4

.

Li Xiao

-

I found myself listening, actually quite interested in what our host was saying. "Ai-Li is my eldest, when a merchant from Silla had stayed with us...he gave her the Korean name of Norae, for love and gift of music was one nearly unparalleled elsewhere. All of my daughters are ably gifted in that area, but Ai-Li is unique in more than one aspect."

I spotted her rather quickly. she seemed a quiet one, when they had been lined up she had been on the average size of height...but she seemed too soft, too pliant for any wife that would marry me. If I were to marry her, she would have to crush or be crushed, and that was nothing I would want my family caught up in. She caught my eye and smiled shyly, and my only response could be a strained nod.

Not her.

"Next is Roaxi, one of my more outspoken ones...she's my bold child, sometimes both a gift and curse. But her poetry and gift for writing make up for the most, her painting as well...as I said before, all of my daughters have the same talent, but some outshine in certain areas, and this is Roaxi's area of all."

It was obvious that it took all her power not to open her mouth and speak at the moment, she smiled and bowed her head towards each of us. "Thank you." I winced at her pitched thanks, maybe it was God's design to give her a gift that didn't require her speaking, not that she would have any problem doing that either probably. I only shook my head; a wife like this would cause me to die ten years early. If she was as talkative and impulsive as she seemed, I would rather convert to Taoism and die childless than leave my household to such a woman.

Uncle Emperor wouldn't force me to marry such a woman, if he did, I'd die for treason.

"Lili is my wise one...she knows when to speak and when to not, she has tact and is not afraid to be support without recognition. Her dancing has made her the envy of women in Luoyang, she is graceful and a sight to the eyes all her sisters want to learn from...unfortunately she is injured, her foot has caused her to limp so it would not be wise to do so."

Roaxi spoke up. "She is still able to father, she has been practicing." Master Zhao shook his head in disapproval. "Still, let her heal completely...please understand." Brother Jin glanced upwards. "Don't trouble yourself, we wouldn't want her injury getting worse." From the corner of my eye, I studied her as she grinned her thanks. She was a kind one, not bold or quiet but perfectly settled in the middle. I only returned the smile.

"Jiayi...she is both a leader and an observer...both her and Zhen-Ting, the man from Silla called her Haneul, her knowledge is a broad as the sky itself. She isn't the most feminine, as you can see, preferring to spend her days practicing many arts and perfecting her talents, she has no one talent...this child is a combination of her sisters; they all look up to the middle sister."

Beggar-girl, not once had she looked up during the entire time her father introduced her, not even to give a smile or a polite nod. She simply kept her attention on her plate and ate slowly with her head bowed, a large contrast to the girl who had outright asked me how much she was worth to be sold for...

She didn't want to be there.

-

Zhao Jiayi

-

I still could not tell who General Li Xiao was between the two brothers, so I simply assumed it to be the one beside Princess Mei, the one who had saved me from the pervert in Chang'An.

The one I had asked to give me a price for how I could be sold at a brothel.

Embarrassment gnawed at my stomach like a cat, and I avoided his stare and looked down at my plate, trying to control my rising heartbeat as my body ached while Father finished speaking of me.

If only the earth could swallow me whole.

He spoke too much, much more than he had for Ai-Li, and this was to be for her, not for the impression of father's own personal biases.

"Miss Jiayi...what are your talents?" I nearly jumped in surprise, staring up at who I believed to be Prince Li Jin and scarcely smiling. "Expertise in anything is something I lack...my sisters are all skillful beyond comparison at much. Mediocre would be a word to describe me." And I prayed that it would end there.

But Shenzhen huffed from the corner, drawing attention to herself as she stood. I shut my eyes in hope that nothing would be said...much was. "She's too humble for her own good. If Ai-Li can sing, this girl is a nightingale, if Roaxi is graceful, Ah-Yi is a gazelle-."

The embarrassment had reached its brim, I hit the tray before me as lightly but firmly as possible. "Sit down Shenzhen...please." She sat down with a frown, quickly brightening up once Sister Ai-LI spoke up softly. "But she is right little sister, it wouldn't be right if we glazed over you like this." I stared at her confused, eldest sister simple smiled and nodded secretly towards General Li Wu-Ji, he was smirking amusedly at me direction. I sighed quietly in defeat, stealing a look at Li Xiao at the same time. His expression was blank, shielded with mystery as he stared at every one of us and analyzed.

I stared at Father, silently begging him to move on once our eyes finally met, thankfully he did so. "And as for my Qiu-Yue, she is the dynamic one...when she was born it was the clearest day of the year. Now that she is grown it seems that the sky has become a muse to her. This one is a painter...her art is enough to match the beauty of a clear sky, and that is not even her best."

-

Li Xiao

-

She was too young.

Some others would have been fine with marrying girls with a large age difference between them, but I'd rather not be seen as a perverted fool trying to recapture his 'youth'. I also didn't want to be treated as a father or older brother. Shaking my head silently at the thought, I looked up and saw Jin catching the movement and smiling to himself.

He understood.

