Cai Ruolan noticed how beautiful the palace was decorated, and as she descended the staircase with the crown prince, she just couldn’t stop herself from looking around.
Every corner of the inner palace were decorated in red, she could also see red colored gifts on top of any table she passes.
The emperor and empress smiled when they saw both of them, emperor Xie Mingze especially looked very pleased and over joyous because he was going to become a grandfather soon. Arranged marriage was the only way his son could get married, otherwise Xie Yuxuan preferred to be single for the rest of his life without any heir.
Empress Gu Zongying admired the couples, this was also the first time she was seeing the bride’s face, and she was glad that she got such a beautiful daughter-in-law.
“Good morning your majesties” they both curtsied.
Empress Gu Zongying stretched out her hands for Cai Ruolan, she wanted her to seat beside her.
Xie Yuxuan sat beside his father and looked at the dishes on the table. He was yet to start eating when he heard his sister’s complaint.
“Uh! Now that father sat with brother and mother sat with brother’s wife, who am I going to seat with?” Xie Peizhi asked feigning frustration.
“You should seat on top of the table” the empress replied in a small smile. “That way, it’d be like you’re seating with all of us”
Cai Ruolan felt very shy, she was never used to much people since she was raised alone, but this empress had shown her the love she had for her.
Shouldn’t she be serving the tea?
she could see the red tea cup and jug at the middle of the table, so she gently stood up and stretched out her hands for it.
She walked over to the emperor and bowed to him before pouring the tea on his jug, she did the same to empress, Xie Yuxuan and lastly Xie Peizhi before getting a cup for herself.
The empress was very impressed, such a sensible bride. Other princesses wouldn’t serve the royal family tea without been forced to.
“My dear, why don’t you tell us about yourself?” she asked Cai Ruolan who had just took a sip of her tea.
Cai Ruolan paused, of course she would want to. But what would she say?
She gave a small smile as she contemplated from where to start.
Perhaps with her name.
“My name is Cai Ruolan” she began, wondering if they already knew her name.
“Yes my dear. I already knew your name, you’re beautiful just like an orchid” empress Gu Zongying laughed lightly.
“Why don’t you tell us more?” she insisted.
“I…” she paused, what was she going to say?
“I’m seventeen years….”
“You’re seventeen years old?” Xie Peizhi asked in disbelief.
Cai Ruolan nodded, wondering why the princess sounded so surprised.
“I… I thought you’re twenty” she blurted out laughing.
Cai Ruolan chuckled. “No”
The empress laughed.
Xie Yuxuan couldn’t wait for his mother to start eating, it seems she would have to hear all of Cai Ruolan’s stories before she started, and he wouldn’t be able to wait for that long.
He carried his chopsticks and knife and settled to start eating while he listened to them.
“I was raised by nanny Wang Eumeh, and she told me that my mother died during my birth” Cai Ruolan added.
“Your mother? I’ve heard about that before, the first wife of the emperor of Zhangqian right?” the empress questioned to be sure.
Cai Ruolan nodded.
The empress looked quite surprised. “I don’t know you’re her daughter”
Even Xie Peizhi and the emperor exchanged shocked glances. “The emperor told us that you’re the…” Xie Peizhi was saying when the emperor interrupted.
“Silence!”
Cai Ruolan never understood why they all looked bewildered at her revelation. She also doesn’t know her own mother, she had only seen a portrait of her mother in her father’s palace when she was around twelve years old.
Wang Eumeh had kept it safe inside a blue trunk, she claimed that Cai Ruolan would tear it up, so she only sees her mother’s portrait on her birthdays.
She began eating quite slowly, she wasn’t the kind of person that could eat much.
She thought of what to do when she was done eating, it was obvious that she was going to be idle just like when she was in her hometown.
Or she should look around their chambers, she had noticed that there were a few doors in their chambers apart from their room.
“Cai Ruolan, you look very beautiful, I love your eyes” Xie Peizhi praised her with her mouth filled with food.
That word would make her blush to the root of her hair. “Thank you your…”
“It’s Xie Peizhi”
Cai Ruolan was sure that the princess was more older than she was, it would be disrespectful to call her by her name.
She only nodded in a small smile.
The emperor stood up, “I have a matter to discuss with the chiefs now, you all could continue eating” he spoke as he turned to leave.
The empress also stood up, “We’ll be right back” she told them as she walked after the emperor.
“I wonder what they’re going to discuss that they have to leave us all alone here” Xie Peizhi scoffed as she folded her arms on her chest. She turned to Cai Ruolan who was seating down calmly.
“Brother’s wife, do you mind me showing you around? I’d like to show you my room and tell you all of my top secrets, I hope you don’t mind me touching your hair, it’s even longer than brother’s hair, it's so lustrous” she effused. “I really want to be close to my brother’s wife. I… ”
“Shut up parrot! You won’t be close to my wife” Xie Yuxuan interjected. “You talk too much and I wouldn’t want her to contract your talking disease” he sneered and looked at Cai Ruolan.
“No please, I don’t mind” Cai Ruolan wouldn’t want them to fight because of her, little did she know that the siblings were more like cat and dog, and were always at loggerheads.
“Yes I won! Come let’s go” Xie Peizhi grabbed her right hand.
Cai Ruolan stood up from her seat and followed her, leaving the crown prince alone at the table.
“Shouldn’t I come along?” she heard him asked.
“No you shouldn’t” Xie Peizhi retorted as they climbed the staircase.
“She’s my wife remember?” Xie Yuxuan continued.
“And she’s my sister-in-law!” she replied
“What if you infect her with talking disease?” Xie Yuxuan asked as he watched them ascended the staircase.
“Then you’ll cure it for her with hugs and kisses”