The second night of being in this weird time period had passed. Once again, Hui Lan fell asleep while reading at the tea table.
For two straight nights, she has not been sleeping in her bed.
When Su Rong walked inside the tearoom, she almost wanted to tell Hui Lan off. However, she kept it in as she thought of how the candle lights were lit for the entire night. The candle was now at its last spark.
...Sigh, Hui Lan had been reading all these books and the report of the ministers for the entire night. However, Su Rong did not quite understand what Hui Lan would even gain from reading them.
Nevertheless, Su Rong placed the bowl of water down beside Hui Lan. She could not help but look at Hui Lan with a tired heart for her friend. Xiao Mai was also sleeping soundly on her friend's lap, most likely it just fell to sleep.
...Don't owls mostly sleep in the day time?
Gently, Su Rong patted Hui Lan's shoulders as to wake her up.
"Niang Niang," Su Rong's voice called out gently.
However, there was no response from Hui Lan.
"Niang Niang,"
Still no response.
"Niang Niang!"
Both Hui Lan and Xiao Mao got up at the same time.
Su Rong smiled sweetly at Hui Lan as if the person who had just shouted a moment ago was not her, "It's time to get ready, Niang Niang."
Hui Lan closed her eyes lazily before reopening it again. However, the next moment pain went through all her body.
...Aiya, her entire body felt sore again, but even worse than yesterday's morning. Usually, she just needed to stretch and she would be fine, but with this weak body, nothing…
Seeing Hui Lan still not washing up, Su Rong quickly reminded, "Niang Niang, today Niang Niang's parents will be coming over, are you not excited?"
To that Hui Lan's eyes became slightly wide before trying to cover it up, "Oh yeah, meet my parents."
...Today, she had to go to the meeting hall. However, she wondered what it would be like…
"Help me get dress then." Hui Lan slowly got up, but she almost fell down if it weren't for Su Rong's help, "Thank you."
"Are you sick anywhere?" Su Rong asked full of worry for the other person.
"Hm, I'm alright." Hui Lan looked down at her legs with a slight agitation in her eyes. After this meeting, she was going to work out. Her muscles, if there were any felt all stiff.
In no time, Hui Lan had washed up and got dressed with the help from Su Rong and a few other maids on the outer garments.
This time Hui Lan was dressed in her official red Phoenix dress. Her hair that had been loose was tied into a simple bun that gracefully minimalistic. At first, Su Rong was going to make a full on the hairdo, but was insisted otherwise by Hui Lan. In the end, Su Rong ended up making one of the most beautiful buns Hui Lan had ever seen on her.
However, Su Rong was slightly displeased with the details and wanted to add more. Nevertheless, when the final look came out, Hui Lan was beyond perfect. Su Rong had not thought with just a simple bun, it would turn out this way.
...To that Hui Lan slightly smiled, when she was the eastern history professor at her University, she was one of the stylish professors out there. Of course, her eyes would not go wrong haha.
Then, Su Rong along with a few maids moved to put makeup on Hui Lan. Su Rong brought out a small container of powder, but when she opened it, the powder looked too thick and was definitely not matching her skin tone.
Though this owner's body had fair skin, there was a tint of sun tan from growing in the countryside and being exposed to more sun. However, it brought a tint of colour which she liked.
However, if they were to put that powder on her face, then her neck would definitely not match with her face.
Hui Lan quickly took charge of her own makeup and began to skillfully enhance her features. She even made a sharp-looking eyeliner on her eyes. This too was her speciality when she was in present time. She took what looked like lipstick and put red lipstick on her lips. However, instead of having a fine line, she felt like blurring the edges to make her lips fuller.
When Hui Lan was done, the court ladies could not help but feel astonished with their Empress' new makeup style. It was truly unusual in their eyes, but it looked pretty, no very beautiful indeed.
Hui Lan turned around and seeing those look on their faces, she could not help but smile.
"Keke, look and learn kids." She then went over to Xiao Mao who was still sleeping on the seating pillow. All of the court lady's eyes followed the Empress as she gracefully walked over to the little snowy owl.
Hui Lan leaned over soundlessly before giving Xiao Mao a small pat on his head, "Xiao Mao ah, be good and sleep here, alright?"
"Huh?" It opened its eyes briefly before giving a sleepy nod and fell back to sleep again.
Hui Lan smiled and took a look at the white jade bracelet on her wrist. Today, she was going to meet someone else' parents and act like their daughter, but could she bear to do as such? Hui Lan was thinking over the thing she had been thinking at the back of her head almost all night before tying a red veil across her face and turning back to Su Rong, "I'm ready, let's go."
Su Rong who had been pestered by the court maids that wanted to learn Hui Lan's makeup technique quickly broke free from them.
...Tut tut, how would she know if she saw it along with them ah? These girls…
However, it was a shame that Hui Lan covered her face with a red veil. Her bottom half of her face could only be slightly revealed. She still did not understand why Hui Lan would put on that veil of hers when there were no such scars as she had told the other Royals ah.
The court maid that helped Hui Lan get dressed was this owner's father's people.
