Chapter 109 - 107. Marriage I

Third person POV

Hong er widened her eyes in shock, she slightly lifted her mask and wiped off her tears with her shaking hand then put back on her mask. Xu Tingfeng, Bai Huiqing, and Hong er slowly approached the entourage that was blocked by the gate guards and Hong er saw that the uniform they wore were different. Half of the entourage were wearing Da Chu's palace uniform while the other half were unknown to her.

They knelt in front of the eunuch that was holding the edict in one knee and cupped their fist. The gate guard instantly retracted their spear from blocking the entrance. The eunuch didn't pay any heed towards the guards as he continued to read the content of the edict.

Eunuch: " The Di daughter of Great General Xu, Miss Xu Feihong please step forward to receive the imperial edict."

Hong er flinched when she heard that the edict was for her. She had always been a brave, independent, and strong woman since she was little but she just lost her beloved person and right now she was at the weakest state she had ever been. She slowly stood up and knelt right in front of the eunuch.

She was feeling afraid and anxious, if the edict was really about her marriage then she had no choice but to marry the man that was mentioned in the edict. She didn't want to betray Weisheng by marrying other man but if she rejects the edict then her whole family would be killed for rebelling. ( A/N: rejecting imperial edict means rebelling the emperor) She had to choose one of them, her love or her family. Then a loud voice disturbed her train of thoughts.

Eunuch: " Miss Xu Feihong, for the sake of Da Chu, Zhen will bestow you a marriage to the Emperor of Da Qi. If this marriage went smoothly then you had contributed to the country and your heroic action will always be remembered in our heart."

Hong er immediately whip her head up to look at the eunuch, she was too confused and shocked by what happened. The eunuch rolled back the edict and held it with both of his palm. Hong er snapped out from her shock and quickly offered her hands to receive the edict.

Eunuch: " Miss Xu, receive the edict."

The eunuch placed the edict on Hong er's palms and took a step back. Hong er held the edict and lowered her head.

Hong er: " Long live the emperor."

The eunuch waved his hand towards his entourage and walked away, leaving the other half of the entourage that wore different uniform from them. Hong er was still looking down to the ground until one of the people with foreign uniform walked towards Hong er. With Hong er's years of training, she was always aware of her surrounding especially when she was in panic or anger. She felt like everything around her was a threat towards her and she wanted to eliminate everything. The moment she sensed a movement in front of her, she immediately jumped backwards and looked at the man with threatening eyes.

The man's expression didn't change, he still smiled at Hong er despite her cold behavior towards him. He stopped in his track and politely bowed his head towards Hong er.

Man: " My apologies if I scared you, Miss Xu. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Lu Ping and I was assigned by His Majesty to prepare and teach Miss Xu for your coming marriage."

Hong er: ' His Majesty? They were sent by Da Qi's emperor?'

Hong er instantly stood straight and bowed to Lu Ping.

Hong er: " The one in the wrong is me, I didn't pay attention to my surroundings that it causes this misunderstanding. I apologize once again."

Lu Ping: " It's fine, Miss Xu. Then do you mind if we talk inside?"

Then Hong er noticed that the citizens were crowding the gate with kitchen knifes and sticks in their hands. Based on their expressions, they were ready to attack Lu Ping's entourage. Hong er immediately welcomed Lu Ping and his entourage into the house and calmed the citizens. After listening to Hong er's words, the citizens smiled and slowly dispersed after they said a few words to Hong er.

Citizens: " As Xi An's citizens, we will protect Xu family no matter what. Xu family had protected us from any kind of danger, we can't just receive your kindness without repaying."

Hong er: " Uhm, thank you so much. We really appreciate your help and it is our duty to protect Xi An."

Hong er went to the main hall after the crowd dispersed. She saw Lu Ping was sitting at the seat below Xu Tingfeng and Bai Huiqing's seat waiting for her. Lu Ping instantly stood up and smiled gently the moment he saw Hong er had arrived at the main hall. Hong er approached Lu Ping and curiously looked at the entourage behind him, her action didn't escape from Lu Ping's eyes. Lu Ping went to a middle aged woman's side and politely placed his palm in front of her to introduce her.

Lu Ping: " Miss Xu, firstly let me introduce you to your other teacher. This will be your teacher, her name is Laojin and she will teach you everything that you need to learn to be an empress."

Laojin bowed to Hong er and smiled gently at her. Hong er was surprised when Lu Ping said ' to be an empress'. Because when a woman was offered to a neighbor country to be a bride, it doesn't necessarily means that she would be the legal wife or first wife of the man that they were married to. Furthermore, the man that she would be married to was the man with the highest status in that country and more importantly, she would be his empress.

All of these things didn't make sense to Hong er, why would an opposing country's emperor wanted to make her to be his empress, he could just make her be one of his concubines and that would be easier to control her.

Hong er: ' Isn't he afraid that I am a spy? Especially that I'm the daughter of the most powerful family in Da Chu.'

Hong er noticed that everyone was staring at her, she finally remembered that she hadn't greet back to Laojin. She immediately bent her knees to the side and placed both of her hands on her waist and greeted like a graceful lady she was.

Hong er: " Please forgive my clumsiness. I am the Di daughter of Great General Xu, Xu Feihong."

No matter what happened to her, she shouldn't be a disgrace to Xu family by not knowing any manner. Laojin chuckled when she saw how serious Hong er greeted her.

Laojin: " Mah~ Maybe there is nothing that I can teach Miss Xu. Her posture and vibe when she greets are gentle and graceful but didn't lose any dignity in it. It is my pleasure to teach Miss Xu."

Hong er bent her knees again to thank Laojin for her compliments but Hong er couldn't get happy even though she was complimented and the entourage that was sent by Da Qi was so kind to her. She still couldn't get over Weisheng's death, her sadness was noticed by all of them and they were satisfied by that.