"Greetings to the Empress" Min Shuang and Min Hanying said with a bow and the Empress beckoned them over with a smile.
"It's been so long since I have seen you Min Shuang." The Empress said as she held Min Shuang's hands.
"Only Min Hanying has been visiting me lately so this old woman thought you have finally grown tired of her antics." The Empress said with a pout.
"Impossible!" Min Shuang said in an exaggerated tone.
"The glow of the Empress shines brighter each and every day." Min Shuang said with a smile as the Empress laughed.
"With beauty that never fades, the Empress can never be classified as old and this unfilial child doesn't deserve to live for making mother feel that way." Min Shuang said with a bow.
"Rise, Rise." The Empress said with a smile as she moved to Min Shuang to stand her upright but when she touched Min Shuang's arms the Empress was stunned at how thin they were.
"The Empress has taken notice of your condition." Shen Xiatang said with a smile.
Controlling her expression expertly, the Empress took Min Shuang's hand in hers and brought her to a seat next to her. Not forgetting her manners, the Empress turned to Min Hanying.
"The dishes you recommended on your last visit were very delicious." The Empress said to Min Hanying and Min Hanying brightened.
"Since the Empress likes the food I recommended, I, Min Hanying, will make sure to recommend more exquisite dishes." Min Hanying said with a bright smile and the Empress smiled back calmly.
"My dear child," the Empress said to Min Hanying.
"I haven't seen Min Shuang in so long and I would like to speak with her alone." The Empress said with a gentle smile.
"I hope Min Hanying will be understanding of this?" The Empress asked with a calm smile.
"Of course," Min Hanying said as she got up quickly.
"Min Hanying more than anyone knows the bond that Min Shuang and the Empress share. Not understanding will be unfilial." Min Hanying said with a bow and the Empress smiled at her gently.
The minute Min Hanying stepped out of ear shot, the Empress turned to Min Shuang in panic.
"Why have your hands become so thin?" The Empress asked as she held Min Shuang's hands.
"Is my son and Min Hanying bullying you?" The Empress asked desperately as she stared at Min Shuang's gaunt face that she had failed to notice before and Min Shuang weakly shook her head.
"Tell her without telling her." said Shen Xiatang.
"I am not being bullied," Min Shuang said, as she forced her words out.
"It's just-" Min Shuang said before stopping abruptly.
"It's just that-" Min Shuang said with difficulty.
"You can speak without fear here." The Empress said in a reassuring tone but Min Shuang looked at her sadly.
Deciding to change the topic completely, Min Shuang said "Sometimes I can't help but think of my father and mother's faces" and the Empress watched her sadly.
"The Empress has caught on." said Shen Xiatang.
"Sometimes I wake up with such clear memories of them that I often forget that they are gone." Min Shuang said with tears in her eyes and the Empress patted her hand.
"It's okay, it's okay." The Empress said as she patted her back.
"Though your father and mother are no longer here, I'm here." The Empress said as she stamped her chest.
"No one in all of Lianzhou has permission to bully you." The Empress said in a firm tone.
"From today onwards, I want you to come to the palace once every two weeks." The Empress said as she stared Min Shuang in the eyes.
"But-" Min Shuang tried to protest but the Empress held up a hand.
"It is not a burden." The Empress said firmly.
"If you won't come to me, I will come to you." The Empress said and Min Shuang nodded with tears in her eyes.
"You are too good to me, mother." said Min Shuang.
"It's only natural that I am good to my daughter." The Empress said as she patted Min Shuang's hands and Min Shuang broke down.
"Anyone who dares to bully you must have two lives." The Empress said in a firm tone.
"Thank you, mother." Min Shuang said with gratitude and the Empress hugged her.
"Take this" the Empress said as she pinned a golden phoenix hairpin to Min Shuang's hair.
"This is a gift from the Empress, anyone who dares damage it will be heavily punished." The Empress said firmly and Min Shuang nodded with a smile.
"Strange." Shen Xiatang thought as she watched the Empress Fawn over Min Shuang.
"Under normal circumstances, the Empress should have already fallen under Min Hanying's spell." Shen Xiatang thought as she floated behind Min Shuang.
"Could this have to do with her star?" Shen Xiatang thought as her mind flashed back to the star that looked like it had been dipped in ink.
After some light conversation, Min Shuang bowed once more before excusing herself and on her way out of the Empress living quarters, she took off the Phoenix hair pin and hid it between her sleeves.
"Anyone there." The Empress called and her personal maid rushed over quickly.
"Yes, Empress." The Empress personal maid said with a deep bow.
"Find a capable maid and send her to the Crown Prince's Estate." the Empress said in a firm tone.
The Crown Prince's Estate.
"The third prince awaits you both in his study." said a male guard as soon as Min Hanying and Min Shuang arrived and tension flooded Min Shuang's body.
"You're fine." said Shen Xiatang.
"You're not alone." Shen Xiatang said firmly and color returned to Min Shuang's cheeks as she trailed quietly behind Min Hanying.
As the doors flung open, Min Hanying threw herself at the Crown Prince Li Haoran while Min Shuang stayed back.
"How was the visit to the palace?" Li Haoran asked Min Hanying as he stared at her lovingly and Min Shuang's heart ached.
"This one however, seems to be completely under her spell" Shen Xiatang said as she watched the Crown Prince baby Min Hanying in the presence of Min Shuang.
"The Empress was welcoming as usual but-" Min Hanying said as she looked at her sister before turning to Li Haoran.
"Along the way, the Empress told me to leave the room so that her and Min Shuang could have a private conversation." Min Shuang said sadly and Li Haoran's eyes landed on Min Shuang.
"I am warning you," Li Haoran said as he stepped towards Min Shuang.
"If I find out that you spread lies about Min Hanying or discussed anything about this Estate to the Empress, I won't let you off." Li Haoran said and Min Shuang couldn't stop herself from trembling.
Choosing not to speak, Min Shuang merely bowed in subservience but Li Haoran yelled "Speak!" in her face.
"I wouldn't dare." Min Shuang said as she shook in fear and Min Hanying smiled discreetly at her pitiful state.
"Sister," Min Hanying said as she came forward instantly.
"The Crown Prince doesn't mean to scold you so harshly." Min Hanying said as she wrapped her hands around Min Shuang.
"As sister brides, fighting like this will only cause instability to the Estate. Please be understanding." Min Hanying said softly but Min Shuang could hear the underlying amusement in her tone.
Trying to excuse herself, Min Shuang bowed but before she could even move an inch, Li Haoran said "Stop there!" and Min Shuang halted.
"You still need to apologize to Min Hanying for trying to cause her harm." Li Haoran said firmly.
"My husband-" Min Hanying tried to say, though she was secretly pleased with it.
"Min Shuang is the principal wife, having her kneel down and apologize to me is below her standards." Min Hanying said pitifully.
"Kneel!" Li Haoran snapped at Min Shuang and Min Shuang knelt before Min Hanying.
"I was wrong." Min Shuang said as she did a proper kowtow and Min Hanying tried hard to hide her smile.
"Good, this is what I want to see." Li Haoran said as he raised Min Shuang up.
"A family that sincerely apologizes to one another is a good one." Li Haoran said with pride .