Empress Xie

Empress Xie•4

Xie Lien

Like an idiot I said nothing.

No really, what am I supposed to say now? "I see where you're going with this old lady and while I am the most good looking person here, I gotta say no. Thanks for the pin though. Peace!" I'm sure she'll take that pin back and stab me to death with it.

Jokes aside, I'm sure there is something I can say. While I have verbally sparred with my sisters and the concubines before, the Empress Dowager gives off a completely different feeling.

Naturally, I knew what I felt is the years of experience from her battles in the inner palace. This old woman sat on the highest position a woman in this era could ever achieve. Her smile is pleasing, her eyes friendly and almost jolly, but her aura made me feel small and told me I am too many leagues beneath her to even count.

Since I came to this world, this is the first time I found myself actually afraid of someone.

The Empress Dowager's eyes softened and I suspected she knew what I was thinking. "Xie Lien is still young though." She said. "Aijia is curious of what kind of woman you will grow into." I felt her words were far deeper than I imagined, but I dared not pry.

She waved me off and I bowed once more before descending the platform. I never looked back, but I could feel eyes on me, and it wasn't just the Empress Dowager's.

~~*~~

Every performance after paled in comparison to the reading of a simple poem. The banquet hall was filled with hostility either towards or for Xie Lien.

The Furens and missus knew their daughters were no match for the Xie second miss. Not only did they pale in comparison to her beauty, but her poem still annoyingly echoed in their hearts, making the maidens want to experience a magical moment under the blooming cherry blossoms.

Even more annoyingly, the Empress Dowager had taken a liking to her, and the more observant ones were more than aware of the away the Crown Prince and Fifth Prince looked at her.

Xie Bo wished that she could stab Xie Lien with her chopsticks. For years, she had not-so-subtly hinted at Xie Lien's horrendous looks with rumors of Xie Lien having a crooked nose, uneven eyes, skin like a leper, and the personality of a pig. Because of this, Xie Bo became the person to befriend if one wanted to get along with the Xie family, and the males looked towards her for marriage since the legitimate miss was undeserving of her title.

All her hard work quickly went down the drain in one evening. The young ladies were shunning her, the males stared at Xie Lien like she was an image that emerged from a painting. Even Xie Bo's most beloved Crown Prince was entranced by Xie Lien!

Xie Lien you shameless succubus! She cursed and clenched the chopsticks. You did this deliberately. You just want to shame me don't you? I swear I'll get you back for this!

Xie Diu wasn't any better. Unlike Xie Bo, one could say Xie Diu she is a lot more refined. She had a good relationship with some noble ladies, but she's a self-righteous thing and was very picky in the kind of people she befriended.

Like Xie Bo, she had dreams of greatness. Her maternal family may not be of high status, but Xie Diu felt that was only because that old Emperor did not know real talent. For too long she held back her hate and endured her inferiority to Xie Lien while letting Xie Bo take care of dirtying Xie Lien's name. She felt this process of hers was what it meant to be a true lady, having the dogs fight amongst themselves while waiting for the opportunity to deal the final blow to the last opponent standing.