Episode 3.

Yes,and my name is Yu-Xuan Li,Li said. Lien,Fuji, where is your mother? Li asked the kids. She's in the capital,she said that she's going to check on those tacky garments,Fuji said coldly. I see, Li said while sipping on his tea. Oh,I'd like for you to meet my two kids,Yu-Shu Lien and Yu-Xueli Fuji. Lien waved cutely but Fuji waved coldly.

I heard that you're going to choose your concubines tomorrow,mind if I come? I want to see your taste,money boy. Ling said while looking a cherry blossom petal. Why not? Li shrugged. Before Ling was about to leave she turned around and said,Since you like following me so much.....but you still haven't found out who I am,I'll tell you. My name is Qi Ying Ling from the Qi family. My family hates me basically but act as if they love me infront of others. I have four people that I actually care about. Don't touch them. If you dare to....I don't give a shit who you are,I will kill you and make you suffer. That's all. Even if you try to find out more info,you won't find it. Don't follow me anymore, I'm not worth your time. I'll be giving Ming your medication because I don't want to see you again, you're annoying,Ling said and then left.

But that's where you're wrong. We will meet again. That,I'm sure of it.....Qi Ying Ling,Li said while grinning. I have never seen father smile because of mommy but does it have to be that tom boy princess looking of a woman? Fuji telepathically talked to Lien. You noticed that too huh. We have to find out who she is but we have a lot of things to do,so later,Lien said.

At home......

Hey,kids,I'm back,Ling said while entering the house. Mommy! They said. I have a lot of herbs to make with elixirs. So,I'll teach everything I do and know,okay? But I hope you can keep up, Ling said. We will,they said happily.

My lady,Grandmother and your father are summoning you to attend the party that is held in the main pavilion and your children may attend as well,a maid said politely. Thank you,Erina.Come and help us get ready please. You're dressing up too. You are my trusted maid and I like you,Ling said while patting her head. She blushed and said,Okay, my lady! After they were finished getting ready, they were stunning. They were all wearing matching garments. You look amazing,my lady and you too kids,Erina said happily. I've never seen such beautiful garments. I made them myself including yours,Ling said while fixing the golden hairpins on Yuri and Mei's hair and grooming Haruto and Xuan's hair. Now......let's go,my lady. And they left for the event.

When they entered the pavilion,all the maids, guards,guests and the royal family were amazed. I thought that brat was scrubby but....she's beautiful,they all thought. *gasp* She's......What am I even thinking?But I said we would meet again,Li thought while sipping his wine. They knelt infront of the emperor and they all said,Thank you for inviting us to the party, emperor. You're welcome. Now,celebrate to your heart's content,the emperor laughed heartily. Ling directed the kids and Erina to their places of sitting and started serving the kids. When she stood up from crouching,she looked around and then she saw HIM. She looked flustered for a split second. Then Li smiled at her. Ling,I would like to talk to you in private,the emperor said. Yes,emperor,she said and then they went to the courtyard.

Ling,I know it was a drastic decision to marry Consort Xiao but please understand,it was your mother's wish before she left for Jinbai,he said. Do you even know the state I'm in father? At first, when you found out that I was pregnant, you were hostile toward me and even called me a tramp. You didn't visit me or show me that you cared. I have been living in a shabby pavilion and you don't even know, Ling said while crying. I...... He tried to say something but couldn't. What? What excuse are you trying to come up with this time? Look,since we're a burden, we will leave the day after tomorrow. I will take my kids and Erina with me and you'll never see us again. You abandoned us just like you did with Mom,Ling said. I loved your mother! He said. If you did,would you have slept with Consort Xiao and gave birth to Xuoru? Huh? Tell me! Ling said while crying bitterly. Anyway,I have to go and check on Mei,Erina and the others. I have to go,emperor,Xuoru and your darling Midari are waiting for you. Garbage like me that can't even cultivate shouldn't even be in your presence,she said and then she left. When she was at the door,she wiped the tears,grinned and said, That practice with Aphrodite paid off.

