Chapter 3: The Royal Meetings

"She is my wife, my beloved Lady Jin of this mansion" General Jin informs them boldly as he faces Churong and winks at her, she blushes.

"Please forgive us Madame Jin" they plead sadly with a bow, she beacon them slyly for a rise and faces General Jin.

"Brother!" Prince Xie calls from a distance and approach them anxiously.

"Brother?" General Jin responds in surprise as it has been four years since he last saw his brother, Prince Xie.

"Xie!" Churong calls with a bright smile as he rushes towards her and hold her arms impulsively.

"Are you okay?" She nods her head sheepishly and shyly.

"Brother, why are you here?" General Jin pulls Churong closer to his chest.

"Brother, you don't have to marry Lady Churong";

"Empress Dowager said if you are not interested, she won't force you to marry anyone" Prince Xie informs anxiously and happily while Churong shine her eyes in surprise.

"Seriously!"

"Please let me go then" she pleads to General Jin sadly.

"Do you really want to leave me?"

"I mean going against the emperor's decree?" General Jin asks nervously while rolling his eyes.

"I dare not" she rebukes fearfully as Prince Xie walk closer to General Jin.

"Brother, do you want to get married to Lady Chu without love?" Prince Xie asks impulsively and anxiously thus General Jin clears his throat nervously.

"Enough, enough!"

"Even if he loves me or not, I have to stay in other not to go against the emperor's order" Churong tries to break the emotional Jinx and rushes over to General Jin embracing him tightly.

"He is my husband" she squeals happily as General Jin pull her away from his body and walks to a distance.

"Brother Xie, I guess this isn't your main purpose of coming here" he leaves to his chamber smirking happily under his nose.

"Chue'r, you do know my feelings for you".

"Do you want me to fight with my senior brother?"

Prince Xie complains sadly as he holds Churong's hands and caresses them softly.

"Prince Xie" she nervously pulls her hands away.

"I am doing this only for peace, I don't love General Jin" Churong briefly explains to Prince Xie which gives him hope thus he haven a sigh of relief.

"Good" he nods his head happily and excuses himself heading towards General Jin's direction, Churong exhales exhaustedly.

"Lady Rong, it seems the General loves you so much" Lin gossips sheepishly and Churong roll her eyes annoyingly.

"Sweet cake, when did you become blind?" she asks sarcastically.

"He snubbed me upon I clung unto him, this shows he doesn't intend to love or marry me" she snorts shamefully.

"Then let's escape with Prince Xie".

"You love him, right?" Lin suggests abstractly.

"Stupid girl, the emperor will cause harm to father and mother".

"I better stay here as it seems he doesn't want to marry me officially soon".

They continue discussing softly while walking back to their manor.

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"Your Highness" Quinlong curtsy with a bow politely as she approaches Empress Dowager.

"Come here, my baroness" the empress Dowager beacon a sign with her hand as Quinlong sits on the soft wooden armchair closer to the empress Dowager.

"Grandmother, how are you?" Quinlong turns the tea into a small cup as empress Dowager drinks it smiling happily.

"I am so fine as the wind in the palace is peaceful" Empress Dowager said ironically with a small laugh, Quinlong joins mischievously.

"Grandmother, I learnt a new song".

"Can I play the zither for you?" Quinlong asks cautiously after a brief moment of silence and Empress Dowager nods slowly in approval, Quinlong stands up from the armchair with a bow and walks elegantly to the long zither lying on the table which had already been setup by the palace maids.

The vibrating, smooth and melodious sound comes out pleasantly from the zither as Quinlong moves her slender fingers on the strings perfectly, playing gently with a bright smile while Empress Dowager nods happily with a smile of enjoyment.

"Grandmother, Prince Jin has grown up now".

She cautiously starts up a conversation while playing the zither.

"Yes, Jine'r is now young thus he will be getting married to Marquis Chu's daughter" as angry as Quinlong, she unintentionally misplayed the zither startling Empress Dowager.

"Are you okay?" she drinks the tea slowly while Quinlong stands up from the zither seat, fake a small smile and walk over to her seat.

"Forgive me your highness, I was distracted by your beautiful smile" she bows courteously and intentionally lied making Empress Dowager to laugh loudly.

