39. New guard?

As soon they stepped into the shadows of the Great Hall, the heat from the Sun was quite lessened. Xiao Ran stopped Liu Mei. ''Mistress, I can't go further. Only higher-ups can enter this place. I shall wait for you here.''

Liu Mei understood their way of behaviour and accepted it. Her hand held Hua Roulan's and she slowly stepped inside after she made sure that all her servants are inside the shadows.

With steady steps, she entered the Great Hall and in passing lowered her veil as she could hear a bunch of men talking inside.

Hand in hand, they stopped at the door of the Great Hall and waited to be announced by the main eunuch. But she didn't know that actually in this place the male servants are just that, male servants. They were no eunuchs in this world. So when Hua Roulan heard her words she had no idea what that is.

As they stood there the main servant from this place stepped inside and announced their names.

''Lady Liu Mei from Liu clan and Miss Hua Roulan from Hua clan.'' Then the two of them entered the place.

Liu Mei was actually stunned by the simplicity of the space. A long time ago she visited the Forbidden City and actually had in her mind that the palace might look something like that. But she was wrong.

The palace indeed had tall walls and many hallways. But the Great Hall itself was looking more like Chinese Pantheon. The ministers didn't stand, they all had chairs that looked quite comfortable from what she could see and the only extravagant thing was a huge pedestal where the Emperor sat.

It was made from a strange material that gave her a comfortable feeling. Somehow she wanted to touch it but gave up on that strange idea right away.

Her eyes rose and she could see the man that they called the Emperor now. Wait, why does she feel weird only by looking at him. Like she met him before. But where?

Luckily he couldn't see her face or he would be stunned because she scrutinized his whole body from up to down. In the end, she just straightened up her back and bowed politely as Xiao Ran taught her.

''Greetings to the Emperor. My name is Liu Mei.''

Hua Roulan did the same thing. ''Greetings to the Emperor. My name is Hua Roulan.'' But her face was cold and stared at him icily.

He rose his eyebrow as he didn't know what he did so wrong to make this young woman dislike him this much. ''Roulan? You are Lieutenant Hua Mo's daughter?''

''Yes.'' Her short answer almost made him laugh. ''You do not seem happy joining this ''test'', as it seems?''

She suddenly felt stupid. If she makes a mistake her family will be punished, not only herself. ''It's not that, Your Highness. I actually have a reason why I joined this. No... wrong... Now I have two reasons.''

This country was actually open to real love. But not if the family honour is broken because that and the whole family had to live ashamed after that.

''Looking at your face there must be two reasons you want to join. You are curious or you fell in love with someone. So... which one is right?''

She sheepishly looked at her uncle and stared at him with pleading eyes. ''If I say my uncle might start running after me with his sword, trying to make me into dog food.''

General Hua Guowei just snorted. ''You little rascal. I am already this old. Can I even catch you? No thank you. If you have something to say, say it. I will ask his Highness to forgive you as long it is not something inappropriate.''

Emperor chuckled. He liked this straightforward man and his whole family. They hated lies but at the same time would have given their lives to protect him and the country without even blinking. ''Of course, I am not that mean of a person. Am I?''

Most ministers just snorted. Most of their daughters were sent as concubines to the Emperor and he sent them all back untouched as he found some faults on each of their daughters. Some even had been straightforward married to his own soldiers or the sons of other ministers.

At the moment they enter the palace it's like a huge place to find a proper husband. He did all the matchmaking between his people out the fun. So their parents couldn't even oppose as he would just send an Edict and that's it. Who would dare to say something against it?

So they stopped sending their daughters and couldn't send some random children. Now, most of the girls that were sent here were related to their families but were not their own children. From brothers' or cousins' homes with the same last name, the girls came inside one after another and introduced themselves.

Lei Li, He Ying, He Jiao, Hong Fan, Huong Bai, Rong Hou, An Luli and Ning Xiaoqing.

One after another stood there with all those adornments looking young, fresh, cute... and it was a bit too much for his taste. The heavy smell of their perfume bags and the smell of the makeup made him feel suffocated.

He turned his head towards his guard and whispered. ''Luckily they are not closer or I would literally order them to go wash. How can they even breathe under all that stuff?''

Bei Lu just shrugged. ''I am happy for your highness that she is not like others. Or you two might have had a bunch of problems. But what is the problem with Hua Roulan? She is staring with anger at you and with a weird expression at me... What is her problem? Did she got hit in the head when she was training, so she turned a bit stupid?''

Suddenly a thud could be heard and Hua Roulan smiled beautifully towards him. ''For people that have no brain, it is better is to shut up.''

He wanted to say something but the Emperor just send him a stare. He felt really dissatisfied and sent a stare towards Hua Roulan. But what he got is her making childish faces and she stuck out her small pink tongue. He had really wished to rip it out. No that would be too cruel. She was too cute to be treated like that. But maybe he could cut it... A tiny little bit? Noooo, that wouldn't be good either, it might hurt her...

While he was thinking about how to punish her without to really punish her, the Emperor just shook his head. It seems now he realized why she is in the palace. He smiled at her and nodded.

''Hua Roulan, I understood your first reason...'' And then glanced at the still thinking Bei Lu. ''But what could be the other reason?''

She could see on his face that he understood her so she smiled back at him. ''The other reason is my cutie.''

Everyone stirred as they commented on her words. General Hua Guowei sat there and felt a headache upcoming. Why are all his children such rascals?

The Emperor tried to keep his expression calm as he suppressed his laughter. With a cough, he just waved his hand so she can continue.

She suddenly grabbed the stunned Liu Mei with one hand and pressed her on herself. ''Isn't she a cutie. Look at her. Like a small bird, or a rabbit? Or a kitten? I heard it is impossible for me to become a servant as I have to pass some sorts of amazing tests. I was thinking deeply about that. I have absolutely no wish to marry you. And somehow I am sure Your Highness has absolutely no interest in me as well.''

He nodded and rose his eyebrow while looking at her. ''So?''

''Well, I am good only at fighting. If I can be appointed as her personal guard, that wouldn't even be wrong. I am from a good family, have finished my training and only cousin Hua Lan is stronger from me. I think I fit quite well with my abilities. Are there some tests I need to take to show my ability to fight?'' She valiantly stood there and searched everywhere for anyone to fight with.

General Hua Guowei could only close his eyes and ears and start praying that the Emperor does not take it as an offence. But suddenly he heard his calm voice. ''Good. If general Hua Guowei has nothing against it, you may be her personal guard. But, to be a personal guard is sometimes more intense than just being a servant. Are you sure you want to do that?''

Hua Roulan went on one knee and rose her hands up and with a loud voice made her vow.

''From today on until the end of time, I shall be her protector. I give my word in front of all of you. As this shall be written into my destiny for now and until the end of the time.''

General Hua Guowei suddenly jumped as he saw something strange happening. A light appeared out nowhere enveloping the two women and then disappearing. But strange thing was, only he could see it and as it seems the Emperor as well as he smiled at him.