That night,both of her parents came knocking at her door. Until now, her ears are still ringing from all her mother's reprimanding who leaves her to response either by nodding and shaking her little head when being asked. Her father on the other hand is much milder and coax his wife from time to time.
Other than that,her expected beating -which to her relief never came- there is nothing that is significant enough to mention.
Her pampered life under their manor continued if not, just intensified a little more instead of plummeting due to her wrongdoing. Jewelries,fancy clothing,professional servants and delicious delicacies is always abundantly available thanks to her parents. Sometimes, she asks her maids to accompany her sister to her residence to play and bond together since her mother prohibits her to have even half a step outside her residence. This is how she past her days without being bored to death. Besides, her step sister is just so adorable that she can't get enough.
As for her step-mom,she's always nowhere to be seen. She never visit her nor shows in front of her. Well,she never has a reason to come here in the first place so why bother? Her parents will definitely opposed the idea even if she present a reason.
...
Its been months since her meeting with her grammy and her seclusion and now she already miss her so much. That elderly and mature charm around the Empress Dowager and her pampering eyes is hard to forget of. When she asks her parents to meet her they only look at each other as if silently communicating only to look at her telling her maybe some other time. She can just nod and forcefully smile..... she really miss her grammy!
Unbeknownst in her knowledge, her parents are still weighing the stand and motive of the royal in order to act properly. Well,its hard to make a decision without a proper evaluation of any situation, right? They may or may not offend the royal in any wrong step. But they already cause the suspicions to others since the day of their daughters adoption. Her title is not by any means low but it can't be said to be too high. Besides,she not the only adopted person by a royal. They are almost more than a dozen of them in their kingdom. All have a sturdy backgrounds and big potential. Their daughter on the other hand is only a 4 year old kid who doesn't even start cultivating. Their are still a lot of possibilities in the future.
They now simply decline her request while planning everything in their head. Their baby's safety is always the first priority.
.....
Just as she was about to go back to her residence after another failed attempt to coax her parents for approval to visit her grammy, a Shengzhi(imperial decree of the emperor) brought by a known and respected eunuch of the palace came asking the minister to received the decree.
"The Emperor invites the minister,the mistress,and the young misses of this manor to the 12th birthday of the second prince in the next few weeks! It will be the pleasure of the Emperor if the minister bless his son to his journey in cultivation before his testing! Does the revered minister accept the decree?"
Other than the pure affinity of the minister,to stand high above others except one he needs to have a background as well as a miraculous item which heightens his importance to the kingdom. It is inherited by each of their families' master when the title is pass down. An heirloom which grants him to bless anyone with luck although it is limited in numbers since it needs to be recharged. It is coveted by many because of its instant effects and since standing on top one's affinity and strength is not enough. One need both the background,strength,knowledge,and luck. The minister and his manor is not lacking in any.
Their elders in seclusion and cultivating cannot be counted by one's finger and each one of them is not lacking in strength. Aside from them,he has a powerful heir studying in a prestigious and known school for genius throughout their kingdom and the whole continent coveted by big sects. If he is more lucky, both of her daughters will also conceive an above the average or maybe rare affinity. If that happens, won't admirers throughout the continent from different kingdoms pursue them? This will naturally strengthen more the prime minister's influence and connections.
Who will dare to offend him then? Only an idiots will do so.
After the eunuch announce the decree,the minister naturally obliged. He kowtowed to the ground and received the decree. After accepting,he ask the eunuch if he want to have some tea. He politely declined and told them he has some urgent things to do. He said his farewell then leave.
"It seems like the its time to prepare for the second prince's birthday. Do you think its a good idea to let Xiao Xi and Xiao Mei accompany us to the palace?" the prime minister ponder deeply asking his wife opinion.
It can be an advantage and disadvantage to befriend others nobles since offending others while in the process and inciting a small conflict is also a possibility. They may not let his daughters play with others but the nobles may also find it offending. If they on the other hand don't let the children come,the Emperor will be offended since he personally write down young misses in the decree it is much more relieving if the Emperor just write the Minister and his wife name.
Now,they can only trust their children's ability and etiquette to cope with others and avoid conflict as much as possible. Moreover,his daughters are so adorable to be upset at. They are simply a walking stuff toys. Too soft and squishy. Their visuals are also top notch. This makes them more confident.
