38 At school (1/2)

”Your Majesty, the crown prince is here.”

”Let him in,” came a deep voice.

Once the Emperor of Jin permitted it, the grand red doors opened; behind them stood a fine young man that held a few scrolls. Walking into the Emperor's study room, he presented the scrolls to his father before he kneeling. ”Son greets Royal Father.”

”Rise.” The Emperor said, and the crown prince rose from his kneeling position. ”Bring the scrolls here,” he said, but not to Jin Min. He and his son were separated by a brown screen. Jin Min handed the scrolls to one of the servants, who brought them to the Emperor.

For a moment, there was a strange silence between them. The Emperor looked over the scrolls.

”Well?” He said after he finished reading one of the scrolls. ”I asked you to choose a fiance a week ago, did I not?”

”Yes, Royal Father,” Jin Min said.

”Then?” The Emperor put the scroll down. ”Have you chosen one?”

”This crown prince has.” He answered calmly.

The Emperor looked at him in interest. ”Tell me who she is.”

”She…” Jin Min instantly thought of the woman he saw in the garden this morning. ”She is the young miss of the Qing household.”

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Qing Guang sighed, feeling a sense of unease that had started ever since Qing Li had made her attend the party and meet the princess and nobles yesterday. She wasn't sure why, but she felt that the whole situation was strange and definitely not in a good way.

The first class began and the teacher started taking attendance, calling and checking off the students' names.

”Hu Cheng Se,” she called.

”Here.” Hu Cheng Se weakly raised her hand, and the teacher marked the attendance list.

”Hu Ye will not be here today?” The teacher found the letter on the attendance list and read it.