Cai Ruolan watched as he left, she sneered to herself. Of course he was only pretending.
She waited for the maid servants to get the cups and utensils to the table at the garden, before she would head there.
“What are you waiting for new bride?” she heard a gruff voice that made her turned back.
Cai Yichen.
He looked very stern, and even despite the fact that he was wearing an expensive silk robe, one could still mistake him for a palace guard because of his short and thin stature.
He was also the most ugliest among the emperor’s children. Though he wouldn’t be considered ugly by commoners or outsiders, but by the royal family. He just didn’t reach the Cai’s beauty standard.
Cai Ruolan thought that it was better to keep quiet and leave when it’s time to.
“You’re not answering me? You are probably happy that you are having the crown prince all to yourself, but I must tell you that he doesn’t like you. He’s my enemy and he doesn’t want the best for you. I do care about you Cai Ruolan” he told her smiling wryly.
Cai Ruolan wondered if he would say all these to Cai Tianai if she had been the one to marry the crown prince.
“Thank you very much Cai Yichen, I never knew you do care for me” she said more in a sneer than in gratitude.
Cai Yichen clenched his fist, he felt like tearing up Cai Ruolan’s face with his bare hands.
“Yes I do. You’re my elder sister right?” he asked sheepishly.
Cai Ruolan shrugged. “You’ve never said this before Cai Yichen”
Just as he was about to continue talking, Cai Ruolan was called by a maid servant.
“It’s time young miss”
Cai Ruolan waved at her brother. “Thank you for today’s revelation, I’ll never forget it” she told him as she left.
Cai Ruolan saw small teacups on the white table, she couldn’t imagine the fact that she was going to serve the tea to everyone present there with the crown prince
She started by pouring the tea on the emperor’s cup, and the next thing was that, she must kowtow to him.
The crown prince also poured a few tea on some elders cups and received blessings from them.
Just as Cai Ruolan had reasoned, her father barely opened his mouth to say any prayers to her, she also never expected one.
She never even wanted to kowtow to him, just that it was a tradition that doesn’t need to be neglected if one wants good luck in their wedding.
‘But the wedding itself was already a bad luck’ she thought
She walked towards empress Hu Melien who she never wanted to serve.
As soon as Cai Ruolan started pouring the tea out on her cup, the empress moved the cup from the normal position it was before, making the tea pour directly on her clothes.
“Oh your majesty, you shouldn’t have moved your cup!” Cai Ruolan spoke immediately, because she knew that the empress would start raining abuses on her if she had spoke first.
The empress gritted her teeth, why would this stupid thing speak first? She wanted to ruin the wedding at all cost.
“It was my h…” before she could finish speaking, Cai Ruolan walked to the next person. She served a few elderly people seating.
“Bless you”
She then poured the tea on royal concubine Weici, and royal consort Xia’s cups.
She soon walked towards crown prince Cai Daoming, she smiled as she poured the tea on his cup. Though he couldn’t see that she was smiling due to the veil covering her face.
She was glad when the tea tradition was done. But was there a need for the joining of hairs?
Cai Ruolan was irritated, thank goodness for the red veil on her face.
“Cai Shuang, I don’t know why I hate this girl so much. I can’t drink the tea she gave me” Cai Suyin tapped her elder sister.
“Yes, same here. She even reluctantly gave out her hair while the crown prince did it with glee” Cai Shuang hissed.
This wasn’t what she wanted, she had always dreamt of marrying the crown prince. And she was the only one who believed that the rumors were false. She even managed to get the crown prince’s portrait so she could admire his face everyday.
She couldn’t believe that Cai Ruolan was getting married to him very easily.
She watched enviously as the marriage procedures were done, the couples hair were tied in the knot.
Cai Ruolan was glad when all the traditions were done, her father and his chiefs were talking about something they just found out.
Cai Ruolan was unaware of the false rumors surrounding the crown prince, she was surprised to see the females coming to the palace hall late, and they avoided looking into the crown prince’s face.
The crown prince left her side for the first time and walked towards her father.
Cai Ruolan felt very lonely, she thought of Wang Eumeh again. And this time, she tried to hide her tears, she cleaned it as fast as possible with the edge of her sleeve. Darn! her veil got tears too.
The crown prince returned to her side, she soon knew that they were about to leave.
Cai Ruolan quickly remembered the cream colored bag she had kept at the palace hall entrance. She had kept it at the back of a pillar, she was sure that no one would see it.
“Excuse me” she left the crown prince’s side and walked towards the garden’s gate.
Xie Yuxuan followed her immediately, what kind of a girl is this?
She walked briskly towards the palace hall entrance and halted in front of the large round pillar, Cai Ruolan reached out for the bag and untied it.
She sighed in relief, nothing was missing.
Before she left her palace, she had added the transparent white glass and the maroon clothe inside the bag.
She turned and saw the crown prince standing in front of her.
“What’s that?” he pointed to the bag she was holding.
“It’s…” her voice trailed off. What was she going to say. “It’s necessary”
“Come on let’s go” he took her right hand.
Cai Ruolan could see the golden colored carriage waiting, one could tell that it was the couples carriage because of it’s intricate designs.
As soon as the footman opened the door of the carriage, he brought his hand out for the bride to take.
But the crown prince stretched out his for her.
Cai Ruolan scoffed inwardly as she took his hand, she sat inside the carriage clutching her bag tightly.
She watched as he sat down, Cai Ruolan tried not to peep out of the window, they was no one to wave to anyways. But she was sure her father, her sisters and other aristocrats were standing outside.
Perhaps she might never see them again.
Cai Ruolan felt sleepy as soon as the carriage rode off, but she tried to hold her sleep.
“You can rest your head on my shoulder” Xie Yuxuan told her as soon as he noticed how her head was shaking.
“No thank you” she muttered.
“Don’t be stubborn little wife, you’ll hit your head if you doze off” he smirked.
Cai Ruolan never responded, she just closed her eyes and pretended not to be asleep, but she dozed off a few minutes after, her bag fell off her hands.
Xie Yuxuan sat close to her, picked up the bag, then placed her head on his shoulder, as the ride continued.
He seemed to like his little wife and couldn’t wait to begin life with her even if she’s proving to be stubborn.
A/N
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