Unhappy Xiao Tao!

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Xiao Manor, evening.

"Where's your eldest sister?" Madam Xiao asked her son for the thirteenth time. The young boy looked up at her, lips pursed.

"I don't know!"

Xiao Ni was the second young master of the house, the second child of Madam Xiao with General Xiao. Qing Guo and Qing Su were her children from her previous marriage. Xiao Ke was Xiao Ni's older brother. The whole family was present, round their father's table. Xiao Tao was absent.

"Rou Rou, go to Tao-er's chamber and call her. We're all waiting,"

Rou Rou bowed and set off.

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Xiao Tao was lying facedown on her bed. Yes, Xiao Tao herself. Sitting beside her, Xue Er smoothened her hair, over and over.

"Why me!" Young miss suddenly howled, "Jiao Zhu and I tied! Why didn't they chose her?"

She was so disgusted at tying with Jiao Zhu at anything! Just like back then, at the kite competition! Jiao Zhu's kite came second, so she stole hers! Who knew what she was already planning to do now?

The formal proposal from the crown prince lay shredded on the table. She was so in a bad mood!

"I wished I hadn't gone as Tang to save him," she whined, "the matchmaker who did this, I'll make her suffer!"

"Miss," Xue Er sighed, "why don't you just change your appearance and let's run away? You could just be Long Ao Tian and--"

Xue Er:... wait, am I advising young miss to disregard the empreor's decree? Unfilial!...

Xiao Tao sat up. Just then, Rou Rou knocked nervously on the door.

"Miss? Ma- madam said you should--"

"I'm not eating dinner! In fact, I'm not eating ever again!" Xiao Tao yelled.

Xue Er:....miss, your acting isn't convincing at all!....

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.A few hours ago, Xiao Manor.

"The Emperor grants the Xiao Family great honour, for General Xiao's services to the Crown, and to the People! General Xiao is granted the title of Earl of Western Jing!" the eunuch paused.

"Thanks to His Majesty for His grace!" the entire Xiao manor occupants chorosed in a low rumble.

"His Majesty grants Lady Xiao, Marchioness of Western Jing!"

"Thanks to His Majesty for his grace!" came the response.

"His majesty grants each offspring of the Xiao Family, as well as Qing Guo and Qing Su, the mandate of commandery prince and commandery princess!"

"Thanks to His Majesty for his grace!" The entire Xiao Manor were giddy with excitement.

"And finally, the eldest miss of the Xiao Family being of excellent character, upright and filial, and of outstanding beauty, His Majesty grants Xiao Tao Qi, the mandate of Crown Prince Consort!"

"Th- Thanks to His Majesty for his grace!" everyone was shocked. Xiao Tao Qi knelt there, her mouth twitching, not quite believing it. Crown Prince Consort? Her? If only they knew who she really was...

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The present, Xiao Manor, Xiao Tao's chamber.

General Xiao, or Earl of Western Jing, as he was now, came to visit his eldest daughter.

"Tao-er--"

"Father?" the unhappy face of Xiao Tao looked so cute. Her eyebrows were straight, and curved slightly at the end. Those bright blue eyes of hers were the only things that remained when she changed her appearance. Her delicate figure was unknowingly strong, and she could wield a sword as good as any soldiers on her father's regiment. Hanging from her neck was a keepsake from her childhood, the only memento left by her mother. Xiao Tao Qi could be really said to be the prettiest girl in the capital, but she usually didn't keep her own appearance for long.

"Tao-er, don't blame father. I know you're thinking I'm the one who spoke of you to the crown prince--"

Xiao Tao:... I know it's not you, it's that damned matchmaker!....

Xiao Tao reached out and held her father's hand.

"I'm not upset. I was just... startled,"

Marquis Xiao sighed in relief. Knowing his daughter, or at least he thought, she could run away or something.

Xue Er:...if he'd known that I was advising her to run away just now, he'll probably spit out blood!...

"His Highness will visit tomorrow," General Xiao said, patting his daughter's hand, "you'll enter the palace with him,"

"I'm not going with you to Western Jing?"

General Xiao shook his head regretfully.

Xiao Tao sighed. It was not as if she wanted to go to Western Jing, though. If she went, she would not be able to get back at the matchmaker, and Jiao Zhu, and every single person that had been mean to her in her life!

This was getting interesting.

"Father, can I go out to buy a dress I will wear tomorrow?"

General Xiao nodded vigorously.

"Take Qing Guo with you." He suggested, "go have a nice time,"

Qing Guo?

That overbearing sister? She was on the list of people our Xiao Tao wanted to get back at!

"Alright," she concealed her feelings and smiled, "tell sister Qing Guo to come with me!"

General Xiao sent Xue Er to Qing Guo's chamber.

"Miss, Master said you should accompany young miss to the market,"

"Why?" snapped Qing Guo, who was in a bad mood as well. She was terribly jealous of Xiao Tao! Ever since they were children, she'd coveted everything Xiao Tao had, making the latter's life miserable. She hated her because she had a loving father, and hers was dead....(wasn't Xiao Tao's mother dead as well, making the equation balance?), She hated her as she was Xiao's family eldest miss, and had all the nicest things, the prettiest maids, the best chamber after their father's, and the doting of everyone. And now! She was going to become the Crown Prince Consort! Wasn't it so unfair?!?

"Miss...?" Xue Er gently reminded the scowling Qing Guo that she was still present.

"Get lost! I'm not following after that brat like a rag, to look at dresses!"

"It's master that suggested--" Xue Er reminded gently.

Xue Er:...my miss would rather take a toad than have you tag along!...