***Ming Mansion***
(Wei Hall)
"Good morning father" Xuanling bowed to her father before making herself comfortable on a seat next to where he sat. The maid in waiting promptly poured her a cup of tea.
"How do you feel this morning Ling'er?" The Left Chancellor asked out of genuine concern for his daughter.
"Better" she murmured, sipping the tea slowly, savoring the taste before swallowing. She actually felt worse this morning than last night. She wished she could have slept more her body still needed rest. Also, looking for him all around the vast mansion made her body ache already.
Her father rarely leaves his study and even invites her for tea there. On very rare occasions, he sits with her for tea at the Yuan courtyard. What then would bring him all the way to Wei reception hall just to have tea?
The hall was exclusively for recieving guests to the mansion only. Nevertheless, it was his mansion. He could stay wherever he liked for tea.
She did not care about what was going on in his mind however, she only worried how much negative effect his decisions had on her.
She sighed.
"I apologize for not answering your summons last night father—feminine problems seriously doubled it's weight on me this month" she pouted cutely then took another sip.
"Good thing Concubine Yun took her time to nurse you back to good health" he was yet to understand why Concubine Yun offered to take care of Ling'er. He brought her up now, hoping to get clues of what was really going on between them from Ling'er's reaction and response. Were they really on good terms or was she actually feigning care for Ling'er last night as he had believe?
"What can I say father…it is a good thing indeed" Xuanling's expression was stoic, giving nothing away.
She did not want to lie to her father and pretend like they were on good terms and neither did she want to make him believe that their problems with each other still lingered. She just wanted him to have a rest from the headaches their problems had caused him. She was grown enough to handle Concubine Yun now and having him worry over their relationship was not very ideal.
"You are fine now, that is all that matters" he rather dropped his suspicions. He simply concluded within himself that if truly something happened or Concubine Yun gave her a hard time, she was definitely going to let him know the moment it goes beyond what she could handle. For now, he just had to trust her and enjoy the peace while it lasted.
"I see you really like the tea…" he changed the topic, trying to set the mood for the reason he actually requested her prescence.
"Yes father" she nodded in agreement. "This tea is really one of a kind and its flavor and taste is just heavenly" she smiled slightly.
"Well as expected, it was brewed by the imperial tea masters" he calmly took a sip from his own cup, allowing the information to sink well into Xuanling's ears.
"The imperial tea masters?" she looked surprised. "What is a tea brewed by the imperial tea of masters doing outside the imperial house? Is this a gift from the emperor himself?" Her golden brown peepers widened.
"Not quite…" he sucked his teeth. "As a potiential member of the imperial house by marriage, the imperial tea is only a tip of the iceberg to all the rightful entitlements we get to enjoy" he sounded very excited.
"A potiential member of the imperial house by marriage? What marriage?" Xuanling looked confused.
"The imperial edict should be here in 5… 4…."
Xuanling's eyes darted around. What was her father talking about? What marriage and what imperial edict?' Lots of thoughts kept swarming in and out of her mind as she watched her father count down calmly with a smile on his face and his tea cup at hand.
"What is going on father?"
"3…2…1. Finally." the Left Chancellor laughed a bit.
"Here they come, Ling'er" he gladly announced.
The gentle gallops of horses and creaking of carriage wheels were heard from the mansion's entrance and that made Xuanling's heart race.
"Father are we expecting anyone?" She asked, looking very worked up at this point.
"Relax Ling'er, it is just the ennuch with the imperial edict" he sipped his tea peacefully.
"No…" Xuanling broke down in tears. "Do not do this to me father, please…" she cried.
Her greatest fear has finally caught up with her. The day her father marries her off for power and to strengthen his position in court. Only that this time it was not to any noble family, it was to the imperial house of Murong!
She made to kneel before him but the ennuch was already calling on her to step outside to recieve the edict.
'Now she understood why he had invited her for tea so early and had chosen the reception hall as the perfect spot for them to sit for tea. He already had it all planned out, giving her no opportunity to make up excuses or simply disappear like she always did' Xuanling's heart sank in defeat.
The Wei hall of reception stood directly opposite the entrance of the mansion and they was no way she could leave the hall without being noticed by the ennuch who was just out front. Also, escaping through the window or back door was not an option at all, her father was right beside her!
"Ming Xuanling, come forward and recieve the imperial edict!" the ennuch called for the second time.
"You should better not keep the ennuch waiting Ling'er" her father pointed, smiling proudly at himself.
"You have really out done yourself this time, father" her voice shook. Without wasting any more time, she stood up gracefully, wiping her face with her sleeves to dry them of her tears. Then she walked out of the hall to recieve the edict, with Yu'er following closely.
"Ming Xuanling, come forward and receive the imperial edict" the ennuch's call came echoing once more and at that moment she stepped out of the hall, walking towards him and when she was close enough, she came to a halt and kowtowed before him. Yu'er followed suit as well.
Seeing this, the ennuch began to read out the edict.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
The Fourth Miss of the Ming Mansion, virtuous and graceful, adorned with unparalleled beauty and dignity, is deemed worthy to ascend as imperial consort.
By the Mandate of Heaven and the will of the Throne, the marriage of Lady Ming Xuanling to His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Murong Jing, is hereby solemnly decreed.
The grand nuptials shall be held on the auspicious day of the sixteenth of the ninth lunar month, at the hour of noon.
Henceforth, Fourth miss Ming shall be honored with the title of Crown Princess, the primary consort of the Heir Apparent, forever enshrined in the annals of the Imperial Court.
Let it be known throughout the nation.
By Imperial Command".
"I, Ming Xuanling accept the imperial edict" she raised her head and recieved the already read out edict with both hands, bowing again to the ennuch.
With his mission accomplished, the ennuch stepped back into the carriage and was escorted back to the palace by the imperial guards.
When Xuanling was sure that the ennuch was no longer in sight, she slumped on the floor, hoping within her that maybe all this was just a dream, a nightmare even and all she really wanted to do was WAKE UP! …