1 CH. 1 ~ Tea Talks

Lou Qi Ran was sitting at a marble-carved table, pouring tea into her cup. Her jade-like skin glowed in the early morning sun. On her wrist was a jade bracelet, there were her initials carved inside the bracelet. It was the season of fall, so it has begun getting colder each day. But today, it was warmer than usual so she decided to come out for some fresh air.

Lou Qi Ran had finished pouring her tea and carefully lifted the porcelain cup towards her cherry-colored lips. The maid, Xiao Li, watched as she saw her Young Miss drinking her tea with grace. Young Miss, had pale skin, it looked very smooth, paired with her phoenix eyes that gave a sense of a pure and clear-mind. Her nose bridge was just the right height and her button nose fitted perfectly with it.

Her lips wasn't too big nor too small, it was the perfect shape, her cheeks and her lips always had tints of red to them sometimes pink, depending on the weather, all in all the features that Young Miss had was in perfect harmony. Xiao Li thought that her Young Miss was absolutely stunning, she always gave off a feeling of calmness and elegance but there was also a hidden loveliness that couldn't be hidden.

Xiao Li knew that Young Miss wasn't just beautiful from the outside, she and everyone, also knew that Young Miss was beautiful on the inside.

Lost in thoughts Xiao Li didn't hear that the Empress was coming towards them.

"Her Majesty, has arrived." The eunuch at the side announced.

Lou Qi Ran and Xiao Li both stood and turned around to greet the Empress, Lou Xia Fang. Lou Qi Ran respectfully saluted, the Empress, her mother.

"Imperial mother, your daughter, Qi Ran greets you." Lou Qi Ran slightly bent her knees to show respect.

"Stand up my child, no need to be courteous. I came to accompany you on this rare warm day, and you too, Xiao Li get up." Her mother tells her while lifting her up with a gentle smile.

Lou Qi Ran stood up with the help of her mother, and helped her mother sit down on one of the chair.

Holding her hand, her mother started speaking. "Ran'er, your mother comes here to tell you that in a few days we have to attend a banquet held by the neighboring, Hua Country. It's to show our respect and to strengthen our bond together."

Lou Qi Ran slightly creased her brows but continued to listen as she pours her mother a cup of tea. "Whose going, mother? Is brother going along with you?"

Her mother stared at Lou Qi Ran and spoke seriously. "Ran'er, this time around your brother is going to stay behind. Only your father, and I are going with you to this banquet."

As Lou Qi Ran was about to speak, her mother spoke first. "Ran'er I know that you don't like attending these type of gatherings but mother can't hide you forever. Or they'll become suspicious if I even had a daughter. You're going to have to come out to the public one day."

Lou Qi Ran looked at her mother before answering in a calm voice. "Mother, I'll go this time. I know it has been hard on you, this daughter doesn't know how to treasure your gratefulness. I lack filial piety towards mother." As she said this she stood up to slightly bow to her mother.

Her mother pulled her back down, "Aiya, my Ran'er isn't lacking it's just mother fails to appreciate your kindness."

Lou Qi Ran talked a few more lines over tea with her mother before she left. After she left, the sun began setting, they did talk for a few hours.

Noticing this Lou Qi Ran, told Xiao Li to go prepare for her meal. "Xiao Li, go and get my meal prepared. I'll go inside my room first, come back quickly."

Xiao Li saluted, and then went off to the kitchen. Lou Qi Ran watched as Xiao Li walked off, and sat for a few more seconds before walking towards her room.

As Xiao Li was carrying her Young Miss's meal, she thought about Young Miss's personality. Young Miss's personality wasn't someone who easily befriended others, instead she appeared aloof compared to other Young Ladies her age. Young Miss, had always been like this, but she understands that once Young Miss warms up to you, there's very many different sides she shows.

Young Miss, rarely smiled too, she usually smiled at others but those were only a facade or out of respect, she knows well. Young Miss, only genuinely smiles around her family and Xiao Li. But Xiao Li thinks that her Young Miss, was very cool and beautiful. Although, Young Miss was very aloof, she treated everyone around her with kindness, everyone in the kingdom can be said to like/love her. Though she treats everyone with kindness it doesn't mean she isn't mean either, she doesn't appreciate those who are fakes nor the ones who tries to cause up problems. She always fights back with her words, it may seem very small but no one could ever beat her in sparring words, maybe not even if they were sparring swords.

Young Miss reprimands her servants if they did something wrong, she handles matter whether big or small, so simple that you'd think the matters themselves were simple. Overall, Xiao Li thinks that her Young Miss is very outstanding in everything given before her.

She thinks that the man who deserves Young Miss has to be of outstanding traits. Because Xiao Li knows that her Young Miss excels in fighting, which is rare for a young lady like her Young Miss to be. Not only that she excels in calligraphy, dancing, horse riding, painting or even drawing, she even knows how to play the guzheng, erhu, and pupa. Xiao Li knew that her Young Miss was extremely talented. But her Young Miss, to Xiao Li seemed to be most skilled at playing the flute.

Whenever Young Miss plays the flute she feels as if her whole body is relaxing, it made her so sleepy and everyone loved it. The melody was so smooth and satisfying. While thinking all about this, Xiao Li had already reached, Lou Qi Ran's room.