Marry You

General Song's face turned ashen and he plopped back down, steam rising from his head. "Watch that quick tongue of yours, little girl from nowhere."

She flashed an unnecessarily bright smile, "Shen Mohua from Xing'cun, please."

"You!"

"Mohua, come here. Let me take a good look at you," the empress suddenly spoke out.

Shen Mohua took three steps, then gave a bow. "Your Highness, this insignificant one wishes you a happiest birthday. However, please forgive this one for being rude, but may I dismiss myself?"

"Leaving already? Why the hurry?" Wen Lijuan gave a soft smile when another woman entered the scene. "Meng Jia, I never thought you'd return."

"Your Highness, it's been a while... Please forgive my child, she was raised in the countryside so she isn't familiar with the ways of the palace."

Shen Mohua whipped around to find her mother and her father standing closely behind, an expression of worry on his face. She begrudgingly turned back to the empress and forced herself to speak, "Your Highness, would a small gift satisfy your request?"

The empress beamed victoriously, "Of course."

Soon enough, soft music drifted through the air and a serenity washed over the atmosphere. The moon shone bright and full in the sky. In the private pavilion, royal family members resumed eating peacefully once again.

In the center, Shen Mohua's brush glided across the large paper. Her fingers were nimble and knew exactly where to go. There was no stroke made by mistake. Every now and then, she'd glance at the emperor and the empress.

When she was young, Shen Mohua was a quiet child who rarely spoke and even less, smiled. She was so withdrawn from peers of her age that her parents began worrying for her health. Hence, they made the ultimate decision to move away from the big cities.

Her natural personality was that of an aloof and cold person. In her childhood, Shen Mohua spent most of her free time roaming in search of magic and secretly hoped to encounter a miracle. She knew, even back then, that her life would be cut short and when one knew something like that, trying to find the positivity in life was quite the challenge.

It was only recently that she opened up more, learning how to smile, how to be cheerful, and how to laugh like others. Beneath her current bright demeanor was a girl with strength in heart and mind. If provoked, she would not hesitate to fight back.

Seated at the front as an honorable guest, General Song wasn't shy to show his frustration. His merciless glare never quite left the girl's back. Shen Mohua fully focused on her painting, wanting to finish as soon as possible, until a certain red caught her eyes.

There, standing at the entrance to the pavilion was Ou Junsan. Shen Mohua's cold face melted away at once and she felt a burst of energy. She wanted to leave this place as soon as possible. Her fingers moved the brush in a final stroke, finishing up the flower field, then she stood up. "Your Highness, please accept this small token of my well wishes for you."

The empress had long waited to see the painting. She immediately came closer. At first sight, tears were on the brink of falling.

On the scroll was a painting of two youth full of love for each other. The mountains in the back were glowing in gold, full of colors in autumn. The vast sky above ranged from shades of pink, orange and red. Scattered across the air were rose petals, as if they truly fell from the rosy clouds.

The empress in her youth, dressed in a simple white dress, sang a song while her lover accompanied with a flute in his hands. It was as if they were frozen in time, in a moment in which their worlds only consisted of each other.

The emperor held the painting in awe, memories of youth flooding in. It made him remember that they too, once were carefree before bearing the weight of the crown. At that time, they were simply two people deeply in love. "Shen Mohua, your talents truly lives up to your father's glory."

"Mohua is only mediocre, please forgive any shortcomings," Shen Liu responded quietly.

"Mohua you've given me the most valuable gift this year," Wen Lijuan smiled, wiping her tears away. "A good deed must be rewarded."

Shen Mohua's lowered head immediately snatched up. "Your Highness, I--"

"Don't argue, you deserve this honor," The empress' tone softened. "Your Majesty, what do you think is worthy of such a bright child?"

The emperor nonchalantly motioned to the royal seats on his side. "Take a look at my sons. Who do you fancy?"

Shen Mohua stared at the emperor silently. What kind of ridiculous question was this? She had fallen into a trap. If she dared to answer, it was like she was seeking for death. If she dared not to answer, it was also like she was begging for death…

How could a mere commoner pick a royal prince like choosing vegetables at the market? Furthermore, she wanted nothing to do with it all.

The room went completely silent. No one could believe their ears. Such a request had never taken place before, not even between royalties, and here a nobody stood with endless wealth and richness offered at the cost of a single reply.

Her parents stood motionless for a moment, taking the emperor's words carefully before panic flooded in. Shen Liu clenched his fist tightly. "Your Majesty, my daughter is engaged."

"And?" Tang Weisheng laughed. "What about it?"

Meng Jia reached for her husband's hand. "Keep it in, don't do it."

Shen Mohua's eyes flashed with such intense anger, she had the urge to step forward and directly land a punch on the emperor's crooked smile. It took all her strength to remain composed and stayed silent, refusing to do as asked.

In fact, she deliberately turned away from where the princes were seated. The emperor would not be getting an answer out of her. She would not crumble to his childish game.

A series of claps made heads turned towards the entryway. Tang Fulan, the third prince, stood there dashingly in his expensive robe with a clear smirk on his face. "Shen Mohua... what a beautiful name and an even more beautiful face to match."

Getting no response from her, he made his way over. He didn't like that she paid him no respect, giving the floor more attention than his presence. He grabbed her chin and forced her to face him, his fingers pressing into her skin. "Sweetheart, I believe we've met before. Perhaps fate has brought us together again."

Shen Mohua would've stomped his foot if not for the audience around them. The feeling of repulsion from when he touched her still lingered clearly in her mind. She took a step back. "Your Highness, this one has no recollection of seeing you before. With such memorable looks, if we had met, this one would not dared forget."

"Really, is that so? One day, you won't be able to forget my face even if it's your only wish." Tang Fulan closed the distance between them and added, "Feisty, exactly how I like my women to be."

Shen Liu stepped in between and pulled his daughter protectively behind him. "Enough, young man. Mind your manners, we are at a public event, not in your private chambers. You may not speak in such a way with my daughter, even if you are a prince."

Tang Fulan rolled his eyes, brushing the father and daughter aside. "Father, the position of my princess consort is still up to you, but I must have this one as my fifth concubine."

The royal family roared into chaos, the quiet room boomed loudly as they argued amongst themselves. Shen Mohua took advantage of the moment to finally scan around.

The figure at the doorway had long been gone. Ou Junsan was nowhere in sight.

Whatever color was left on her face completely drained. A sad, empty smile spread across her face as she prepared to fight alone. She would not let anyone stomp over her, even someone of royalty. Shen Mohua stepped out from behind her father's figure when a sudden hand caught hers tightly.

"Do you want to marry him?"

Ou Junsan's voice caught her off guard and she almost lost her footing as she whipped around towards him. He steadily held her in place. With a hint of impatience laced in his tone, he asked again, "Tell me, do you want to marry Tang Fulan?"

"I want to marry you," She replied.

"This is your only chance, don't regret it in the future," he warned with a sense of urgency that she couldn't fully understand. "For the last time, you don't wish to be a princess consort?"

She reached up to caress his cheek. A small smile found its way to her lips. "I just wish to be your wife."

Ou Junsan's face softened at her words. With a defeated sigh, he intertwined their fingers. He had made up his mind.