12. Her words made a wave....

Her age ceremony supposed to be in a few days and on the same day her engagement would be officially proclaimed. Everyone was set on to come to be on that celebration as most people were bored and wanted to gossip. But then another bomb went off.

''Lan Lian listen to the Emperor's will.'' A servant waited for Lan Lian to kneel and then continued reading.

''Lan Lian was given the name of Noble Lady Shan. As gift will be added to her dowry the gift she asked for and will be taken with her on her way to the north. Next to the naming gift, the Emperor found about the age ceremony and is gifting five sets of special silk and many herbs for her health. Given by Emperor.''

Lan Lian, no, now Noble Lady Shan was completely flabbergasted about a strange edict that made no sense whatsoever. But she had to accept it, so she bowed and rose her hands.

''Long live the Emperor!'' She was about to stand up when she saw him shaking his head, so she sighed and bowed her head.

''Noble Lady Shan will be given marriage with Commander Xi day after her age ceremony. Given by Emperor. Give thanks!'' But when he didn't hear anything he saw a young woman staring with her eyes and mouth open and frozen. He coughed and repeated. ''Give thanks!''

Luckily she snapped out her daze and accepted the Edict, while dizzily thanking the Emperor and wishing him tens of thousands of years of long life. When the servant left he snickered completely freely including the two other servants. ''No wonder Wen Guifei liked this child. Her expressions are hilarious.''

Actually, this is not the olden times she knew about. It was like a different country from the way she knew. Many things might be similar, but not the same. But to her, everything was new. Absolutely everything.

Giving a girl with the lowly background a noble name was a great feat. Now even more people were curious about what will happen in her age ceremony. Looking at many greetings from some people that are on a quite high standing, Elder Lan scrunched his eyebrows.

''This is going to be troublesome.''

''What can we do?''

He shook his head as his sons looked at him with worry.

''There is nothing we can do. Just celebrate and whoever sent us congratulations card and present, send them invitations. Those that are far, can't come anyway, but at least call them to come.''

Inside her room, Lan Lian enjoyed the warm bath. One of the older girls helped her rub her back. She literally enjoyed her life at the moment.

Good clothes, good food, servants that help her with all bothersome things. How comfortable. But as she closed her eyes as the servants washed her hair, she remembered the Edict. Does she have to leave so fast?

Why?

Is there big trouble in the north? She turned her head towards the young woman that was sent by her aunt to be by her side. "Xiao Lin, can you find my information about the weather on her the north."

Xiao Lin nodded. "Actually, I planned to tell you about it after your bath. It seems the weather is getting worse and colder by the day. The Emperor proclaimed the national catastrophe and that means young General Xi has to rush back to the north, to bring the food and supplies with him."

Lan Lian understood at that moment why such Edict was proclaimed. They had no time for weddings and big things.

"Miss, your wedding will be a day after. The wedding is a connection between two families and trusts me, it will be big." Xiao Lin calmly helped her out the bath and helped her dry her hair and put a complicated set of clothes.

"I saw the clothes females wear on the north and asked the aunt to make multiple sets. It is less complicated and more comfortable to wear. Xiao Lin, are you sure you don't mind coming with me to the north? The weather there is not like here." Lan Lian looked at the girls smiling face.

"Miss, I forgot to tell you. I am actually from the north. My Elders went back a few years ago. My family heard about you coming to the north and told me to come with you. Like that, I'll be able to see them from time to time." Her smile made the girl almost glow in happiness.

That's good as well. Lan Lian didn't want any servants with her as her future husband was a simple man. If she arrives with a whole bunch of people, how will they feed them all? And then many other things would be bothersome.

Lan Lian smiled at her. "If your family is in the same town where General Xi is stationed, I will send you often home. I will be away from my family, so I know how you must feel. Then let's buy more warm cloth. You need a few sets of clothes and shoes..."

As she started making her plans Xiao Lin almost cried in her heart. This miss is so warmhearted. She must serve her wholeheartedly. To find another mistress like this would be hard.

Two days. Lan Lian became serious as Xiao Lin went out with her orders. In two days she will be already on her way to the north.

Except for food, she asked for warm cloth and shoes. When Wen Guifei asked her why she said that the soldiers that protected the north must be cold. They need new warm shoes and clothes, making her think about it.

When the Emperor heard her words he checked the reports from the north and almost had fit in anger. "They didn't get new armours and weapons for years? What about the food?"

The ministers were silent as one of them brought the report to the Emperor. With shaky hands, he gave the report and rushed back to his places with deeply bowed heads.

Actually, the one giving the report was no one else than Minister Xi.

The Emperor read the reports and suddenly his temper flared up. "Where did the food go?"

His yell resonated through the Great Hall, making all the Ministers shake.

Only Minister Xi came out and with the bowed head answered. "With all the respect, but Minister Hong was the one taking care of the food for the last few years. I got a report from the north that only one-tenth of the food arrived and no weapons or soldier armours were sent for years."

The Emperor started roaring. "We spent all that silver every year for the armour and weapons and every year the food to soldiers are sent. What do you mean it didn't get there? Minister Hong... where is that idiot?!"

Minister Xi shook his head. "I didn't see him for days. It seems he is quite sick as he didn't come to work for almost a month."

"What!" The Emperor suddenly stood up and coldly smiled as he silently looked at the group of people standing in the corner. "Good. It seems I need to make some changes. I don't even get reports what my precious ministers are doing. Let's hope the words you say are truthful. If he isn't sick, many of you will be punished."

Actually, he knew that Minister Hong was absent, but as none of them reported, he just waited. Sick? That lustful creep had more concubines than himself. His face became serious and cold.

"Guards! Go to the Hong estate and bring the Royal Physician with you. If he is really sick, the Royal Physician should take good care of his health. If he is cured... bring him here." The soldier just bowed and run away while few Ministers suddenly stirred.

With a sarcastic smile, he looked at them. "Have something to say now or should we wait for them to give me a full report."

But they just looked at each other and shook their heads.