TGP: Behind the Silver gauze
Liam opened her eyes. She was a bit embarrassed. She took off the thing that Ren Shou put on her hair.
It was a hairpin made of jade that Liam wore on the banquet. Ren Shou kept it for her and carved two characters in the jade pin. The characters were Li and Ren.
"Do you like it?" Ren Shou asked Liam.
Liam was amazed by the calligraphy on the jade.
"I like it. Thanks."
Ren Shou was happy.
"You would receive a lot of things from me in the future." Ren Shou would like to pamper his woman.
Liam nodded. She was courted like this before. In the past, she snubbed a lot of men who were trying to cooed her. She didn't accept their gifts since she could buy them for herself. Their sweet-whispers didn't affect her either. Since she decided that she would get him as her husband, she thought it was not a bad idea to experience them. So she really looked forward to the things he would give her.
Ren Shou then left after giving her that gift. But he still used the window.
******
A palanquin made its way through the palace.
The head eunuch had been waiting for this guest personally invited by the Emperor and the Empress.
As the palanquin's door opened, a servant prostrated on the ground to be the lady's stepping stone.
The lady, Liam, hesitated for a moment. Since the head eunuch of the palace was watching her, she had no choice but to step on this man's back. Last time, in the banquet, since no one was around and she was wearing a veil, she just jumped to the ground. Now, with her identity exposed, she could not do it. She still had to follow some rules of this ancient era.
But what heartbreaking was, this servant who looked ordinary was actually the eye-candy left general. This left general visited her later to tell her that he would act as a servant for today. Liam rejected. How could she afford to have a servant with that kind of face? After she said this to the left general, who introduced himself as Ping Bi, he disappeared.
Then after an hour, he came back looking like that.
Liam doesn't know what kind of trick this man did. But still, a handsome man being stepped on their back...
'..Is surprisingly refreshing.' Liam showed a heartache face contrary to her thoughts as she stepped on the servant's back and greeted the eunuch.
The eunuch accepted her greeting and guide her to Her majesty's courtyard.
However, on the way, she met with the crown princess and her entourage.
Liam bowed and greeted the crown princess.
"Oh Flower of the Empire, this humble one, is honored to be graced by your beauty."
The crown princess squinted her eyes to Liam. It was fair to be complimented like that, but hearing that compliment to a lady who has more stunning beauty than hers made the crown princess feel mocked.
"Hah. You really should be honored. Your looks could not even compare to mine." The crown princess doesn't want to accept that fact. She was more of a beauty.
One of the concubines behind the crown princess snickered.
The crown princess looked sharply at that sound.
"You have something to say, Consort Jang?"
"It's nothing, your highness. This lowly concubine finds this lady's word a bit peculiar."
The concubine said while bowing respectfully. However, the crown princess could tell the meaning behind those words.
"What do you find peculiar? Can you enlighten us?" The crown princess chose to roast the two.
The concubine glanced at Liam then at the crown princess. Liam's stunning beauty was really a threat to any lady. The concubine felt threaten and was afraid that this lady would be another addition to the crown prince's harem.
So it was better to create a rift between the crown princess and this lady.
"This lady spoke of a flower. I wonder why this lady compared the peerless beauty of the crown princess to a mere flower?"
Liam looked at this newly generated enemy. How come she gained another enemy by just walking?
Liam felt the apprehension between those words. She smiled lovingly at the concubine.
"This humble self greeted the beautiful and dazzling concubine..." Liam doesn't know her name, so she skipped that.
"This lady could not think of anything to describes Her highness's peerless beauty aside from flower since I am speechless by Her Highness's outstanding appearance. But the white lotus flower came to this subject's mind as I first saw Her Highness's beauty." Liam sincerely said.
"White lotus flower?" The concubine asked. How come that symbolized Her Highness? Her Highness doesn't look like a white lotus. For the concubine, the crown princess more resembled a snake instead.
The crown princess also perked up her ears. Wanting to find fault in Liam's answer.
"Yes. Her highness beauty is like a white lotus. Pure and clean outwards..." and dirty inside' Liam remembered this slang in Chinese novels.
"and still pure inside. According to Confucius, the White lotus symbolizes purity and devotion. You deserved the empire's devotion, your highness." That part, of course, we're all made-up nonsense.
The crown princess felt good towards that compliment. It felt good to be compared to a white lotus.
"You're right. I am a white lotus." The crown princess said with confidence and a magnificent tone.
Liam made sure her mouth was shut. She felt laughing. Oh god.
The eunuch finally spoke, stopping the ladies for another round of compliments with hidden daggers.
"Your highness, may we excuse ourselves. The Empress is waiting for Lady Liam."
The crown princess's eyes turned sharp. She remembered the crown prince's words. The Emperor and the Empress had made their move.
The crown princess gave her permission and walked away. Her entourage and the concubine followed after her.
While they were a bit away, Liam whispered to Ping Bi.
"Hey, does Confucius talks about flowers?"
Ping Bi shook his head.
"No?" Liam said, mouth gaped.
"I don't know, my lady. I can't read."
"Ohh." Liam just nodded. It was an ancient era, after all. ' Then maybe girls here can't read well? Hopefully.' Liam doesn't want to be executed by blaspheming Confucius.
They arrived at the Empress' hall.
The maidservant announced Liam's presence.
Liam kneeled on the ground and greeted the person behind the silver gauze.
"The moon of the empire, Her majesty, the Mother of all, this humble subject greets you."
"En. There's no need for formality. You will be my nephew's wangfei after all." The Empress gestured for the servant to remove the silver gauze.
After the silver gauze was removed, another person was revealed. It was His majesty.
Liam kneeled again.
"The sun of the empire, His majesty, the great ruler, this humble subject was honored by your presence."
'Ah~ I'm getting good at this.' Liam thought as she waited for the Emperor to speak.