Bai Zheng and Li Xue return to the cave, where they left their people in. As soon as they stepped in the cave, they were welcomed with great enthusiasm. „Welcome back, Masters" the people said in unison, while bowing down, some where even shredding happy tears.

Since the day, when Li Xue and Bai Zheng left, they were waiting eagerly for their return. The folks kept their eyes at the entrance of the cave, so they wouldn't miss the time when Xue and Zheng come back. But, no one even thought that they would abandon them, they trusted them with all of their might.

Li Xue and Bai Zheng would always remain the saviors in their eyes, a woman and a man which helped them escape from slavery. That alone, was enough for them.

The new helpers would also take turns to guard themselves just in case that anyone would attack them while they are sleeping.

A child ran to Bai Zheng and hugged his leg tight,"I want to play with you Mister," the boy looked up at Zheng.

The adults started to chatter amongst themselves, when the mother saw her boy she walked towards him,"Come here, don't bother the Master," she scolded him mostly because she was worried that her kid would bother Bai Zheng who was tired from the long travel and would exhaust him even more.

„It's okay, Miss." Zheng replied to the woman. „What do you want to play, little man?" he crouched down and smiled sweetly at the boy.

„Masters, please eat first. We have prepared a feast, to replenish your strength." The elder of the group said with a pleasant tone.

„Oh that's great," shouted the boy, quivering all over with excitement. It was the first feast he ever had, the boy only heard about a feast from his father, who was describing the lively city restaurants which were filled with various delicious dishes.

The past days, they ate only the vegetables they could find, drink water from the morning flowers dew to relieve thirst, and eat a particular type of flowers which tasted bitter. Meanwhile, they stored the meat of the animals they hunted, to keep it safe for their masters arrival and to throw a memorable celebration for their sake.

Their entire life, they lived with things like these, so to hold back for two days was nothing for them. Most importantly, they were blessed to get goodhearted masters, they knew they will treat them good and feed them well. Being stingy would reward them with nothing; After all, greed will only lead people to their own demise.

One after one the food was served on wooden flat plates that the women made for the past days. Indeed, the food was not expensive, but it had mouth watering taste. It was more delicious because they were all eating together, which made it even more appetizing.

Laughter engulfed the sunny day, rays of happiness were reaching like a sweet song to everyone's heart. They were talking with each other, about their past, the stories they have heard of and funny moments.

After the delightful feast, Li Xue brushed off her dress and stood up. She coughed, to signal everyone that she has something to say. All turned to her, they were listening with caution.

She clasped her hands in front of her, „You all know that I said that I have a business plan now that I have discussed with my father I will take you back with me in my manor. We will start working there on the products." Xue explained as she rocked back and forth from heel to toe, toe to heel.

„What kind of products?" a man reached up his hand.

„It's about skincare," Li Xue disclosed.

The men looked at each other and started to whisper, they were arguing on who would tell Xue what they were thinking.

But, Li Xue noticed that and gave a heartfelt laugh,"I know what you think it's a job for the women, but trust me, it's for you men too." she exclaimed.

„Please gather around and listen to me well," Xue demanded, the people complied and sat around her, making a big circle.

„I thought of making several skincare products but our main product will be special and one of a kind. A product made of snails, rose water and rice water." She brushed her sweaty palms together. Will they do it, Xue thought.

The ones present were all in disbelief they started talking to one another that those things were not for the face. The snails were dirty and repulsive, while rice was to eat and roses were well known flowers for their marvelous smell.

Li Xue started to act in order to get their pity,"It's all going to be perfect, but, only if you agree to help," sadness clouded her features.

„We never turn back on our words! We will always follow you Master," they shouted in unison.

Wide grin appeared on Xue's face, „It's showtime, baby."

„What show is playing?" a curious woman asked, „Why are we visiting a play?" one added.

Bai Zheng, who was sitting near Li Xue furrowed,"I'm sure she meant something else."

„Please hide yourself in the yellow and blue cloaks that I will hand to you. We will move with huge caution in the city, remember to stay close and don't get lost." Xue now said in a more serious tone. This was a tough brain game, they will attract attention if they show themselves but even if they hide they still would.

„Those who are like the rest of the citizens, don't need to put a cloak on. The elderly will go in first then the rest of you, please put the children on your laps so they won't take space in the carriage." Li Xue instructed.

When they left the city, in the outskirts they found a carriage man and paid him half the amount so he would wait for them at the entrance of the mountain with a carriage and some good horses that someone could ride if there were insufficient places. And indeed he was waiting there for them, under a tall tree.

