Chương 77: Noble Princess?
They chatted a bit more, but the eunuch soon announced the Emperor's arrival.
Just like the day of the previous banquet she attended in the palace, they all bowed to welcome the greatest man in the empire.
The banquet this time was expected to be a bit more casual, the Emperor let everyone rise.
"We are very happy to have received our son in back to us in one piece, Join us to celebrate his safe return, this is thanks to a brave young lady." Said the Emperor, he turned to the Crown Prince with a smile, "Yang'er."
Zhang Zhengyang took the hint, as well as Zhao Xing. Looking at the old uncle that sat on the throne made her a bit nervous. She had heard and read a lot of stories talking about Emperors and how they were like. She had heard of good, bad, terrible, incompetent, scary rulers. The one before her would be the scary one. He was clearly smiling but she still felt that powerful aura around him even if he was just sitting and doing nothing.
But today she had been given a very important mission, and she couldn't foil the Crown Prince's plan nor could she let all her efforts, days of hard training go to waste
She quickly, but unhurriedly walked up to the center where she was visible to all and performed a deep bow to greet the Emperor. When she was asked to rise, her eyes caught a familiar figure sitting with the princes.
The last banquet, her eyes wondered everywhere, she had forgotten to ask about the rest of the princes. She remembered that there was one person that had caught her eye and she'd passively remember him, whenever she spoke with her maids and they brought up the sons of the Emperor.
The Fourth Prince had a slight smile on his face, and his eyes were fixated on her. Those eye seemed clear but they were as deep as an abyss, one could get lost in it just by looking, and though his lips were arced it didn't make one comfortable at all. But she didn't have time to care about him. This only happened between seconds and Zhao Xing quickly looked away.
"Wishing your highness long life, this one is surnamed Zhao and named Xing, this one can't say she had saved the Crown Prince."
"Oh?" The Emperor turned to Zhang Zhengyang, but the later only glanced his way and smiled.
Zhao Xing continued, "This one doesn't considered myself as a savior, I was only doing so out of guilt for this my younger brother who I couldn't save. I saw the prince was in a similar situation, and couldn't bear to repeat my past mistake."
"So Miss Zhao has a younger brother?" Asked the Emperor.
"Yes your Majesty. But he passed away 4 years ago, back then it was due to the negligence on my part that I couldn't save him."
As Zhao Xing spoke she didn't seem to have much of an expression and one would even think that she was a cold person. But the way she casted her eyes downward, and as well as how empty those eyes looked, as well as her voice, which was loud and clear, but soft and calming, one could subconsciously feel her sorrow and want to sympathize with her, but at the same time feel like she didn't need their pity, and that she was strong enough to handle the most difficult situations.
"So that is how it is." The Emperor said. "Miss Zhao you saved our country's Crown Prince, how should We reward you?"
Zhao Xing then smiled, "Your majesty, now that the Crown Prince is safe and back to the capital, this one is relieved, I was able to appease the feeling of guilt I had since I lost my last family member. This one doesn't dare accept any gift, this one doesn't deserve any gifts from your Majesty."
The Emperor smiled at her, and didn't say anything more on the matter, but instead asked, "Miss Zhao lives in the mountains?"
"Yes your majesty."
"Life mustn't be easy for an living alone, with no one to rely on." He paused, then continued, "We wonder if you have ever thought about marriage?"
Zhao Xing almost choked. She tried her best to calm her heart that beat erratically. She couldn't stutter when answering. She had to show her skills in acting she couldn't lose!
She silently took a deep breath, and answered, "My Lord, this one doesn't dare to marry, apart from this one being very inexperience, I'm afraid I don't have the capability to be a good wife. I grew up without a mother, and tried hard surviving by selling medicinal herbs, My Lord this one doesn't dare to marry."
'I'm only 17 alright? How can I get married?'
Though it really seemed that when she arrived this world, everything she needed to be recognized as one of them had been given to her. In her world she had brown short hair, she was only 17 and a half and was considered very young, but here she had long hair, that almost seemed to reach her knees, she looked much younger than her original age, one could say she looked to be about 14?
With this conclusion, wasn't it even more improper that she had thoughts such as these?
The Emperor laughed. "Good, Good." He glanced at Eunuch Zhou, then said out loud, "Miss Zhao is humble, kind hearted, and is very courageous, a young lady many should learn from. She saved the Crown Prince and even though she doesn't want a reward, the life of Our son is more important than you imagine, and so from today onwards she shall be conferred the title of noble princess."
'Ah?'
'A princess? Does that mean I get my own manor? Does it mean I can do whatever I want?'
Was it her lucky day? Maybe the Emperor was in too much of a good mood and so in the end it was a matter of perfect timing. After so many days of bad luck!
Though she was very happy, she didn't forget to control her expression.
The hall went silent. Even Zhang Zhengyang had to take another glance at his Imperial Father. Of course, he was glad his plan had worked, but he didn't know things would end up even better than he had expected. He couldn't help but feel that something was wrong, but he couldn't really pinpoint it.
This was an edict, she couldn't dispute nor refuse it. So Zhao Xing quickly curtsied once more to thank the Emperor.
"Zhao Xing thanks the Emperor."
"Rise"
Many couldn't believe their ears.
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