The empress was already sitting on her throne, the hall was full of various nobel concubines of the Palace.
All were waiting to see the ugly talentless daughter in law which the seventh Prince was currently wedded to.
Some concubines even deliberately dressed very beautifully today just to appear formidable and have an upper hand over the current Consort Shen
The enunch made an announcement and all the ladies waited in anticipation of the upcoming thrill.
The empress put on a formidable pose and gave the palace nanny look with her eyes.
Dong Shen entered first followed by a girl in a beautiful blue dress, as Dong Shen was quite tall with broad shoulders he blocked the tiny Qin Xu behind his big frame.
Qin Xu was exasperated the whole way up till now the servants kept on looking at her with weird gazes as if they have seen a ghost.
So she shook Dong She's sleeve and asked him in a quite voice just before entering the Phoenix hall.
"Your Highness. "
"Your Highness. " She shook his sleeve again not hearing any response the first time.
"Hmm." Uttered Dong Shen acknowledging that he have heard her.
"Your Highness, is there something wrong with my face? "
"Huh, Dong Shen suddenly turned his head and looled at Qin Xu as if asking was she an idiot how can there be something wrong with her face.
But seeing the genuine confusion in her gem like eyes, although stunned by her beauty Dong Shen still replied, " No, why are you asking this? ".
"Then why are all the servants looking at me with weird and horror filled gazes. " Asked Qin Xu again in a pitiful tone.
"Should I wear the veil again. "
Dong Shen was out of words, he wanted to say that yes, she should probably wear her veil again but for another reason and not because there was something wrong with her face.
"Well may be because you are the new bride and everyone likes to get a glimps of newly wedded couple that's why they are looking at you that way. "
"Uh huh that makes sense. "
Once they got in the middle of the hall they bowed unanimously, "Subject greets her Highness Empress Mother may you be blessed with a long life. "
Qin Xu came out from behind Dong Shen and repeated the bow, "Consort Shen greets her Highness the Empress mother, may you be blessed with a healthy life."
"You may rise. " The empress ordered.
With her order both Dong Shen and Qin Xu rose and Qin Xu saw the Empress for the first time, 'hmm the empress really is strong and appears very intimidating however she is not as beautiful as my mother... Hehehe of course my mother is the most beautiful and mighty. ' Qin Xu was running her own thoughts in her mind.
Sudden gasps can be heard from the hall, hearing the noise Qin Xu turned her head around and saw the various Concubines of the Emperor, ' Tsk Tsk father and brother were right the Emperor of Dong Nation is tsk disloyal and cheating bastards having so many womens in his backyard, what does he wants to do, to make an army of children. '
Just like Qin Xu was seeing and pitying the concubines, the concubines were also looking at her some with awe, some with jealousy and envy and some with just curious gaze.
The empress was also shocked but she soon composed herself after all she was an empress, if she started gawking at a young girl she will look uncultured.
A nanny came and took the box Dong Shen kept the forged virginity cloth in and presented it to the empress.
All the concubines in the hall eyes the box, who amongst them did not know what that box meant.
The Empress asked the nanny to open the box and present the cloth in front of her, seeing the Empress looking at that cloth thinking it was her blood suddenly Qin Xu felt Shy in fact she was more embarrassed then shy.
'What was she looking at it with such a deep look it was not a painting ready for her appraisal! '
The other concubines also caught a blotch of red on the white prestine clothes, the empress face also darkened, 'she thought Dong Shen wont even want to touch his newly married wife as she was ugly and won't be able to bring the cloth today giving her a chance to rebuke him and punish both husband and wife but now looking at the cloth she was not happy.
She looked at the so called rumored girl and felt like fainting on the spot, 'of course with such a face which can topple the world, why would Dong Shen restrain himself afterall man's were all dog in this regard. '
The other concubines also thought the same thing, 'truly rumors are misleading and cannot be believed, now see the emperor with his own divine hands sent such a juicy and fat chicken to this War Prince who he liked the least and could not wait to plot against.'
A servant came with a tea set and Qin Xu quickly took a tea cup filled it with tea and personally offered it to the empress. "Mother Empress Daughter in Law presents you this cup of tea, as my filial piety and gratitude towards you for accepting me as your daughter in law, please grant me your blessings." Spoke Qin Xu in her beautiful mellow voice.
'Can she refuse? ' thought the empress, she was preparing for this days since three days and now when the time came it was she who was slapped in the face and not the other way around looking at the beautiful sapphire eyes of Qin Xu which were full of innocence and purity the empress felt like gouging them out.
With a forced smiled the empress reluctantly accepted the tea cup from Qin Xu's hand and took a sip, "now that you have married little seven, you must take good care of him and give us a little fat grandchildren to play with. "
Qin Xu nodded in a shy demeanor, the empress took out the jade ruyi bracelers she have prepared and gave them to Qin Xu.
Some of the grand Concubines also presented her with various gifts mainly jewellery, as the empress was not in the mood to stay long and sour her mood she bid her farewell and also dispersed Dong Shen and Qin Xu asking them to come again when they have time.
Although she wished at heart that they never came in front of her again to sully her mood and eyes.