*Ryu Shim starts panicking again only for Lu Xia to cover up for him*

Lu Xia *to servants* : Of course, he doesn't knows me but My father...

Fatherrrr!!!! Someone has come to see our crafts!!!

Luo Kun: Huh? Who?

Ouh Your Majesty! What are you doing here?
Prayers for your good health, How can I help you?

Lu Xia: Umm... Father, you remember the day right? When the Majesty, Crown Prince saved you in the forest and honourable 2nd Prince was aiding him too?

**Flashback to the yesterday night...

Lu Xia: Father! I wanted to tell you something...

Luo Kun: Go on-

Lu Xia: the person who saved me in the palace-

Luo Kun: The Crown Pr-

Lu Xia: It was not the Crown Prince, It was the 2nd Prince, Ryu Shim. I realised that today when I saw the Crown Prince.

Luo Kun: Strange! I mean I know the 2nd Prince, he was there helping his elder brother to save me from robbers in the forest.

Lu Xia: Yes about that- Why did you hide that incident from us?

Mom doesn't knows about it, right?

Luo Kun: I didn't want to worry yall. Plus I am alive and I am infront of you, isn't this enough? But lets come back to your topic, hmm...
I never thought 2nd Prince would have helped you, Infact I am still surprised he didn't throw you in dungeon!

Lu Xia: Why? What's so bad about the 2nd Prince? He seems like a decent human being.

Luo Kun: Ouh That's because of his tales in the 'Battle of LuoPin'
He killed all the Enemies brutally. That's what spreaded his reputation as a cruel Prince.

Lu Xia: But He killed them to protect us, didn't he?

Luo Kun: maybe...

Lu Xia: what do you mean by 'maybe'?

Luo Kun: I mean It's said That people saw a beast in his eyes when he killed the Enemies...
After that there were different incidents reported like he was cruel to his palace staff, he lived in isolation, doesn't treat the Crown Prince as an elder brother, etc. Infact, when he was aiding Prince Chang Lin, the tension between them was so visible.

Lu Xia POV: But That doesn't means That Prince Ryu Shim is bad? Is he? Father didn't see him explicitly treating the Crown Prince bad? Plus it seems like the Second Prince never clarified these rumours himself...

Flashback ends**

Luo Kun *hesitantly* : Yes?

Lu Xia *To servants* : See? His Majesty doesn't knows me, he knows my father because he saved his life with the Crown Prince...

Ryu Shim POV: phewww!! Thank God She gave an excuse, otherwise if anyone gets to know about our 1st encounter and the word spreads, Elder brother might suspect me.
As if He doesn't finds enough troubles for me already!

Ryu Shim *To servants in a stern way* : Now you got it? Or do you want to know more?

Servant 2: We are sorry, Sire! We just asked for the sake of your security.

Lu Xia POV: Wait! What is that way of talking with servants? Is this why he is known as the Cruel Prince? But He was not like that with me... He might be cold but he was not rude. What's wrong with him now?

Ryu Shim: Master Kun, What do you have to sell?

*Luo Kun shows all the crafts to Prince Ryu Shim. Ryu Shim Spots Enamel Jewellery box... *

Ryu Shim POV: This! Princess Ju Ring might like this!
I should take it-

Ryu Shim: I would like to buy this *enamel jewelry box*

Luo Kun: I Will be glad to sell this to you, Sire!

*Ryu Shim Goes through more stuff and buys some more items for his father, mother and his favourite cousin sister and brother*

Ryu Shim *to servants* : I think you should return back to palace. This things will be difficult to carry around.

Servant 1: Sire but you?

Ryu Shim: I want to stay here and look around. I can defend myself. So Obey my Command.

Servant 2: We will do as you say.

*Servants get back on their way to palace*

Ryu Shim: Monkey- I mean you- what was your name?

Lu Xia *Scornfully*: Lu Xia and I am NOT a monkey!!!

Luo Kun: Behave!

Lu Xia: But He called me Monkey!

Luo Kun: Forgive me, your highness, as a father I couldn't teach her how to address a royal family member.

Ryu Shim: Well I don't blame you to deal with this headache.

*Lu Xia's face becomes red with anger*

Ryu Shim *To Luokun* : I guess her behaviour is why you never brought her in the Capital until now?

