Old Woman

"..." Zhu Xiao Wan stared at those unfathomable eyes of Song Hui Yao. By now, she was completely certain that Song Hui Yao was fearfully more than he appeared to be.

Suddenly, Song Hui Yao's long eyelashes flickered and he looked seriously at her. "What kind of sister would I have?"

Ah...

"What kind of little sister do you want?" she asked.

Song Hui Yao spaced off pondering, after a while, he opened his mouth: "A fourteen years old girl."

"...Huh?" Zhu Xiao Wan was stunned for a bit. Wasn't she a fourteen years old girl? If she wasn't, what was she then? "Am I not fourteen?"

"You are," Song Hui Yao smiled dazzlingly, "physically, but not mentally."

"Then what am I mentally?" Staring at him as she questioned while feeling puzzled.

Song Hui Yao glanced at her from the corners of his eyes, "It's quite rude of me to say it though. Would you mind if I were to say it bluntly?"

"No, please say it." She pursed her lips.

"An old lady."

"..." Zhu Xiao Wan didn't expect it to be 'an old lady'. She was only 24 when she died...

"Not entirely." He chuckled, "However, your behaviors are nothing like an ill young girl who is still naïve and timid."

"...Don't worry, I will not be an old woman at the banquet." She would not, even after the acts she needed to put on at the banquet. Although she was not a normal girl, which young women would want to be seen as 'old'? Also, this should not be too hard.

She had never known what a normal teenage girl would be like after she was sent there and knew nothing of how a young woman should be like - she was engrossed in works. She should just go back to how she was like before that, well, not completely...

"Then what would you be like?" Song Hui Yao raised his brows faintly.

"You'll know tomorrow." Zhu Xiao Wan ignored him after she gave her response. However, after a period of silence, she turned to ask Song Hui Yao: "My appearance?"

His brows rose as his eyes opened up vaguely, then he laughed, "If you don't want to make a proper appearance, I can help you with your disguise."

-----

Gracefully walked through the big hall of the palace, Noble Concubine You arrived at the emperor's study. Pushed the door open, she saw Tang Tian's darkened face. Seeing that his expression was distress, she hastened over and asked, "Your Majesty, are you all right?"

"The emperor is fine." A voice came from the side.

Noble Concubine You quickly twisted her neck to look at the person. When she saw the person, Noble Concubine You jumped slightly.

The person was a beautiful woman, even though she had passed her prime age. The woman had a glaring red dress on, embroidered with a pair of dragon and phoenix.

Noble Concubine You bit her lip and went to greet the woman. "This concubine greets the empress."

Empress Shui stared at Noble Concubine You with contempt and disgust floating in her eyes. "Go do whatever you wanted to do and leave."

Noble Concubine You abruptly felt frustrated upon hearing Empress Shui's words. But she didn't dare to show that frustration on her face. "Yes."

Then she turned to Tang Tian to once again ask the same question some time ago: "Your Majesty, please reconsider your decision and let Prince Shen marry our daughter."

When Empress Shui heard her request, she sneered silently. Although she was not favoured by the emperor, their relationship was not on bad term either - they were like political associates. Because of that, the emperor shared important information with her, including things about Prince Shen.

'What an idiot, the emperor is distressed about whether Prince Shen would even show up or not, let along bestowing a marriage decree.'

Tang Tian was having a headache as he listened to Noble Concubine You's bothersome request. Nodding his head and said, "This emperor will say it if he comes."

Although she didn't quite understand what Tang Tian meant, Noble Concubine You was pleased that Tang Tian agreed to bestow a marriage decree for her beloved daughter with the handsome and mysterious Prince Shen. After she got what she wanted, Noble Concubine You bowed to the imperial couple and retreated out of the room.

Inside the study, Empress Shui had a small smirk on her red lips. "Are you really going to decree a marriage upon the distinguished and unpredictable Prince Shen?"

Tang Tian creased his brows and signed, "How could I dare to force a marriage on him."