That wasn't the news he got himself ready to hear but still a news nonetheless but a happy or a sad one that he didn't know but would soon. His First sister looked to the other side of the room, her fingers furiously twisting her belt.
She was nervous that he could tell, she was looking everywhere and not his face. Some minutes ago she'd spoken fluently and boldly but now, she was breaking.
He never got himself into such palace matters since it had the empress's stamp on it but he wouldn't sit and watch the one person that never stopped showing him kindness even when he snubbed and ignored her. Never.
He stood and watched Xin-Yi get forced into a life she didn't want but he let that because she was his breath, one exhaled out of her and he was taking a puff of breath. He needed her alive and well, the circumstances they were in would eventually come to an end. Just time.
"Are they forcing you Mei?"
His First sister flinched back, she was more older than them all but she was the most apprehensive. Not because she wasn't bold but because she had been sheltered all through her life.
"Tell me if anyone is forcing you to—"
"No one is forcing me Li" she licked her lips, her lashes fluttering but he knew what he saw. The tear filled eyes, she sent them back. "He's of good descent. His family owns so many lands and properties and I…I have met him once. He's—" her voice cracked.
"Who is he?"
He wasn't having it, she was literally fidgeting in her seats only talking about the suitor's chattels and family fortunes and nothing about him personally.
"He…he…Mother said Father shouldn't know. It should be a surprise after the party comes up. Maybe he's also co—"
"Who is he!?" He barked. His voice cracked the stale air, she couldn't stop sputtering. The empress was a vicious woman, regardless of who it was. She would achieve her goal.
"The Fourth Prince of Wei"
Oh damn it!
Li-Rong stood up from his seat, he tried taking deep breaths to calm the anger thrumming through his veins ready to explode. That woman. What was she after? What were they after?
His father was crazy over Wei but in the sense to conquer and overtake them and achievements and his wife was after what he didn't know. What was she thinking? His father would be elated that was a yes but their daughter was going to the slaughterhouse.
Do they know that? But that's what you get when you have selfish parents. You get nothing but disappointment at every slick calculated care they use to disguise their plan and devious goal over you.
"Do you know the meaning of that?"
She nodded, the tassels on her jade hairpin shaking with her head, she was dazed, confused and scared. Wei and Wu didn't go hand in hand, Wu offering their only princess was a blow on their kingdom and everything they'd been fighting for.
But his father would never look at it this way. His mind was already set out in the competition between their kingdoms, a very tasty and greedy man. Definitely, she was going to be used as a palace spy with his spy not able to enter their palace.
A choked dry laugh escaped his closed lips, these people were on a mission to destroy this kingdom for their selfish benefits. Li-Rong turned back to his First sister from where he had paced to.
"You aren't getting married to him."
She sat up, her legs now under her. Her fingers were shaking. She hadn't answered if she was forced only that she was getting married and her mother finally approved and it would make their father happy.
"But Mother?"
"She will be handled" he walked back to her, his steps measured, his brain thinking how he was going to drive this matter through the ripples in the emperor's brain over Wei to a good and smooth tide.
The empress would be handled through the emperor. He didn't have to stress over her. She was nothing to him though she claimed otherwise with that title of hers.
"How did the Queen Mother learn about him?" There was more to the story and he wanted to know how she came to know such an inner matter about marriage. Wei was that discreet.
His First sister shook her head, the tears she had held rolling down. Her breath choked in a sob and she bent her head, her hand closing over her lips, she obviously didn't want to get married.
He stood watching her, his hands behind him, fingers rolling around as she cried and when she had done enough, brought out a handkerchief from inside her robe to dry her eyes.
He knew nothing about consolation, he never consoled his mother. Some would call him unfeeling but he could care less of their thoughts over him. The last person he tried to console was his mom when she was on her deathbed and she halted him.
She said consolation over a deed already done was misplaced care and that should be reserved for the future for oneself. Those words pertained to her and what would come after. She knew she wasn't going to survive and told him to reserve it for himself.
And Xin-Yi
The only woman that her tears would let loose every atom of feelings inside him. She had no one but him including his consolation.