The Jade Owner

The empress smiled thinly and her expression looked bright, totally different from before.

Slowly, I let out a deep sigh, 'Nothing good will come out from making her mad at me, it seems the winner is decided.'

"Hmm...we seem to have a similar thought, lady Mu Xinyi"

I bowed at the unexpected response. It never crosses my mind she was going to reply to me in a friendly tone. Perhaps that reply means she already forgave me without any hostile feelings. I felt relieved.

"From the beginning, I also think lady Weng Xi's performance was astounding. I believe she not only dances blindly because of her talent but, she's been practising hard to achieve that. Her every step also looks perfect and beautiful. I announced the winner is lady Weng Xi. I bestow this reward to her."

Finally, the white jade, Chún Bái (Pure White), which bears the same name as the empress palace landed on lady Weng Xi's hand.

Heh. I chuckled. I knew that will happen – Obviously, many ladies looked at Lady Weng Xi with envy because the jade was not simply only a jade – Only the closest person to the empress had the jade and it was only a few of them in others' hands.

With the white jade, sure enough, she can easily gain favour from the empress or even the royals because from the moment she being its owner, she can meet her anytime because that jade is also an identification that allows someone to go meet the empress anytime.

The empress who was known for her difficulties to meet in person outside of events, gave her something really precious so she has a better chance than anyone here even though the empress is also known for difficulties to favour anyone.

I observed lady Weng Xi, she looked happy as her lips purse a smile.

'If that jade was simply a jade, maybe I will take it but the jade with the phoenix curve on it will only give me trouble. It's better to let go of something troublesome. Who knows why the empress gives that as a reward…'

I walked to my seat.

"Mu Xinyi."

My feet stopped when heard a voice that can't be ignored. His Majesty looked at me curiously while touching his beard.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" I back to the place and bowed again. I cursed him inside several times, 'Just when will I can sit?!'

My patient was running up, and my breath became heavy but I tried my best to entertain the emperor since he was the ruler and above me. Well, actually, I did not want to get death punishment for ignoring the emperor – who would dare if their lives were on the line?

As soon as I looked at him, he said, "So, you're the eldest daughter of the Mu Mercenary family! Haha, let's toss a wine to celebrate our meeting! No wonder you suddenly come to this banquet. Hahaha!"

"Yes...?" My voice became slower but I still took a glass of wine that was passed to me by the maid and give it a toss – I was confused with His Majesty's statement

The hall became nosier. They were talking about what His Majesty means and some of them looked at me with expected looks—unfavoured expressions. Well again, I did not care because it was how they usually looked at me.

"No wonder...your talent you show earlier fits well…with you, Lady Mu Xinyi. Now, let's enjoy the banquet more! Eat to your heart's content. Hahaha!" The emperor looked happy which made me more confused with his unclear talk.

'It seems as if he was favouring me. Well, though…did his eyes glance at my head, just now? My head…my head…the hairpin!'

When I returned to my seat, where my heart thinking about the His Majesty and the hairpin, my sister, Mu Ra Huo made me feel less complicated - she looked extremely mad. Her pair of eyes sharply pierced through me as.

'Heh, look at her, she didn't even conceal it…did she lose her sane? In front of this many people? She's totally different from what I thought.'

"How dare you wear that!" Firmly, she told me in low voice.

'That?'

I looked at her, 'that' had confirmed my curiosity, I touched my hairpin to dig more as now I am in complete darkness about the hairpin, "What do you mean?

She gripped the glass in her hand tightly, "Don't make a fool of me," with a sharp glare she said, "I will settle this when father is back."

Her words and action were clearly hostile. I wracked my head to think, but I could not think of anything else except one thing.

I looked in front, and rested my chin on my hand. Again, I touched the hairpin at the back of my head lightly, exploring the pattern on it. Still, I failed to guess it.

'…It's so frustrating…' Then, I shifted my eyes towards my servant behind me, Ruyang.

Ruyang smiled at me awkwardly. She shifted her looked instantly after. Her body shrugged a little with a deep breath.

...*****...

"Miss, we have arrived."

I opened my eyes slowly; my head still aching thinking of the situation that happen during the banquet.

I got out of the carriage without looking back. Tap. Tap. With big steps, I hurriedly went to my room. I did not want to encounter my sister, I was too tired to entertain her anger.

'It's lucky that I return earlier than her.'

I sighed again and again – my mind occupied with many unknown things. My two servants, Ruyang and Bai hastily followed me without any words.

"Ruyang, Bai, you both go to sleep right now. Pretend to sleep even if my sister servants come to find you. We will talk about this later."

"And reflect on your actions," I added before going into my room.

My eyes felt heavy so do my head. I throw my body on the soft bed without removing the makeup.

Bai at the moment feeling relief, 'Hah, thank god miss back to normal. I'm afraid to see that grim face again. Everytime I saw that look on miss, I felt suffocated and hard to breathe.'

*****

The emperor seat in his pavilion enjoying the night view. Gulp. Gulp. He drank the wine from a clay bottle. He spoke to the moon with a smile, "So, that's her, little Xinyi. She's finally growing up."

Gulp, 'Haa…but she still hard head and cunning like before…haha, that little kid!'