1.7 AuYeung LaiSan - A Misunderstanding

The next day, at the Palace

"Father Emperor, pleaseeeee!" MeiMei pleaded.

With a slight smile on his face, the Emperor said, "Why the sudden interest in Miss AuYeung's marriage, I never knew you two were so close?" the Emperor asked, curious as to what caused his cute daughter's sudden interest in the couple. He smirked and in a teasing tone said, "Even as to come so early in the morning, even before morning court to ask for this decree?"

"Father Emperor, I just felt that they are a good match. It would be a shame if Miss AuYeung loses out on this opportunity just because she is currently ill," the Princess answered whilst she crawled on her knees to the Imperial bed where her father sat. She lowered her head near the Emperor's legs and pleaded once again.

She's the eldest daughter born to the Empress and the Emperor. From reading MeiMei's thoughts, I knew that the Emperor adored her the most, and he would not have the heart to deny her pleas. As he loving stoked her hair, he called for the Lead Eunuch, AhZhi, "Give the eight characters of General Szeto and Miss AuYeung LaiSan to the lead Star Gazer and ask him to do the assessment of compatibility, bring me the results after morning court."

Upon hearing this Princess Mei knew her father had agreed. She was so happy that she stood up and hugged her father tightly.

After a short while, and with her father clearing his throat, she finally realized that she had violated the rules and slowly lets go and kneeled back down to apologize and asked for forgiveness.

The Emperor laughed, and patted her head again. Then trying to be authoritative again, harshly said, "I will only agree to bestow an Imperial decree for this marriage, only if they are compatible. If it is not compatible, then you must give up on the idea."

"Okay father Emperor. I thank you for taking it into consideration," the Princess sulkingly said.

He must have felt that he used too strong of a tone, he quickly followed up and said in a soft fatherly way, "Okay, now go back to your Mei Palace, you would need to freshen up before greeting your Imperial Mother. If she saw you like you are now, she would punish you."

"I bid father Emperor goodbye" as the Princess backed out of the inner room before turning to walk out.

Emperor's POV.

"What had happened to my daughter at the Imperial Scholar's residence, yesterday. I have never seen her care so much about this topic, maybe it is time to consider her marriage as well. First I must talk to the Imperial Scholar and get some answers. A gentle smile came upon his face as he remembered the hug. It was this caring, spontaneous, and carefree side of her that makes me adore her so much. It kind of reminds me of her mother when she was young. Too bad there are so many rules, I would have liked for her to be carefree all the time. To think of it General SzeTo may also be a good match for my darling. I wonder...

"LukZhi," I demanded, "call for the maids to help me get dressed for morning court and also send someone to the Imperial Scholar's residence to invite him into the palace this afternoon. Also send someone to catch up to AhZhi at the Star Gazer's palace and ask his to do a compatibility assessment for General SzeTo and Princess Mei as well."

LukZhi the eunuch, who was already standing right outside the door responded, "Yes, your majesty."

Some time after morning court...

The Emperor was back in the Imperial Hall pouring over all the scrolls that were brought to him by his officials. Each reported on the matters occurring throughout his land.

Sitting behind the oversized redwood desk, I read scroll after scroll, responding in each one with a command on how to proceed, but the mountain of scrolls never seemed to diminish today. As my eyes wandered from the scroll, I took a moment to look around the room. The scrolls filled the top of my redwood desk and some even were starting to unravel down the side. The hanging edges of the table were carved through with spiraling designs adorned in silver and gold paint and on each rounded corner was carved a dragon's head, the eyes sparkled from the gold paint and it's bodies spiraled down the legs. There on the left side was a bookshelf adorned with jade and porcelain vases of all shapes and sizes. My father had really loved vases, I never had the heart to change this room. Even this desk was past down three generations. I took a sip of the tea placed on the side table on my right, hoping it would help me refocus on the task at hand. Patience was a bit lacking today, as I was awaiting the results of the compatibility tests.

With a knock, LukZhi arrived greeted his majesty and announced that Imperial Scholar has arrived.

"Bring him in." I more than welcomed this interruption, as I quickly placed the scroll back in the pile.

"Greetings to Emperor. May you reign for a million years," the Imperial Scholar greeted.

Waving nonchalantly, "You may rise and speak casually."

The Imperial Scholar gave a slight bow, and answered, "Yes, your Majesty. Emperor has summon this servant, how may I be of service?"

"What happened with my daughter yesterday and General SzeTo?" I questioned.

"To answer Emperor, nothing occurred. I don't even believe I witnessed them even conversing. They even left at different times so they would not have met outside, either," the Imperial Scholar responded.

"Now that is strange, why would my darling daughter come to me so early in the morning to ask that I decree an engagement for Miss AuYeung with General SzeTo?" I subconsciously stroked my long beard as I contemplated the question.

