King's Regrets
Eps 52's
The next day, the royal palace of the Ming state looked extremely busy and bustling. That's because tonight's party to celebrate crown prince Zhang's birthday will be held, so they removed some of the decorations in the palace hall and replaced them with tables for invited guests.
Everyone was busy arranging the palace hall for crown prince Zhang's party, but crown prince Zhang was busy accompanying Xia Lian An to play chess in the eastern palace garden.
Previously crown prince Zhang had gone to the western palace to meet with emperor Shun, although he was a little lazy to meet him. But he still had to meet and greet the guests. Moreover, emperor Shun was a friend he invited.
It is now accompanied by the personal bodyguards of crown prince Zhang and Xiao Wei. Xia Lian An and crown prince Zhang play chess.
"You're smart enough to play chess, Miss Xia." Praise crown prince Zhang.
"No, this is my second time playing chess. And I really can't be said to be smart."
"For someone who has played chess twice, this is smart. Because it can make me stop and think hard to step."
"You praise me too much, Mr. Jiang."
Xia Lian An simply smiled hearing that. Although in the modern era it is very rare to encounter ancient chess games. But because as a child he was taught to play ancient chess by his grandfather, so he understood a little and still remember how the game was done.
Claaks
Xia Lian An was stunned then snarled to see crown prince Zhang finally able to break his hard-to-break defense.
"I finally broke your strong defense, Miss Xia."
"Congratulations to you, Mr. Jiang."
Seeing Xia Lian An and crown prince Zhang laughing happily Xiao Wei who had been seeing them since, also felt happy.
"The day is starting late afternoon, you should be prepared to welcome the guests who are coming soon, Mr. Jiang."
"Well you're right, then I'll be waiting for you in the palace hall tonight. Please don't stay there too long, Miss Xia."
"Good sir."
Crown Prince Zhang nodded and smiled. After that he stood up and walked away leaving the eastern palace to prepare.
"Xiao Wei, we should also prepare. I heard our emperor has also come since yesterday, I don't want to be his people, make him disappointed because it's too late."
"Well ladies, I'll prepare warm water for your bath."
Xia Lian An stood up and walked towards her room, while Xiao Wei walked towards the other room to prepare Xia Lian An's bath water.
"Emperor Shun, I hope you won't be too surprised to see me here either." Xia Lian An muttered.
Xia Lian An then picked up some hairpins and clothes that she would wear later tonight. He will show how happy and free he is after being detached from Emperor Shun in the presence of everyone who comes tonight.
"Miss, the water's ready." Xiao Wei.
Xia Lian An who had already removed all the hairpins that adorned her head walked into the bathroom that was beside her room.
Accompanied by Xiao Wei, Xia Lian An enjoyed the warm water with a few drops of rose juice that Xiao Wei dropped into the bathtub.
20 Minutes later, Xia Lian An walked out of the bathroom and into the room to change clothes and apply makeup as well as her hair which was helped by Xiao Wei.
The day continued to run, the sun continued to roar to the place of the contest and replaced by a dark night illuminated by lantern lights installed beautifully in the palace.
The invited guests began to arrive and congratulate crown prince Zhang.
Almost all the tables were occupied by invited guests who did not want to be late to attend their crown prince's birthday party.
"Happy birthday crown prince Zhang, may you always be blessed and happy." Emperor Shun.
"Thank you emperor Shun."
Emperor Shun then asked a bodyguard to hand over the gifts he had brought to crown prince Zhang.
After congratulating each other and speaking for a moment, Emperor Shun sat down at the place he had prepared.
Crown Prince Zhang looked around looking for Xia Lian An who had not yet been seen.
Just as crown prince Zhang was about to turn around and sit in his chair, he saw the figure of the woman he had been waiting for since earlier in front of the entrance of the palace hall.
Accompanied by Xiao Wei as usual, Xia Lian An walked into the palace hall with such a sweet smile.
Everyone in the palace hall was fascinated by the beauty and elegance of the woman who was walking in, making Emperor Shun turn to the woman. And....
Deg
Deg
The woman who made a scene in the palace hall turned out to be her empress whom she had once wasted. The two eyes of emperor Shun did not blink looking at the face of the woman who had once loved him deeply within the royal palace of his country.
"Miss Xia, you've finally come." Crown prince Zhang.
"I'm sorry if I'm a little late."
