Chapter 17: The masquerade ball (1) :

Author POV:

lol, have you ever been set on a blind date by your parents? #_# 😆 🤣 😂

A few days later:

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Chiu Yeung Pov:

"Morning An ping," I stuttered as she brought a basin with cold water a towel and my toothbrush for me to get ready. "Today aims to get a sexy gown to seduce Li Tian You*(1) on the night of the ball,". "But Princess wouldn't this backfire on you?" She replied, " Rumours has it that Prince Tian You isn't interested in girls because Prince Z has tried to set up Young master with many young ladies but none has entered his eyes? Could it be that he likes men?". "What nonsense are you saying? It's just that he hasn't met the right lady. That lady can only be me...." I assured

"Now I heard the most popular dress right now is a long midnight blue dress with a little leverage on the shoulders with a golden belt," I imagined " Princess you must show any parts of your body before marriage or your reputation would be ruined," An-ping shouted whilst kneeling " Oh who cares my reputation is already ruined enough, a spoilt bratty princess might as well add on to being seductress, "

I replied " Princess..." she began " An-Ping don't try and convince me when I made my mind up, now hurry and buy one of those dresses for me," I interrupted

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In Second Princess mansion:

"Elder sister, I heard from one of the spies sent from us to monitor the third mei that she has decided to wear a sexy gown to the ball. But isn't the dress code casual and elegant? Should we do something about it?" The second princess asked whilst playing mahjong*(2) with the First, and third princess and Noble Consort Run. " Since Third, mei-mei humiliated us before then shouldn't we pretend we didn't know?" The first princess replied as they smiled knowingly.

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Tian You's POV:

' How to convince Yao Yao to be my dance partner for the ball in a fortnight?'

" Yao Yao look it's so beautiful today, how about having a walk in the park?" I asked tentatively. "Gege just gets straight to the point," she replied smirking. "I need a dance partner for the ball. I can't just ask anyone cause father will think I like this young miss and would wish to pair me up with her, besides she isn't here," I blurted out

" brother I would like to go with you but I've already been asked by Count Cheng'an's brother Rong Ping... and I kinda excepted," she stammered " Li Tian Yao does father know of this? " I shouted

( Quite an overprotective brother lmao)

" Yes and he's very happy," ' of course, he is an opportunity to expand his business if mei marries Rong Ping as he is a very famous merchant. Well, mei-mei is of marriage age and Rong Ping isn't a bad groom for mei-mei, as long as Rong Ping treats her sincerely then I wouldn't mind.' " Hmm, if anything happens remember to tell me," I quoted " So that's an approval?" she replied " Yes," I remarked in defeat. " So who gonna be my dance partner?" "What about asking Miss Shang Gu?" She asked ' eh that's not a bad idea but I don't want to keep hurting her heart. I will ask still the same. I believe I gave Shang Gu a room in Qinchi palace for her to rest, where was it again?'. Not long later I found her room " Shang Gu are you in I asked knocking on her door as she opened it. She was wearing a breezy orange hanfu and carrying a sword, it seems like she going somewhere. " Could You do me a favour?" I asked as she settled me inside " I need you to go to the ball with me... As friends,"..." Ok," she replied 'what's so easy? Never mind ' "come and lets us go and see the tailor," I remarked

( You guys can see the clothing later, a surprise. This chapter is quite short though cause I recently burnt my hand :) )

Glossary:

1. Just to clarify that the relationship between our main characters isn't seen as incest as back in that day most royals would marry their cousins to keep their blood royal. Besides, there is only a few per cent of the relationship between them. Their fathers are only half-siblings so they only share the same imperial yeye ( Paternal Grandfather). But the plot twist might be something no one expected.

2. Mahjong or mah-jongg is a tile-based game that was developed in the 19th century in China and has spread throughout the world since the early 20th century. It is commonly played by four players. It's quite similar but in my concept, its uses cards instead of tiles but is played like mahjong.