Chapter 1

"Third miss, it's time to wake up"

"Third miss, a decree came today. The head family has called all family members to the main hall"

Fan Wei Lan was still asleep as her two personal maid, Xiao Er and Xiao Li, tries to wake her up.

Finally, after the third attempt their Miss was finally awake.

"Miss, What happened?" Xiao Er and Xiao Li asked as they help their Miss get up.

They were concerned for their Miss as they saw their Miss face. Their Miss eyes were red and swollen. It's seem like their Miss have cried all night.

"Xiao Er and Xiao Li, bring me water and prepare the bath" Wei Lan said with a husky voice.

Her throat was dry from crying all night long. Understanding their miss, Xiao Li immediately went to the kitchen to fetch some water for her miss and Xiao Er went to the bathroom to start preparing the bath.

Fan Wei Lan, left all alone in her room. Got out of bed and walked over to the dressing table. She saw her reflection on the mirror. She saw her red and swollen eyes.

Xiao Li entered the room and saw her miss staring at the mirror. She put the tea set that contained water on the dressing table and start pouring water to one of the cups. She then served the cup to her miss.

Xiao Er entered the room and told her miss that bath was ready. She and Xiao Hua starts to lead their miss to bathing room and undress their miss. After their miss soaked in the water, they left the room and waited outside.

Fan Wei Lan soaked in the bath and started to wash her body as well as she let her delicate skin soak in the bath oil.

***

Fan Wei Lan was now getting dress. With the help of her maids, she picked a light blue hanfu with a dark blue sash and some silver hair ornaments and earrings. Her maid styled her hair into a simple loose braid with some hair ornaments and tied the braid with a blue ribbon. As a final touch, her maid smeared some pink lipstick on her lips and some powder on her face.

Now, Fan Wei Lan was ready to go to the main hall. Fan Wei Lan went to the main hall accompanied by her two maids, Xiao Hua and Xiao Er.

As Fan Wei Lan entered the main hall, she saw her  two older sisters, Fan Bing Bing and Fan Zhi Ruo.

Fan Bing Bing and Fan Zhi Ruo also saw their youngest sister as they're entering the hall.

The Fan sisters weren't on a bad term, rather they are on a good term.

The Fan sisters went inside the main hall together. They all gave their greeting to their father, Fan Bohai, the prime minister of the Qichong empire and the head family of the Fan family. They also gave their greeting to their mother, step-mother to Wei Lan, Mu Shishi, the most beautiful women in the capital and their brothers, Fan Ai Bo, Fan Gouzhi and Fan Huizhong.

They are all gathered in the main hall including Little Ming, Fan Changming, the youngest son in the Fan Family. Fan Chaming was still one year old at that time.

Once all family members were assembled , the servants started to put many dishes on to the dining table.

"Today, I gathered all of here to let you all hear a decree that the Emperor and the Empress has bestow to one of our family member." Fan Bohai said while putting down his cup of tea.

He then called one of his servants, the servant came back with a man in a blue uniform, the uniform colour of an Imperial servant. The Imperial servant held a golden scroll in his hands. He opened the scroll and showed everyone present in the room the decree. The decree was handwritten by the Emperor himself, on the golden scroll.

"This decree here is the Emperor's decree, If it's the Emperor's will, it's the son of heaven's will. One must obey the Emperor decree.

This decree here states that the third daughter of the Fan family, Lady Fan Wei Lan, has been granted an engagement to the to the Esteem Crown Prince, The first prince, Prince Feng. This engagement will be announced at the Crown Prince Birthday Banquet.

Miss Fan Wei Lan also has been given the title 'First-Rank Princess, Princess Lan'

This servant hopes that Miss Fan Wei Lan will accept the Emperor's decree."

The Imperial servant said while rolling the scroll and handing the scroll to Fan Wei Lan. Fan Wei Lan accepts the decree with a calm aloof expression.

The Imperial servant bid his farewells and left the Fan Mansion.

"It looks like youngest meimei will get married first before this elder sister" Fan BingBing sips her cup of tea as she spoke.

"Second sister wishes youngest meimei a wonderful marriage with the Crown Prince" Fan Zhi Rou said as she smiled gently at Wei Lan.

