40-1

"Your highness, the princess does not wish to have visitors today.  She is tired from her sojourn and is still recouperating at the order of the queen.  None are allowed to pass into this corner of the palace."  The maid bowed politely as Ning Ren looked on forlorn.  He had been pacing back and forth since court had adjourned for the day.  The doors in front of the princess's palace were always closed with a pleura of guards standing in front.  This was the first time that he had been greeted by a maid instead of a burly general with a mace who looked unamused when he admitted that he had wronged the princess and was trying to make amends.

This was the princess whose rise in notoriety had every servant bowing in front of her door like she was some goddess in residence instead of a human being.  The servants too who came from within were always very miffed at lower servants who were trying to get a glimpse of their madam.  The whole air