"My other daughters are still not of age..." Brother Jin raised his hand slightly to reassure him. "That is more than enough...five beautiful and talented daughters will make it more than just a challenge for my brother to choose." Ren-Yi laughed, lifting his wine cup for a toast as he did. "I toast to the Emperor and to you General...may both of your lives be long and fruitful."

-

Two maids led me to what would be my quarters during the visit, weaving past a number of gardens and bridges before finally reaching Dong Wu, the winter quarters of the manor.

It caught me off guard when the maids suddenly stopped, bowing as Jiayi walked forward with a sickly elder woman who grasped onto her while holding a snake designed staff.

"General, an honor to have you with us." It seemed that beggar-girl Jiayi spotted my confusion, avoiding eye contact with me as she bowed slightly before enlightening me. "This is my grandmother, my father's mother." I quickly greeted her formally, she simply reached out her hand towards me. "Please, these are the quarters where I and Ah-Yi live...there are many empty chambers here and I pray you find the one we prepared to your liking."

I glanced over at the middle daughter, slightly annoyed that she avoided my gaze until I realized that she must have recognized me as well. She was far from timid, I had gotten to confirm that twice already, the second time when she raised her voice at her younger sister.

Was she avoiding me because she was embarrassed, or simply because my presence was unwelcome?

Quickly I bowed my respects once more. "I have no doubt that I will...please, no need to strain yourself on my account. I'll be off to the chambers then." Jiayi bowed again as I walked past, frowning when I decided to pause in my steps and look her in the eye.

"I think you'll be worth quite a bit actually."

Her grandmother's confused expression and her reddening face didn't escape me as I continued to follow the maids.

They reached the entrance and opened the door for me to walk in. The chamber had been elaborately cleaned and decorated for him; the study in the center filled with unused reeds and fresh silk and paper to write on; my clothing already laid out and the sheets changed. The only light in the room was a large candle set on the study.

Without a word, I moved to sit on the bed, staring at the room before finally bending down to remove my shoes and set them on the edge of the post. I began removing my garment as well when the door was knocked on, I simply groaned to get up and respond.

Jiayi stood there silently, staring at the tray of tea in her hand and refusing to look up at me. I smirked and waited for her to speak. "This is for you to settle down...may I come in?"

I moved out the way and allowed her in, she set the tray down, and I sat down as she set a cup before me and poured the tea.

She wasn't dressed in the first outfit anymore. This time she seemed to have put in more effort, her dark tresses curled back with the same jade I had seen on her sister, and a simple turquoise musician's dress shielding her now slender figure.

I had already seen her in three costumes, and every time it seemed like a new layer of hers revealed.

The only thing that entered my mind then as I watched her busy herself was how soft those stray strands would feel slipping through my fingers.

"Have you already made a decision...General?"

I picked the tea cup and watched the liquid move in the direction I tilted the cup. "Do you think I have?" She sighed, staring around the room as a response came to her. "I would assume so, you seemed to have a decision already made once the dinner had ended, at least a decision on who you wouldn't marry."

I chuckled softly at that. "You're observant... who do you think I've decided not to marry?" She lifted her shoulder in a shrug, finally turning to look me in the eye, I wished she hadn't. They seemed to pull me in with curiosity, she was as shielded as I thought myself to be. "General Xiao seems too reserved for my sister Roaxi or even Qiu-Yue...you even shook your head." I drained the tea completely before getting up, she made way as I walked towards the study, leaning against it as I watched her carefully.

"Who do you want me to choose...beggar-girl?'

-

Zhao Jiayi

-

He was studying me, analyzing without a doubt. Sweat began to form on my palms and I feared that the tray would slip if I picked it up. My legs trembled slightly as he waited for me to respond. I breathed slowly, forcing myself to say the lie rehearsed in my mind since he caught my eye in the dining hall...

I had to.

"My eldest sister, Zhao Ai-Li is a better person for wife than any of us." The relief I expected didn't come as the words escaped, I still felt tense, keeping my head bowed for fear I would forget to breathe seeing him once more.

They had always told me that nobles did nothing but sit and eat until they grew plumper than Buddha himself. Sons of the Imperial family was lazy and privileged, seemingly apathetic to others below them. That deception dissipated quickly as the sons of the would-be emperor Li Cheng-Ji came to their home.

I had been more than ready, somewhat selfish in the act of pushing my sister to the fore-front. It would have benefited the both of them; Eldest Sister Ai-Li in getting married and myself in avoiding the laziness of a Li. When I had begged for marriage, I had simply thought of a well-respected man from Luoyang for myself, not this. Once I had heard that the nephew of the great Emperor would be the first candidate through the doors, my altruistic selfishness let sister Ai-Li to that fate.

And now there he stood, a well-built, intimidatingly handsome man who towered above me, reserved and mysterious to the point it caused my skin to crawl in the most auspicious manner, better than the rumors that had spread through the streets like plague. I couldn't, ever since childhood my word had been as steadfast as an Imperial order from the blessed Emperor; and this time I had promised my eldest sister that I would try anything to get her out of the manor, married.

The general crossed his arms as silence settled for a while, I couldn't bare such a moment and turned to bow towards him. "Father asks that you come to the main garden hall tonight...I'll be leaving." I could only sense his amusement as I rushed out.

He called me beggar girl...he recognized me.