Now the only problem is their outfit and jewelries.
Time to visit the taylor.
....
My eyes wonder throughout this place. This exactly looks like a treasure vault! All the things inside looks valuable enough to buy a whole year food supply of a low class family or maybe even middle class family. Each intricate designs and fabrics are unique and gorgeous. Mother even said that we can only buy this kind of stuff here and it is only accessable through connections!
Seems like the one working here is a famous fashion designer and trader or something. The fabrics and silks present are all top quality rarely found in our kingdom and even the whole continent. If you're asking who do i get all this gossips then don't stray too far away since she's just right next to me. She's none other than sister Bai Ruo. //+o+//
You know what? Im starting to get suspicious to my personal servant. Aren't maids are given only a poor quality education? She seems to know some things other regular maids don't. But come to think of it. My parents choose her as my personal servants so she's definitely trustworthy but im not really sure what background that she has.
Now that i ponder upon it, looking at sister Bai Ruo face seems so light and comforting. She has a supple and white skin even under manual works she does which can be considered just slightly inferior to those of a noble. Her face is small and lovely. Even if she decide to leave our household and become a concubine by some official it could not be that a problem. She has this calm and serious aura around her. She's also honest and hardworking. Sister Bai Ruo definitely a good catch if not for her background. Aside from being a big officials' concubine,she can be a second wife or even a first wife to a small official. Mom and Dad definitely won't complain but it will make me slightly sad since she's the closest one to me.
At first i doesn't really have an impression of her but when she still smile at me at continue serving happily after my disappearance which she is also punished at, i feel like she really kind. I think that if others in her place they may turn slightly cold at some point since it really isn't their fault. After that i feel like she's more like a sister to me. Even before i can tell her my childish thoughts(hehe),some nonsense stories,and she'll listen carefully and after the incident nothing change. Others will considered it just a kid blabbering but i saw how she responds to me everytime and each one of them is not made up or forced. I feel like she really care for me specially when we are alone in my room after my parents scoldings. She ask me if im okay, what happened,why did i go out,why i didn't just told her i wanna go out,and such. She seems very worried to the point that i ask her just playfully why she's too worried. And this goes like this....
"Young miss,did something happen to you when outside? Did you trip? Some dog chase you? People harass you? Let me look at your bodey. What if something happened to you? You should have told me...! All of us are so anxious looking for you. We all can't sleep. Did you already eat? Did they treat you right?" she keeps going on and look like she doesn't have a spare of breath to take.
"Sister Bai Ruo, aren't you too worried of me?" i peek through my lashes and slightly pout my lips.
She look like she's been poured a bucket of water. She inhales deeply to calm hed self then. She then bow her head and apologise. "This servant know her mistake. I apologise to young miss. I deserve a punishment."
I just shook as an answer for her asking for a punishment then ask. "Sister Bai Ruo,im wondering..... Do you by chance have a younger sister?" i mean her previous gentle care and smile,her worried expression,and anxious voice are telling a hint or something.
She look at me and then smile sadly. She told me that one of her reason why she accept being my maid is that she miss her deceased younger brother and her family.
Due to poverty,they don't have the ability to bring him to the doctor the reason why he died and why she is where is now. A trained personal maid from a slave who is sold at the market. She almost did not survive if not for the minister's help. At that time both her family are all dead already either from sickness or hunger. Her father is robbed at the slum after work at some blacksmith shop as a janitor without a regular day of work nor salary. He just about to go back at their house with his small cash and even because of that is robbed and killed by some thugs. After that her mother lost the will to live and refuse to eat. She on the other hand look for opportunities at the street looking for any paying jobs just to go home everyday empty handed. Her mom died weeks after and she is kidnapped to be sold at the black market.
Her father and other officials highly despise this kind of activities and a coincidence that she is one of the rescued. The mistress pitied her and accept her as a maid. In gratitude,she swore loyalty to the couple.
While telling the story,she is somewhat daze and blankly staring at the window. I notice droplets of warm liquid falling silently from her eyes. She is still dazing looking at afar without even knowing she's crying. My heart breaks at the sight. The kingdom is not what i imagined it to be. I only think of rainbows and unicorns flying at first. But my magical world is crushed by Sister Bai Ruo's story.
Not everything is happy ending.
...