„I was going to leave if you didn't arrive," the man said with a bothered tone.

„Sorry to make you wait," Li Xue said to him with a half smile; "Here is your money," she threw the yellow pouch to him.

„Everyone get in," Bai Zheng decreed. Li Xue remained still at her place, not knowing what to do. She didn't know how to ride a horse, it was embarrassing for her to ask someone so she just kept silent.

„Come here, ride with me," Bai Zheng, who now was on a black horse, said to Li Xue while extending his hand for her to grab it.

Li Xue nodded and grabbed his hand, but not knowing how exactly to climb on the horse, she slipped and fell on the muddy ground. Dammit, she hung her head low and bitting her lower lip so she wouldn't cry, she felt humiliated.

Her thoughts perished, when a male took her in his strong arms, carrying her like a princess. „You fool, don't cry for such matter," Bai Zheng whispered to her with his soft spoken voice.

Li Xue stared at him, don't worry now something else is more wet than my eyes, she thought to herself. Bai Zheng was the most gorgeous man she had laid her eyes upon, his everlasting perfection has never failed to captivate her heart and her attention.

Bai Zheng jumped on the horse as he held Li Xue like that and kept her close to him with his both hand over her, and one hand holding her by the belly and the other holding the horses reins and. Like that they started the journey back home.

***

They went through the city without any problems because now people knew that Li Xue was the fiancé of the Emperor of Abelia. Everyone avoided her like a plague, she was untouchable, because of his support; a man who is famous as a brutal murderer when someone meddles with his people. Stupid is he, who doesn't run away from trouble.

But, they were taken aback by how Li Xue was sitting on a horse with a dashing male, who was about her age. It was controversial how close they were and how the male was holding on her tightly. That was yet another gossip that would spread like a fire through the city.

After a while, Li Xue and her followers arrived to the manor. They helped each other to get off the carriage and finally, they went inside their new home. The place was cleaner than the last time and decorated with fancy statues that Xue didn't know nor approve of.

Li Xue's servants were waiting by the door, they were positioned from youngest to the oldest. When the maids saw Xue, they bowed and greeted her with zealousness, trying to gain her favor, „Welcome back, Miss!"

Xue felt very proud, sometimes, to scold someone when they are wrong would benefit greatly, instead of being unbothered. People would walk over you and would not give even drop of respect, especially if you are overly nice with them. Li Xue's heart now understood how her parents felt, and her teachers too.

I miss them, Li Xue stared off to the faraway distance. It's been so long without seeing her parents, she pinched her thighs hard, blaming herself because she was the reason for this all to happen. Instead of living in peace and reading only good books, she decided to read random things and later blame authors and swear on them for such bad plot.

„Li Xue?" Bai Zheng waved his hand in front of her, which caused her to return back to the reality, the current times. What is gone is gone already, there is no return unless she wins the mission.

„Yes?" she asked in anxious tone.

„We are waiting for your orders now," he raised  up his eyebrow and scrunched up his face.

Li Xue let out a deep sigh,"So first gather all the rice we have and put it in the bowls that are used for cooking. For precise measurements, you will fill three cups of water for one bowl of rice. Let the rice stay in the water for two days and one night, then later fill the large jars we have outside with that whiteish water."

„But Master, what about the rice? We can't throw rice away, it's wasteful." A woman voiced out.

„What do you think," Li Xue paused and observing all of them, one by one,"Of course we will eat it, rice is delicious," she added with a playful wink.

Li Xue explained one thing after another, and made several teams consisting of people who will do one ingredient, while others would do the other component. In that way, the job would be done faster and will be more efficient, as her helpers wouldn't get tired.

After listening to her, Bai Zheng started ordering the men to carry rice into the kitchen. The women were starting a fire and then mixing the rice and the water well. The new workers started to joke between themselves thinking that it was such an easy job and that they could do it even while sleeping.

The other group went to buy the roses that she would need as an ingredient for the product, when they returned Xue saw that they have bought other kind of roses that she didn't think of, the deep pink and light pink chinese roses were indeed magnificent and ravishing but Li Xue wanted the red ones.

At least they bought roses, Xue shrugged. Perhaps, these will work better...

„The roses will have the same process as rice but they will be boiled for only a few hours and then leave them outside, to cool off." She clarified slowly and went to Bai Zheng to notify him of something.

