No matter how unsatisfied consort Ning was inside, sheâd lost her opportunity already, so all she could do was smile.
âToday is big sisterâs rose hibiscus festival, how could little sister dare to ask so many questions? I just thought it wasnât rowdy enough and wanted to add a little spice.â
âOh really?â The empress coldly smiled, her definition of rowdy was to the point where it could be considered hostile.
But her face quickly resumed its normal dignified and virtuous facade, âThen letâs begin.â
She waved a hand and her senior aid quickly went to look at the girls below the stage.
âThere are quite a few of you today, and youâre all here for the prize. The empressâ idea is that we go one by one, from the back row. Could all of the misses please prepare themselves and perform your best. Alright, could the a.s.sistant minister of revenueâs second daughter first go prepare?â
Not long later, the atmosphere was buzzing again.
All of the n.o.ble girls and officialâs daughters wanted to get the prize, and so, put on their best selves for show.
Some people were unexpectedly amazing, some were just average.
But not a single one entered Xiahou Ruiâs eye.
He stared dazedly at Lou Qingwuâs silhouette, hoping that sheâd be able to s.n.a.t.c.h mother-empressâ prize.
That way, heâd be able to officially and publically marry her.
But he was also very clear that his mother wouldnât let him become his legitimate consort.
Her status was enough but because of Li Jingsheng, three years ago âŚ
Even if he didnât mind and it wasnât a big matter, it didnât mean that the other court officials wouldnât mind.
To marry her as his consort at this time, was something that his mother definitely wouldnât allow.
But if he had to marry a stranger, he definitely couldnât do it.
âSecond brother?â
Xiahou Liuyun was rapt as he watched the performances before turning around to see Xiahou Rui dazed.
He followed his line of sight as a light flashed in his eyes, âSecond brother, donât worry. Miss Louâs so smart, sheâd definitely get the prize.â
Xiahou Rui shook his head, âMother wonât agree.â
âHow could that be?â Didnât mother like Miss Lou?
Xiahou Rui knew what he was thinking, he lightly sighed, â.... Mother does have a good impression of Miss Lou but she wonât let her become my consort. Her meaning is for me to first marry a consort and then âŚ.â
âBut how could Miss Lou agree to that?â
Xiahou Liuyun was shocked, even if he didnât understand Miss Lou that deeply, the feeling that he got from her, was that she definitely wouldnât settle to be a side consort or a concubine.
That ⌠that was too unfair to Miss Lou.
Xiahou Rui lowered his eyes, how could he not know?
He couldnât bear for her to suffer any grief either.
âSecond brother, donât worry about these things. If Miss Lou really got the prize, then you can just tell mother you want to marry Miss Lou as your consort. As long as youâre stubborn enough, mother would understand.â
âWould mother really agree?â
â..... of course.â Xiahou Liuyun slapped his shoulder, he liked the thought of Miss Lou being his second sister-in-law.
Xiahou Liuyunâs guarantee made Xiahou Rui decide to throw everything to the wind.
â.... now the ministry of warâs officialâs daughter, Shangguan Yiyun will play <song>.â</song>
<song>The senior aid finished speaking as everyoneâs attention was directed to the girl towards Lou Qingwuâs left.</song>
<song>From the moment that sheâd entered the pavilion, Shangguan Yiyun was like an invisible person.</song>
<song>She sat correctly and according to convention, her eyes lowered in a way that no one could make out her expression.</song>
<song>When she heard her name, she lifted up her head.</song>
<song>Lou Qingwu then turned to look at her, only to see a pretty and pale girl stand up.</song>
<song>She was tall and slim, wearing a pink pleated gauze gown that floated with the wind, giving her the aura of a fairy.</song>
<song>Adding to her originally good aura, the scene was extremely pleasing to the eye.</song>
<song>*</song>
<song>TL note:</song>
<song>4 word names are unpleasant to look at and type, why is the author so attached to them?</song>
<song>Shangguan Yiyun is my enemy - will she be Xiahou Ruiâs consort this lifetime too? Note: Shangguan is a two word surname, Yiyun is her first name.</song>
<song>Leave a comment and for XHR and LQWâs ship to sink xx</song>