"Wow, it looks like..." it hasn't changed even a bit "..someone is really vow to mantain this beauty" I said happily as I was walking behind Ming.

"I show no mercy to whoever may cause any damage to the family's garden" he said as he stopped for a moment, looking at big oak tree, that was placed in the center of the garden, with four zabuton in front of a little table.

"Is anything okay?" I asked as Ming stayed there for a while, looking at one little bird, that leant on his hand almost covered by the white and comfy hanfu.

"Maybe it's better if we head back..." his smiling face towards the bird on his hand changed as soon as he noticed me already there, preparing the cup of tea.

I was so focused on trying to make the place comfortable, that I wasn't even feeling his stare much. I got the cup and slowly poured the yellow tea, making the cup face the oak tree as a ritual I used to do with him in my previous body. I looked at the zabuton and noticed the fabric looked ruined and dusty.

I put my hands on my hips and sighed annoyed "Master Yuan, the whole garden is perfectly fine, but the tea spot is awfully mantained!" I said as I turned towards Ming who was looking at me with a surprised stare. 

I raised my eyebrow, and then I started looking at my hanfu ot check if I did ruin it, but it didn't look like it "Master Yuan?" I called him out and he coughed a little bit, moving his hand towards a tree branch, to make the little bird getting off it.

He then looked at me and crossed his arms "Bai Hu, I asked to... head back" he put his hand on his forehead as I was giving him headache "And please, do not touch the zabuton" he said with a severe tone.

"They're really lovely, but they're dusty and..." I tried to speak, but I almost did bite my lips as I noticed him walking fast towards me till he was close to me and put his hands on mine that were holding one of the zabuton

"Next time, I am going to cut those hands of yours" he said calmly as he pulled the zabuton off my hands making me confused.

"Master Yuan" I called him out as he sighed and sat on the zabuton, keeping his arms crossed "You don't look amused"

"Probably because I didn't think having a woman like you would have caused such a nuisance" it looked like he was speaking as I wasn't there. I didn't even try to hide my evil stare and he laughed, making me curious of his change of attitude "I do not mean to insult you, lady Bai Hu, but you probably didn't understand what does it mean to be my servant" he said as he leant a bit on the zabuton, trying to relax.

"Did I do anything wrong?" I asked and he smiled amused.

"Maybe it's better I do explain that I hadn't tea in this place for years" he started to explain as I was kneeling on the zabuton in front of the table to be ready to give him the cup of tea.

"Why?" I asked as I gave him the cup.

His hands stopped on mine and then looked into my blue eyes for a while. I tilted my head curious from his suggestive stare.

He took the cup and looked at the yellow tea inside "This is where I used to have tea with my wife" he explained, making me paralysed on spot "We usually never asked any servant to follow us here, I haven't been enjoying this garden since her death" he looked around "No point on walking here without her"

Before I opened my mouth, he raised a bit his hand, to make me stop even before I started "Please, I ask you to stop being too irrational when you're serving a noble" he sipped some of the tea and smiled a bit, probably he liked it "Maybe I saved your life, considering how bad this tea tastes, another noble would have spread your assassination attempt and cut your head in no time"

E x c u s e  m e?

My mouth opened, ready to be annoyed. His amused gaze locked on me like he was definitely challenging me. I swallowed my pride and bowed "I apologize, Master Yuan, it will never happen"

Ming looked at me, and smiled "Better" he said "Anyway, may I ask why you want to stay in the city?"

"It's hard to explain" I cut it and he smiled amused by my trials to change argument "I will drink the tea since Master Yuan doesn't like it"

"What?" he appeared confused as he noticed me pouring a the tea in the cup "Do you want to die?" he asked and I looked at him confused as well.

"Do you want me to throw it?" I asked and Ming sighed.

"It was just a test" he said "The tea is acceptable... This place probably still keeps her aura" he looked at me and sighed "If you like the yellow tea, I allow you to have one cup, but get in your head you are not allowed to drink it with your master usually, just for this day"

"Thank you Master Yuan!" I said happily, drinking the tea. I was feeling such a lovely warmth and aromatic taste invading my body. I smiled as I sipped and enjoyed the view of the garden. Ming looked at me and slowly brought his hand on top of his chest.

"It's a nostalgic view, for sure" he told himself and I looked at him.

"What?"

"Feeling like some key memories are flowing like the little water flow around this little place. It's a good sensation... In add-on your mysterious case as after all I don't really know who you are"

"A friend" I said happily and he looked at me in the eyes for a while

"A friend" he marked with his voice, making me nod. He laughed a bit "It's pretty refreshing how a lady like you can be one who doesn't mince her words" 

"Can I ask something?" he looked at me and nodded.

"How come I haven't seen your wife portrait in the house? I noticed not even one hanging from the walls" I said and he looked at me with a death stare.

"There is none left from the fire." he stopped

"Not even one? But there were tons!" I exclaimed and he stand up from the zabuton and leant towards the table. His cup of tea was on the ground, his arms were supporting him as his hands grim was on the table and his face close to mine. In that moment his eyes were golden and I could see the power of the Fire Lord rising "I.. guess?"

"Why does it look that you know everything and nothing of this house, Lady Bai Hu?" he asked and I looked at him showing off my blue eyes with the soulmastery power.

"I surely heard lots of stories before reaching this house, I feel that you think I am an enemy, Master Yuan, and if this is the truth, why do you care to keep a possible threat by your side?"

