Chapter 8; Imperial Bride...

Wang qianjin had tossed and turned furiously all night because of worry, Hao mei was no where to be found. At the first light of day, Wang qianjin left the shelter where all the slaves slept in search of hao mei, he could only hope that she was safe, after the loss of his throne and nation she was all he had left.

Hao mei was anxiously sitting in her room waiting for her father to arrive, she had sent one of the maids assigned to her to bring him there discreetly. She knew he would be mad at her when he found out about the bargain ,he might even try to stop her from marrying the crown prince but she had Steeled her resolve. It was a sacrifice that had to be made for the sake of their nation and who was better to do so than their princess.

Her father entered the room in a half run but paused, shocked when he saw her.

"mei mei what's going on " he asked staring at her with eyes filled with awe.

" dad, let me explain, it's not what you think .."

"how would you know what I'm thinking, I told you to forget about this and what did you do, you are a disgrace to our nation the princess of East qing is now a kept-woman and for none other than the man who destroyed her country .Hao mei I never raised you to be like this to just give up in hard situations. You are a disappointment... " he was cut short by hao mei who couldn't take the insults any more half screaming she said " I already said its not like that, what did you expect me to do; watch our people be humiliated, starved ,worked and beaten to near death when I could do something about it. Weren't you the one who told me that as royalty it's our duty to make sacrifices for our people. "

"Mei Mei you don't have to do this our people will understand. I just can't the thought of you being that man's concubine. There are other ways to get out of this ."

"Dad you need to understand this is the only way, he promised me that we will be allowed to go back to East qing although it will still be under their territory but our people will be free and will not have to suffer. I'm not going to be a concubine but the Empress of this nation so you need not worry about me " she said reassuringly.

The rumors that the crown prince was getting married to someone from East qing had spread around the palace like a wild fire in summer , everyone was talking about it. The officials and governors had requested an urgent audience with the crown prince after hearing the gossip. Immediately the eunuch announced the Prince's arrival the room became silent .

" you called for this meeting and now none of you dare to speak, do you think I have nothing better to do. " he asked in a loud voice his tone flaring with anger.

Finally Prime Minister Tang dared to speak " your highness, we have come to speak to you about the news going around the palace and soon, the city ."he paused for a while thinking of how to appropriately approach the main point "My Liege,there are rumors going around the palace that you are to marry the East Qing princess ,we called for this meeting to discuss how to moderate the situation. "

"Prime Minister Tang, what does the word rumor mean" long tian xi asked intently. Tang Rhong Guang couldn't come up with a reply because he was yet to understand where the situation was headed instead long tian xi took it upon himself to reply " what you call a rumor is actually a fact.., it can only be a rumor if the origins are unknown "

Everyone in the room stared at the crown prince in disbelief. So he was actually getting married to someone from East qing.

"You must all be shocked but let me ask one question, do you think because East qing has fallen we are safe, do you not know about the pact between East Qing ,Western Liu and Norther Qi. It is inevitable that soon they will attack qintong in vengeance for their brother nation. Now what better method than to have a hostage from East Qing to soothe all our worries. I intend to let the people of East Qing go back to their homeland but only as a nation under our territory and keep their princess here as a hostage more than as a wife but since you ,the members of the court who are supposed to protect qintong with your lives are uncomfortable with the idea let any man who can think of a better idea step forward ."

There was a pregnant silence in the room all the officials had their heads bowed none of daring to say a word. "no one, none of you have nothing to say? "the Prince asked with a lot of spite ."Good then we will go with my plan. "pausing for a brief moment he said "what happened here today is something I consider as an act of insubordination and it will not be tolerated in my court "

"yes Your Highness "

At first Tang Rhong Guang was unhappy with the news because it interfered with his plans but now he was inwardly elated because the current situation was advantageous on his part. He vowed to ensure that the East Qing princess became a huge burden on the shoulders of Long tian xi.

Meanwhile a courtlady had been instructed to teach hao mei the ways of the Qintong Imperial Harem. .