Queen Of Monsters

The figures in the distance were quickly headed towards their direction.

Once they got closer to the palace, the features of the shadows became distinct. Leading the entourage was a lady with long slender fingers that were holding a fan in front of her face. She was followed by two female attendants with their heads slightly bowed; behind the aides were many imperial soldiers who marched at a respectable distance.

Ru Naya eyed the confident lady and the nervous followers who bowed to Jun Liyun once they were in front of the crown prince. After they stood up, Chang Miriya closed her fan gracefully, giving Ru Naya the chance to study the concubine's niece. She observed that Chang Miriya had long silky black hair that was tied up around her waist, and the green colour of the hair tie matched the colour of the exorbitant dress she wore. The top of the dress was covered by a gossamer shawl that was dr.a.p.ed over her slim shoulders and the flimsy cloth barely covered the dangerously low lining of the dress.

"My lord," Chang Miriya greeted him suggestively, and her dark eyes glimmered with wanton d.e.s.i.r.e.

Ru Naya's cheeks reddened at Chang Miriya's desperate antics, and the others in the vicinity looked uncomfortable as well. However, Jun Liyun remained unfazed.

"Lady Chang," He spitted out her name angrily.

"My darling prince Jun Liyun, you look absolutely handsome as usual," She ignored the angry tone and she licked her lips seductively in response, causing Ru Naya to scoff at her behaviour.

Ru Naya's sneer went unnoticed by Chang Miriya, however, the guards who stood behind the concubine's niece did notice her. They tightened their grip on their swords, and that action caused Ru Naya to finally turn to look at them. On a closer inspection it struck her that the guards who stood behind Chang Miriya were the ones that had been patrolling the gates earlier. She especially recognized two guards amongst the angry group: first was the one that had turned her away when she had requested entrance, and the second one was Cheung Qiu who stood beside him; the latter one glowered darkly at Ru Naya before he snarled out loudly, "Insolent woman, how dare you stand behind the crown prince? I will kill you today for your unforgivable sins!"

Cheung Qiu's declaration caused everyone's' attention to be focused on her, making her feel self conscious. Upon seeing her being uncomfortable, Jun Liyun shift slightly in front of her, as if to protect her from the murderous gazes trained on her.

The guard who had rejected her entrance earlier also narrowed his gaze when he realized who it was, "My lord please step away from the woman, she is a shameless wench who barged inside the palace despite me turning her away!"

The other soldiers started to mutter amongst themselves and many threw her dirty looks. She could clearly hear the whispers targeting her by calling her filthy names. Ru Naya thought that they probably saw her as a threat to the princess's position and that is why they were being so hostile towards her.

Chang Miriya finally noticed the commotion and turned to look at Ru Naya in surprise. She hadn't noticed the dirty girl standing behind her darling prince and her eyes darkened at the sight of the bitch who dared to go near her future husband. How dare she!

"And," Jun Liyun glared at the soldiers fiercely, silencing the whispers instantly, "Why wasn't she allowed inside in the first place?"

The question had the two outspoken soldiers hesitating. They had followed Chang Miriya's orders of not letting any women inside, thus, they truly had no explanation for rejecting Ru Naya at the entrance when she had come to meet the prince. So they stared at each other and then looked back timidly at Jun Liyun, unable to answer his question. Suddenly, Cheung Qiu's eyes lightened up and and he spoke up loudly.

"My lord, this vile woman had lied about her identity at the gate and entered despite me not granting her entrance. It is clear that she is dangerous so please let us take her away, and we will punish her properly."

"Shut up you shameless woman!" Cheung Qiu gripped his sword tightly. He glared darkly at Ru Naya and almost took a step forward when Jun Liyun's formidable aura stopped him.

"This 'shameless woman' is my esteemed guest, soldier, "Jun Liyun's glare turned chilling, "If I recall I had ordered to let a woman by the name of Ru Naya to be escorted back to my palace. I see my orders are being blatantly disregarded because you all would rather listen to someone else."

Then two men looked surprised at Jun Liyun's comment and they simultaneously turned to look at her, who smiled in turn as she said, "Hello! I am Ru Naya."

The soldiers face turned ashen. They had clearly remembered the strict orders of the crown prince and they had plainly disregarded their orders as well as insulted the crown prince's important guest in the process.

"Bu-but," Cheung Qiu spluttered in his defence but was interrupted by a seething Jun Liyun.

"Wondering why was my guest was forced to lie to you? Because all of you turned the women at the entrance right away. I seem to have forgotten when I had given such an order to my soldiers."

No one had any reply so the men kept mum as they stared at their crown prince timidly while furtively giving Ru Naya angry glares. It was obvious they were furious at her for had Ru Naya not been present, then they would have gotten away with their behaviour.

However, their future princess had told them to not fear even if the crown prince found out about her orders, for she was his beloved and he would let the issue go on her behalf.

Finally, Chang Miriya spoke up.

"You of all people should pray that I shouldn't have higher standards, Lady Chang. For if I were to do that then you wouldn't be allowed near the crown prince's palace at all." Jun Liyun replied scathingly.

Ru Naya snorted at Jun Liyun's answer and everyone except him stared at her maliciously. Chang Miriya's eyes were especially scalding as they bore into hers.

"Degenerate girl, you think this is funny!" She snapped, "Do you really think that the great prince will accept a dirty and a grotesque girl like you to be his wife?"

Ru Naya raised an eyebrow at all the insults, but she winked at Chang Miriya and said dryly, "Still an upgrade compared to you, Miss Chang."

Jun Liyun chuckled softly, and Chang Miriya's expression became even more darker as she fixed her venomous eyes on Ru Naya.

"Miss Chang," Ru Naya continued, unperturbed by her looks, "The one who comments on other's characters without knowing them are the degenerate ones. You may call me names but at least I am not the one pestering a person to marry me despite being rejected by him, or banning any women from entering the palatial grounds because I am insecure of the other ladies."

The attendants gasped at Ru Naya's audacious comments, and the soldiers standing behind a terrifyingly angry Chang Miriya glowered at her even harder. If looks could kill then Ru Naya would have been incinerated instantly.

"You..you, how dare you!" Chang Miriya snarled, no longer acting pretty and coy, "A pitiful bitch like you dare to go against me? Do you even know who I am? It doesn't matter now for I am going to teach you a lesson for disrespecting the future princess of Bon Sicini! Guards, capture her and bring her to me!"

The guards immediately tightened their hands on their swords when they got their order, and had almost started to walk towards Ru Naya to grab her, when a blast of frosty aura stopped them on their tracks.

The quiet voice of the crown prince was like a dangerous omen for everyone present there. The maids and the eunuchs no longer dared to linger around and they fled quickly. The soldiers wished they could flee as well.

"No, no, please forgive us my lord!" The imperial soldiers looked like frightened animals as they cried out. The crown prince was an unforgiving and cold man who was not to be crossed at all. Jun Liyun never just punished the offending parties, but he razed their entire family to the ground and wiped the family line off forever just for daring to anger him.

So in clear succinct words, the soldiers were all royally screwed.