episode 3

chapter 3

"Such a bright girl you are! Your parents

are blessed to have you," the Noble consort

laughed. Before Yue could even respond, a

eunuch approached them and whispered

something to the noble consort.

Her facial expression changed.

"The Emperor and Empress would like to

talk with you in private" the Noble Consort

said. "Follow the Eunuch."

Yue stood up and bowed to the consort.Scan @ 04 JUN 2022 08:12 AM

"Then, I shall take my leave, your Grace she

said before leaving.

The Noble Consort then stood up to rest in

her palace as she didn't want to be in the

same place as Lady Feng.

"Let me escort you to your room, your

Grace' Feng said.

"No, I have my maid. I will send someone to

send you some snacks,' the Consort said

as she left. She was only trying to control

her temper as Feng was Yue's sister. She

didn't want Yue to be mad at her as she

wanted Yue to marry her son.

Scan @ 04 JUN 2022 08:13 AM

When Yue arrived at the Empress's palace,

she bowed and greeted them, including his

father and mother who were already there.

"Greetings to Imperial Father Emperor and

Imperial Mother Empress. Greetings to

father and mother' she said as she bowed.

"Now, now. There is no need to do that.

Stand up," the Emperor said.

"My, my. Yue has grown up a lot" the

Empress smiled as she scooted over to let

Yue sit beside her.

Yue stood up and sat beside the Empress.

All her life, Lady Ping had always reminded

her the mpress was her 2nd mother as her

biological mother was a heavenly deity. The

same with her father.

"She has developed her power incredibly,

your Majesty' the General boasted.

Yue only smiled in response.

"Are you prepared for tonight? You will

be proclaimed as the Heavenly Princess

tonight" the Empress said.

"Yes, Mother Empress' she replied.

"When you turn 18, you know that you will

choose your husband among the princes,"

the Emperor said. "Tonight, a big feast will

be held to announce your proclamation and

the announcement of the competition of

the princes for your hand."

"When we return to the capital, I'm afraid

you will have to leave your dear Mother and

Father and come with us" the Empress said

as she gently stroked Yue's hair.

Yue smiled brightly as she turned towards

the Empress.

Scan @ 04 JUN 2022 08:13 AM

"Don't worry, Mother Empress. I'm not

worried at all. My brother and Nanny Lan

will be with me, right?" she smiled.

"That is right" the Empress laughed.

Wen Xiufeng, General Wen's eldest son

was a master in both sword and pen which

was beneficial if he stays beside the young

deity.

"Time is short. The General and I still have a

morning meeting to attend. And Yue should

be resting 'til tonight" the Emperor said

as he stood up. "My dear wife, I assume

you will take care of the banquet tonight

personally, together with Lady Ping"

Scan @ 04 JUN 2022 08:14 AM

"Yes, my dear Emperor. Right, Lady Ping?

Let our Yue rest for tonight," the Empress

said as she stood up also to leave.

"Court Lady Lan will continue to take care

of you. Don't worry about anything, my

dearest" Lady Ping said as she kissed Yue's

forehead.

After the adults left, Lady Lan and Yue were

the only ones left inside the Empress's

room.

"The Empress prepared a palace for you to

stay' Lady Lan said.

Yue quietly stood up and followed her

nanny to her new room. A beautiful dress

was prepared inside and a lot more

beautiful accessories were displayed

inside.

"Are you okay?" Lady Lan asked as she

noticed the weary look on Yue's face.

"l am not ready to leave Father and Mother

yet she said sadly.

Lady Lan took a deep sigh as she sat

beside Yue.

Scan @ 04 JUN 2022 08:14 AM

"Your Mother and Father will be very proud

of you if you return to the capital with the

Emperor and Empress' she explained.

"But, I will miss them" Yue cried.

"Have you forgotten who you are?" Lady Lan

asked.

"No. Heavenly Father has always reminded

me of who I am every night in my dreams.

And soon, I will return to the Great Heavens

and stood by him and Heavenly Mother"

she said.

Hearing this, it made Lady Lan weep.

"Well, while you are still here, bring honor

to your mortal Father and Mother,' Lady Lan

said as she gently stroked Yue's back. "I

will bring you your favorite snacks and your

favorite tea."Yue nodded as she wiped her

tears away.

