Ming Hui corrected her expression and nodded at the eunuch. She turned her head towards her guests.
"The party ends here. I thank you all for coming here and participating in the training."
The girls did not dare to accept her thanks and they bowed back to her saying that they were happy to do anything for the princess and so on. Jun Hua only followed along, not really understanding what was going on. What she knows was that she was confused and cannot understand what was happening.
Normally a girl cannot attend the court but it seems that the emperor allowed Ming Hui to. She had never heard that Ming Hui got special treatment. Maybe, the issue that happened was something too big for the emperor to wait.
Ming Hui walked towards the hall gracefully. There were already several ministers there with the emperor and empress sitting up above. The glint in Ming Hui's eyes quickly disappeared as she bowed towards the emperor.
"This subject daughter greets the emperor and empress."
The Emperor quickly waved his hand indicating that she could rise. Ming Hui hurriedly retreated to the side and saw Yan among the princes there. Didn't he get grounded? The emperor had never been this lenient before.
Not long after that, a few ministers also came, including Lin Tang and Nanglong Souka. Seeing their solemn faces, Ming Hui knew that something must have happened.
With that, the emperor ordered a eunuch to step forward to announce the news.
"There are a few riots in the capital which destroyed a few stores. Among those stores, some of them are owned by the imperial family. These sequence of riots was followed by another big riot in a big city nearby. The problem is that this city has just been bought by Young Noble Han and he wants the emperor to resolve this matter swiftly."
Ming Hui smiled internally. She and Yan had been planning to create some problems for the emperor. It seems like the trouble they incited has finally escalated. Now she knows why she was called here. One of the stores that got destroyed must be hers.
Yan put on a solemn face, yet he smiled internally. The emperor thus decreed that they were not allowed to go back until this problem was solved. Yan sighed, this is going to be another boring session of court.
...
Jun Hua returned to the Jun family residence first. She met her grandfather who was busy looking through a mountain of paper. Jun Hua silently thought to herself that she would feel troubled just by looking at that stack of paper. How long would it take to read all of them?
"Hua'er, you have returned?"
Jun Hua nodded. "The party is over. There was some emergency meeting that required the entire imperial family member to attend."
"It's expected, there are riots."
"Riots?" Jun Hua's brows creased. "I guess it must be a big one. What happened?"
"Some nobles are unsatisfied with what they have and want to have more, probably. The Jun family cannot interfere. The emperor is hell bent on using the Lan family," Jun Zhenxian explained. He wasn't really bothered with regulations since he knows what the emperor's motives are. Besides, the riots this time seems a bit complicated.
The people knew that the politics are a bit stiff, but they still started the riot. He was sure that someone must have incited them to take action at this time and possibly gave them the tools. Since the emperor told him not to bother, he will not offer any help.
Jun Hua nodded. "He must want to restore their prestige over losing that matter before. Grandpa, when will uncle return to the capital?"
"Soon."
"How soon is it?"
Jun Zhenxian smiled bitterly. "I myself don't really know about it. There is no way he can leave the border without any protection."
"Just ask Yamin and the others to stand guard, they're going to be alright."
"Do you miss your uncle that badly?"
Jun Hua laughed. "I do miss him."
"What about your grandfather? I've stayed in the capital the whole time!"
"I already see you often. I want to meet my uncle more."
"You lass!" Jun Zhenxian chided. He quickly changed the topic. "Have you heard the news from the Lin family? Their first daughter is going to be married in 2 months."
"2 months?" Jun Hua raised her eyebrows. "Is Lin Yuan not going to participate at the end year exams? It's still in 2 and half months."
"Who knows what they are planning? Their first daughter is already 15 so it's going to be alright."
"Married to whom?"
"I forgot the name," Jun Zhenxian answered. He only remembered that the family they chose was a good one. They were not widely influential, but they had good reputation.
Jun Hua thought that this must be good news for Lin Yuan. What that girl needed to do now is avoid Lin San's scheme and prepare for her marriage. With her marriage day approaching, Lin Yuan also would not go to the school anymore.
Jun Hua chatted with her grandfather for a while before returning to the Lin family residence. She didn't have anything to do here and wanted to see how Concubine Sie fared in the span of 3 weeks.
Arriving at the Lin family residence, she could see that Concubine Sie was still in charge, but the appearance of that woman was a bit haggard. It seems like she has been reducing her sleep to fully fulfil her job so that Chun Maora cannot pick on her.
"Third Sister," Lin Yuan smiled. "Where have you been?"
"I visited my grandfather first. Is your mother alright?" Jun Hua looked over worriedly.
Lin Yuan nodded. "She's fine, at least for now. There are some minor troubles, but she can handle it most of the time. She's only tired from trying to hold onto this position."
"I see," Jun Hua nodded then she remembered something. "Congratulations for your arranged marriage. I heard you're getting married in 2 months."
Lin Yuan smiled brightly. "You're correct. Thank you."
"I hope your mother will be fine."
"She will. Madam Lin will be busy with another matter for some time," Lin Yuan smiled. It seemed that there was news she had missed.
"What is it?"
"Concubine Mia is pregnant."
That sentence made Jun Hua's mind go blank.
