible in her limited time in the academy.     

Yet, it was impossible since she often skipped class thanks to her mother's intervention.     

Gao Ling looked at the two of them and sighed. "You two are really a good pair."     

Wei Liuying and Yang Xian looked at each other then laughed.