Xiao Hua followed the maid, looking everywhere; everything was so grand since she entered the palace.
"What's your name, child?" the Empress Dowager asked.
"It's Li Hua, Your Majesty."
"What a pretty name." She said.
"Thank you, your majesty." Li Hua replied.
"How old are you, Li Hua?" the Empress Dowager asked.
"I am 10 years old, Your Majesty." Li Hua replied.
The Empress Dowager seemed pleased, and she ordered one of her maids, "Go call the crown prince."
The maid went hurriedly to call the crown prince.
The Empress Dowager kept talking to Li Hua about her hobbies and her mother. Li Hua was enjoying talking to Her Majesty Empress Dowager; she felt like talking to her grandmother, who passed away last year.
"My grandson, the crown prince, is just 2 years older than you, Li Hua. I'll introduce you to him so you can come to the palace to play." The empress Dowager smiled and patted Li Hua's little head.
The maid's arrival interrupted them, "The crown prince is here, Your Majesty Empress Dowager."
Li Hua looked at the young boy. "Grandma", he greeted.
"Come, come, crown prince, this is Prime Minister Li's daughter, take her and play, or else she'll get bored with this old lady." Empress Dowager cheerfully said.
The crown prince was shocked but somehow agreed and told Li Hua to follow him to the garden.
"So you are Prime Minister Li's daughter?" He asked.
Li Hua just nodded.
"Didn't the Prime Minister only have sons? Why have I never heard about the Prime Minister's daughter?" He mumbled to himself, but enough to be heard by Li Hua.
"Maybe because I am not allowed to go out much, so many people don't know about me." Her voice was low and shaking due to nervousness.
"Why? I don't think the Prime Minister is that strict as to not allow his own daughter out?" He replied.
"It's because...." Li Hua clenched her fingers on the side of her gown.