"Sister, is it really okay for me to come with everyone?"
"Of course it is! You're a Fan and the prince heir of Lei Wangye! Why wouldn't you be allowed to come?"
"But..."
"But what?"
"....."
Sighing, Fan Zhu Xia gently fixed the handsome young boy's collars with a soft smile on her face.
"You shouldn't be nervous Shi Hong."
"But what if someone recognizes me?"
Looking at the worried expression on his still boyish face, Fan Zhu Xia couldn't help but squeeze his cheeks affectionately, making him blush.
"Elder Sister!"
Laughing gleefully, Fan Zhu Xia pulled him to her arms and hugged the young boy tightly despite his protests as she gently reassured him with a soft and doting voice.
"Little Shi, no one will recognize you... this, I promise you. Just trust Sister on this..."
"But, what if?"
Fan Zhu Xia was extremely sure that no one will remotely recognize Shi Hong because the moment their grandfather removed the seal on his body, his whole spiritual presence, aura completely changed.
Not to mention his looks and stature!
Before his facial features were that of a normal, young boy with nothing that will jump out in attention. It wasn't that he was ugly, it was just that his facial structure was as common as it can be and far from being memorable but from the moment he was unsealed, his features slowly changed and morphed into what he was supposed to originally look like.
His common face was gone and in it's place was a face of a handsome young lad with wide, limpid brown eyes framed by thick lashes, an aristocratic nose, high cheekbones and delicate lips that was framed by an angular jaw and on top of that, his original short, skinny stature has practically disappeared due to the attentive care that Fan Zhu Xia placed on him this past couple of days, after all for the former young lady of a prestigious medical family, nourishing someone back to peak condition is unbelievably easy.
When the seal was removed, his height had an obvious change from his previous height that only reached up to Fan Zhu Xia's chest which made him look younger by a few years than his actual age, now his height was just up to her shoulders.
The only thing that indicated how young he was is his still somewhat short height and the good amount of weight that Fan Zhu Xia was able to put in him due to all the medicinal dishes she prepared for him and the nourishing pills she gave to not only him but to everyone in the estate which brought a raise to everyone's physical condition.
Looking at the still worried expression on Shi Hong's face, Fan Zhu Xia let out a small, resigned sigh before she gestured for him to follow her.
Leading him into her room with a confused expression on his face, Fan Zhu Xia told him to take a seat before disappearing to the inner part of her bedroom.
"Stay here. I'll just go and get something."
Barely a moment passed when Fan Zhu Xia returned with an intricate, wooden box held in her hands.
"Sister, that is?"
"For you. I had Father prepare it just in case..."
Receiving the box from her, Fan Shi Hong slowly opened to see what's inside.
The moment it landed on the item contained within the box, his eyes widened in surprise before he shot an incredulous look towards his sister, completely speechless.
"You like it?" Fan Zhu Xia asked with a smile.
"Like... Yes, I like it and it looks great, but isn't it too much? Wouldn't it fit Father more?"
Inside the box was an elaborately designed gold mask with intricate details and a pendant made of deep crimson red jade that had the family crest of the Lei Wangye exquisitely carved into it, looking quite eye-catching.
"Father doesn't have a need for that, practically every family patriarch and person in power can recognize him with how he looks like now."
"You do have a point."
"Of course I do... now are you going to wear the mask or not? It's up to you, it isn't like your required to have it on."
Sighing, Fan Shi Hong gave a resigned nod and pulled the gold mask out.
Stepping closer, Fan Zhu Xia took it from his hands and quickly placed it on his face and carefully secured the mask to make sure that it doesn't fall off.
"That should do it... Now you're all ready."
"Thank you Sister."
With a satisfied nod, Fan Zhu Xia stepped back and gave him an encouraging smile.
"Alright, now go on and check to see if Father is already waiting for us. I'll just put on my veil and then I'll be all ready to go."
"Do you really have to wear a veil?"
"Unfortunately I do... or at very least I have to wear it for the time being."
Sighing, Fan Shi Hong gave her a wistful look as he said, "It's such a shame to hide your face, Sister."
"Well I can say the same to you, Little Brother." Fan Zhu Xia quickly retorted with a laugh.
Knowing that he wasn't going to win any arguments, Fan Shi Hong mumbled something under his breath with his flushed with embarrassment from Fan Zhu Xia's teasing and bid a hasty retreat.
Shaking her head with an amused smile lingering on her face, she quickly hid her breathtakingly beautiful features with quick practiced movements and went out of her room to follow Fan Shi Hong out.
Just as she suspected, the familiar carriage with the family crest of the Lei Wangye was the very same one, waiting just outside her courtyard and as soon as she neared, upon hearing her movements, the curtain that hid the interior of the carriage was pushed to one side and Fan Shi Hong's masked face peaked out from within.
Waving her over enthusiastically, Fan Zhu Xia couldn't help but giggle and with Min Sheng's assistance, she gracefully boarded the carriage and fluidly sat down and arranged her skirts around her.
"You look wonderful, Xia'er." Fan Hui Zhong complimented her with a doting smile on his handsome and freshly shaved face.
"So do you, Father! Really, shaving off your beard took off at least five years from your face. You even look so young now!" Fan Zhu Xia responded.
Rolling his eyes, Fan Hui Zhong just shook his head and said, "Thanks, I'll take that as a compliment."
"Well it is a compliment!"
"You do look great, Father." Fan Shi Hong added sincerely.
"Alright, alright... I get it you two."
Stifling a grin, Fan Zhu Xia then opened her mouth and curiously asked, "Since the three of us are the only ones here, what about the others?"
"If you are referring to your Uncle and cousins, they all went ahead already with your Grandfather. This way is better since this also your grandfather's first public appearance in more than a decade."
"Isn't this a bit too much?" Fan Zhu Xia asked dryly.
"What do you mean?"
Seeing her father's nonchalant expression coupled with a familiar glint in his eyes that were filled with mirth gave him away was just too rare a sight for her that Fan Zhu Xia couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Ahh, you think too much Xia'er! No need to worry, Father has taken care of everything..."
"Everything?"
"Of course! After all, this is my two beloved children's first time formally appearing in public! As such, Father has made all the appropriate arrangements... You two just have to relax at the banquet and enjoy the show."