162. Summer Tournament II

Third person POV

Hong er turned her eyes to Weisheng and stared at him as if she was asking for his approval. Weisheng unhesitantly nodded his head which caught Hong er by surprise. Usually Weisheng would be very protective towards her even to her own brother (cousin). Hong er bent her knees to thank Weisheng and followed the Emperor of Xi Bei to his room.

The servants opened the door and lifted the beads curtain for them. The room was so big that it provided a bed and bathroom like a hotel room should be. The first thing Hong er saw as soon as she entered was a screen divider and 2 silhouettes sat side by side and leisurely drinking their tea.

Man: "Hoo~ Your Majesty Emperor XB had brought a few guest here." (A/N: XB=Xi Bei, DQ=Da Qi, DC=Da Chu, DF=Dong Fang, BZ=Bei Zhou.)

The voice was deep and sounds a little old, showing that the man behind the screen was not young. Hong er didn't think too much about it and continued to walk deeper into the room. She turned around at the corner and the silhouettes from before was an old couple.

The old couple looked over to the guest and their face immediately brightened up the moment they saw Hong er. They quickly stood up and went to her to their greetings.

Old couple: "Greetings to the Emperor and Empress of DQ."

Hong er: "Rise."

Hong er smiled politely and gave the Emperor of Xi Bei a questioning glance.

Emperor of Xi Bei: "Why don't we sit first?"

Hong er: "Yes."

All of them sat around the round table and the servants brought in more cups for Weisheng and Hong er and poured in some tea to their cup. They took a sip of the tea to relieve their thirst before continuing the conversation.

Hong er quietly eyed the old couple in front of her and assumed that they were not someone that one should offend. Despite his not so young age, the old man's body was very well taken. His muscles were still very visible even through layers of cloth on him and his shoulder was not saggy at all. Hong er became very interested in knowing who these people are.

Hong er: "If it is not rude of me, may I ask who is this gentleman and lady?"

Hong er asked smilingly. She felt it something familiar about the old couple but she couldn't tell what it was. Rather than making her head spin from thinking, she decided to ask them directly. The old couple's eyes widened after they heard Hong er's question and laughed heartily.

Old man: "Hahaha, she didn't recognize us."

Old woman: "What a funny girl she is."

Hong er knitted her brow in confusion. The old man sighed.

Old man: "That stupid son of mine, he probably didn't explain to you anything about this. What if it became a misunderstanding?"

The old woman silently nodded her head in agreement. Hong er spun her brain in the speed of light then an image from years ago came into her mind.

Hong er: "Grandfather, grandmother?"

Hong er asked with disbelief.

Xiu Rong: "What is it, Hong er?" (Xiu Rong= Hong er's grandmother. Xu Weimin= Hong er's grandfather.)

Xu Weimin and Xiu Rong smiled dotingly at Hong er.

Xu Weimin: "You finally remember us. Took you so long to figure it out."

No wonder Hong er felt Xu Weimin so familiar, his face and body posture were very similar to her father and her other uncles. Furthermore, about 8 years ago they sent her a message and their image with water magic on her birthday. She smiled brightly and stood up to give them proper greetings.

Hong er: "This unfilial granddaughter give grandfather and grandmother greetings."

Xiu Rong: "Aiyo~ Come here, let grandmother take a closer look of you."

Hong er: "Uhm!"

Hong er went to Xiu Rong's side and Xiu Rong scanned Hong er from hair to toe.

Xiu Rong: "Aiyo~ Our Hong er had grow up into a splendid woman."

Hong er: "Hehehe~ Oh, how can grandfather and grandmother be in here?"

Xiu Rong: "Aiyo, your father didn't tell you?"

Hong er: "No."

Xiu Rong: "His Majesty DQ too?"

Hong er: "No."

Xiu Rong sighed and pulled Hong er to sit beside her. She looked at Weisheng and gave him a lecture.

Xiu Rong: "Your Majesty DQ, forgive this old woman for being meddlesome but in a relationship, you have to tell your other one so there wouldn't be any unnecessary misunderstanding."

Weisheng: "Yes, Lady Xiu."

Weisheng replied firmly and guiltily glanced at the confused Hong er.

Xiu Rong: "You too, Hong er. If you have anything bothering you, tell His Majesty Emperor DQ. Don't endure it by yourself. He is your husband, he will gladly help you."

Hong er: "Yes, grandmother."

Emperor XB: "Why don't we use this chance to explain everything clearly?"

Xu Weimin: "En, that's indeed a good idea. Your Majesty Emperor DQ, you are not in rush right?"

Weisheng: "No. Since we don't have anything to do, it is better if we chat together here."

Xiu Rong: "Then, Hong er, do you have anything that you want to ask?"

Hong er: "En. Why grandfather and grandmother are here? Also why with His Majesty XB? Not with father?"

Xiu Rong: "Well then, it seems like I have to explain from the beginning."

Xiu Rong glanced at Xu Weimin and Xu Weimin nodded his head to Xiu Rong.

Xiu Rong: "It is a bit complicated. It started with the previous emperor of DC. At first, the royal family and Xu family was very close but since your grandfather led our family's soldiers to war because the imperial army had been infected by a disease, we won the war even though we were quite outnumbered. He became wary of the power Xu family had.

He slowly and steadily pressed our family down and tried his best to not let us use our family's soldiers nor even trained them. We noticed his intention and followed his wishes by staying low profile for many years until I gave birth to your eldest uncle.

He became more and more afraid after seeing your father and two uncles' prowess. We still endure it until he used the other powerful families that have grudges against our family to plot against us by making false information of us involved in bribery and corruption.

We felt betrayed and retaliated back the false rumor which made him to hate us more. The hatred continued till his son, the current DC Emperor. One by one, your two uncles found a way to fake their death and live happily with their own family."

Xiu Rong took a sip of her tea as she felt quite thirsty after explained so long. Xu Weimin decided to take over the explanation.

Xu Weimin: "Before your uncles went on their own way, I had this one mission in Xi Bei and I met His Majesty Emperor XB."

Emperor XB: "Hohoho~"

Xu Weimin: "We talked and discussed many things until His Majesty Emperor XB told us his secret."

Xu Weimin glanced at the relaxed Emperor XB and continued.

Xu Weimin: "He couldn't entrust Xi Bei to his descendant therefore he asked us a favor to help him with the court as His Majesty Emperor's health and age is not that suitable to force himself to look over all of that documents. And now I and your grandmother are taking care of everything that involves Xi Bei."

(A/N: Emperor XB's age is around 85, Xu Weimin's is 54 and Xiu Rong's around 52. I have lost count most of their age so pardon me.)

Hong er's eyes widened in disbelief.

Hong er: "Th-that means-"

Emperor XB: "Yes, they are de facto Emperor and Empress of Xi Bei."