LOTUS

CHAPTER XIII: START

When the gathering was over, all nobles one by one bowed to the emperor to say their farewells.

When all of it is over they all went home to their respective manors excited at the happenings that will come in the future. All the noble families has placed their bets to each of their Lotus Bride candidates to climb the ladder of the nobilities.

The representatives are expected to enter the palace in two days time for the selection to commence however none of them are that naïve to say that the battle hasn’t started yet.This banquet is already the beginning, after all first impressions lasts and plays a major role towards victory.

They knew that whoever caught the prince’s interest has a higher chance of winning. It doesn’t matter if there are competitions to be held in various fields to determine the most suitable Lotus Bride, the crown prince’s feelings can change the outcome.

So for two days, the participants were prepped and dolled up to achieve their father’s desired results.

In this empire, the one thing most important to a woman is to bring honor to her family through marriage. If they can be married to a family with high social status and immense wealth then they will be respected as women of the nobility. So saying that the Lotus Bride selection is the greatest opportunity is an understatement.

Within the Xue manor is another story. Master Xue refuse to let his only daughter to marry for status, he wishes to be able to let her marry for love and have what he and his wife shared in the past.However there is no way around an imperial edict. To defy it would mean the execution of nine generations of the whole Xue clan.

He can only wish and pray that her daughter would be lucky to escape the palace’s cage.

“Father?” the sweet yet cold voice of her daughter reached his ears.

“Come Bei’er drink tea with me” he invited her to sit down.

“How are you feeling?” he asked

“I am fine father” she immediately replied, trying to reassure him. Even though his daughter tend to be on the colder side, he knows that she deeply cares for the family.

“If you are unwilling and do not wish to participate you can tell me my daughter, I will send you to a remote place before the selection.” He told her.

He can see sadness and anger fill her cold eyes.

“And cause the Xue family’s demise? Father both of us know that it is a hefty price for a woman’s freedom.” She stated the facts.

As Bei Wei looked at her father’s concern she can’t stop her rolling eyes.

“How any times do I have to tell father that I am participating in a selection, which means there are a lot of women who can take the title.” She said

Xue Chen shook his head at the cluelessness of his daughter. He saw how the two princes of the empire took interest to his daughter at the banquet. Even the crown prince who’s known for being uninterested iin women was entranced by his daughter. He knows when a man desires a woman, he is afterall one.

“you underestimate yourself my daughter” he sighed

“Father, I do not wish to be empress and the selection includes tests and competitions. It’s easy to fail all of them” she said like the idea is an obvious solution to their problem.

Xue Chen just prayed that her daughter is right. And that his intuition of the prince’s behaviour are wrong.

“You must be tired , its already late and you have to depart for the palace early tomorrow, you should rest my daughter.” He told her.

Bei Wei only nodded and urged his father to rest as well.

With that the night soon came to pass and the morning of every noble lady to enter the palace has come.