The God of Death
THE EMPEROR'S BIRTHDAY

The invited guests had entered the hall and occupied their respective seats.

They looked in wonder at the Li family. Everyone knew that Li's residence only had sons, not a single princess there.

"Is that pretty girl the wife of young master Li?" "But young master Li is not married yet." and there were still many whispers heard in the hall.

"The emperor's majesty has arrived." the guard's shout instantly stopped the mouth of the mouth that was gossiping about the beautiful girl who was with the Li family.

The emperor and empress, as well as three of her concubines entered the hall and occupied their respective throne.

There were four princes and one princess who immediately occupied the place that had been reserved for them.

All the guests who were present immediately stood up and saluted, "Greetings to the glorious emperor and empress.May be blessed with long life." they said in unison.

"Sit down! Thank you for being willing to attend Zen's birthday party tonight.Please start the show!" Emperor Huang Zhuting opened the event.

The palace dancers begin the event by performing a very beautiful dance, and get compliments from all the guests present.

After that, young ladies of noble princesses and palace dignitaries vied to display their talents.

Some dance, sing, read poetry, play musical instruments.Many of which they perform.

In addition to entertaining the emperor on his birthday, their purpose was of course to attract the hearts of the princes or young masters present in the place.

People were focused on seeing young ladies who displayed their individual skills, but not with one man sitting on the princely bench.

He was the second prince, Huang Yu. The famous prince loved beauty very much and collected many beautiful concubines in his harem.

Huang Zixin who accidentally glanced at her second brother was focusing on one point, feeling curious and following the direction of the older brother's gaze.

"That girl?She's with the Li family?What does this have to do with the Li family?Is that girl their daughter-in-law?Aihs...Why am I thinking about that?" murmured Huang Zixin in the heart.

He shook his head slowly to eliminate some of the questions that had suddenly popped into his head earlier.

When a lady had finished performing, and was waiting for the next performer, the second prince who had lost his temper immediately got up from his seat.

"Lord Li, who is that beautiful girl with your family?is he your daughter-in-law?As far as I know, Li's residence doesn't have a daughter." the second prince asked his grandfather Li Minghao.

"In answer to his highness the prince, he is Li Shuwan, the adopted daughter of the servant son Li Hongli and his wife." replied the great master Li respectfully.

"I want her to be my concubine, Mrs Li!" without further ado the second prince immediately expressed his wish in public.

Lady Li looked at Shuwan sadly, she did not want her daughter to be made a concubine, even though it was a prince's concubine.

Moreover, the second prince had six concubines in his harem.He even defeated the emperor who only had three concubines.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not willing." Shuwan replied quickly before great master Li agreed to the prince's request.

The invited guests were boisterous as soon as Shuwan finished declaring his refusal.

"Why did he refuse?" "How dare the girl refuse" "She did not know the ladies took pains to be chosen as the prince's concubine" and many more of the invitations' speeches were buzzing like wasps.

"How dare you refuse! This is an order, not a negotiation!" hardik the second prince was wrathful.

"Guards, drag the entire Li family into the middle of the hall!" the bodyguards immediately approached and were about to drag the Li family.

But Li Minghao, Li Jingmi, and Shuwan immediately confronted them and protected the Li family's parents.

Even Wang Xuemin, whose seat was far away, immediately approached and joined his best friend while he unsheathed the sword.

He is the least willing if the girl of his dreams was made a concubine, especially by the famous second prince eye basket. "That girl is mine" she said.

"Why do you want to drag down my whole family, prince?Didn't I apologize for not being your concubine?"

Shuwan spoke loudly and fearlessly, thus angering the second prince even more.

Just as the second prince was about to lash out at the girl who had already refused and humiliated him, the emperor's voice stopped his movement.

"Hold your emotions second prince! Don't mess up Zen's party and happy days.There are still many other girls who want to be your concubine." the emperor stared intently at his second son.

"Pardon the incident just now.Sorry Li's family for their inconvenience." the emperor looked at the Li family.

However, he had to keep his image and his mother in front of the nobles and courtiers, as well as in front of his people.So he had to apologize to the Li family.

Shuwan had already lost interest in the show.

He walked north of the hall after asking his new family for permission to leave.

Li Minghao said to the north of the hall there was a lake and a flower garden.So he followed the elder brother's words.And it was true what he said.

Various kinds of flowers were blooming in the garden.He felt better there alone than in the hall with people who are full of falsehood.

While sitting on the bench of the park by the lake, his sharp ears heard the sound of someone walking towards him.

The girl remained silent and pretended not to know of the arrival of the person, despite her increased vigilance.

If the person does not do bad to him, then leave it alone.But if otherwise, then he is ready to serve whoever that person is.

The sound of the steps stopped within a few steps of Shuwan's seat.

The place remained silent, only the sound of animals and gusts of wind could be heard, as if the place was uninhabited.

Though there were two people there, but they were immersed in their own world.

"Why are you here, miss?Isn't the show in the hall?" someone who had been in the park since then finally spoke flatly.

"You're here yourself.Why interfere in my business?" reply Shuwan coldly. "It's not better just like that, being quiet and unobtrusive" Shuwan murmured inwardly.

"I didn't expect you to be so bold as to reject the second prince" said the man, more sounding to sneer.

"I would not spend the rest of my life with a man who is unfaithful and married a lot.In addition I have no interest in living confined to the palace." Shuwan spoke nonchalantly.

The man raised next to his eyebrows hearing the girl's words.

"When the young ladies in there are racing to attract the hearts of the princes and young masters" said the man again.

"I'm not interested.I'm only going to marry a man who only has one wife in his life.No matter what his status is."

The man smiled at the girl's words that sounded rather impossible in this era.Indeed there are some people/family who do not have concubines, Li family for example.

"Just have one wife?they even have two or three concubines" the man said, shaking his head.

Shuwan long ago was curious about the man who had been talking to him ever since.He turned to look at the man.

He was startled as his gaze collided with those eagle-sharp eyes, but he quickly normalized his expression.

"Oh, I think you're a living statue that can only breathe, so you can talk a lot" said the girl, taking her eyes off the man, without changing her position on the park bench.

Who else would he have dubbed a living statue other than the fourth prince, Huang Zixin.

"This girl is indeed different.If others, may immediately rise up and salute.But she remained indifferent, even turned away from the prince."

Yuwen who saw the two people from a distance, could only mutter inwardly and stare in amazement at Shuwan's attitude.

"That's a weird thing.The noble one wants to talk a lot and linger with others, even though the girl is not yet known." Yuwen continued to pay attention to the interaction of the two people.