Empress Xie

Empreas Xie•2

Many were excited and could not help but gossip and seek information at every turn. Some major events were happening this year, but whether it was for good or bad was still uncertain.

The Empress Dowager was going to appear before the public after so many years, and the unloved Third Prince had returned after five years at the southern border.

Ministers and officials wondered what the prince's return would mean for them and the other princes. Would a new faction be born, or will one faction gain an immeasurable advantage over the others?

Amongst the wives and young misses, there was gossip over much more trivial matters. "Is the Third Prince truly back?" One mother asked.

"Truly." Another replied. "My maid is on good terms with a palace maid. She said the prince has returned, but no one but the Emperor has met with him."

"I thought Third Prince was hated." One young lady told the girl next to her after eavesdropping.

"Perhaps that's why no one else has seen him."

"Maybe he's been terribly scarred from the battlefield and is too unsightly to be seen."

"Then he'll be a perfect match for Xie Lien right?"

The girls laughed.

"Xie Bo told me Xie Lien is born with a large forehead and a crooked nose."

"No wonder her father hides her."

"Hmph! If it were me, this miss would have long disowned such a child."

"Isn't that too harsh?"

"Do you want to keep an ugly child?"

"..." The girl couldn't answer.

"If you're talking of second lady Xie, then this miss has some very interesting news." Another girl joined the conversation.

"Oh? Hurry up and tell. Do not make us anxious."

"My mother ran into Xie Furen1 at the Chang shop when she went to buy some fabrics. She talked a bit with her, and Xie Furen said second lady Xie will be attending the banquet."

Naturally, numerous others were eavesdropping, and soon not a soul in the banquet hall did not know that the ugly second miss would be attending the banquet.

~~*~~

Unlike those in the banquet hall, Xie Bo and Xie Diu did not know Xie Lien was in the carriage ahead of them and would be at the banquet.

Xie Bo had made her blue silk into a long dress that showed off her chest, with a sky blue long coat and with a thin white belt around her waist. Her hair was done in a flying immortal style and had numerous gold hairpins and clips adorning it. In a bid to look more mature she painted her lips red and added rouge to the corner of her eyes. She still appeared beautiful, but the makeup took took away the youthful endearment a 15 year old should have.

While the older continuously propped her appearance, Xie Diu sneered, thinking this older sister much too uncultured. Xie Diu's fabric had been made into a beautiful hanfu with a light green inner shirt. Her hair was put up in double maiden buns, adding a slight cuteness to her arrogant posture.

Compared to the haughty Xie Bo and the enthralling Xie Lien, Wang Yiniang had taught her daughter that a calm and refined beauty is what every lady should strive to achieve.

When the Xie family's carriages arrived, Xie Bo and Xie Diu put on a show of ladyship and descended from the carriage with their noses up and their steps light.