Chapter 103 - 103. Bad Feelings I

Third person POV

The girls were going all out for the last day of Bride Selection, they used their most expensive perfume, dress, make-up, and accessories. Meanwhile Hong er's appearance was the same for 3 whole weeks except her clothes. Hong er's clothes were mostly white color but the embroidery in her every dresses were different. Hong er didn't put on anything special for the selection but she still attracted many people's eyes.

Hong er and all of the participants walked in to an opened garden and sat down on their arranged seat like how they were taught for the last 3 weeks. They waited for the royal family to arrive before they could start the selection.

Not long after the girls sat down, an eunuch announced the royal family arrival. The first one to enter were Long Quan and Yugyul ( Empress) then followed by Long Shangu as he was the Empress's son and the crown prince. The second row to enter were Long Quan's high ranked concubines with Li Zhenzhen walked in the middle. The third row was the remaining prince and princesses. There was only one prince in the line and it was Long Yang, the useless prince.

The ministers scrunched their eyebrow the moment they saw Long Yang entered the garden. They had disliked Long Yang because he was too indecisive and weak to be the next emperor. That's why the only prince that suitable to be the next emperor was Long Shangu as all the other capable princes had died mysteriously.

Long Yang lowered his head as he was too afraid to look at their scornful face especially his own father's face. Even his own father wanted to disown him, he felt like his life was worthless after the death of her mother. He sat down on his seat that was below Long Shangu, his intention for coming to the selection was to find the white masked woman that encouraged him 3 weeks ago.

His position in the palace was low so the servants were not bothering themselves to serve Long Yang 24 hour everyday. And with his cowardice, he couldn't muster up his heart to order a servant to look for Hong er. Then he remember that his brother were holding his Bride Selection, he was betting on his luck that Hong er was one of the participants. That's how he was here right now.

With his head lowered, he peeked around the crowd to find the sun of his life. Fortunately, Hong er's appearance was very eyecatching as she was the only one to wear a mask. Long Yang's face immediately brighten up, he wanted to wave his hand towards Hong er but his hand halted when he saw how Hong er looked out of the circular gate. Even though he couldn't see her face, he could feel the uneasiness and worries in Hong er's golden eyes. He put down his hand back to his lap and just silently stares at Hong er.

Hong er's bad feeling getting worse and worse as time passes by, she looked outside of the circular gate, hoping that this could end earlier so she could run home to see Weisheng. Even after the music had played and people were cheering, she couldn't feel a drop of excitement nor happiness in her heart. A voice woke her up from her train of thought, a palace maid that served at her side was caling her name.

Maid: " Miss Xu, Miss Xu, it is your turn."

She didn't know that she had been looking outside for too long that the selection had long begun and it was her turn to play a song. She stood up from her seat and walked towards the music instruments that were neatly placed on the podium. The participants could just sit on the seat that had the music instrument that they wanted to play.

Hong er sat behind a Guzheng ( similar to Guqin but bigger in size and they sound different.) and faced the royal family that sat in front of the podium. She bowed to them and gently spoke.

Hong er: " Greetings to His Majesty and Her Majesty. This lowly one's name is Xu Feihong, the Di daughter of Great General Xu."

They were stunned by how calming and gentle Hong er's voice was, they really want Hong er to sing a song but the rule was playing a music instrument without singing. Hong er took a deep breath and tried to get rid of her worries out of her mind. She placed her finger on the strings and gently plucked the strings. A soft melody echoed around the garden, the flowers and trees swayed lightly as the wind gently brushed Hong er's mask.

She purposely played a happy and cute song without emotion so her result would come out bad. But when she gets in to the middle part of the song, she suddenly remembered the moment where Weisheng proposed to her under the full moon. She didn't know why her heart was so much in pain. Tears slowly flew down her cheeks and fell onto her hand.

She was surprised to see tears fell from her eyes as she had never cried since granny's death, her hand flinched and caused her to pluck the wrong string. Her hand immediately stopped moving as she slowly looked up to the audiences. Some of them had tears in their eyes while some of them had a sad face on their face. Hong er didn't realize that she played the song in a sad tone, she gripped her hand and immediately stood up from her seat.

Hong er: " My apologies for ruining the mood, Your Majesty. This lowly one will retreat and repent on her mistakes."

Hong er bent her waist and lowered her head before she quickly walked away from the podium. Hong er walked out of the garden and went to a restroom, Meiyun and Huayun instantly followed Hong er when she came out from the garden. They worriedly asked Hong er while lightly knocking on the restroom door. Hong er didn't want them to worry about her so she gently replied to them.

Hong er: " I'm fine. It's just, I miss Sheng ge."

Huayun sighed in relief and gently comforted Hong er from outside while Meiyun stood there unmoving. After Hong er wiped off her tears, she opened the door and reassure Meiyun and Huayun that she was fine before she walked back to the garden.

The selection continued with Hong er being average in every subject except dancing. Her poem was ordinary and her painting was mediocre, it wasn't bad but there was nothing special or amazing of her works.

Long Shangu furrowed his eyebrow, he really wanted Hong er to be his wife but he had promised Li Qianzi that he would marry her no matter what. The moment his eyes fall onto Hong er's body, his desire started to boil but then he think that beautiful body could be found anywhere. He held back his desire and locked his eyes on Li Qianzi which made her blushed. But after he heard Hong er's voice, the desire that he held back surged up again. His heart tells him that he have to make Hong er his. Since he had promised Li Qianzi to make her became the empress, he would just make Hong er became his Imperial consort.

Meanwhile, Long Quan started to get anxious as he didn't expect Hong to be this sly so she wouldn't get chosen. If he make Hong er the winner, the ministers would complain because her result was only average. Then he noticed Long Yang's gaze towards Hong er, he immediately knew what his useless son's feelings towards Hong er. Rather than that, he was happier that Long Yang had feelings for Hong er. His plan would be a lot easier to be executed. He maintained his dignified face while on the other side, he was laughing maniacally in his heart.