A sigh of relief washed over Xiao'er and her companions after they managed to distance themselves from Lan Yue.
Just the memory of Lan Yue calling her 'sister' made Xiao'er's skin crawl.
"I must not think about it, I must not," she thought, shaking her head, fearing the chill that the mere thought brought her.
"How much must the Empress Dowager despise the First Prince to have chosen such a wife for him?" questioned Mrs. Lu, who had already been living in the Imperial Capital for approximately a year. She had not seen a lady as plain as Lan Yue among those of high nobility.
She firmly believed that a princess consort should be stunningly beautiful! She needed only look at Xiao'er as proof.
"Choosing the First Prince's wife doesn't depend solely on looks or temperament," explained Mrs. Ruan.
"If not on looks or temperament, then what does it depend on?" Mrs. Lu inquired, puzzled.
"The eight characters of one's birth."
