New World's Empress

Liu Mei finally had the whole day for herself. She just lazily sat outside on special chair she ordered them to be made, so she could just relax and enjoy peace and quiet,

''How nice. No noise, no bothersome people, nothing... Let me rest a bit and then wake me for my evening prayers. I didn't pray for so long I fear something might happen.'' Her lazy voice could be heard as a whisper as she was already halfway into dreams.

Xiao Ran slowly backed off and only Hua Roulan was left there. She stood there and looked up to the nearby wall where that fool was calling her but she just pressed a finger on her lips and shook her head. He could see the serene expression on Liu Mei's face so he just nodded and suddenly disappeared.

Hua Roulan smiled and closed her eyes. Her family could use their ears as a matter of perceptions and she was relieved not to find any bothersome people around. Looking at servants that tiptoed while doing their work she smiled finally. Her eyes went towards Liu Mei and she sighed inwardly.

Her small face was completely pale but calm. Her breathes showed that she was in deep sleep and she stepped aside and continued to watch these surroundings. Even the smallest noise made her still not completely lose Liu Mei out her eyes. Not even for a moment.

"She is resting?" Emperor nodded as he got the information. "Resting is good. Its seems she already accepted the dragon seed. Now she just needs to accept the dragon..."

He remembered that he wanted to tell her about the changes, but gave up on that. Taking the chance of being with her as much as he could as an excuse. He could prolong his good time until the first rain.

A huge smile spread in his face. "Make notice that naming will assume after the first rain. We will take a big party for her naming. The other women will be given the right to eat with near family but can't join the main party."

He smiled brightly. "I know her, she won't let me make party until the people are not safe. By the way, go to her palace and give them notice that I will be coming to eat dinner with her."

Then he became serious and looked at the man that just came. "General, what is the situation on borders?"

"I'm afraid to tell you that the neighbours seem to be quite restless. They think that we have such troubles so we are weak. I already send messages to the border to be ready as we ate in our way. Let's hope the rain comes and the great river fills with water again. Then there won't be any war..."

The great river Ka was the only thing that saved them from that Empire for centuries. Not even sh.i.p.s can pass that thing. There was an intention to make a bridge to connect the two countries. The bridge...

"Send a message to the border. And to the other country as well. As long there is not much water we can make a bridge. Tell them that we will prepare from our side and will await their answers. Take as many workers as you can and enough material. That will be as a well good cover for our soldiers to follow." He sat down and tapped his chair with his fingers. "That will show them our goodwill to connect as well our will to protect what we have. We do have a problem with disaster but we will not give up on our country."

The servant took the written order and bright it to Emperor to sign and stamp. He checked the scroll thoroughly and then stamped, signed it and gave to general.

As he saw him living in a hurry he remembered what he planned to do. Looking at the whole mountain of scrolls on his table he sighed and sat down. ''Let's do what I have to do. The faster I finish here, the more time I can spend with my little cat.''

he chuckled as he remembered how she scratched his back when they were rolling in the sheets. ''Naughty cat. But I like it. Very much...'' He mumbled for himself while he opened the first scroll and serious expression emerged on his face as he completely concentrated on the work.

The good side on him is that he could separate the two things, the problem is that he is to concentrate on doing things that people must remind him to eat or drink. A young female sound emerged by his side and pushed the scrolls to the side as whole plate filled with food emerged in front of him. ''Emperor, I have been sent to remind you to eat. Please...''

But the girl suddenly blushed as he rose his face towards her. He was good looking young man in the best years. He had good built, had good face and on top the title, of course, their hearts swooned for him. But what she didn't know he hated people staring at him most. ''Guards!!!''

Guards rushed in and pointe their words at her. ''Bring her out, give her ten sticks, kick out palace, never to return. Do not kill her, she is too young, but in the palace, she will not be accepted again. Understood?''

He could see only clear admire in her eyes and no second thoughts but if he let her around after acting like that, many others will get similar ideas. ''Bring the food away. I will eat dinner with my Imperial Noble Consort Liu. Bring the horse, it's faster.''