"Someone!" she calls the nearby maid who courteously rushes over to the room central point.

"Get me my jewelry box" she commands politely, the maid leaves with a bow.

"Your Highness" Quinlong becomes nervous and happily anxious.

"I prefer you call me grandmother".

"This beautiful fingers of yours deserve some rewards" empress Dowager compliments Quinlong happily as the maid comes in with a large small box, she hands it to empress Dowager with a bow and stands at a distance.

Quinlong drinks the tea cautiously as Empress Dowager opens the box that contains expensive jewelries like gold hairpins, colorful jades and bracelets, Quinlong gaze in astonishment.

"General Jin is here!" the door maid announce loudly and politely as General Jin comes in with Churong while Empress Dowager mutters happily to herself.

"Jine'r".

"Jine'r" she calls out loudly as he comes closer happily.

"Greeting Your Highness, grandmother" General Jin and Churong bow courteously while standing and she nods happily.

"Jine'r!"

Empress Dowager has deep love for General Jin since his childhood more than anyone; he is being favored with the best titles and materials by Empress Dowager thus the consorts and few court officials' envies him but he never cared or show interest.

"Do you love the wife I choose for you?" Empress Dowager asks impulsively and anxiously before General Jin could answer, Quinlong clears her throat intentionally and turns tea into Empress Dowager's cup.

"Grandmother, I am glad you are okay".

"Father hosted a party for Master Xuan's arrival thus I and my wife needs to be on attendance" he said nervously with an icy and expressionless face, Churong blushes and smiles happily.

"Lady Quin is already keeping me company, I'll miss this wonderful event" she pauses.

"But you have to be alert and careful" she warns cautiously in a low tone and laughs loudly, she turns to Churong.

"She is just like Madame Chu during her teenage period, beautiful and elegant" she compliments Churong with a smile.

"Thanks for the praises, Your Highness" Churong and General Jin bow happily, Empress Dowager beacons a wave happily and gestures Churong to step forward which she did cautiously; Quinlong fumes in anger but keeps on the wide smile of pretense.

Empress Dowager pulls out a white imperial jade hanging on her waist and places it on Churong's palm, Churong gaze at her and the jade in astonishment.

"Grandmother, this is your imperial and most valuable jade that gives full access to the palace" Quinlong reminds and stare at Churong in anger and surprise while Churong accepts the jade with a bright smile.

"I'll keep it safe, Your Highness".

Empress Dowager nods her head affirmatively.

"We shall take our leave now, grandmother" General Jin informs courteously which she approves with a nod and they leave the Dowager's chamber as Churong stares at the beautiful jade continuously in happiness and surprise.

"I shall leave too, grandmother" Quinlong didn't wait for permission as she hurries out of the manor, empress Dowager gulps the tea with a smile and call the maid to send back the jewelry box.

~~~~

"What!"

"He came to the palace and visited Empress Dowager immediately he arrived---"the Royal Consort, Queen Hua II asks her personal guard angrily while applying her makeup close to the table mirror.

She has always detested General Jin thus she tries to harm him one dangerous way or the other but to no avail.

Queen Hua hit her fingers on the table thinking rashly.

"Has the kitchen maid done as I ordered?" she stands up from the armchair and checks her beautiful dress while looking at the mirror with a stern smile.

"Yes Madame" the guard replies with a bow and tough smile, she nods and smile mischievously.

"Good, let's go" she walks out of her chamber and the guard follows.

The cool celebration music swing in the hall, the musicians plays the musical instruments perfectly as ministers and Royal members enters into the hall, bow to the emperor as a sign of respect and sit on the east or west wing that have comfortable armchairs and tables containing assorted drinks, fruits and meats.

The party coordinator rushes into the hall with a bow and falls on his knees at the central point, he kowtows fearfully to the emperor.

"Please spare me, His Majesty".

"The dancers are all sick of flu and can't perform" he reports as the ministers and Royal members mutter among themselves in disbelief.

"I'll do it" Churong stands up from her seat which is closer to General Jin.

"Sit" he commands nervously in a low tone but she adamantly walk to the central point courageously.