The Emperor Bestows Marriage to Ye Yin
As the evening celebratory feast come, Ye Shin is sitting together with Ye Yin along with the people who went to battle against the barbarians. She is silently observing the people around. Contrary to the lady who is wearing a passive expression on her face, the atmosphere is very jubilant. People are laughing loudly while interacting with each other. Such a harmonious scene is laid before her eyes. The generals could not contain their eagerness to tell their wishes to the emperor. Much more enthusiasm can be felt from the lady who is sitting beside her.
"Sis, I will finally ask our emperor to grant me a marriage with him!" Ye Yin excitedly whispered to Ye Shin. Upon hearing her excitement,the lady who is listening to her had a complicated feeling. Ye Shin made a previous discussion with the emperor regarding this matter and she naturally remembers the emperor's opinion. Ye Shin sighed inwardly as she looks at the passion that glows in Ye Yin's eyes. She did not know what to say to her so she chooses to remain silent.
"Sis, why are you looking at me like that? What are you thinking about? Why are you so silent?" Ye Yin keeps nagging at the lady beside her when she did not get any response from her. Ye Shin still remains her silence while searching for the right words to say.
"I am just thinking about something else." the lady finally responded and Ye Yin did not bother her anymore.
As the ceremony starts, the emperor steps forward from his seat and begin speaking in front of them. All noise was immediately hushed down.
"My loyal subjects, I am a man of words. The barbarians have stopped creating trouble in our land and had fled away. I have promised you that once we get back victorious against the barbarians I will fulfill your wishes. Now is your time to say your wishes to me." the emperor declared and everyone claps their hands with excitement in their eyes.
The two generals and the commanders as well as the two swordswomen give the emperor a customary bow. The people surrounding them look in awe as they are jealous that they can get anything from the young emperor. Without any hesitation, Ye Yin told the emperor her wish.
"Your majesty, I have been educated by fine teachers in my clan. These several days that I stay in the palace I have fallen in love with you your majesty. I wish to marry you and be with you, your highness." The lady declared with undisguised confidence in her tone. After all, she is well respected in the Sword Cultivator Clan and is the future leader to the group.
As soon as the lady is finish saying her wish to the emperor a loud silence enveloped the place for a moment. Various expressions are painted in everyone else faces. The excitement that could be felt was automatically evaporated.
"What marriage?!!" an abrupt voice shouted in panic. The sound is from the area where ministers are sitting and it successfully broke the silence of the place. This is the voice of the minister who is also planning to marry one of his daughters to the emperor.
"I am the lady of Sword Cultivators Clan and the future leader, is it wrong to be the woman of the emperor?" Ye Yin looked at the minister who just shouted loudly and asked him. She just declared that no other noble lady is comparable to her status. The minister sneered inwardly.
"This... this, your majesty, we cannot neglect the arrival of the Princess of Qing!" the minister stuttered. Although he was the first one to disagree of the arrival of the Qing Princess in the imperial court he immediately found a reason so that the young emperor will not agree on Ye Yin's wish. If the emperor will get married to the lady of the Sword Cultivators Clan, his plan will never happen!
"What princess of Qing?" Ye Yin throw another question to the minister. This lady is indeed not aware of such important matter. She is looking outraged but still somehow manages her composure.
"My lady, you may not know this but the Empire of Qing has given our emperor a gift for his victorious battle against the barbarians! This gift is their princess." the minister slowly explained.
"If the emperor will marry you my lady, then the Qing Empire might misunderstand us! You can only blame your love for feeling it at the wrong time." another minister added. Ye Yin's face paled and her eyes widened. Tears are starting to gather around but she manages to blink a few times to stop the tears.
"Let us not discuss the arrival of the neighboring empire's princess today. Don't be sad Lady Yin, I will bestow you a marriage tonight. The eldest son of General Xia is very good in fighting and with your background the two of you will not have a problem finding a common ground! Your marriage with Commander Xia will surely be prosperous." the young emperor stated as he grasps the opportunity created by the minister. The panic look of the minister's face immediately washed away after hearing what the emperor declared. He can think of how to deal with the princess of the Qing Empire later, the minister secretly thought.
General Xia and his eldest son Commander Xia immediately give a customary bow upon hearing the emperor's order.
"We thank your majesty for the generosity." both of them said in unison.
Ye Yin is about to say some protest when understanding dawned upon her. The emperor discarded her feelings just like nothing but an air. She did not have any place in the emperor's heart. She felt very sad as she take a look at Commander Xia. This man was also with her during her stay in the palace and he had treated her nicely. Ye Yin took a deep breath. She is sometimes stubborn but definitely not a fool. Forcing an unrequited feelings specially love will only result to great tragedy. She will never force her feelings to the person who does not appreciate it. This lady is smart enough to avoid future regrets. The lady inhaled deeply and sighed.
"Your servant understands, your majesty. Thank you for your generosity!" Ye Yin responded and give a customary bow towards the emperor and goes back to her seat dejectedly.
"Then your majesty, I have no more wishes to ask." General Xia politely said and goes back to his seat. Naturally his son, Commander Xia also follows his father silently. It would look like they are greedy if they still continue to ask their wishes when the emperor already gave favors to them. The emperor nods his head with satisfaction. He had not anticipated that the lady would easily agree.
"Your majesty, I wish to be deployed in the Northern border together with my son, Commander Tang. I come to miss my family in the North and it has been more than a year since I last meet them." General Tang told the emperor his wish. At first, he plans to ask for a short vacation only but when he learned that Senior Tang, his father is suffering from illness he took his chance to ask the young emperor for a complete change of deployment. The emperor unexpectedly agreed on this arrangement. General Tang and his son, Commander Tang thank the emperor before going back to their seats as well.
Ye Shin was the remaining person to state her wish. Originally she wanted to ask for money but since she is already employed as the emperor's bodyguard she cannot decide of anything to ask anymore. She glanced at all the people in the place before looking at the emperor. The emperor is also looking at her, waiting for her to state her wish. The lady took a minute before stating her wish.
"Your majesty, I wish that our empire will have peace and unity." she said and bows her head before sitting back beside Ye Yin. As the emperor's bodyguard, this is the most appropriate thing to wish.
The ministers could not help but stare at her direction because of her wish. Some of the people even think that the lady is stupid for wasting a rare chance. Such opportunity to get this chance may not appear again in her lifetime, some of them thought.
The young emperor also looks at her while trying to read what the lady is thinking in her mind. Is she perhaps looking for favors from me by placing the empire's condition first? The emperor silently asked himself. What the lady had wished completely took him by surprise. He was speechless for a few seconds and keeps looking at her direction. Unfortunately for the emperor, staring at her solemn face is like staring on a blank sheet of paper. There is nothing written in her expression that the emperor can possibly read other than calmness.