Meanwhile, those from the Royal central personnel bureau were still tied outside at the same tree. They were only allowed to drink water so that they would still have the voice to speak whether or not they would quit.
Hui Lan walked out from the tea room elegantly. When she was outside, she could still see all of them tied at the same place.
"Su Rong ah, are they all not willing to say they quit?" She asked.
"En, all aren't willing." Su Rong responded straight away.
"Oh?" Hui Lan revealed a small smile, "Let Bengong have a few words with them before I go…"
Hui Lan went over to the big tree beside her lake with her magnificent red dress.
All the court maids that were tied looked at Hui Lan with an attitude. However, it did not even go into Hui Lan's head. She did not even spare them a look and was looking at the lake instead.
...I'd prefer looking at something decent than those who only used their emotions.
While looking at her big lake, Hui Lan spoke, "Bengong has given you such compassion for you to leave this old place on your own accord, but you all refuse too. You must really love being here."
One of the court maid that was tied up and looked like the leader of the group bit her small lips before speaking, "Niang Niang, we truly love being here. Why is Niang Niang using such means to punish us?"
Hui Lan's brows raised up, "Punish you? Punishment should only be for those who did wrong..." her voice trailed off before her cold eyes looked at that court maid, "Did you do something wrong?"
The court maid that was at first haughty grew timid underneath those sharp eyes, "No no, this servant meant to say, Niang Niang does not want us to be here, but we truly love being here."
...Tut tut, at first she did not even want to look at them, but she ended up doing it. Her mood went down as well, tch.
"Even Bengong does not love this place, if you love this place, then you keep staying here then. Bengong has made up my mind since you all love this place, then I will not force you. Guards! Keep a good watch on them, give them only water and let them enjoy their time here." Hui Lan then turned around and made her way to the meeting hall.
"Niang Niang!" "Niang Niang!" The court maids began crying behind her.
After taking a few steps away, Hui Lan halted in her steps as if she had suddenly remembered something. She merely turned her side profile to the girls and spoke, "When you want to leave, tell me. I'm always free…but don't take your time because Bengong is not a patient person." And that was the end of her lecture.
...She did not think she would have to be lecturing people here as well...tut tut.
Hui Lan left with Su Rong slightly behind her and an entourage of court maids and security guards, all of which was this owner's father's people.
Due to having a small teaching lesson with the court maids, Hui Lan ended up arriving slightly late.
However, what caught her attention when she had to make her last turn before she arrived at the Emperor's meeting hall, was the Emperor himself.
Just before she would walk through the door, the Emperor stood just beside the door.
Hui Lan halted in her tracks. Her indifferent eyes grew cold as they laid on the figure who was dressed in his black dragon robe.
Though Eunuch Wu had seen the Empress arriving, he kept quiet. If he saw that the Empress was here, then the Emperor would have already sensed her presence. His majesty's martial art skills were beyond any words...
Initially, the Emperor had his back facing her, but hearing a soft breath behind him, Emperor Yang Long slowly turned around revealing his dangerously handsome face.
Hui Lan's heart all of a sudden began beating like there were a hundred minions marching inside. She could not help but pursed her lips ever so slightly as this seemed to be the automatic reaction this body had to him.
The Emperor, who had been looking at Hui Lan's face could see the slight movement in her facial expressions and slightly raised his brows. His eyes followed down to her pursed lips that were revealed through the red veil of hers and could not help but smile in his heart.
...She could not hide her hatred towards Zhen. But today, she should not be as such...since her parents are here…
Emperor Yang Long walked forward towards the lady dressed in the red phoenix dress. Though he could feel there was something different with her looks, he did not look much into it.
...Beauty? He was not so into such…
As he walked over, his strong presence could be felt by all the people standing behind Hui Lan.
...Truly a monarch of the Kingdom who had passed all battles…
On the other hand, Hui Lan was thinking of a chance when she could stab that heart of his so he could feel some pain. Though each step he took, made her heart tremble, but with each step, her face grew more and more indifferent.
Emperor Yang Long could see the indifference in her face, but he did take it into his mind. He was already around five feet apart from her, but he did not stop, just as he was reaching the two feet distance, he stopped.
Hui Lan had her indifferent eyes at his leisure yet cold domineer that stood around two feet from her.
...He dare come close to her?
Then, Emperor Yang Long did something everyone had not expected. He reached down for the Empress' hand and revealed a somewhat cold smile of his to her as he held onto it.
Memories of him showing such a smile replayed in Hui Lan's head, but if this was all the smile he had shown to this owner in the past, then this girl was truly blinded ah!
...This was not a smile that meant he loved her or even liked her, but it was just a display, a very cold display.
...However, what would someone who was in love know…
...This man, if he was born in present day, then he would pass as an actor for a second male lead. For the first male lead, it should be someone better…
...And that hand should not be there either...
Hui Lan was looking down at his hand as if it should not be there. Displeasure was written all over her face without having her say it.
Seeing such expressions coming from her, the Emperor felt a sense of disrespect. His brows could not help but draw closer to each other.
...This was not how he had expected things to be...