Thirteenth Birthday 4

Wang Ze frowned and he cleared his throat in annoyance. The man that had been hypnotized was frightened out of their wits and hurriedly turned their gazes toward the ground, the table, the food, anywhere except the princess.

But inwardly their heart was still thumping and the princess' delicate face was forever embedded ah!

It was as beautiful as a painting, as precious as jade.

Of course, being the dense and sheltered girl she was, Ouyang Xueqing didn't realize a thing. She glanced at Ling Xiaochen in disbelief as her mind subconsciously form the image. The blush on her deepened. It ran from her face toward her ears and suffused onto her neck, making her look like a petal blooming under the moon.

Ren Yupei coughed slightly to draw the two girls' attention. It was urgent ah! If the princess had continued to look so alluring like that, the banquet would end in the Emperor's rage. "Princess, are you unwell? Your face is red."

Ouyang Xueqing was flabbergasted as she palmed her burning cheeks and puffed out a breath. "No, it's okay. It's just a bit hot here." She whispered to Ling Xiaochen discreetly. "You owe me a story! In detail!" She emphasized enthusiastically.

Ling Xiaochen face-palmed and groaned, mortified. She shouldn't have told that to this busybody princess!

It was too late for regret though. The banquet had officially started and they sat accordingly with etiquette. Ouyang Xueqing received countless treasure as her gifts as she looked at them uninterestedly but still received them with a polite smile and gratitude.

Ling Xiaochen longed very badly to smash her head onto the food! This dumbhead! Look at all this priceless treasures! It was piling up until it nearly formed a mountain. The total amount could compare to that of the second rank family's wealth!

Okay, don't be angry. Calm down. Ling Xiaochen took a deep breath. She understood that as a princess, she had been exposed to such wealth since she was small. But then, the sky level difference between them still made her feel a bit of envy.

So she just squished her not-so-chubby-cheek exasperatedly.

"Whatchu doing?!" She mumbled incoherently but her face was still cute. Damn it, so adorable! Ling Xiaochen felt her heart melted as her frustration swept away.

"Nothing. Just felt like it." She shrugged and hummed a tune.

Ouyang Xueqing rubbed her throbbing cheeks and pouted. She looked so adorable that the son of Minister Cheng that was presenting a gift was fallen into a trance. Ren Yupei glanced at him and accepted his gift smilingly. "Thank you for your generosity, Young Master Cheng."

His smile was soft and harmless, yet it sent a shiver down Young Master Cheng's spine that his face turned a little pale. He chuckled dryly. "I—It's okay." Then he ran away with his tail tucked between his legs.

Ouyang Xueqing titled her head. "Why did he look scared?"

Ren Yupei maintained his smile while he sighed helplessly inside at the princess' denseness that knew no bounds. "Must be your own imagination, Princess."

Suddenly, the head minister of the official court, Minister Man, stepped forward and kneel deeply in the presence of The Emperor. "Your Majesty, this humble subject have a concern that he doesn't know how to present."

All the commotion around died down as the crowd's attention was focused on Minister Man.

Wang Ze raised his brow inquiringly. "Speak your mind."

"Your Majesty, as we have all known, the Princess have reached thirteen this year, which means that next year will be Her Highness' turn to go through the adulthood ceremony. This humble subject wishes to bring up the Princess' future well-being. As this subject's consideration, the Princess should have been betrothed to one of the man in the Beast Mainland!"

Wang Ze was stunned for a second before he bellowed in rage. "Such impudence!"

Minister Man prostrated himself even deeper until his forehead went parallel onto the ground. "Your Majesty, this subject have nothing on his mind except The Princess! It is the tradition that had passed down through generations! This subject beg your leniency!"

Seeing the situation, more and more ministers glanced at each other before following Minister Man's footsteps and kneeled in row. "This subject beg your leniency! Your Majesty, please consider this matter seriously as it concerns Her Highness' reputation!"

"Your Majesty, this humble subject wishes to remind you that this is merely an engagement, a status that can be revoked anytime you want! But The Princess' reputation isn't something that can be overlooked!"

The ministers all gathered in unison to pacify the Emperor's anger as well as forcing him to comply in the name of tradition. It was as clear as the day though that their only purpose was none other than to have their sons or grandsons be linked to the Imperial Family through the Princess!

Ouyang Xueqing was slightly speechless at the ministers' shameless request. Hello, this is my marriage, okay? And the reputation you are speaking passionately about is also mine, right? Why should I need you old men to remind my Imperial Father?!

Wang Ze slammed his fist on the table, creating a loud bang enough to slice through the commotion. "Silence!" His chest was puffing up and down, and Concubine Qin soothed him with her gentle hands and worried tone.

"Your Majesty, please quell your anger ah! Don't be so agitated, your health is the most important!" Concubine Qin's sweet tone and gentle touch on his chest had somehow managed to calm him down.

He took a deep breath but his face remained dark.

Wang Ze had just wanted to open his mouth and berated his ministers when Ouyang Xueqing interjected: "Wait!"

All eyes simultaneously turned to the Princess that was munching on her food. Even Wang Ze frowned slightly. "Qing'er."

After swallowing her food completely, Ouyang Xueqing patted her dress and stood up as elegantly as she could. She nodded at Wang Ze with a calm smile. "Imperial Father, this is Qing'er's matter. Please let Qing'er solve this herself!"

Wang Ze contemplated for a moment as he was ready to object, but looking at her daughter's stubborn and confident look, somehow his heart softened and he complied. "Well, then."

"Thank you, Imperial Father!" Ouyang Xueqing beamed as she curtsied slightly. Then, she clapped to garner everyone's attention. "Could everyone's here please listen to Qing'er for a moment?"

All the ministers glanced at each other with smile painted on the edges of their lips. The Princess seemed to have agreed! This is such a good news! They nodded enthusiastically. "Please do, Princess!"

Ouyang Xueqing smiled. She purposely paused for a moment before saying: "I agree to this engagement thing!"

Boom!

Ren Yupei, Ling Xiaochen and Wang Ze gaped in shock: "What?!"

***

Trivia:

In Wang Ze's heart, the position is:

1. Ouyang Xueqing

2. His three sons and the future of the mainland (all the same) TT