You know me. I like drama, it has been nice and calm but it's not our style. Let us turn up the heat!

Chapter 15

Bai Yang Liu
Royal Princess Bai
The Grand Palace

Yang Liu hurled her back a little bit more and let the hot waters hug her body as it swirled. So relaxing and good, she needed this.

"Your Highness," her court lady rushed into her bathing room.

"You are disturbing me, I am not done," she groaned.

"Your Highness, there is news! Her Highness must hear this!"

Yang Liu sat up and held her knotted hair in the process, not willing to wet it.

"It is said that last night, His Majesty arrived with Lady Wei."

"This, we were all expecting," her brows knitted.

"Not only that, Your Highness. Everyone wondered why His Majesty had the urgency of coming back if he had found his long sought beloved. Why did they not go away to spend some time away, celebrating their reconciliation? Turns out there was a valid reason the Dragon Palace had concerning his immediate return."

"Enlighten me."

"On the same night he returned, visitors from Huticah also arrived."

"Visitors?"

"King Chang An and his queen are said to be currently in the middle grounds of the palace."

"General Feng?" Yang Liu's eyes bobbed, unable to take the sudden news.

"Apparently, he is here to establish peace between our empire and their country, Your Highness. However, that is not what is the matter."

Yang Liu rose and dutifully one of the maids ran to her with a fabric for cover. How could she continue to enjoy her peaceful bath after hearing this upsetting news? What was he doing back in Nevoria?

"What is more disturbing, Your Highness, is that everyone boasts about how entranced the king is with his new bride. Apparently, it is well known in Huticah that the king is protective of his bride, cares for her, and everything she says he is all ears and will do it."

But he did not do all that for her.

"Everyone says she is beautiful and her face is as remarkable to the magnitude of Lady Wei. They are similar in appearance that people are speculating whether she will also capture the heart of the emperor that His Majesty will kill King Chang An and seize Huticah just to attain her―"

Yang Liu almost fell if not for the doorway into her chambers she held onto.

"Your Highness, are you all right?"

"Never say such nonsense again in my presence," Yang Liu did not recognize her cold voice.

"Yes, Your Highness, yes. But are you all right?"

It felt as if a heatwave hit her body, yet it was still morning. "I am well. Help me change into my garments and escape to the Imperial Garden for a breath of fresh air."

"Your Highness," the court lady hesitated, "this servant is afraid that cannot be done."

"Why? They are there?" Yang Liu berated.

"No, Your Highness. Not that. It is only because the emperor has called for a royal breakfast."

"A royal breakfast? Feng Chang An is a traitor to the nation!" And her heart. "Why must we have this to honor them?"

A royal breakfast was a meal served in honor of guests in which all the royal family was to attend, and in grandeur and splendour. It was a show off to any foreign guest of the strength of their empire, a courtesy that they were in good hands, and they were welcome to their nation.

"Feng Chang An grew up here, and besides, he does not deserve this. What is the emperor thinking?"

"Nobody can guess the mind of His Majesty, but we must get ready, Your Highness."

"Make sure you bring the finest of my clothes. You must make me look good."

She did not know what she was doing. Part of her wanted to show off that she was better off without him. Another part of her sought to make him jealous and have him regret leaving her. He abandoned her. This was her supposed almost-husband. And yet, he easily married another woman. What she could not do in all the years of her life, another had done in one day. That thought was embarrassing.

The Hall of Festivals was as loud as it always was when there was a gathering. You could not tell that half of the harem was massacred not a long time back. Her grandmother did not waste time in refilling Hougong by summoning more women. The women were youthful, eyes filled with life, dreams, and hope for the future. It would only be but a year before the eye-sparkle was stolen, envy and contempt dulling them.

"Greetings, Mother." She did a curtsey before the Grand Consort. "And welcome back, Lady Wei." Yang Liu respectfully nodded her head.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Li Lian smiled with all of her face. It wasn't faked, she was genuinely happy to see Yang Liu.

"I am glad to see you with us," Yang Liu sat beside Li Lian who also had the Grand Consort on the other side fawning over her.

"Li Lian, I was so sad to be without you. My days became empty. It was miserable," the Grand Consort went on.

They sat toward the back and far from the emperor's frontal table that faced the audience. Yang Liu could sit closer than where they were but on this day, she'd rather be with company than sit alone.

"My Lady is dressed plainly, have you given up your title?" Yang Liu addressed Li Lian's plain light blue hanfu and lack of elegant pins in her hair. You would doubt she was the emperor's beloved.

"Li Lian, you are my son's only love. Why do you seek to be this modest? You should come and sit in front with me, even so."

"I want to be an attendant," Li Lian disagreed.

"An attendant? Aiyah, did you lose your mind in the mountains?" the Grand Consort admonished.

"If I am his attendant, then I will have the permission to stay in the Dragon Palace and not come back to Hougong."

"And what did the emperor say to this?" Yang Liu could not imagine him agreeing to it.

"What could he say?" Li Lian smirked.

To this, the Grand Consort laughed before bubbling on.

Yang Liu, however, noticed Feng Chang An arriving with his bride. She was beautiful indeed, just like the court lady mentioned, although her looks were more youthful and not as refined as Lady Wei's. Everyone tried to make it seem like they were not staring at her by keeping their conversations on the loop, which was pretense. They were all judging, well, except Li Lian and the Grand Consort who were enthralled with each other like lovers.

Yang Liu's stomach sank as she recognised a slight bump on the stomach of the Furian woman. They had not wasted time.

The Feng Chang An who she loved and knew was not the man before her today. No. The man she loved could not move on as easily. Not like this.

The Furian placed her hand on her stomach protectively and confirmed Yang Liu's suspicions. Oh, it was such a cruel world they lived in. Feng Chang An placed his hand on her back as support, and what hurt is how it was so natural.

"Look at that." Grand Consort finally noticed them. "I heard they hated each other but love won over them. Yo! General Feng is really a king now."

Li Lian's only response was looking over at Yang Liu, a sad smile and hand circling around her in apology and understanding.

This almost had the Yang Liu tear up. At least one person had not forgotten her. Her heart was breaking, the emotions as the piercing of a knife.

"His Majesty arrives!"

Instantly, everyone went on their feet to welcome the emperor, who walked down the aisle and sat on his grand table. After he motioned his hand could they seat.

Afterward, Grand Consort stood and silently maneuvered away from them so as to sit on her small table by the left side of the emperor.

Yang Liu was comforted that she still had Li Lian with her, but that was short-lived when she saw the eyes of her elder brother wandering around the room. It was evident he was searching for her and Yang Liu would soon lose her to him.

Of course, Li Lian knew what was to come as she pretended not to feel his eyes on her, looking anywhere else but him. It was an affection Yang Liu wished to experience someday. Realising the intent avoidance, His Majesty whispered to Court Lady Nam who right away walked towards their table.

"My Lady, His Majesty is asking for you to come sit by his side. Please come with me."

Li Lian smiled apologetically to Yang Liu. "Come and sit between I and the Grand Consort, or you can be at the side of your affectionate grandmother."

Li Lian gracefully stood and everyone's attention turned to her. She was the sun that could not be ignored. "Come with me." Li Lian's hand opened to Yang Liu.

It was a small gesture but Yang Liu would remember this day and not forget the kindness of such a humane woman. Strong women uplift others and help fix each other's crowns.

Such a woman had Yang Liu always felt that without a doubt she was suitable to be the sitting empress.

S.V