The queen of Qing Qiu

part 3

As soon as Bai Feng Jiu entered the emperor's hall she intended to talk to Si Ming privately. She knew her friend would tell her the truth about what was going on. She noticed him on the far side of the room with Migu but just as she started in their direction she heard her fourth uncle calling her name. He was calling her over to join the group of men standing near the large thrown. She sighed, smiled politely and headed over to join them. Bowing to each respectively.

"I swear our little Xiao Jiu gets prettier everytime I see her." Zhe Yan said smiling warmly at her. He was like another uncle to her.

She cocked one eye brow and turned to him. "Zhe Yan are you trying to butter me up for a favor or make someone jealous? You just seen me this morning."

"As if anyone would be jealous for this old pheonix." Bai Zhen said. Bai Feng Jiu rolled her eyes unconsciously and her father interrupted before Zhe Yan could reply.

"Feng jiu are you alright with occompanying the procession back to the Nine Heavens? I know that it wasn't planned." Bai Yi asked her.

With only a hint of a false smile she replied. "I am honored to help escort my aunt to her ceremony. Though it may not be the normal custom, that the heavenly emperor has taken time to even consider my happiness on such an occasion is also a great honor. Perhaps in the future my temperment will be more familiar in the heavens and they will know that I do not need any such attention."

He nodded his head content with her answer. They both knew she couldn't very well refuse to go, not when the heavenly emperor made it sound like a friendly gesture just for her. She didn't trust him though and knew that there had to be a reason behind it she just couldn't figure out what. It was such an odd thing really, what could he gain from it she wondered?

"Well there certainly won't be a shortage of suitors in the Nine Heavens after this. Xiao Jiu will have all the young men's attention when they arrive." Bai Zhen said with a smirk. He loved to tease her and knew this would get a rise out of his little niece. She had become to serious since becoming queen and he missed the old Xiao Jiu. He knew she had to grow up but he didn't want her to be unhappy.

"I dare say there will be a trail of broken hearts at the end of these two weeks." Zhe Yan said with a dramic sigh. Seeing her cheeks reddening under the attention. "Just think of it. The queen of QingQiu, so beautiful and so highly thought of that the heavenly emperor asked her to lead the wedding procession for the Nine Heavens newly crowned princess, so revered that she can walk along side the heavenly fathers son the high god of war Mo Yuan." Zhe yan continued in his dramatic voice as if retelling a story and not talking about her.

She was horrified and the fact that all of them were smirking only made her face red in anger. She thought that Lian Song's smirk might actually be a nervous smile and that only intensified her anger. She knew that Zhe Yan was only teasing her but she was wondering if he had actually come very close to the real reason behind this whole rediculous thing. Did Hao De want to attempt another marriage alliance? The thought was very concerning because she did not want to continue to receive friendly gestures from the emperor and yet if his idea was simply to gain her extra attention in hopes of such a thing it wasn't something she had to fear. Her father had promised her and his parents, the empress and emperor that he would not force her into any marriage again. She herself had no problem telling the heavenly emperor no so she actually thought that things might be ok.

She heard Lian Song clear his throat getting everyone's attention. "Well here is the lovely bride now. I think it's time to begin then."

They all turned to see Bai Qian escorted by her parents into the hall and everyone separated to their respected places. Mo Yuan, Si Ming and Lian Song stood up near the thrown and Bai Qian knelt in front of them with her mother standing on one side of her and her father standing on the other. Lian Song pulled out a fabric scroll and began to read.

This was one part that Bai Feng Jiu thought unnecessary but seemed to be a part of most royal weddings. There would always be an offical note of some sort describing the bride's many good traits and why they would be a good wife and such from the grooms family. While Lian Song read from the note Feng Jiu could only see the back of her aunt but imagined that she probably just wished this part was over also. Listening to what the note said only confirmed how unnecessary this custom was. Ye Hua's parents obviously didn't even try to know her GuGu because everyone in the room knew she wasn't to be trusted in a kitchen yet they said was a good cook.
She glanced up at Mo Yuan trying not to stare but found that the look on his face surprised her greatly. She didn't know what she thought he would look like but she didn't expect his eyes to be so full of emotion and his smile to be warm and genuine; but then she considered that he did love her GuGu so why should he look unhappy, she was a beautiful vision kneeling infront of them. She wished that she had the strength of character he did. She knew that she would never look upon Dong Hua like that if he were about to marry someone else.

While Lian Song continued to read her mind began to wonder. She would soon be heading to the great hall in Nine Heaven and she was afraid to see Dong Hua because no matter how much he hurt her she still loved him. Her heart wanted to see him which is exactly why she knew she shouldn't. She didn't sleep well last night, she had dreamed about her coronation. She was standing at the top of the stairs and Si Ming showed up with the dreaded map and Dijun's message. She hadn't dreamt about that day in a very long time. She woke up in tears and when she got ready in the morning her maid had asked her if she was sick because she was shaky and pale. Migu who had known her for so long and knew why she was upset had made her some tea and then talked to her for awhile. He reminded her that she wasn't the same little princess that went to Tai Chen palace more than 300 years ago. She knew he was right, of course she was different. She had been given no choice. She had to find a way to please her father and take control of things for her grandparents. Clean up all the stuff her GuGu had let go and be a queen that her people could depend upon. But her heart had not changed when it came to Dong Hua Dijun and she was afraid that despite all the changes she had made with herself she would take one look at him and be that same princess that just wanted to go where he went and just be with him and make him happy.

Then suddenly Lian Song was rolling the scroll back up and handing it to Bai Zhi. It was time to leave. She stood up straight and made her way outside telling herself that she was the queen of QingQiu and this was her GuGu's day and nothing else mattered.