A New Betrothal

“Her Royal Majesty, the empress dowager and Her Ladyship, the First Lady Liu has arrived---” The aids announced our entrance in front of the majestic openings of the Royal Court. I, along with the empress dowager stepped inside the fussy room.

“Royal mother? I pay respect to the Royal Mother, the empress dowager.” The emperor bows humbly to the empress dowager. This uncle of mine is an obedient son to her birth mother, the empress dowager.

“Rise, my son.” She requested and sit on the seat prepared by the maid.

“Thank you, Royal Mother. What brings you here, to the Royal Court?” He asked before standing up.

“Is it wrong for a mother to visit her child? It's been ages since you've last visited me.” She retorted, conceivably still furious regarding the motive the emperor unaware summoned me when I was spending my time jovially with her.

“Ah... I apologised, Royal Mother. There's been quite a commotion inside the Royal Palace. I would strive my best to visit you more frequently.” He is certainly oblivious that his mother's rage peaked from him.

“It's fine. Tell me, my dear son, the great emperor. Why did you wish to meet my granddaughter, Lixue?” I scarcely silently listened to their discussion, doesn't dare to interrupt the heated conversation. Being a listener is the greatest seat, I guess?

“Lixue, my niece, I deeply apologised for all the trouble the third prince caused you this time.” He sincerely apologised. The current emperor is known for his gentle and kind personality but he's being an emperor is not just on the name. There's still something he keeps from me for sure.

“It's fine, Your Majesty. I already agreed to annual our betrothal and he's willing to compensate me with some goods.” Explained all the things that crippled jerk and I discussed earlier. I wondered what would his current condition be...

The silver needle I tossed was developed from the celestial jade, a relatively treasured jade... the needle was magnificently thin and it's almost invisible to one eye. I dipped the needle in my newest poison which would gradually dysfunctioned the area it touched against. Nevertheless, it wouldn't harm any internal organ... In conclusions, he would definitely be crippled without my assistance. He's too mighty to earn the aids from a fragile vulnerable girl.

“Half of the problems might be solved already but a new one appeared from that. The Royal Family reputation was tainted by his doing and I'm here, hopeless from doing anything.” Hah! I'm right after all. Every single bullet that I shot shall be very accurate despite the other factors.

“Then, did you need my help, Your Majesty?” Please stopped bluffed anything anymore... It's sickening me already.

“You're sharp, my niece. Indeed, but it's a big favour to ask you and I refused to forced you if you don't want to after the betrothal between you and the third prince.” He seriously wanted to meet me in heaven later.

“You wanted me to marry the second prince, am I right, Your Majesty?” Waited for him would cause me to lose ages, it would be better to assert it myself. The second prince was disabled or easily said, had a crippled leg, the only one those arrogant noble girls didn't wish to be engaged to.

Indeed, there were some golddiggers attempted to dig an enormous hole of mine in the palace from the second prince, eventually, those girls were all rejected as the second prince is from the royal. He couldn't wed anyone who is from an anonymous background or an obvious greedy intent. Plus, His Majesty never forced anyone to be married to the second prince and the second prince never had anyone to be called a decent lover.

“Yes...” He unhurriedly answered. It seems like the palace was kind of frantic in order to save their corrupted dignity because of some fools.

Well, I'm practically entangled in it too, so I couldn't really confess that I'm ain't guilty in this. Besides, the second prince might even annul the betrothal right away on which I didn't really mind about.

“My son, how could you pleaded Lixue to be betrothed into our Royal Family again after all the humiliation she received.” The empress dowager was completely infuriated by now. She sure was based on how she raised her voice.

“I understood it well, Royal Mother... but this is our only way out.” The emperor regardless attempted to negotiate with somebody who detested negotiation the most.

“Your Majesties... Please rest assured. I accept your suggestion about my second betrothal.” I struggled not to generate any discomforts here, so I reckoned that it would be adequately this way. Anyhow, I'm not honestly bothered by the second prince as he mightn't appear to disturb me or so on.

“Really? Nonetheless, your marriage would be in three days, are you sure about this, my dear niece?” His ebony eyes gleamed with new hopes of colourful fortunes. Is this the emperor or a little kid who barely discern the bright of the futures?

“Are you sure, Lixue? But, your spouse, the second prince was disabled from his great service towards this empire in the ferocious war.” The empress dowager though made an effort to persuaded me not to approve to the emperor's favours.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I would like to be betrothed to the second prince that you mentioned earlier.” However, my conclusion was yet a yes, I've never confronted the second prince, yet I somehow believed that it might be fine just to be engaged to him, someone that I've never met and even barely knows.

“But, is there any specific reason for your intention, my niece?” He looks interested too about my substantial intention which I don't even think that there is one.

“Because I believed in love at first sight and I would love to experience it.” I gleamed reassuringly. I've never encountered him, and I didn't honestly expect anything from him... just a peaceful life, I guess.... though, there's still a possibility of me being single once again.

“If you are so determined about this... then, I would definitely support you, Lixue.” The empress dowager eventually decided to flutter a white flag, relinquished to my difficult decision. I'm infinitely thankful to have someone as caring and as loving as my grandmother in this new world I live in...

“Lixue thanks Your Majesty, the empress dowager for the trust and your belief in me.”

***

“Your Highness? I thought you're going to meet the emperor?” Pei Liang furrowed his eyebrows as his master still gazing at the chaotic scene of the Royal Court.

“I don't think I should anymore.” He grinned, love at first sight? So interesting.

“Eh?” He cluelessly peeked inside the Royal Court, indeed there's a young lady... Lady Liu and there's Her Majesty the empress dowager were attending too. It's quite a rare occasion for Her Majesty to visited any place in the palace and always rested in the Royal Jade Palace.

