Yan mansion was busy over the next few days, and everyone was excited, from servants to the children and then to the master. There were only five days left to prepare for the large gathering, and much was left to be done. Madam Yan flew through the mansion on her swift feet, overseeing all the tasks. The Yan's steward, Qi Wang, following close by.
"Have we purchased enough food? When will it be delivered? Oh, I almost forgot!" The lady spun around. "The grand pavilion needs repair work done as well, add that to the list."
"Yes mistress." The short man jotted her instructions down with his brush.
They continued to make their rounds throughout the mansion, seemingly needing to add something new to the list every time. The poor old man was tiring from the extra exertion, and constantly wiped his brow. However the energetic madam was still smiling and talking rapidly.
Meiwan had spent most of her day avoiding the bustle by remaining in her courtyard, practicing her embroidery. She was fairly good at the art, but had not uncovered the secrets to perfection yet, though not that she really cared to. Despite the upcoming gathering, the last few days for her had been quite boring, and she desperately wished for some excitement.
"Miss Lu, cook Fan has sent me your dinner early." Xiao Bi entered through the gate. "She's too busy preparing the menu and food for the event, so she made something simple for you. She says she hopes the miss won't mind."
Of course Meiwan didn't mind, the cook in Yan mansion was so good, that anything she made was a delicacy. She smiled and stood up from her seat beside the outdoor table and led the way for the maid inside, opening the door for her.
"Thank you Xiao Bi, and thank Mrs. Fan as well for me." She took a seat.
The maid removed the lid from the first box and pulled out a dish of seasoned greens, the next box had pork, and the last box had her bowl of rice and a small plate of meng bean cakes. The cook was such a dear, and had quickly learned what Meiwan's preferences were.
"Has Zhanyi been served as well?"
"Yes miss Lu. Since his courtyard is on the way, I brought him his evening meal before yours." The maid bowed.
"Thank you." Meiwan took her chopsticks up and began eating, holding her rice bowl in one hand. "How are the preperations going?" She motioned for her maid to sit.
Xiao Bi nodded her thanks, "Mistress Yan is making the gathering out to be bigger than any other event held in Yan mansion in nearly five years! Everything that is taking place to prepare, is nearly on the same scale as first class officials and even princes!"
Meiwan's eyes widened at her maid's words. Was her aunt truely going to such lengths for a mere party? It almost didn't sound right, and certaintly wasn't worth the effort.
"She's even ordered new dresses to be made for you and the first, second, and third young ladies." Xiao Bi's eyes glowed. "I heard they're going to be incredibly beautiful, as well as the height of capital fasion!"
About a week after her and Zhanyi arrived, their aunt and uncle had immediately gone about making them new clothes. They had only two outfits each, since the rest was confiscated along with the rest of Lu mansion. Now she was going to get another dress, and a work of art?
"Yes, aunt is generous." She responded somewhat absent-mindedly. "Do you know who is coming?"
In the three months of living in the capital and attending school, Meiwan had learned almost all the capital families and everything about them. She personally knew the children or granchilren from most of them, and there were only a handful whom she hadn't met yet. So she would have an understanding of who was invited, and how they would behave.
"Gu family, Fang family, Shi family-" The list went on and Meiwan recounted what she knew of each one. "The military Shangs, and the fifth princess was a new addition to the list." Xiao Bi ended with her hands clapping together.
Meiwan paused eating, her thoughts running back to the notorious Shang Qinglou. He'd be there, at the gathering, and she'd have to suffer his cruel treatment. But she knew there was no way around it, so she sighed in acceptance. Her attention returned to her maid.
"Princess? Aunt Yan invited royalty?" She recalled the last person mentioned.
Her maid nodded. "Yes, I'm not sure why she was added, but it was long after the invitations were sent."
This was a curious thing, Meiwan thought. "Fifth princess, her name is Wei Tan'er, right?" Again, the maid nodded. "Does she normally leave the palace and attend events?"
"Not usually. Because of her brother's strict control over her, she rarely leaves."
"Her brother?" She tried to remember who shared the same mother in the harem. "Wei Heping!?" Her hand gripped the edge of the table and she set the bowl down. Another enemy showing up at Yan mansion.
"Miss Lu, are you alright?" Xiao Bi came to her feet and hurried to her mistress' side, her hands reaching out but never touching. "Would you like a cup of tea?"