Mother,why don't we say poems about fall? Consort Xiao's kids said. Sure,she smiled. Would your kids mind to compete with mine,Ling? she asked. They don't mind,Ling answered bashfully. Kids,remember the poem that I taught you,she whispered to them.

I hate to admit it but I thought I didn't care when Alethea was reciting those poems for me but they came out as helpful really,Hestia's voice thought. Consort Xiao's kids recited theirs and they were applauded and praised. Hmph! Let's see what your kids can do,she smirked.

Then they started reciting the poem at intervals,

In the autumn night,

Breaking into a pleasant chat.

I stare at,

Rarely seen in Edo,

The moon in the mountain.

(Haruto)

The eyes of hawks,

Would be in the dark,

The quai crys.

I pull out the grey hairs,

And under my pillow,

There is a cricket.

(Yuri)

Drinking the morning green tea,

The monk is calm.

The flowers of chrysanthemum.

(Mei)

Really fragile,

The old mother cries alone.

The friend of the moon.

(Xuan)

The cry of ''Pii''

The last of the voice is so sad.

The night deer.

(The four of them)

Then they bowed and kow towed infront of the emperor and said,I hope grandfather liked our humble poem. That...was.....the most hard poem in the scrolls and all of you said with such precision! The only one who could recite a poem at your age is Yu Xuan-Li,The emperor said shocked. Everyone clapped thunderously. Hmm.....Even your children are a mystery. I want to know more about you every day,Li thought.

The next day.......at the Xi.......

(Xi, where they make announcements.)

Ah!I hope I can be one of the two of the chosen concubines that are about to be chosen,a woman said. No! I will, another woman said. Then they started bickering. No! I will.....back and forth.......

I'm so excited....me too.......I want to become his concubine......women all over the Xi said. Urgh.....I didn't know that it would be this is annoying. I bet Mei and Haruto will look at me sternly for making an excuse for leaving them at home but I'll make them some chocolate so that they won't be mad at me anymore, Ling said as she was looking around.

Who is this tom boy girl? You shouldn't be here,the women said. Every woman here....we are glad that you could join us for the selection of the concubines, an announcer said while holding a scroll. You really think I wanna be here?Ling thought.

Flashback.....

I'll give you all the herbs you can imagine,Li said. You just have to watch and then leave,that's it.

Flashback over.....

I only did this for the herbs and I'll be able to give the kids the life they truly deserve,Ling thought while having no other choice but to stay. Now,the second concubine is Yong Li Men of the Yong family and the apparently,the prince has ordered not to announce the first concubine due to his wishes,the announcer said and then left the stage.

In a private room........

Childe,who do you think will be your first concubine? Ming asked. I don't know either,he answered.

On the seats inside of the Xi......

My lady! I finally found you!You.....need to.....Erina tried to say it but couldn't. Calm down,Eri. Just sit down and tell me what happened,Ling said. Okay. My lady,your father said that you should dress up because you're going to meet someone important, Erina explained. Really? Now? But I have to go back to the house to and check on Haruto and the others, Ling said bored out of her mind. Yes my lady now,Erina said pulling her out of the chair and removing the cherry blossom twig in her mouth.

In the dressing room.....

So,who am I meeting today? Ling asked while being dolled up. I'm afraid I don't know that,my lady,Erina said while putting a hairpin on her left and right bun. Then she helped her to wear her clothes and she looked stunning. She was wearing red and white garments that matched perfectly with her silky light brown hair.

They walked for a few minutes until they reached a villa that was near the Xi. I will be waiting for my lady on the first floor. Your father told me that the person you're meeting is on the third reserved floor in the main door at the end of the hall and....... be careful,my lady,Erina said. Ling ruffed her hair and said,It's okay,Eri. Just go and take care of Haruto,Yuri,Mei and Xuan. You can tell them where I am,Ling said and started going up the stairs.

When she reached the third floor,she walked to the main door and open door. Hm? Hnssvisbdyjs...... Huh? You?! Of all people.....it just had to be you, Ling stood at the entrance looking flustered as ****. He gasped and then smiled and said,I told you we would meet again,Qi Ying Ling,he said.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***