Lover's Quarrel

Tianshi Xue smiled at everyone. She had been doing that for the majority of the day that her cheeks already hurt. All these fake faces smiled back at her.

The Emperor was at his throne. He nodded at the both of them as they made their entrance. He still got that proud look of a parent—no, it was more than that. It was the smug look of someone who had forcibly got the Shanmai Army's support. Both of the Empresses were on either side of him. The other royal children were standing, entertaining the guests in behalf of their parents.

"Does my family know about our marriage?" she asked Prince Qui.

"I haven't had the chance to talk to Father yet. I'll ask about it later. Surely, they will come here. They will finally see you after so many years."

Tianshi Xue bit her lips when Prince Xiaodan came into view. He was staring at her face but he was not looking at her. It was like she could see right through her face, literally.

It was the Crown Prince who spoke first. "I congratulate you with your marriage, brother. May you be blessed with healthy children."

If Tianshi Xue was drinking something, she would've choked. But she was not so the only thing that she could do was let out a nervous chuckle and bowed to the next ruler of their land. "Thank you, Crown Prince."

Then they moved down the line to Prince Xiaodan. "Congratulations, Prince Qui," he said, all formality in his voice—like they did not share blood. "And to you as well, Princess Yingyue."

Tianshi Xue felt the coldness of the words that it burned her. She remembered just how nice and good the prince had been to her. He must've been devasted to have known about this union.

Prince Qui hit back. "I'm sorry to hear about your engagement."

Tianshi Xue clutched the inner elbow of the prince harder. A warning. But it was not like he was going to listen to her.

"It must've been hard for you," continued the prince.

Anger flashed in Prince Xiaodan for a moment and then it was gone. Like it did not happen at all. His rosy lips smiled. "Anything for the kingdom."

"Thank you, Prince Xiaodan," said Tianshi Xue. She wanted to comfort him. She could not even try. This whole kingdom knew that they were going to get married. And then this happened.

He just nodded at her and then it was like she disappeared again. His eyes went away.

It was now time for the children of the second empress. Fourth Prince, Zixin, and Heping's Princess, Zhenzhen. The twins. They do everything together. It was a proper thing for them to be approached at the same time.

"Congratulations," both of them said simultaneously.

Prince Zixin had an annoyingly happy face on. "That was a good joke on Xiaodan." His lips pursed like he was trying to stop his laughter.

"I wasn't joking at all," answered Prince Qui.

"Oh come on," said the young princess, smiling up at her older brother. "You really meant to hurt his feelings."

Prince Qui only rolled his eyes. "Thank you for your warm welcome. Now, let's just get all of these ceremonies over."

The newlyweds faced the crowd and the emperor made a speech about how this would be 'The Marriage of the Century—of the Millenia, even'. Then he said that the marriage was the only thing that he had been waiting for. Jokingly, he said that he could now hand over the crown (as the major threat to the empire was already extinguished).

All this time, Tianshi Xue's heart was pounding in her chest. She started to question herself again. Would the princess rather die than be married to one of the princes? What if she killed herself so she could escape all of these? Then it was Tianshi Xue's fault that she was still alive and her name would be logged with the rest of the royals.

History would write her as someone who had succumbed to the emperor. Not a woman who wanted to make a statement and change the world.

Tianshi Xue's mind was flying too much that she was only brought back to reality when the applause came and the music resumed. She wanted to escape, have a drink of water, and something for her stomach. But there was already a line of people wanting to greet them.

She cursed the heels she was wearing and she looked over her shoulder, trying to find someone that could help her but her eyes only landed with the Emperor's. He gave her a look, a domineering one, and nodded at her. She lowered her eyes and bowed.

Prince Qui tugged at her hand with the curve of his arm. "Stop that if you want your head to be still on top of that neck by the end of the night."

It was about an hour of receiving gifts and saying thank you to every other royal blooded person in the room. Finally, Prince Qui dropped her arm when the last person walked away.

"I'll look around," he said but Tianshi Xue already knew where he was going.

She spotted the woman at the corner of the room earlier. The doctor. Tianshi Xue only sighed, already eyeing the buffet table. "Go and talk to her. She might stop glaring at me."

"She's not glaring at you," Prince Qui said. "She's glaring at me."

"Oh whatever," she said with the slightest lift of her shoulder. "Go and fix your love quarrel."

Then the prince was gone but she did not know why she looked after him.