***

“I just broke an engagement but now I ended up being engaged again? Nevermind, we might even be divorced right after being married or even broken the engagement once again.” I released my tension by playing the zither under the hut where it resides beside the great lake and beautifully bloomed cherry blossoms trees.

On your slender body

Your jade and coral girdle ornaments chime

Like those of a celestial companion

Come from the Green Jade City of Heaven.

One smile from you when we meet.

And I become speechless and forget about every word.

For too long you have gathered the flowers,

And leaned against the bamboo,

Your green sleeves growing cold,

In deserted valleys:

I can visualize you alone

A girl harbouring her cryptics thoughts.

You glow like a perfumed lamp

In the gathering shadows.

We play wine games

And recite each other's poems.

Then you sing “Remembering South of the River”

With its heart breaking verses. Then

We paint each other's beautiful eyebrows.

I want to possess you completely --

Your jade body

And your promised heart.

It is Spring.

Vasts mist cover the Five Lakes.

My dear, let me buy a red painted boat

And carry you away.

“What a great performance.” A manly voice reached out from the top of the cherry blossom trees. For some certain reason, I believe that I've heeded to this voice somewhere... but the crisis is... who is it?

“Who is it?” I glared at the top of the tree. There's indeed a figure in blue attire, with black long shiny hair, rested on the branches. The breeze blew harder, the blooms fall continuously, distracted my real focus. I felt a chilly breath came near to my ears and uttered;

“Aren't you going to chop my head off?” With a soft chuckle at the end of the voice...his figures gone before I could even manage to take a slight glimpse at him. What does he try to imply by chop my head off? Wha--- Does it mean that is the man that I've saved?! And he certainly listened to my grunting? My face was red from all the blushing. How did he rightfully manage to get here? The question marks crammed my head with lots of unanswered quests.

“Is that really him?”

“Ah--- Why am I thinking about that jerk? I should just concentrate on retrieving his useless head.” I enclosed my face with my hands, what is wrong with me, seriously... If this was the modern world, I would already sue him for all the sexual harassment he resulted in me. Yet, subconsciously... my mind still memorises his chilly touches...

***

“First Miss, what happened? Your face is flushing red, did you happened to catch a fever?” Tingting appeared by my side, pouring the teas into my cup.

“No, I didn't.” My face was even redder than before now that she mentioned it. I sipped the tea in a hurry, struggled to overlook that sly man doing.

“Then, did anything happened when you're playing the zither?” She repeatedly annoyed me with her question that I would obviously never responded to straightforwardly.

“It's just that I remembered something super humiliating,” I answered back with a layered clue that almost unthinkable to be cracked up as I've never opened up that disastrous occasion to anyone before.

“Hmm?” She cluelessly stares past me and it's as if there's a big question mark stamped on her face.

Straight after that, I strolled faster to my estate, the Crystal Jade Mansion. This is where I reside every day. I realized that the past owner was a diligent and hard-working person as she yearns for his appraisal and to capture the attention of the third prince. She excels in knowledge, instrument playing, cookery, singing and almost everything.

Ah, thinking about this just made me wished to murder the third prince right away. However, I wouldn't let him perished easily, that simply wouldn't satisfy my vengeance thirst... he had to suffer for all the things he had done to her. He's really a mood cracker.

“Tingting, do you have the things I asked you for?” I asked. Its reaching noon already...for perfect revenge, I needed power, money and strength or all of my other efforts would go to waste.

“Yes, First Miss... but... what do you want to do with this man's attire and a silk veil?” She asked, still left with a blank space inside her mind.

“Just some simple business. Remember to close my door tightly and if someone would want to meet me, tell them that I am feeling a little sick and was already asleep.”

“Ah--- First Miss must be sick and want the clothes to be thinner so that it would be a little less hot. Sure, First Miss!” She mumbled before resolved with full stamina.

“What is she mumbling about?” I muttered slowly as her gazes looked even shinier and full spirited than usual. Is it because she was tired of served me and wanted some rest? I nodded my head, agreed to my own thoughts.

“First Miss is still thinking about something serious when she's sick. I am honoured to serve her as a servant!” She uttered as silently as possible with her eyes almost dropped the honoured tears for her master.

Eh--- I'm not even leaving yet and she's already that delighted that she even sobbed? I shook my head before wore the clothing with the help of Tingting and reasonably tied my hairs up precisely identical to a young man.

“First Miss, you look so good in that!” She seemed both excited and surprised by my new looks.

“And the finishing touch.” I put on the face veil that made of thin silks.

“Kyaa! First Miss looked like an angel from heaven!” She praised heavily. The suit suited me well with my hair bonded high like a real gentleman.

“Tingting, I will leave now but take care when I'm away. Though, it might not take a lot of time.”

“Do you really need to leave? What if someone tried to assassinate you? If you want, you can take me there too.” She pleaded. I'm not going forever, you know.

“Tingting, if I brought you with me, who would be the one handling the Crystal Jade Mansion?” I patted her shoulders, lending her some courage.

“First Miss... You trusted me so much... I won't disappoint you! However, please take good care, First Miss.” She wept wholeheartedly, so touched by the words I let out.

“Sure.” I jumped out of the window and hopped from the roof to another as sneakiest as possible to avoid being seen or even heard... I feel as free as a bird just like the time when I hunted people when I was a top assassin that everyone wanted to use.

However, my rules would be that the hirer needs to tell me everything and just leave an amount of money at a special place. Then, I started to assassinate the target and finished the job easily.

***

“Your Highness... Does any of the items catch your eyes? You can just ask us to get it for you.” Pei Liang said, following him by his side as his subordinates.

“It's hardly an intuition.” He smiled warmly yet still mysteriously in other sights.

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