Transmigrated Author: The Quiet Plum

"Ah' Chun, don't stand there!" Mao Zhen couldn't help but harshly whisper.

Hong Chun was absentminded so her friend had to subtly gesture to her head.

Only then did she try to maneuver where there was no direct sunlight but it was hard when there were people in all directions.

She was grateful though that everyone was busy doing their own thing or admiring the parade they were seeing.

Mao Zhen helped to pull her into a safe place.

"Careless little lass! You haven't touched it up with the thing I gave you?" The girl flicked Hong Chun's forehead.

"Ouch! It was really time-consuming so I sometimes forget. Don't worry, no one cares about it anyway."

They were talking about Hong Chun's little secret.

Both her parents had dark hair and she was some sort of a natural brunette since she was a child but back then, it wasn't too visible unless one leaned in close to her.

So she had her suspicions but her parents cared for her very much and she didn't want to make things hard for them if they knew that she knew their secret.

But her brown hair became more obvious when she hit puberty.

Mao Zhen came from a family of merchants. It was her idea to give Hong Chun traditional hair dye (normally used by old madams of the capital) which she had been using since she was fourteen.

She forgot to dye her hair these past few days so its true color started to show especially under the sunlight.

But since they were in a crowded place, no one would really question her origins here so she was carefree. She only needed to be careful around her parents and gossipy neighbors.

Once away from the crowd, the two soon parted ways to go home.

What they didn't see was a person searching for the silhouettes of two strange young ladies.

"Jing Hai," The man Mao Zhen called handsome whispered something to the person beside him.

That person nodded and silently went away from the crowd.

---

The empire of Han had always been influential among its neighbors.

This autumn, the annual congregation of nations would occur in the imperial palace of Han.

It was the time when all wars would cease for more than a month and different rulers of independent and vassal states alike would gather to discuss the possibilities of permanently ending the war. Trade routes and goods, and other governmental issues would also be part of the discussion.

This would be a closed door meeting and security was at its finest during these times.

Some of the biggest nations though would only send representatives and not their Emperors or Kings.

Hong Chun learned that the congregation would occur three days from now so delegates had been pouring in Hanjing over the past week.

"Father, does that mean that you don't have to go to court?" Hong Chun's younger brother asked expectantly.

"That's right. I'll stay home and let's cook something! What would you two like to eat?"

Father Hong had skin the color of wheat as he came from a family of farmers but his countenance could be said to be handsome especially during his younger years.

Back then, they sold all their fortune just for young Father Hong to attend a good academy and pass the civil service exam.

Mother Hong had been his secret lover even when he was still a student.

Mother Hong came from a family of common scholars. They had a small amount of wealth so they wouldn't look at Father Hong unless he passed the civil service with high marks.

And so he did and their marriage was arranged.

From a peasant farmer, Father Hong was now a fifth ranked official in the Department of Rites.

That was an achievement only those who really worked hard could achieve.

Twenty years of their marriage and there were still no concubines or secondary wives inside the Hong villa.

This was proof that not every man in this kind of period couldn't stay monogamous.

But Hong Chun knew that her father was an exceptional and kind man.

"What will you cook, dear?" Mother Hong asked.

"All of my wife's favorites, of course!"

Then again, Mother Hong had him wrapped around her fingers.

"What about me?" Hong Chun's little brother complained.

"Aiyo, can Dad forget us, Xiao Ting?" Hong Chun cheered him up and winked at her father.

"Alright, alright! I'll just cook a feast for all of us." Father Hong's hands were raised in defeat.

Although she was a person incapable of really deep feelings, Hong Chun really liked this simple family.

She couldn't ask for more.