I am a Second Female Lead
Chapter 92: Sheri Hoal 3

*******************I Forgot to give credits to my editor ms. ILoveblu25. Thank you for editing.*****************

Sheri had felt all the pain and all the sufferings Xue Li had felt.

Behind all those passing years, she was quiet and sometimes cry in her own sleep. She watched her and saw it all. She kept on racking her brain for the reason why the Prince hated her. Xue Li liked him a lot.

Since they were young, she made sure to do everything she knew would make him like her and be satisfied with her. She learned the four arts diligently and never slacked. Even though she was pampered at her own home, she still maintained her diligence in learning skills of cooking different dishes and more. Her parents were all along observing on the side just like Sheri, which resulted in them just sighing with every result of her hard work. It wasn't being reciprocated.

In her heart, she hoped Xue Li would wake up from her one-sided love that it's not worth wishing for. A man who doesn't like her will love her back. But she cannot do anything. She cannot speak neither touch her.

The time fast-forwarded again as the day of her coming age has arrived. The whole courtyard of the General was decorated with different ornaments and decorations. Her parents were halfheartedly happy and devastated understanding that this will be the last time their daughter will stay with them. They have to give their precious daughter. Away to the Prince who made them more worried since the Prince doesn't love her. They were just holding on to the hope that Prince Du Wen would give them face and in the name of dignity that he would still respect and honor their daughter.

Xue Li was secretly expectant for the Prince to pay her a visit. But then her hopes crushed when a letter arrived revealing he couldn't come due to the ongoing struggle in the Southern border. The General knew that was an excuse and a lie. He was so angry he wanted to confront him but in the end was stopped by Xue Li.

"Father don't! You are just putting the whole family in danger." Xue Li said when her coming of age celebration was over without the presence of the Prince.

"That man, I will kill him! How dare he do this to us? How dare he lied to us?" The General was still fuming.

"Shh.. Calm down your blood pressure. No matter what, we cannot dictate what he wanted to do or his actions." Her mother tried to chime in calming her father.

"If your brothers knew about this incident, they would not keep still and do nothing about it." The General said.

"Father enough, this is just a mere political marriage. We can't do anything." Xue Li concluded in resignation.

That evening, it took time for them to calm her father. After making sure he was relaxed and rested, her mother pulled her over to her courtyard. She presented something that was wrapped in a cloth. She was curious as she received it. Unwrapping the present, she saw a beautiful gold bracelet with a blue gem on it.

"The Dowager, before she died, said to give this to you. I don't know her reason but this was a very precious jewel. The day she gave this to you was also the day she left. She said it would protect you." "The great Dowager reminded for you to never remove it." Her mother further instructed.

Xue li was a bit skeptical.

"Thank you, mother. But why would the great Dowager give this to me? As far as I know, this is the bracelet the Empress was seeking to get from her." She was in disbelief.

"I also don't know" Was her mother's only response.

She now fully understood why the Empress hated her. She had many questions but since the great Dowager was already gone, she just shrugged it all on her mind wearing the bracelet but made sure it won't be seen.

Sheri at the side was feeling pity for Xue Li acting matured in her age. She applauds how she responds to these kinds of occurrences in her life even though in her eyes, it can be seen that she's in pain. The time was once again fast-forwarded for the day of her marriage with the Prince has arrived but the conspicuous day was postponed and scheduled for another 3 years because of an ongoing war that erupted. The mightiest country in the South was trying to invade their country. Their country was not that strong compared to the opposing country.

Xue Li's father, the General led and was victorious from the war on the East side leaving them worried about the unrest in the Southern border. Despite the worry, they still celebrated the General's victory.

One day, they received a piece of news about the princess from the most powerful country wanting to marry Prince Du Wen as a peace treaty. The Prince in return wrote a letter to the Emperor telling him he agrees and announced that he was also in love with the princess. The Emperor was left in a dilemma because of the decree he made with the child of the General. The General has a big influence in his court, and he still wanted to keep him on his leash by his side.

Xue Li heard about the news about the princess wanting to be the Prince's consort. She didn't hesitate and agreed to become a concubine making the Emperor delighted but the whole family was in a tremor. She was kneeling in front of her parent's room the whole day trying to explain the reason she did what she's not supposed to. Not being able to endure their daughter to suffer more, they allowed her to explain,

"Father, Mother, I know you want the best for your daughter but this is the best way to help our family. Father, you know the Emperor is very cunning. Everything you do was being watched and monitored. He was scared of your position and influence knowing you can easily overrule him if you want to but you never did. No matter how you show him through your actions, he was still on guard and never believed you That is the only way I know for him to know we are on his side."

Hearing her explanation, the General sighed. He knew she was right, and her daughter was making a big sacrifice for the sake of their family. She would have to venture the road of no return.

"But still, what about you? What about your happiness?" He was in despair looking at his precious daughter.

In response, Xue Li gave a heartfelt smile.

"Father, you can call me a fool but I don't mind being a concubine. For me, it's enough I can only see him in a distance." But she never voiced out the last part of her sentence.

"Even if my love toward him will be not be returned," She further thought to herself in sadness.