Crown Prince Zhang shook his head "No, it's okay."
"Have stopped that, you don't have to bow to me."
Xiao Wei gave a box to crown prince Zhang, which he immediately received.
All who saw that were shocked and whispered to each other, as crown prince Zhang directly received the gift box from the woman who was in front of their crown prince. So did emperor Shun who wondered about the relationship between the two people who were in front of him.
Crown Prince Zhang opened the gift box he had received from Xia Lian An, and instantly his eyes twinkled at the gift he had gotten from Xia Lian An.
A fragrance pouch. In this tradition it is said that if a woman makes a bag of fragrances or handkerchiefs and gives it to a man, it means that the woman likes a man who is given. Or as a sign, if a woman reciprocates the feelings of a man who has said his feelings towards a woman.
...The fragrance pouch created by Xia Lian An, for crown prince Zhang....
Xia Lian An did not know about it. But when Xiao Wei wanted to explain, he did not want to listen.
"Do you like it?" Xia Lian An asked looking at the crown prince who was still staring at the bag of his artificial fragrance.
"Like, I really like the gift from Miss Xia. Even this is the gift I love most of all."
"Thank you."
Crown Prince Zhang took the bag of fragrances and then directly put it on the waist.
"It's fragrant."
"I'm dripping some rose juice on that bag."
"It's just worth it."
Emperor Shun looked at the gift Xia Lian An had given to crown prince Zhang, his hands clenched. He remembered back then when Xia Lian An gave a handkerchief with a dragon motif that was quite beautiful, but because of that time he did not have feelings for Xia Lian An, but because of that time he did not have feelings for Xia Lian An, he tore the handkerchief away and stepped on it right in front of Xia Lian An.
Now right before his eyes, he saw Xia Lian An giving a bag of fragrances. And crown prince Zhang was so fond of even directly wearing the pouch.
Xia Lian An looked towards Emperor Shun who was holding back all his feelings. Xia Lian An then walked over to the emperor Shun's table.
"Greetings to the glorious emperor Shun, may his majesty live a long and healthy life always." Xia Lian An said as he saluted emperor Shun.
"Qi... Qing Lian." Emperor Shun said softly.
"Sorry your honor, the name of the servant is no longer Qing Lian. Because before the servant came out of the noble royal palace, the servant was driven out by the servant's parents. And the name of the servant now was no longer Qing Lian. May your majesty remember that."
Emperor Shun was stunned to hear it, as he never knew if after that day he had been kicked out of his family, no longer part of the Qing family. And he even changed his name.
All these years he had hurt Xia Lian An, even he still made her suffer after she came out of the royal palace.
I don't know what happened, but Emperor Shun's heart felt so sick hearing Xia Lian An's words.
"Prime Minister Qing, you're so ruthless."
"Your highness the emperor and her highness the queen arrive!" Said a guard to everyone loudly.
Everyone inside the palace hall saluted as the two royal leaders passed by them.
"Greetings to the glorious emperor and the noble queen." Xia Lian An said in a respectful manner.
"Good boy, come back we'll start the party soon." Said the queen gently to Xia Lian An.
"Thank you, your majesty."
Xia Lian An then sat down at a place not far from the crown prince Zhang's table.
"For tonight, forget the formality for a moment and let's enjoy the party." Said the emperor to everyone in the palace hall while raising the glass up.
The sound of music began to sound, the dancers began to come out and wiggle their bodies in front of the invited guests who had come.
The queen looked at Xia Lian An who was talking to her servant. The queen nodded her head, she very rarely saw a master who was willing to talk and get in touch so closely with his servant. So the queen could tell if Xia Lian An's personality was very good, through her interactions with the servants who served her.
"Didn't she look prettier, Jiang'er?" Asked the queen to the crown prince while looking at Xia Lian An.
"The queen's mother was right, she was very beautiful. I don't even want everyone staring at her beauty tonight."
The queen laughed when her son spoke. The queen accidentally saw the fragrance pouch on crown prince Zhang's waist.
"Are you buying a new bag of fragrances, Jiang'er?"
"No queen mother, this is a birthday present that Miss Xia made for me herself."
"really?"
"Yes the queen's mother."
"That's great."
The queen is very happy to see her son happy tonight. He did not care about how emperor Shun was feeling who kept staring at Xia Lian An, or the palace officials with crown prince Zhang's attitude tonight at Xia Lian An.