Emperor didn't fear that he would be attacked by anyone in the palace and he truly hated that whole procession of hundreds of people when he travelled from one palace to other. ''From today I will ride worse as its faster, I have no wish to die while travelling on that slow thing.''

Said, done. When he came out the horse was ready while the whole group of soldiers waited with horses as well. No matter if palace o not, they chose to follow him the same way. They all bowed deeply. ''Long live Emperor.'' The sound didn't even echo far enough as the sounds of horse hoofs could be heard leaving.

Few servants scurried away with pale faces as they realized what just happened. ''He will go with the horse every time? Does that mean we will never know where he might appear and will need to be prepared all the time?''

Soon the whole palace was in commotion as they feared that the Emperor might get idea to visit other places. For the first time in history the whole palace got cleaned roughly. Even the palaces that are not used were cleaned as the new Noble Consorts will be given new dormitories as well after naming.

The few women became happy and cheered as they heard the news. Only one had a hard time.

''But I have been said I will be given work by her side. Not this...'' She stared at a whole bunch of clothes that she had to wash. ''I am noble, I can't wash stuff.''

A young woman approached her and shook her head. ''You are foolish. I am fist daughter of Min family form south and my whole family is more than happy that I came even this close to Empress Dowager. Its family honour. You are washing her personal items. Not ours. Isn't that honour? We can change places. You have to tend to her plants. That means once a week you have to put manure around certain plants. You have to after it twice a day and you have to pick up dried flowers and bury it with respect.'' She continued explaining what she is doing making Ning Xiaoping completely baffled.

''You are doing all that, aren't you tired?'' Her face was completely astonished.

The young girl just shook her head with a huge smile. ''After I finish my work we can sit in a small garden, write poetry or learn something. There are so many games we play in. It's really not a bad place to live in. When the time comes she will choose a good family for me and they will treat me with respect only because I am by her side.''

Ning Xiaoping looked ta the clothes and sighed. ''If you are here, don't you want to become a woman by HIS side?'' Suddenly the girl came to top her and shook her shoulders as she looked around her.

''If you say such a thing in this place, you might lose your head, don't you know?'' She was completely pale.

Ning Xiaoping suddenly had a premonition. ''Why? What is wrong with those words?''

''You have no idea, don't you? Servant cant ever become a person by his side. The highest honour to the family is to serve him until proper age and be given good marriage. All the woman by his side and Empress Dowager side got good and appropriate marriages and got respect from a new family. If you want to be by his side... Hit that dream out your head or you will lose it. Last time some servant wanted to be near him and he let her be separated by four horses in parts. Her body was thrown into the big forest and she was forbidden to get a proper burial. Een her family was sent to borders, never to come back. To get close to him, its a bad idea. If you stayed like other females as Lady In Waiting now you would have been given Noble Consort title. I... it seems you have stupid ideas in your head. If you ever get out that dream come to me, but if those ideas continue I do not want to be acquainted with you.''

She turned around and walked away with swift steps, leaving pale-looking woman that came to a sudden realization. ''Wait, I am not here to be by his side later than to be given good marriage? Is that the idea Elders have for me? Should I then finally relax?'' A smile emerged on her face as she started washing the clothes with a hum. ''I don't have to marry him, how good is that. Finally, I am free, they set me free...''

Seeing her happy face and hard work Empress Dowager nodded with a smile. ''I knew it. She was pushed his way. The only thing I could do is to get her out their claws, but I fear the other girls are deeper than her. I won't be able to save them...'' She turned around and patted girls face. ''Thank you. She will need a friend and advisor. Teach her all she needs to know in future life. She will stay in here only a short time. I plan to marry her to your third brother. I think he would like her.''

The girl glanced and Ning Xiaoping and nodded. ''Her fiery temper will be perfect for him. I think the two of them will have a good marriage. Of course I will help her. He is my favourite brother.''

Empress Dowager chuckled. ''Min Lei, you naughty girl. There is no such thing as a favourite. Your all brothers are amazing. I am going to walk a bit. Çome and in me.''

As they left only happily smiling girl was left that did her best to wash clothes, for the first time in her life...