Xiuwen stopped walking and turned around. Weiwei also stopped. They are now in a deserted garden. Unlike the plants outside, the plants in this place look unkempt. If she didn't see that now, Weiwei wouldn't be such an abandoned place in the palace either.
"This is a place no one has ever been to. They say there is a ghost in this place," Xiuwen explained without being asked.
Weiwei laughed out loud. She never believed in mystical things so the man must have been trying to scare her.
"You don't believe me? Take a look over there!" Xiuwen ordered while pointing in one direction.
Weiwei complied and looked in the direction the man was pointing even though she felt like she was being toyed.
"What's wrong? There's nothing there. Never mind, I don't have time...."
Weiwei was silent for a moment when she felt someone blowing her neck. She quickly turned around. The girl immediately yelped in surprise and stepped back as her face almost touched Xiuwen's face. Xiuwen immediately grabbed Weiwei's hand and held Weiwei's body from falling.
"Are you okay?" Xiuwen asked. Weiwei nodded and then pushed that man away.
"Taking me this far just to prank me. I don't think you have a plan."
"Of course I have a plan. I said I would help you, but you have to promise me one thing."
"What's that?"
"You can't be mad at me anymore and have to follow my plan. No matter what happens, you still can't be angry."
Weiwei was silent for a moment before finally nodding. The smile on Xiuwen's face widened. He then handed a jade bracelet to Weiwei.
"This."
Weiwei frowned and looked confused. Xiuwen immediately grabbed Weiwei's hand and put on the bracelet.
"We'd better get back to the palace now. People might start looking for us," Xiuwen suggested.
'He still doesn't explain anything. What is he really planning?' Weiwei muttered to herself. But she restrained herself from asking. Xiuwen was right, right now there might be people looking for them. Although still unsure of the man's plans, Weiwei complied to come back soon.
***
"Where are you from?" reprimanded general Wen in a whisper. The man was worried because he thought that Weiwei had run away.
"I just spruced up my appearance and got a little lost."
General Wen looked at Weiwei in disbelief, but he didn't want to push his daughter. The most important thing is now that Weiwei is back, other things, he still can reprimand Weiwei later.
***
Not long after Weiwei returned, the selection of concubines immediately began. The crown prince was seen sitting not far from the king. The handsome face, deep black eyes, and eyebrows that emphasize the facial expressions are now observing the appearance of the girls one by one. The king and queen looked so graceful sitting on their thrones.
Beside the crown prince, there was a beautiful woman. The hanfu worn also looks so luxurious. She was none other than the crown princess of the kingdom and also the wife of the crown prince. He also saw the selection of the concubine with a flat face.
The girls began to appear one by one showing their best abilities. Paint beautifully or dance gracefully. The onlookers stared in admiration and some immediately praised. The parents smiled proudly at the possibility of their daughter being elected to the royal family.
Weiwei had her turn to perform. Awkwardly, the girl stood in the center of the hall and became the center of attention. This made Weiwei feel deja vu about what happened at the Flower House. Now Xiuwen also here and that man promise to help her.
Not knowing what to display, Weiwei decided to show off her ability to use several moves with sword in hand. The atmosphere in the room turned gloomy. It wasn't long before the crown prince's voice was heard. The handsome man was standing while pointing at Weiwei.
"I want her to be my concubine."
Those words seemed to shake the room. Weiwei herself was transfixed. The people who had looked doubtful and the other girls also looked confused. The crown prince then turned around and saluted the still stunned king and queen as well.
"She is a girl who has attracted my attention. I beg to be allowed to take her as my concubine."
The king was still stunned. He invited general Wen and his daughter to honor the general. Who would have thought that the crown prince was actually interested in general Wen's daughter who was not have abilities from the another girls in there.
Weiwei's face contorted in tension. Her hand gripped the sword tightly.
'How is this? I'm not here to be chosen as a concubine.'
Meanwhile, the crown princess's face also turned annoyed. Unexpectedly by her, there is a girl who can attract her husband's attention. She didn't want this girl to be in the palace. The husband seemed infatuated with the girl so may give her position to that girl too.
'I didn't even manage to win her heart. If he likes another girl, my position will be further eliminated.'
"You can't have her, Big Brother. This girl is actually my future wife and she has bonded by engagement with me," said someone.
Everyone turned to the owner of the voice. Weiwei also turned around and saw Xiuwen walking calmly while smiling at her.
"Prince Han, you must give us an explanation!" the king's orders to Xiuwen.
Xiuwen immediately knelt down and saluted.
"Of course I will explain. This girl is my future wife. We have made a promise to be together."
"I do not believe it!" shouted the crown prince.
Xiuwen grabbed Weiwei's hand and revealed the jade bracelet that was on the girl's wrist.
"Your Majesty, you are certainly familiar with this bracelet."
The king looked stunned, while the crown prince looked angry.
***
"So this is the favor you said?" Weiwei asked when the event was over. The king finally decided to marry Xiuwen to Weiwei, while the crown prince who seemed to object that decision, was betrothed to Miss Wang, the daughter of a palace high official. Everyone seemed to accept the decision, except Weiwei and the crown prince.
"Right. With this you are void to become the crown prince's concubine."
Weiwei shook her head. She looked at the man sharply. They are now back in the abandoned garden before.
"But not the way I should marry you. The two of us don't even know each other that well. I didn't know that young master Xiuwen was actually the prince of this country."
"So if you knew I was a prince, you would accept me?"
"That's not the case. Obviously, I don't want to marry, especially marry you!"
"What can I do, everything has happen because of the king's decree."
"You dragged me into your lies. You also have to find a way to get me out of this trouble. Just remember, I will never marry you!" said Weiwei as she then walked away.