Meiwan shook her head, still envisioning the dark dungeon and remembering the fourth prince's cruel and cold gaze. Though she mentioned nothing of the matter to her uncle, she still wished that someone would keep her safe from the villain.
"I'm alright. You may leave first."
Xiao Bi bowed and quietly left the room, her footsteps fading away. Meiwan was left to herself in the room, her food half eaten, and her eyes wide open while she relived the Department of Justice.
By all means, she would need to avoid those two people. She only hoped that fate wouldn't play with her and force her into meeting them. Meiwan wasn't sure she could stand the horror.
...
Long black hair twisted and braided, it's length coiled into a glorious bun on top of her head. It was further adorned with golden hairpins with jewels and pearls, crafted into the shapes of birds. Glancing down to her face, she was far more beautiful than most young ladies in the capital, and the imperial palace.
Wei Tan'er gazed at her image in the golden mirror, her fingers funning down the smooth skin of her cheeks and jawline. So enraptured with her own flawless beauty, did she not notice the maid entering her room.
"Princess, Consort Jin has sent me to tell you her word." The maid spoke after giving a proper bow.
Consort Jin was Wei Heping and Wei Tan'er's mother, one of the lower ranking wifes of the emperor. Being such, her children were only allowed to refer to her as mother in private.
Tan'er sighed and pulled her eyes from her image and stared grudgingly at the maid. "What news does Consort Jin send me?"
"Consort Jin has made arrangments for you to attend a gathering outside of the palace. It will be held by the Yan family next week."
"A gathering, by the Yans?" She scoffed. "Why would I ever go to something as beneath me as that?!"
The maid bowed again, making sure not to offend the princess further. "Consort Jin was aware of how you'd feel, she also told me to tell you... Shang Buluo's son, Shang Qinglou, will also be going."
This changed things, and the princess' face brightened. "Oh?! Brother Qinglou?" Her thoughts filled of the handsome young man, and all his wonderful attributes. He was strong, and skilled in martial arts, brilliant too. He could lead an army into battle any day and win easily. Tan'er's thoughts were biased for the man she fancied.
"I'll tell Consort Jin that you've agreed to go, princess." The maid smiled seeing the princess' expression, though not out of fondess for the girl.
Wei Tan'er was the most hated princess in the palace, from gaurds to the lowest ranking servant. Her hand had caused insurmountable suffering and even death many who served the imperial palace, and had thus gained the reputation of Death's Executioner, to match her brother's own nickname Death's Judge. Together, the two siblings were among the most feared royals in many generations.
So it was a rare sight to see the selfish young lady enraptured by another, whom she would most likely never be able to marry. And if she did, Shang Qinglou's family of soldiers and generals would most likely have their way with her. She wouldn't be able to act as cruelly and unbridled anymore. So there were some who hoped she would marry him.
"Brother Qinglou." She sighed his name.
Her memory brought her back to when she'd first met him as a child ten years ago, she had been seven and he'd been eight. Shang Buluo had made a great contribution to their country An in a fierce battle, he'd managed to ward off the enemy and regain lost land. He was then recieved into the palace to claim is reward, and he'd brought his son with him.
Tan'er had been picking flowers in the garden, when Shang Qingluo wandered into the area. For the little girl, it had been love at first sight. She'd run up to greet him and he smiled down at her, which made her little heart flutter.
"I'm the fifth princess, Wei Tan'er. Who are you?"
"Shang Qinglou, my father has just returned from war and is recieving his rewards from the emperor." Young Qingluo pointed proudly at his chest, a grin on his face.
"Will you be a general too one day?" Tan'er had asked.
"Of course I will! I'll be as great a general as my father!"
"Then will you marry me?" The girl had been just as bold as a child.
Young Qinglou looked at her and wrinkled his nose. "No, you're a girl."
"Of course I'm a girl, and one day I'll grow up to be a beautiful woman! Then will you marry me.?" She laughed at his expression.
"I guess, if I have to." Qinglou pouted his lips, confusion written on his little face.
"It's a deal then!" Tan'er raced away after those words, and since then, waited for the day when he came to propose marriage to her father the emperor. In those ten years, she'd done everything she could to see him, even just a glance. But in her heart she was sure that he loved her.
And now, she'd get to really meet him again. Properly, and be able to tell him she had waited for him, and was still waiting. Tan'er let a smile slide across her face, the gathering couldn't come soon enough.