After Lady Lan left, she felt she couldn't

breathe and decided to takea walk along

the Summer Palace's garden. She spotted

a beautiful pavilion by the lake. The breeze

gently swept across her face as she stood

by the Peachtree.

Scan @ 04 JUN 2022 08:14 AM

She got her flute from her sleeve and

played the Lotus Blossoms. A piece

of music that tells her yearning for her

unknown past. The breeze that swept

across the garden which was warnm, went

cold as the music field the air. The leaves of

the trees gently shook as the breeze blew

gently across them.

After the music ended, a man woke up from

his nap. t was the young 8th Prince, Li

Jiahao, Imperial Noble Consort Yahui's son.

He looked around the pavilion, searching

for that gloomy music. He looked outside

and saw a young girl by the peach tree,

holding her golden flute to her chest.

"Hey! That was a piece of sad music," he

commented.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you, my Lord. I

didn't notice someone was sleeping inside

the pavilion, she bowed.

He sneered and junmped over and pointed a

sword to her neck.

"Who are you and how did you get in? This

is off-limits for commoners' he said. "Are

you asking for death?" he yelled.

Scared, she quickly bowed and begged for

mercy from the young prince.

"Forgive me, your highness! I did not know,"

she cried.

As the young prince swung his sword, she

closed her eyes waiting for the sword to

strike her. But a knife clashed through his

sword and he quickly retreated. It was his

brother's knife after all.

"Brother!"

"Now, now, is that a way to welcome Father

Emperor's precious guest?" the older prince

asked.

Seconds later, Xie Bai, Xuefeng and the

other princes came rushing in.

"My lady, are you hurt?" Xie Bai asked,

making sure that Yue wasn't hurt anywhere.

Yue smiled and shook her head.

"The prince was only shocked to see me

here as it is our first time meeting' she

said. The other princes couldn't take their

eyes off of the red-head lady.

"My lady, you have unusual hair? Were you

born like that?" a prince in a golden robe

asked.

Scan @ 04 JUN 2022 08:16 AM

Yue assumed he was the crown prince as

he was the only one dressed in gold.

Lady Lan came rushing as soon as she

heard that her lady has been attacked.

"Lady Yue, are you hurt? Is there any part

in your body that hurts?" she asked as she

looked for wounds on her body. Yue giggled

as she saw her nanny's reaction.

"You don't have to worry, His Highness

saved my precious sister," Xiufeng smiled.

"I'm alright" she smiled.

"Lady Yue is an important guest of the

Emperor and Empress," another prince who

had a bronze hair accessory.

Yue turned to Li Jiahao and bowed to him.

"l ask for your highness' forgiveness for

trespassing. I did not know this is off-limits

for people like me she said.

"My brother doesn't mean to scare you.

He is quite hostile with women," the crown

prince said as he patted Jiahao's head.

Scan @ 04 JUN 2022 08:16 AM

The Emperor's eunuch approached them.

"The Emperor has summoned all the

princes to the East Palace right away. And

for Lady Yue, the Emperor asks for you to

rest until tonight" the Eunuch said then left.

"We will heed the Emperor's command" Yue

bowed and left together with her nanny.

Meanwhile, the princes were in awe of her

beauty.

"Let's go. Father Emperor will surely punish

us again if we came in late,' Li Xiuying, the

crown prince said.

It was already dusk when Yue was already

finished dressing up. She was about to be

proclaimed the Heavenly Princess. Her

trail of maids was already waiting for her to

come out, including her brother.

"'Shall we go out now?" Lady Lan asked.

Yue looked at her broken golden flute. It

broke earlier when the prince attacked her

as she dropped it and accidentally stepped

on

it.

"Yes, she smiled as she stood up.

Scan @ 04 JUN 2022 08:16 AM

The palace was filled with murmurs as

everyone was curious as to why the

Emperor would hold such a huge feast.

Even the princes who were sitting calmly

in their seats couldn't help but listen to the

ministers who were discussing the event

that was going to happen that night. Even

the crown prince's mother, 2nd Imperial

Noble Consort Ruan was present. It was

truly a special event as the crown prince's

mother seldom goes out because of her

fragile health. Trumpets sounded from

outside the palace doors, making everyone

inside shut their mouth.

'it's about to start' said everyone's thought.

To Be Continued .

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