Luo Kun *Stutters* : umm... yea- Yes, you- your highness. What else could be the rea- reason

*Ryu Shim Notices the worried and nervous expressions of Luo Kun but hesitates to ask directly and diverts the topic*

Ryu Shim *Lu Xia*: Well, girl, I saved you... Shouldn't you repay me back by guiding me the market around here?

Lu Xia: You are a Prince, should you know the-

Luo Kun: She will surely, your highness

*Lu Xia stares at her father as if like shooting daggers but Luo Kun just laughs it off.



Lu Xia shows around the market to the Prince as if she were a tour guide just when she spots a child struggling with selling some tea cups, plates, etc. *

Lu Xia: My, my! How will that poor child even sell it when it's not appealing...

Ryu Shim: Huh?

Lu Xia *goes to the boy* : hello, little one! Why are you selling here? Where are your parents?

Child: I only have my mother but she's sick and we don't have money to buy medicines so I thought of selling it. Would you like to buy some?

Ryu Shim: I can give you some money-

Lu Xia: No!
*takes him aside*
What are you doing?

Ryu Shim: What do you mean what I am doing? I am trying to help.

Lu Xia: By giving him money, just like that? Do you know what his mother will feel?

Ryu Shim: She will be grateful?

Lu Xia *in a calm tone* : You see, that's the thing which royal family including you, might not understand about people like us. He is a child, he could beg but He chose to sell things in his shop. He is not asking for free money. He wants to earn it. You know why? Because people like us, we dont have riches to flaunt. We only have our dignity which we earn. Earning Money through our craft is also like earning our dignity for us.
Also, His mother might fall sick again... Will you help them every time? Or will you do something which can probably help them to live a good life with required needs?

Ryu Shim: Then what do you want me to do?

Lu Xia: Nothing. I will do what I have to.

*turns to the child*
Little one, we might not have that much money but we can help you earn it. Do you want me to help?

Child *cheerfully* : Okay

*Lu Xia teaches the child something she is expert In.
Designing. She shows the child how to use vivid colours in a striking way which might catch the attention of customers. The boy who is probably 12-13 years old starts designing the cups and plates the same way Lu Xia teaches him. They end up designing the entire batch of products and then, when they bring the products out for sale, Ryu Shim is struck by the beautiful designs and colours of the plates which looks like a wild symphony of flowers.*

Ryu Shim *To Lu Xia* : You did it?

Lu Xia: And I also taught this little one. He will be good to go.

*Suddenly, a lady appears, Ryu Shim conceals his face. She is awed by the beauty of the tea cups and plates. Lu Xia Encourages the child to pitch his product*

Child: Ma'am, Would you like to buy some?

Lady: like? I would LOVE to buy such beautiful things from you.

*Lady Buys a lot of products. And by that time, some other customers appear. Slowly the entire batch sold out with the child having much money in his cloth bag. He looks cheerful with a glimpse of hope in his eyes. Lu Xia Worried for his safety, accompanied him to buy medicines and food, the boy smiled with a few tears in his eyes and looked upto Lu Xia*

Child: Thank you, Sister. You helped me so much. I will remember what you taught me.

*Ryu Shim Witnessing the entire scenario finally understood what Lu Xia was trying to say.*

Ryu Shim POV: She is not as foolish as I thought her to be. She taught me something which I had not known inspite of living in the Capital for so long.

*Lu Xia and Ryu Shim go on their way back to Luo Kun's shop*

Ryu Shim: Okay! I admit, you were right. I underestimated you.

Lu Xia: haha! You see, I am not just a monkey.

Btw why do people call you cruel Prince?
You seem to be decent

Ryu Shim POV: Cruel Prince? So even she knows it now. Words spread fast I guess. If only I could escape from this tag.

Ryu Shim *in a cold tone* : what do you mean I am decent. You know what, whatever you heard is true. I am cruel and this is my identity

Lu Xia POV: Looks like I made a mistake asking him about his tag. He looks hurt. So is this why he has this random "cold person" episodes? I mean, I would have been hurt too if
People called me that. I can only imagine the level of pain he gets when someone mentions this.

Lu Xia *in a calm tone* : Relax! It's not like I will accept whatever people say!

Ryu Shim *in a hypertensive mode* : Why? You don't even know me! You are just a village girl who I had to escort outside the Palace!

Lu Xia *now annoyed, raises her voice* : Will You calm down for a second instead of making your own "everyone hates me" story.

Ryu Shim *Yells* : Do YOU know who you are yelling on?