„I will leave with few guards and workers to get the snails, you can stay here and advise them when needed. Is that okay with you?" Li Xue questioned in case that he would not get sulky because of the fact that she didn't take him with her.

Bai Zheng pondered for a while,"Sure, I will be waiting." He bit his lower lip and forced a smile. His heart ached whenever he had to be away from Li Xue, but this feeling was bad for him, and he knew that. She is not his prisoner, to stay always with him.

With his positive response, Li Xue left the manor with her guards and man who had knowledge about snails, where are they located and sold at which market. But Xue didn't want market snails, she wanted to capture fresh ones from the wild, so they headed off to the outer parts of the city.

Li Xue thought of taking their slime which they would produce naturally in custom made plates that have secret mechanisms. The snails would be feed well, and Li Xue would get what she wants. A win-win situation.

On their way there, a man on a horse crossed their path. Li Xue who was in the carriage, opened the window and got her head outside, ready to shout and swear at whoever stopped them, but she controlled her actions when she saw that he was the Royal Guard that saved her from the trouble with the rich pig.

Her eyes widened with excitement,"Li Jing, we met again!" she called him, with her shining cheerfulness. Xue was happy to see someone she recognized, her second friend besides Bai Zheng.

„Indeed, my Lady," He said, his mouth now curving into a smile

Li Xue studied the surroundings, this time he was alone. Li Jing also wasn't wearing the armor, he was wearing simple clothes which made him even more alluring. Xue felt an urge to whistle at him, but she kept low profile.

„Where are you traveling to?" Jing asked her with his soft spoken tone.

„Oh we are going to get snails," she paused and questioned him while she toyed with a lock of hair „Do you want to come along?"

He threaded a hand through his hair, „I would love to, but I'm afraid I won't stay long."

„That's still better than nothing," Xue giggled.

After the arrangement, they continued the way and settled in a place where it was far from the city and had long grass. When Li Xue opened the of the carriage to get down, Li Jing was waiting for her, so he could help her get down, but Li Xue shrugged if off, as if she didn't see.

She indeed liked handsome men, but only to watch them, nothing more and nothing less. Li Xue didn't want his fangirls to kill her in miserable ways, shivers crawled up on her spine at the mere thought of them.

Li Jing, who was holding his hand up, turned scarlet, his jaw tightened from the embarrassment. No one had ever ignored him, this was new to him. A corner of his mouth lifted, this girl is interesting, he thought.

The servant and her guards started to collect the brown snails which were glued to the ground, meanwhile Li Xue stood beside them, monitoring as Jing was talking with her. She felt restless, her hands were scratchy because she wanted to work too, the job seemed so fun for her. Eh, fork it! I'll do it too, she threw her hands in the air.

„Give me a bag, I will help you," Li Xue crouched down and started to gather the snails by holding them by their shell so she wouldn't hurt them. She also warned her helpers before they started to do the same action, to not harm the snails.

Li Jing let out a nervous laugh,"then I will help too," he took out a handkerchief from his pocket and laid it down, so he wouldn't dirty his clothes when he would crouch. Li Xue who was glancing at him, was dumbfounded by his action.

„I have to attend an important meeting later," Li Jing murmured as a blush crept on his cheeks.

Such a flower boy, Xue thought, with a smile plastered over her face.

They worked for a half an hour, the time passed by quickly, mostly because they couldn't locate the snails, but in the end, they filled their bags to the top. Li Xue's forehead was gleaming with sweat, when Li Jing noticed this, he came near her and wiped the sweat off with his sleeve carefully.

Li Xue flushed red like a shy maiden and covered her mouth in shyness,"Thank you," she said to him with honeyed voice.

The atmosphere soon became awkward, in order to change it back to how it was Xue spoke up, „Since we are done, let's head back home," she announced to everyone.

Li Jing stood up,"I'm afraid I have to bid my farewell, I have a matter to attend. It was my pleasure to be here with you, Li Xue." He said as he brushed the hands together to remove the dust.

„I had a great time, thanks for joining us," she flashed her sparkly white teeth at him in gratitude.

At that moment, not only his heart fluttered but everyone's present too. Li Xue was a enchanting girl, she was always dressed in elegant style and had charming mannerism towards everyone, not only for the higher ups but for the servants also.

The sun was setting when Xue said her goodbyes to Li Jing and returned to her manor. She was so touched, when she saw how her servants worked together in such harmony. They were chattering and laughing among each other as if they had been always happy and had no problems.

