"You may no longer think the Shen family to be of importance now that you are marrying into the imperial family, isn't it?", Tong Yen, current main wife of prime minister, mockingly said as she threw some food to the koi fishes in the pond.
Chou Lian hung her head low as Tong Yen instructed her to do so while kneeling, " What mother said is not right. This daughter has always held the Shen Family to utmost importance in my heart. Even if this daughter marries into the imperial family it does not change the fact that Shen family is my home, my place of origin."
'Tsk. Tsk. This woman could not even wait a day to rebuke me after I came to the Shen residence. I never thought I will be missing my days at the imperial palace so quickly.', Chou Lian thought in her heart, but maintained a timid appearance in front of Tong Yen.
" So now you feel I am wrong. Now I do not have the right to discipline you as your mother?", Tong Yen sneered.
" This daughter did not mean anything like that." Chou Lian replied earnestly, but felt annoyed at how Tong Yen was twisting her words.
" Then as your mother I feel you have become more outrageous so I have the duty to make you more virtuous and obedient. Go and kneel in the ancestral hall.", Tong Yen said as she instructed some servants to come and take her to the ancestral hall.
'Ancestral Hall?! The cold place?! Again?! What is wrong with this woman? What outrageous things did I even say? Just because I tried to be good and avoid conflicts now she things she has the right to do whatever she feels like?', Chou Lian angrily thought inside.
Chou Lian turned her head up and narrowed her eyes at Tong Yen coldly before standing up. She put away all the air of timidness and firmly stood straight with an aura which emitted great authority and power, " Till now I did whatever mother instructed so as to avoid any kind of argument and conflict. This daughter still remembers her respect for mother so stopped herself from exercising her authority as the 6th princess' consort. Even though the daughter wants to be filial I feel mother is against that. Mother punishing me as daughter is justified but mother questioning my character is another. This is because questioning my character is like questioning the Emperor's choice of making me the 6th princess' consort thus, it affects my husband's and imperial family's reputation. This daughter respectfully asks mother to refrain herself from saying something like this in the future because if it reaches the Emperor's ears this daughter will not be able to do anything to help mother."
" You...You! How dare you?!", Tong Yen furiously pointed her finger at Chou Lian while also felt shocked at her words.
Chou Lian very cleverly twisted Tong Yen's words to seem like Prime minister's wife was questioning the Emperor's choice by talking about her moral character. Chou Lian held back her smile as she coldly looked at Tong Yen.
" As the 6th princess' consort I hold authority which is beyond your reach and by this country's customs I do not need to kneel or hung my head low in front of a commoner even if they are my parents. But this daughter wanting to be filial did whatever mother told her once she came back from the imperial palace, after such a long time, but I guess mother does not hold any sentiment against this daughter and even questions my moral character. This daughter is deeply saddened by mother's attitude. I hope mother realizes how she has hurt this daughter today.", Chou Lian said as she put on a face of being hurt and her lips trembled which made it seem she was trying to stop herself from crying.
Dong Tong Yen felt enraged as she never imagined the little useless first daughter of Shen family to stand up against her. Before she could reprimand Chou Lian two servants came running at her, " Madame! The 4th princess came to meet 6th princess' consort!", the servants quickly said as they panted for air.
Tong Yen clenched her fingers tightly and glared at Chou Lian. Chou Lian smiled coldly at her before she turned and left. Watching Chou Lian's back she shouted at her servants, " Prepare the Lotus courtyard for the 6th princess consort while she attends the 4th princess.", then she followed Chou Lian to greet the 4th princess.
As Chou Lian entered the courtyard prepared for receiving guests she came across a woman sitting elegantly in a purpled colored robe. Her sitting posture was elegantly upright. She had a tea cup in her hand but she was not sipping tea from it. Even though Chou Lian has lived in the imperial palace for more than two months all her time was spent with Ying Yue. She never had the opportunity to come across any of the other princes or princesses as they never approached her. Chou Lian was actually glad to hide in Ying Yue's palace away from other imperial family members to avoid any sort of drama. It was difficult to know if they would try to dig pits for her or welcome her with open arms so, it was better to stay away from them all.
" Forgive this lowly noble for making the 4th princess, and Duchess of Yonggan, wait.", Chou Lian said as cupped her hands near her chest to show respect.
