Chapter 111 - 109. Dowry (1/2)

Third person POV

Hong er slowly parted her lips and stuttered out the question she most wanted to ask.

Hong er: ” Why?”

Lu Ping once again looked down in contemplation. After a few second, he lifted his head and smiled carefreely at Hong er.

Lu Ping: ” Since His Majesty didn't forbid me to say this then I won't hold back.”

Hong er: ' Is it really fine?'

Lu Ping: ” Actually the first time His Majesty wrote out the dower, it was 2 times longer than this.”

Hong er: ' He is crazy but kinda funny.'

Lu Ping: ” But Her Majesty Empress dowager rejected the list of dower seeing that it would be hard for Xu family to prepare the dowry. Therefore Her Majesty chose the useful things that were in the list and decreased it to half.”

Hong er could only gawk at Lu Ping, what he said only made her more confused. Not only the emperor himself wrote out the dower list, even the empress dowager was involved in the dower's arrangement. The empress dowager could just pass it onto one of her experienced servant but she decided to hand pick it. Hong er couldn't comprehend why did they have to go all out just for this marriage.

Hong er: ” Even Her Majesty empress dowager herself was involved in the dower's arrangement, is it worth it to do all of that for someone like me?”

The flaw in Hong er was her low self esteem and Lu Ping knew what causes Hong er to be like that, thus he smiled at Hong er.

Lu Ping: ” Once, I asked His Majesty if it is worth it and then he said this to me.”

Hong er stared at Lu Ping with curious eyes.

Lu Ping: ” ' She can't be compared to these things. It is me that didn't deserve her.' ”

Hong er widened her eyes in astonishment, she took a trip down her memory lane to recall if she ever met Da Qi emperor but no matter how many times she spun her brain, she couldn't remember.

Hong er: ' Why is His Majesty so fixated to me?'

Lu Ping: ” I think Miss Xu is worth it. And please be confidence of yourself as you will lead Da Qi together by His Majesty's side.”

Hong er: ” Uh-uhm.”

Even though she was praised by the emperor of Da Qi and a huge amount of dower, none of this made her as happy as when she spent her times with Sheng ge ( Weisheng). She was grateful by their compliments and praises but she still felt empty. Lu Ping let her rest for a day and would start teaching her tomorrow.

Hong er went to her favorite place, Floating Lotus Pavilion, it was the pavilion that was made for her birthday 7 years ago. Floating Lotus Pavilion was her private place and the servants respected her privacy by not going near the pavilion except for cleaning. They even guarded the pavilion from far away and Hong er really appreciates their thoughtfulness. Only Meiyun and Huayun could accompany her to the pavilion as Hong er had treat them as her own sister.

They had added an attached pavilion that can be used as a meditation place or a napping area. The floor was made from dark wood and the wood had cooling sensation therefore it suits Hong er's taste as she easily gets hot especially in summer. Hong er likes to lay on the wooden floor and dip her feet or hands into the water to relieve herself from the heat. But today she didn't feel like it, she just sat at the side while leaning on a wooden pillar. She dazedly stared at the fishes that were swimming around the lake.