"This Prince notice that you are My Consort's cousin?"
"Yes, Your Highness. However, it has been a while since I saw him. We lost contact when I was sent to study."
The Prince is trying to gauge the man in front of him. However, his clear face and calm eyes are unreadable. Despite that, he knows the young man is trustworthy. Not because of his relationship with his bride, but because he has got intel about him.
The Prince knows about the man's talent and ambition, so he also know of the reason why Minister Shen would want to lay his trap on him.
"This Prince's guess you have also know about what had happen to My Consort this past few days?"
A small subtle change can be seen on the man's face, but as swiftly as that his features revert back to normal. However, the clear change of anger and shock didn't go unnoticed by the handsome prince.
"Yes, Your Highness. I was made aware of that."
Sitting on the opposite side on the small round table, the man held his clear gaze up, facing the Prince, unafraid. The Prince signals with his hand and his shadow guard that followed him hand the man a piece of parcel. Raising his eyebrows, he questions the Prince while accepting it. The Prince leisurely sips on his cup of tea, leaving the man to open the parcel himself.
Inside it is a letter, detailing the information on how a certain minister is keen to set the man and the Prince's Consort. He read it carefully, his eyes widen in shock, but only for a moment, before it turn cold and icy with suppressed hatred.
"Your Highness, this is... true?"
"My shadow guard obtain it from the hand of my Concubine, just before she burn it to ashes. Before you wonder why This Prince didn't act to it and give it to you to read first, it is because this Prince has other goal in mind."
The night continues as the Prince reveals what he have planned. The man silently listen to the detailed plan, shocked that the generally aloft Prince is capable of such things. He knew, if not for his relationship with the Prince's Consort or the fact that others are trying to use him to destroy the Consort's reputation, the Prince would not share this with him. He applaud the Prince's brilliant mind, adapting changes to his plans once he knows the other's intention.
"This servant will proceed as instructed, Your Highness."
"Good. Choose one day to visit your cousin. He miss his family."
With those, the Prince left the man's private chamber and when home to his bride.
----------
"My dear, your cousin has asked me for my permission to meet you. I have granted him, so he will coming today."
A few days have passed since that night. Zero Three had informed me what had happen on the night he left me alone, as the next day, when I woke up, he's already by my side.
If everything works according to plan, Concubine Shen will make her move. Since my Prince has already give them a chance, I'm sure she's itching to take it. The question is, who will she send to do her dirty deed this time?
"Xue Er, you've met Big Brother Jun? He's coming to meet me?"
Right now, I'm sitting on his lap, eating breakfast with him. It has been a few days since he force me to do that. Eating on his lap and being spoon fed by him... and then... other things happen... after that...
Smirk.
I refused a few time until it dawn to me... nah... it's too tiring to refuse him. This dense Prince would just force his way anyway.
"Are you excited, my dear?"
I flash him a wide smile, while nodding in agreement. Of course I'm excited! First, my plan will finally working and second, the most important reason, I can finally get out from this room.
Ever since I came here... I mean, being transported here, the only place I've been is the palace. Apart from that, I'm confined in this room. The reason was, every day I'll be so spent that I slept my way through the morning and will be left with so little day time when I woke up.
The culprit for my condition?
The Prince!
My body will be so sore when morning come but my behind is left intact. I know that the Prince has disbursed his chi to me but... I'm getting bored in here!
"Host, Concubine Shen has received the news about Jun Jin Lee's visit. She will use a newly appointed maid to sneak into your room and place the name seal."
"What about the drug?"
"Her maid has threatens one of the kitchen maid to put it in your tea when Jun Jin Lee come to visit."
I lay my head on the Prince's shoulder, feigning my drowsiness as I listen to Zero Three report. It turns out Concubine Shen is much more daring than I thought. She even let her father get hold of the poor maid family just so she would do the did. She knows that with the recent event, nobody dare to make a move on me, so she have to submit to kidnapping.
So... what can we do to trap this green tea bitch?
"My dear, wake up~ Your cousin is here."
I immediately come back to my sense, flickering my lashes slowly as if I was asleep. Hah, those acting classes really come in use right now.
The Prince help me up, before he summons Xiao Er to help me change. As I was only here in this let warmed chamber, the Prince has secretly tasked the maid to dress me up scarcely. It serve the purpose well as it was easier for him to take them off.
Smirk.
So when Xiao Er bring me layers and layer of clothing with a plush thick outer robe to accompany it, I was a bit baffle by it.
"It is still winter, Host."
But still... Even the one that I wore to the palace doesn't have this much layer on it.
Haish, my Prince is possessive!
----------
The Fourth Prince's courtyard is bustling with activity. A guest have arrives. It is super rare for the Prince to accept guest to his home, especially if they are not his immediate family members
The maids are trying hard to make themselves presentable when they found out who's the guest is. Despite their lowly wage and their living restriction, none of them are immune to the juicy gossip from the town.
The guest is none other than the Kingdom of Silla's delegate, also known as one the most handsome eligible bachelor in the city, Junior Minister Jun Jin Lee.
Even the concubines that reside in the courtyard has their hearts shaken. While they have never seen that man, paintings and stories about him have long reach them as well. They put out their best clothing, waiting to be brought upon the hall to meet with the handsome man.
All but one.
Concubine Shen let out a small smile, watching how the inner courtyard of the Fourth Prince turns busy with excitement. She shares a knowing smile with her head maid, confirming everything is ready.
Ready to trap a single ger.
Who would have guess, her trick are up in the air, known to both the ger and the Prince that has grows to love his delicate bride.
Let the game begins.