The Emperor Chases His Wife

Chapter XII

CHAPTER XII: Was This An Illusion?

It was late afternoon when Nian returned back to Shanghai Manor. The events of the day were not only tiring and all she wanted to do was get into bed and rest. Nian never expected that the Emperor had a favored son, a prince who could get away with anything and possessed a higher status than the Crown Prince himself!

Nian was impressed.

She never thought there would be someone who could refuse the Emperor's requests blatantly and still live.

After Liuyun had stated it was fair for her to also be compensated, the Emperor agreed and ordered one of the eunuchs to bring a few gifts into the court. Nian was given a few literature books, some dresses made from silk, a very jade hair pins and nearly a hundred gold coins.

She didn't outright admit it, but she was quite thankful to Liuyun for his help. Not only did she have clothes to wear, but she also had a few coins which would be useful for Qing and herself while they were on the run.

She had gotten more than she bargained for and it was all to her benefit.

After getting home, she'd excuse herself and hurried away to her quarters with Qing following quickly behind her. Before they had left the palace, words of the new engagement between Huang and the Crown Prince had spread like wild fire and the people of the city had already gathered at the front gates of the Merchant's manor to congratulate Huang.

They'd showered the little girl with endless praises till her face was red from blushing and her cheeks hurt from smiling.

The Great Merchant and Madam Shanghai were in a great mood and used this time to invite several of the noble men, who came over to express their delight, into the manor under the words of 'hosting a small banquet'.

The servants were instantly sent out to make the necessary preparations and within two hours, a total of one hundred people were seated together and laughing while sharing wine and food.

Huang was the center of attention that evening and many of the other sisters, who'd witnessed the events at the court, used this time to fawn and suck up to her. After all, if they did, she'd put in a good word for them to some of the Crown Prince's companions.

When Nian had excused herself, everyone thought she'd simply excused herself because she was embarrassed. She may have been compensated by the Emperor, but the truth was that her engagement to the Crown Prince had been canceled.

Many of the people who saw her getting out of her carriage in front of the manor, shook their heads in pity and whispered to one another. Who told this girl to be unfortunate and be born a good for nothing?

In actuality, Nian was just tired and didn't want to stick around to hear Huang's continuous boasting. After arriving, Huang had changed into another elaborate dressed and took some of Madam Shanghai's jewelry to further adorn herself. If she was overdressed before, she was really over the top now.

She had shed her pleasant external manners and the spoilt arrogant, self centered, rotten personality inside of her showed up. She didn't hesitate to dangle her marriage over the heads of her other sisters and she wanted to throw the engagement in Nian's face.

However, she couldn't find the girl no matter how hard she looked and in the end she was left to brag and boast to anyone who was willing to hear.

Once she had reached her courtyard, she instructed Qing to run her a bath and then sneak them something to eat from the kitchens while the other servants were busy tending to the guest.

The younger was quick in her work and while soaking in the tub, Nian filled her stomach with white rice smothered in gravy, roasted meat, crackers, fruits and other delicacies which had been prepared for the guests.

A while later, had finished her bath and was climbing up to her roof with a thin blanket. The night wasn't cold so her sickly body wasn't affected. The only problem she had was the soreness in her limbs and the stinging of her cuts and bruises from the hot water and movement as she climbed.

A luminous crescent moon lighted the sky and was complimented by an endless sea of stars, all of them twinkling brightly and seeming to be in an imaginary competition with each other for shining the brightest.

Nian's mind was wondering away as she laid with her hands behind her head and looked up into the starry heaven. She knew it was too soon to try and escape again and with the new of Huang's engagement to the Crown Prince, spreading across the region, the Merchant's manor was going to be busy for the next few days.

This caused her to frown. While the business would provide her with a prefect cover to sneak into a travelling carriage of some sort, it meant that what came into and left the manor was going to be searched as security was going to be increased.

If she was going on her own, Nian would have taken the chance again, but this time she wanted to bring Qing along.

From her memories, the old Nian had wanted to bring Qing along the first time but wasn't willing to risk the life of the younger girl as they might have both been killed if they were caught.

Thankfully, the Merchant didn't kill her and Nian was able to still continue on. Now, a new soul had replaced the old and Nian was determined to successfully get them out.

She wasn't going to leave Qing behind.

While she was lost in thought, an outrageous pair of grey eyes appeared in her thoughts. The demonically sinful orbs which were like the gates of hell belonged to the man the Emperor favored and the people loved.

She was lost in her thoughts when the face of the person she was thinking about appeared before her. A narrow, elegant face with a sharp jaw line, perfectly arched eyebrows and a pair of devilish grey eyes which could both seduce and enchant a person. This person was clearly the final product of a talented craftsman.

Why was she seeing this face now? Was this was an illusion?