Meanwhile, the people thought that Li Xue and Bai Zheng had great personalities. They were happy that their masters treat them like humans and join to work side by side with their servants. They felt so grateful, they decided to work harder and to work overtime, in order to finish the products sooner, and make their masters happy and proud.

„It's night already, you are free now. Next morning we will start working again," Li Xue said as she let out a big yawn. It was a long day for her, traveling back and forth, working mentally and physically.

The moment she laid on her bed and closed her eyes, she fell asleep. It was the first time she was so tired that she brushed away the lingering insomnia. The dreams she saw were filled with happiness and rainbows, Li Xue wanted to stay in that dream for eternity, but, when she heard a knock on her door she jumped on her feet.

„W-who is it?" she stuttered.

„Miss can you come out, we are waiting for you," a woman said with affectionate tone.

„Okay I'll come, but I will dress myself first," Li Xue replied.

Her legs were still wobbly; she got scared thinking that someone was going to attack her manor or destroy her products. Li Xue sat on the chair and poured herself a glass of water to calm down and soothe her mind.

After dressing, she opened the door and saw Bai Zheng with her servants standing in the yard, talking with each other. Li Xue felt confused. Why aren't they working, she questioned.

„What is happening here?" Xue lifted her eyebrow.

„I have happy news for you," Bai Zheng flashed one of his captivating smiles.

„Will we finally marry?" Li Xue teased him, but it was still unclear for her as what is going on.

He shouted, „We have finished the product."

What was once noiseless became filled with cheers and celebrations. The servants barely slept the night because they were too excited, they wanted finish the job faster. So the moment when sun came out, they put on their clothes and started working.

„But, we have to test it first. I can't do it because my face is clear..." Li Xue pondered. She can't just take the product out in the market not knowing if it does harm or it will benefit.

She turns to the servants, „Is there anyone who is suffering from acne or impurities that wants to be the tester?" The silence grew deeper, Xue could her the rhythm of her heart, her throat felt dry at the uncomfortable void.

„I will," a teenage boy raised his hand. He was around sixteen years old, the boy had inflamed acne all over his chin and cheeks. His skin condition was bad, because of the main reason, which was, the crazy hormones.

„Thank you, for participating. You will have to test this product for at least two weeks." She put a hand on the boy's shoulder and gave him a smile.

She ordered a servant to prepare every day additional food for the boy to eat, such as fruits and vegetable dishes to help him clear up his acne faster. Li Xue advised the boy to not show up in front of her, so she could study his face better, when she sees his results.

„In meantime, others will work on the other products which consists of herbal remedies and other secret ingredients." Li Xue explains, taking pauses now and then, because her brain wasn't working properly. She was still in her dream land, sleepy.

Her servants were listening with huge precaution, to not forget anything. Some words had difficult terminologies that they couldn't understand but Bai Zheng would decipher her words into simpler descriptions later.

„The products will take a day or two, but then everyone available will start working on the shop my father gave to me. We have to renovate it," Li Xue adds.

„Bai Zheng, I will trust this last matter with you because I have to stay here to check on the products," she implied while stretching her hands aside.

***

Barely a week passed, and the boy appeared in front of her. His skin looked way healthier than before, his big bumps had shrunken and his inflammation got lighter.

The news traveled fast through the manor and everyone cheered at the results. They took the products, placed them in carriages and left to the city. Their new shop.

When they arrived at the destination, they get off. Li Xue was greeted, thanked and admired by her servants, she felt shy from the charming compliments. Li Xue had never been in the spotlight, she always crept at the sides, telling others the answer so she wouldn't get recognized.

Li Xue was entranced by the shop's beauty, she stared at it in blank amazement, with her mouth open. It was a tall building, with many wooden windows which were engraved in beautiful pictures. The door was large and open wide, so the costumers could see what is inside, there were the products placed on the red materials which rested on the long tables. And lastly, a big sign of Li Xue's name in the inside and the outside of the shop.

She felt so proud with herself, it was her first achievement. She battled her lashes when she noticed that her eyes were swimming with tears. Xue looked heavenward and fanned herself with her hands, to calm herself down.

„We did it," Bai Zheng whispered in her ear softly, then he took her hand and placed in his.

Li Xue's eyes gleamed with happiness, she turned to him, „All thanks to you," she gave to Bai Zheng a dashing smile and squeezed his hand tight.

Hello, my loves!

This is the longest chapter I have ever written. I wonder if you like it. Tell me bellow your thoughts about it!

Thank you so much, for reading my book. Have a beautiful day ahead, filled with many adventures.❤️