The wind had blown into the prime minister's residence with no mercy, all Meihua could do was stand tall and face everything head on. It had been a while since her mother's passing, but she felt like it was just yesterday. She felt broken looking at her solemn father who tried to console himself and the children every night. The children whose wails had turned to muffled cries and finally reduced to sobs and memories.
Yet after all this not a tear was allowed to be shed from her eyes after that day. She strengthened her resolve as she entered the study "father" she spoke "it's time to rest". Lin Yong 'an looked at his daughter, and felt for her not pity but sorry, it was as if the lonely tree had been left alone to fend for itself and its branches attached from the cold harsh winds. He finally spoke "I know dear, by the way an invitation has arrived, for the plum blossom banquet". She was mostly away from the capital and rarely attended such banquets, but she was an occasionally frequent visitor at the palace. "I'll prepare well". she replied, as both father and daughter looked at each other then at the direction of the children's Brodeur , one with trust and belief the other responding with strength and resilience.
The memory blurred out of focus as his heart raced. Rong Ji woke up with a starlet expression as he sweat profusely. The recurring nightmare drove him insane every time. He was barely stabilized when his attendant long yuan knocked on the door, "speak" he premised. "The preparations for the banquet are complete, you highness.", he replied. Rong Ji was used to such banquets, he was very proud of his ability to perform in these plays. These plays were common in the palace after all each with their own role to play. It was also inevitable for him as a prince.
What he truly looked forward to was the entry of a new but infamous character in the script. Lin Meihua, he wondered what the protagonist of one-fourth of the capital's rumors was like. It wasn't just due to the recent incident, Meihua had been famous from way long back. HIs father had also occasionally spoken of her, he seemed to have a preference for her. There were plenty of rumors both pleasant and not, she was a rare sight after all. He himself hadn't seen her on many occasions, it was a long time now since he had last caught a glimpse of the prime minister's oldest daughter.