The 4th princess, Wu Mei Hua, turned her pink plum blossom colored eyes towards Chou Lian with a light smile, " Don't be so polite. Come sit."
Chou Lian put on a sweet smile and sat across the 4th princess.
"For the past few months I was under the weather which delayed meeting First Lady Shen, I hope you will not take it to your heart for not coming to meet sooner.", 4th princess said after she took a sip of tea.
"I wouldn't dare. Your health comes first 4th princess. I hope you are feeling well now.",Chou Lian replied politely.
"With everyone's well wishes I ended up feeling much better. Congratulations on your wedding to my youngest meimei (little sister). I came today to meet the beauty Father Emperor chose for Yue-er. Your looks are really pleasant. Still what a regret...", Wu Mei Hua sighed deeply as if feeling a heartache for Chou Lian whose looks were being wasted and for what reason Chou Lian could easily detect, wasn't it for her marrying a woman while she was one herself?
Chou Lian just smiled gently and did not reply anything. Wu Mei Hua quickly got over her pitying phase and exclaimed happily, " First Lady Shen, can I call you Mei Mei (younger sister)?"
" Of course 4th princess. Why ask when we are soon going to be family.", Chou Lian happily replied.
" Then Mei Mei worry about nothing. Father Emperor does not take decisions lightly. Also, my Yue Mei Mei is a very virtuous and smart woman, though it's hard to get close to her, and only if she wasn't sick Father Emperor often exclaimed she would have been unrivaled even in comparison to men. I don't particularly get how it is possible. How can women be better than men? Yet, as Father Emperor said it must be somewhat believable. So, I hope you will trust Father Emperor and take good care of Yue Mei Mei.", Wu Mei Hua earnestly said to Chou Lian.
Watching earnest eyes Chou Lian could not bring herself to retort how women and men all are equal and no party is better than the other, and instead she nodded, " I know 4th princess. I will do my utmost to take care of princess Shenghuo."
4th princess chatted for a little while about poetry and royal etiquettes before leaving for good. Chou Lian was extremely tired from not only dealing with Cinderella's step mom but also 4th princess.
She soon instructed the maids to boil some water along with the wooden basin for her to take a quick bath. After the bath she felt refreshed as water dripped from her hair, while her cheeks were flushed from the bath, as she laid on the bed like a starfish. The courtyard she was given after returning from the palace was a different one. It was twice the size of her previous one with more expensive decorations and an extremely comfortable bed. There were several maids waiting for her outside to listen to all her commands. It was a different feeling. Not a nice one to be precise. With power everyone bows. Sigh.
Even though she all her needs were being met perfectly she felt lonely. Even though Chou Lian was kind of looking forward to having some time alone to her and now that she got her wish granted she felt..empty. She missed her. She missed the sickly Ying Yue that would listen to her talking nonsense. She missed taking care of her. She missed spending time with the 6th princess. The only person she has ever been so close to.
' What was Yue-er doing? Was she eating well? Did she take her medicines? Was she sleeping by now? Did she missed me?', realizing what Chou Lian was thinking she blushed and creamed into her pillows.
'Why the hell am I worried about Ying Yue?! She is a princess! There are skillful people taking care of her!!', Chou Lian thought as she sat up on the bed and crossed her legs, ' But they are not me..her fated partner.'
Chou Lian slapped her cheeks to get rid of her thoughts caused she felt embarrassed even thinking the words 'fated partners'.
" Servants! Anyone! Bring me my dinner! I would like to have my dinner at my own courtyard.", Chou Lian said out loud.
The door of the room was gently pushed befor a young female maid came and greeted her politely, " 6th princess' consort, I'm afraid it is not possible. Prime minister has arranged a small welcoming dinner part for you. So you will have to wait."
Welcome party? It sounded fishy to Chou Lian. It was too hypocritical. Last time they punished her to kneel in ancestral hall though it turned out to be extremely beneficial,it was just a lucky coincidence.
'Should I go?', Chou Lian thought deeply.
" Let A-die know, 6th princess consort, is tired to attend a party today. She would like to retire early and hence wants her dinner at her courtyard. Relay what I said word by word.", Chou Lian instructed the maid. The maid looked conflicted but did not dare say anything else this, she greeted Chou Lian and left.
Till the wedding Chou Lian would like to avoid the Shen family as much a possible.