The Imperial Scholar timidly starts, "Not to hide it from Your Majesty, actually General SzeTo's purpose for his visit yesterday, was to propose marriage with my daughter as his main wife. At that time we had not accepted the proposal, because my daughter is still in a coma."

Feeling content by his response, the Emperor said, "Then you will not be disappointed if I do not decree this marriage. I will find a more appropriate husband for your daughter when she awakens. Okay you may go," the Emperor waved at the Imperial Scholar to dismiss him.

With a silent sigh, "Thank you Emperor, I will take my leave now." the Imperial Scholar backs out of the Imperial Hall.

"Good, good. Since the AuYeungs had not accepted right away, if MeiMei is compatible with General SzeTo. I am going to decree their marriage instead. As I remember General SzeTo is an only son and the family has been loyal to the court for over a century. It is a good thing, MeiMei will live carefree there in the south, rather than being stuck in the political marriage.

The emperor was still in deep thought when the Lead Eunuch arrived with the Star Gazer, Zhang TianYan.

"Greetings to Emperor, I have brought the Star Gazer with the results of the calculation of compatibility," AhZhi kneeled as he addressed the Emperor.

With a sweeping motion of his arms, he swept away his StarGazer official robes as to kneel without being encumbered by his long robe. Stargazer Zhang said, "Greetings Emperor, may your reign last a million years."

"Hurry and rise, tell me the news immediately." I said urgently.

Miss AuYeung and the General are a perfect match, their union will bring about prosperity for both families."

Then cautiously searching for the right words,

"As for Princess Mei and the General... Not to hide it from Emperor, this servant has done the matching and have had two others check. Unfortunately the results are unfavorable. It is an inauspicious match between Princess Mei and the General," StarGazer Zhang said ending with a sigh. He paused as to gauge the Emperor's mood, then he decided to continued, "With Princess being born in the winter months and having gold metal attributes, it would be best matched with an earth or wood attributes but the General is born in the summer months and main attribute is fire," the StarGazer explained. "With this pairing, if small issues, it will bring illnesses to the Princess, if big issues, it might actually cost her Highness, her life." The StarGazer falls silent after that.

A hard slap to the table rang throughout the hall, "No! This pairing will never occur," I exploded.

"AhZhi, send an Imperial Decree, informing the inner palace and the Empress that for the safety of the Princess this inauspicious pairing between the Princess Mei and the General will never occur," I ordered. "If after you send the decree and the Empress requests an audience with me. Inform her to come tonight to my palace."

"Yes, your Majesty." AhZhi responded.

"You are all dismissed," I said unhappily.

"Yes, your Majesty," said all the servants as they clear out of the hall.

I am not sure about the decree of marriage of the General to Young Miss AuYeung either. Just let it be for awhile, there is no hurry. I can always send the decree to the south if need be. But for the time being let me avoid seeing MeiMei for a few days, or I might become soft hearted.

"LukZhi," I yelled out at the waiting servant standing outside the door. "I don't want to see anyone from the inner palace except for the Empress for the next seven days. Let no one else in."

"Yes your majesty." WahZhi responded.

Pushing all that aside I started working on the many scrolls that needed my attention.

The imperial scroll arrives at the inner palace…

Empress led all the Concubines and Princesses, and adolescents Princes to accept this decree. They all knelt at the sight of the golden scroll, held high by AhZhi.

When everyone has knelt, AhZhi lowered the scroll and started reading, as the Emperor's oldest and most trusted Eunuch, he had done this numerous times and was now routine.

"By order of the Emperor. For the safety and well-being of our darling Princess Mei this inauspicious pairing to General SzeTo not be granted. So it is said from heaven, and so it is written." After reading, AhZhi rolls up the scroll and held it out.

Boom! Like the world came crumbling down, "MeiMei, when did you ask for a decree of marriage with my General?"

"You know I didn't! You were there with me this morning!"

"Then what is happening and how are you going to explain this to your mother! Her face turned black after the eunuch read the decree."

"Shit! I know. I am trying to think right now. Be quiet."

Then I hear AhZhi, "Empress, please rise and accept this decree."

"We thank Emperor", the whole inner palace responded.

The Empress rose to accept the decree and everyone else rose as well.

"If Empress does not have any other orders, as my duties are done here, I shall quickly return back to his Majesty's side." AhZhi said, bowing low.

"Okay, you may return, but please inform his Majesty that I would like to request an audience with him," the Empress said.

"His Majesty already knew Empress would have this request. His Majesty asks that you go to his palace tonight."

"Uh", the Empress replied, "Then I shall see his Majesty tonight," and she waved and dismissed AhZhi.

She turned and addressed everyone, "Okay everyone, you may all return back to your palaces, except you Princess Mei. Come with me," while she sternly stared down at Princess Mei.

Breaking eye contact, the Empress finally walked off towards her palace. Princess Mei was assisted by AnYi to rise and she sulkingly, slowly followed the Empress