Fated Book 2 : The Crown Prince's Golden Consort

The next day the Empress sent two carriages filled with cosmetics, clothes and jewelry and an invitation to the palace to Lu Xiaolian. She had been invited to stay with the Empress and train in the palace. This was a great honor as even the crown Princess was never invited to the palace or gifted any servants when she married the crown Prince. The Empress also gifted her two senior matrons from the palace to teach her palace manners and tradition and to serve her together with six first class servants all of this was to prepare her for her new position as a first class princess. She was after all a senior member of the royal family. She was of the same rank as the Royal princesses second only to the Empress. She already had more servants than the crown princess Consort. She was ranked higher than even the crown princess Consort, it was very clear to everyone that she was well valued by the Empress and Emperor. The Emperor had even given her the Crown Prince tittle before her became the crown Prince. As a first class princess she can never marry lower than a prince and when married she could only be the main wife. Everyone could tell that the Emperor was disciplining the Prime minister, they all waited to see how the crown Prince responded to this. It was no secret that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess did not get along. The crown Prince never rejected any of the beauties given by members of the court. Sadly they never seamed to live long enough he currently had only three concubines all of which were of Noble birth. The crown Prince however didn't have any children yet. The most favoured in the crown Prince's Haram remains the eldest daughter of the Grand tutor Jang Suyin and his childhood sweetheart.

Various Noble families began to pay a visit to Duke Wu Manor to congrat them on the marriage with various gifts. The crown Prince was presently representing the royal family in the wedding of the Emperor of Han Liu Liang Liu and Empress Zhongshan Li Liang. He hasn't returned from the journey so the wedding couldn't be held until he was back.

Lu Xiaolian had just finished receiving the Empress personal Eunuch and was directing the servants to transfer her gifts to the store when her stepmother Ming Meiren Walked into the room, with a smile Lu Xiaolian said "Xiaolian greets Second mother"

"Xiaolian may I have a word with you? Ming Meiren said softly,she had always taken Xiaolian as her daughter so it broke her heart that the had to be separated even if by marriage. She was already worried about this marriage, the royal family was not as beautiful as it seamed, she was born in just a distant relative of the Imperial royal family but that didn't save her from the struggle. Lu Guoliang saved her from that and this beautiful girl gave her a chance to feel a maternal love so she never wants her to experience what she did but she knows that is unavoidable.

"I even wanted to see you second mother come let me show you what I drew"Xiaolian said as she lead her into her private rooms She already knew Bie Liu would take care of everything. No matter how hard stepmother Ming Meiren had been trying to hide how worried she was about her marriage to the crown Prince, Lu Xiaolian was already aware, she had known her stepmother long enough that she could not be fooled. She was also worried but pretended otherwise, it wouldn't do well of she showed it all, someone had to be strong after all.

"Xiaolian, you are marrying into the royal family so you have to be careful of your actions and words, trust no one least of all in the crown Prince Manor, It's no secret that someone had been killing the crown Prince's concubines of low rank, the crown Princess consort seems like the culprit bit it could be anyone. Xiaolian there are three way s to survive in the imperial Royal family apart from being smart, one is to know when to retreat and when to attack, it works well to be very flexible and adaptable to change my dear in the royal Haram nothing is as they seam and not all good things last forever, you could be favored today and unfavored tomorrow. Two is to always have the Empress and Emperor's favor which you already do, the last is to Never let all your cards show mind you a Friend today could quite easily become an enemy. The women of the Imperial Haram do not use swords to fight but their methods are a lot more deadly than swords"Ming Meiren said in low voice as they went through Lu Xiaolian's painting the walls have ears and these servants have yet to prove their loyalty so it was save to assume that they were all spies.

"mother is very wise, Xiaolian will adhere" Lu Xiaolian replied also in low tones.

"Good, Xiaolian it's time to start sewing your wedding wardrobes, a steward from Fungyan stores will be here to get you measured tomorrow, we have to hurry the Empress had already invited you to the palace to continue your training two week from today and it's safe to presume that the Crown Prince will be back soon' Ming Meiren said softly.

"Yes mother" Lu Xiaolian said "mmm, I will leave you to your things" Ming Meiren said and walked out of the room.

The next day the crown Prince returned and the Emperor and Empress sent over the crown Prince's birthday card. The next day the crown Prince personally visited Duke Wu Manor to deliver the betrothedal gifts, which showed how much he valued Princess Xi'an of first rank.

Soon the day reached for Lu Xiaolian to move into the palace,Lu Xiaolian was dressed in a light green palace gown and a gold Phoenix caronet. She walked out of Duke Wu Manor and was escorted to the palace.