Lu Xia: I am yelling on the PERSON who didn't think twice before helping me out the 1st time I barged into his palace without any invitation. I AM YELLING at the person who has NEVER been CRUEL to me ever since I met him. Then WHY IN THE HEAVENS should I think about you the way everyone does. I have my own Mind. I WILL think whatever I want and You CAN'T control my Mind. UNDERSTOOD?

*Ryu Shim gets so surprised by the words Lu Xia spoke that he didn't even think that he, The Prince of The Lyjas Dynasty was being yelled on by the simple village girl who has known him for just 2 days?
He just stares at Lu Xia being silent*

Lu Xia POV: Oh Shoot!! Did I just now yelled at a royal family member? Me and my blabbering habits!

Ryu Shim POV: This Girl- She is idiot but still managed to not judge me inspite of all the rumours.

Ryu Shim *now in a calm tone* : I guess you do have your mind to think.

*Lu Xia was about to say something when Luo Kun called out her name in a desperate way. Lu Xia scared that something bad happened, runs towards her father. Ryu Shim follows her. Lu Xia spots her father with some Royal Guards. Confused, she decides to approach them. Even Ryu Shim is taken aback by the presence of the royal guards. He straightens his posture*

Lu Xia *In a worried tone* : Father, are you ok?

Luo Kun *In a worried tone too* : I am ok but what did you do?

Lu Xia: What do you mean by "what did you do?" ?

Luo Kun: These guards came in search of you.

Ryu Shim *getting tensed* : There must be a mistake.
*to the royal guards*
Why did you come for her?

Guard 1: His Majesty, Son of Heaven, Fu Xian has ordered us to search for this girl and take her to the palace.

Ryu Shim: Why?

Guard 2: We have no idea. We are just doing what we are told to.

Luo Kun: You can't take my daughter. She has done nothing wrong!
Please Let us go and we will never show our faces in the capital. We promise!

Ryu Shim POV: Why is Lu Xia's father getting so scared? Why did father order these guards to take Lu Xia to the palace? ARGHHHHH!!! What is going on here?

Guard 3: Unfortunately, we can't disobey the Emperor.

*Begins to approach Lu Xia to take her to the palace but before they can approach her, Prince Ryu Shim Steps in.*

Prince Ryu Shim, Please do not stop our way, We are doing what we are being asked to. Though we have been informed that you were shopping in this region, its strange that we discovered you with this girl. Nevermind! It will get dark soon, so you should head back to the palace as well. We have extra horses.

Lu Xia: What is going on here? And why am I being taken? I Swear I didn't do anything wrong, I just came to accompany my father...

Ryu Shim *tries to comfort her* : Relax, everything will be fine

*Turns to the guards*
I won't stop you from taking her to the king but I am sure you won't stop her father to accompany her?

The Emperor will understand, he is not a cruel one to seperate a girl from her family. I will accompany her too.

Guard 1 *perplexed* : I guess we can do that, your highness. Her father can accompany her.

Ryu Shim: Do you have any idea, why the Emperor asked for her?

Guard 2: We don't. But we do think Crown Prince has something to do with it.

Ryu Shim *shock yet in a firm tone* : and why do you think that?

Guard 2: He was there when Emperor gave us the order. Infact, he also told us to handle things peacefully and to not use excess force.

Ryu Shim POV: Always! It's always Chang Lin being upto his sleeves. What does he wants now? This girl might be clumsy but she surely didn't do something offending. I can't let her suffer just without any reason.

Ryu Shim *turns to Luo Kun and Lu Xia* : I don't know what my elder brother has to do with it or why The Emperor gave this order but resisting it, will only bring problems. *to Luo Kun* If you accompany her, maybe you will get to know the reason as well get the chance to negotiate. What I know for a fact is that Father dislikes those who put on a resistance to his order. So please just accompany her for the best without disobeying...

Luo Kun: I Will, your highness!

Ryu Shim * whispers to Lu Xia* : I can't promise anything but I will try my best to make sure nothing bad happens to you.

*Lu Xia and Luo Kun reluctantly agree to go to the royal palace. What is going to happen with them? Are they gonna get in trouble or are they going to encounter something unexpected. Can Prince Ryu Shim shield Lu Xia from the trouble or will he get distant from her? Stay Tuned for the next part to know the twists!!

Preview: Crown Prince Chang Lin discusses with the Emperor regarding Lu Xia. He is astonished to see that Lu Xia is accompanied by his so called brother "Prince Ryu Shim"