"My lady!" Old man Qiang rushed before them, head lowered and voice utterly unalike his previous one. "What does us the honour of your radiant visit this morning?"
"Does her ladyship require your permission, ground's keeper, to peruse her own house's gardens?" An ill-spoken man with a proud nose and bulging eyes growled mockingly then from behind her, draining all colour from the old man's face.
"N-No! Of course n-not! I-I meant no..." He began, stuttering like a frightened child, as he fell to his knees in apology.
"That's enough." The princess glowered at the insolent, and sole man in her entourage then, turning to him with an undisguised look of disgust. "He did nothing wrong."
"Of course, my lady. Your generosity is as eye-watering as ever! May we all be blessed with a heart like yours one day." The man replied with a tone dripping in false humility and deference, bowing as he did. Though from our low angle, Nizam and I could easily see the broad smile across his features.