"Eldest sister and Second sister is too kind. You know that this meimei doesn't wish to marry earlier that her sisters. This meimei wants to attend her sisters wedding first before her's" Wei Lan replied to her elder sisters with a cold expression.

"Aww, youngest meimei has been granted a marriage with the crown prince,  the crown prince, one of the top handsome man in the country. Not only is  he handsome and young. He's also talented in everything. His cold and mysterious demeanour could make any maidens flock their self to him for his attention. But yet, my precious meimei here seem to not be happy with this marriage?! Not only has meimei been granted a marriage with the crown prince. Meimei has been granted a title of a princess, not any ordinary princess rank but a first-rank princess, can you imagine all of the maidens fighting for such a title? But here meimei seems ungrateful for something she has been given for. This eldest sister here is confused at meimei. It's seems like elder sister can't understand meimei" Fan Bing Bing rambled on with a teasing smile into a pout.

"BingBing you should calm down, there must be a reason why meimei doesn't want to marry the crown prince. Either way, even if meimei isn't happy with the marriage. Meimei can't break the engagement. The Crown Prince birthday will be held three months from here on. If meimei wants to force the Crown Prince to break it, Second Brother might be able to help" Fan Gouzhi said as he smiled mischievously at Wei Lan putting down her cup.

"Ai, you children all should shut up. Tonight is a night to celebrate Wei Lan's engagement. We all should be happy for Wei Lan. Let's toast tonight for Wei Lan's engagement!!" Fan Bohai said as he glare at BingBing and Gouzhi and raised his cup to toast.

The night went on with lots of laughing and smiles.

***

Today, at the morning. Wei Lan went out to the garden for a stroll with her pet bird, Hépíng.

Hépíng rests on his master's shoulder as she reads a book on a bench.

Wei Lan was clearing her mind. Last night she didn't want to think much about what just happen. But now she had too.

She didn't want to get married , especially to someone whom lied to her yet that Yi Feng who she trusted whole heartedly would shove her into marriage so early in her face. She thought that Yi Feng will not be so eager to get married, hence why she's okay with establishing a relationship with him but she was wrong.

It's not like she hates the idea of marriage at an early age. But it's that she's marrying a crown prince. Marrying a crown prince means that she will become the crown princess. The crown princess is the future empress. She who was a free-spirited person was not fitted to be the mother of the nation. She was set from her childhood days to never become someone who has to stick to the rules and maintain image. She can't handle the duties of an empress. She can't be under so many eyes at one time. As she thought hard about her duties later on if she really married, she couldn't help but sigh. She needs someone to help her get away from this marriage. She's not fitted for such an important role.

She then remembers her second brother words last night. Remembering it brought hope to her. Never once her second brother failed her. Now, she heading to her second brother courtyard to ask for his help.

***

"Master, Third miss is here to see you, Should I let her in?" One of the servants knocked on his master's door.

"Oh, Third meimei is here? You should not ask me anymore when third meimei is here, let her in, no need to ask for my permission." Fan Gouzhi said as he smile happily at his third sister arrival.

"This servant understands" he said before leaving his master's door.

***

"Hello, Second brother"

"Hello, Third meimei, What brings you here?"

"I came to ask for your help"

"Oh, what do you need help with?"

"I'm..."

Seeing Fan Wei Lan hesitating. Fan Gouzhi waves his hand signalling all of the maids to leave. All the maids left in seconds.

"I'm pregnant"

"Pfttt!!"

Fan Gouzhi choked on his tea, he spilled all the tea on Fan Wei Lan dress.

"You must be kidding meimei, how could you get pregnant, who is the father?" Fan Gouzhi said as he wipes his mouth.

"..."

"Wait you can't be serious right?! Meimei you need to answer your brother immediately!! We need to report this to father. Oh my God, how did my little sister get pregnant? Did my little sister take aphrodisiac?? Or did she lost her sanity?? We need to call the doctor immediately!!

Chao Lan!! Call the doctor!! Be quick!!" Fan Gouzhi said as he panics.

"Pftt... I got you..."

Fan Gouzhi hearing his meimei chuckles, went mad. He was mad at Fan Wei Lan for joking with him like that, he thought that she was really pregnant since lately she's been meeting a guy secretly.

End of Chapter 1

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Regards to you, Tynthix ( ◠‿◠ )