"I do not see you as threat" he said, making me feel weirdly happy "But not even as a friend. There are so many lies that cover who you are, Bai Hu" he stopped for a moment "The only thing I know for sure about you is that you want to really stay here"

"Yes, but that's all I can say for now" I said as his golden eyes kept staring at me "I wish not to fight Master Yuan in a garden that's place of good memories"

Ming tilted his head to a side, like he was literally analysing every single detail of my face "I wish not to kill a servant on her first day"

Ming kept staring at me and got back to his sit "Do not use your powers, I see you're not afraid of mine, pretty fascinating" he said as I felt like I could breath again. Having him that close wasn't making me feel anything close to comfortable.

"I apologize" I said, as I really didn't want to cause him any hurt.

Apparently everyone was right. Talking about his wife was a dangerous thing to do in the city, specially with him. 

But somehow I needed to gain his trust, or Liam's, to get more information of my death.

Maybe I should start by asking about The Cult and their attacks as for now the talks about my death doesn't make him at ease, specially with a stranger.

"I will for this time" Ming smiled "Next time I won't be this gentle" he said with a little smirk "A servant who doesn't follow the rules can't stay much" I nodded, trying to keep myself calm as I was doing mistakes. Instead of turning him to my side, it looked like I was literally yeeting myself in the blacklist of my husband.

I am such a terrible wife.

After some silence, I stand up and started to get the pieces of the cup he made fall.

He looked at me, as I was bending to get the pieces of the cup and decided to stand up, to lean next to me and making me lose some heartbeats.

I felt his presence next to me, and in no time, I noticed him bending to help me out "Master Yuan, I can take care of it, it's my duty" I said trying to get him back to his seat as I was feeling a little bit embarassed to have that handsome man that close.

"It's my fault" he said and I sighed

"I am your maid, let me do it" I said as I rushed towards a piece he was about to get.

He stand and crossed his arms, I could feel his eyes on me "Fine, by the way" he coughed a little bit "Did you wash yourself before changing into the maids clothes?" 

I almost fell on my feet and tried to keep my composure "No, they sent me right away to your studio, the head maid probably will murder me tonight, do not worry" I replied honestly making him laugh.

"Lady Bai Hu, you really want to be a maid, but your attitude sounds more dominant than submissive, do you think you can really accept this life?" he asked as a challenge.

I stopped myself from cleaning and turned my head towards him "If master Yuan thinks I don't suit this role, he could have offered me the concubine role" I smiled innocently, as I noticed him getting his medicine back.

"Clean up." he said and I laughed feeling a little bit victorious.

"Yes, Master Yuan!" I said happily and he laughed as well.

I bet he was amused and annoyed at me most of the times, but as long he was slowly building some trust towards me, it was perfect for me.

I couldn't afford to think about getting him back, I wasn't there for romantic interest, but to protect him and get my revenge over whoever tried to threat my family.

"Here's a little fact about me and concubines, lady Bai Hu" Ming said while he was standing next to me, watching me cleaning up the mess he made. 

"Oh, is this a fact that will enlight my day, Master?" I asked ironically as I took the last piece of cup.

He did bend till reaching my ears "I don't accept concubines because I am loyal to my wife, but also because no one else would be able to keep up with me."

I held the pieces so hard that I felt it did cut my hand, but my face was literally burning so I didn't even notice what happened. I was frozen on spot for a while. I didn't even need to turn, I knew he was smiling amused by my reaction. 

"What are you thinking? I meant that I am always busy, the only free time I had, I would have always chosen my wife, so I would have neglected all the concubines" he pressed his fingers on my forehead like he wanted to make my thoughts go away.

"Oh" I said with an innocent smile "Of course, makes sense"

Ming laughed and put his hands on mine that were bleeding a little bit "I was joking, but you really got hurt, you're really fragile, Bai Hu"

"No, I am not." I said with an annoyed tone "I got distracted, I apologize" I said as I moved my hands off his.

He reached my wrist and pulled me close to him, making me stare at him "Let me escort you to the maid room, I would be really mad if my servant left more blood in this garden"

"No, it's just a cut, I am a maid, I can do it myself" I said. He sighed and looked at me. Without even more words he pulled me and even though I was trying to tell him to let me do it myself, it looked like he couldn't hear a word.

Once we entered in the maid room, after we had been seen by probably all the guards and servants of the house. Ming made me sit on my bed and took my hand.

"You know, lady Bai Hu" he started as he was rolling a little piece of fabric around the cut, making me embarassed "You're an outsider so you probably don't understand why people of Yinyué see me more like an Emperor than just a Head General" he kept holding my hand and looked at me "I did fight a lot... It felt like I have done this for an eternity. I managed to get the region in peace, yet war is always knocking at my door" he looked at my hand as he got lost again in his thoughts

"No matter what, I always want peace in the reign me, my wife, the officers, fought to have. Anything that could threat it, is going to be wiped out" he said, looking at me "It's the promise I have made to her.... Now" he changed topic and looked into my eyes "I do not expect you to do your best as servant. I can even forgive your insolence, but I can't forgive this" he said as he pointed at my wounded hand.

Yes, good talk, I wouldn't have got hurt if you didn't say those weird things.

"I am a soulmaster, I heal faster, it's nothing for me" 

"Yes, that's true indeed, but that's a thought you should have when you're alone, not when you have people around who care"

"Does Master Yuan care?"

"I care about people who serve Yinyué, you're part of the Yuan's manor, of course I do." he replied. I tried not to smile as he was looking at me with an obvious and calm stare.

He stand up and sighed "I want to be left alone, you can consider your evening free from duty, do not cause any trouble." he said as he was scolding a little baby.

"Wait!" I exclaimed and he looked at me curious as I rubbed my hand through my hair "Thank you, I hope you enjoyed the tea after all" 

He smiled gently and passed his hand along his chin "Yes... it was... quite an amusing time"