Chapter 6：Emperor Du Liang

"Uncle is disappointed."

Those three words blew Yin Hua Lei's mind. Instinctively, she knew that it wasn't about the fainting matter. She hung her head, not daring to look up.

All these years, Xia Chun didn't utter a word about the evil things she did behind everyone's backs. The amounts of lives destroyed either by her own two hands or by paid ones, she couldn't count.

It wasn't only women she dealt with. She also silenced those who uttered slander against ninth prince Xia Yu Heng, people who planned to harm him, even those that the prince himself didn't know.

Yin Hua Lei protected him like a wolf would protect her own pup. But she never dared tell this to the prince. What would his reaction be when he learned of her viciousness? That she wasn't the unfeeling, unwanting goddess everyone pictured her out to be?

But the prince not knowing didn't mean the Emperor was unaware.

After a long silence, she finally spoke up.

"Hua Lei has no excuse except..." She raised her head, her eyes clear despite tears. "Being a fool in love."

The Emperor stared at her, not with the eyes of a ruler to his subject. It was with the eyes of a chiding father to his child.

"Losing sight of the bigger picture, is fool the right word? You say it's because of love but is it really? This old man only saw you striking all the enemies while the other yatou built a base in my son's heart."

Yin Hua Lei looked back at all the things she did and the Emperor was unexpectedly right.

"All the years of cultivating you, was it for naught-"

"No! Hua Lei learned her lesson, won't make the same mistake again. I am still Uncle's greatest weapon. Please allow me to right my wrongs."

Yin Hua Lei's voice was filled with resolution and upon hearing the word please, one would know that she rarely used it.

Xia Chun seemed to think before slowly nodding.

"En... Uncle isn't disappointed because you fell in love. It's the rash actions you did because of it. Now, do you know why you lost thoroughly against the Bai girl?"

Yin Hua Lei sniffled. She still loathed Bai Chen Rong and never liked hearing her name. But the reason for her loss, should she say that it was because she was the villainess and Chen Rong was the heroine? Would she believe that this uncle would wrap her up and lock her away if she did?

"Ha! You still don't know despite everything?" Xia Chun flicked the young lady's forehead. The bearing of the dragon all but gone.

"As this old man sees it, Bai yatou shows her true skin to all the people she meets. Daring, bold and unrestrained. Who she is outdoors is who she is indoors. That kind of charm, few in your circle have it."

The Emperor had a profound look in his eyes.

If his ministers saw him now, they would be shell-shocked. Where was the easygoing ruler who always depended on others to decide for him? Was this the same mediocre sovereign?

Yin Hua Lei's phoenix eyes flashed and wanted to say something but Xia Chun blocked her words.

"Uncle understands, no need explaining. Both of us know our circumstances. My family's niece also suffered."

The young lady wanted to snap at this Emperor. It looked like he was enjoying speaking like a common citizen.

"Uncle Chun really likes this role." With this, the depressing topic was lifted.

Xia Chun softly laughed. It was one of those with rare sincerity as though the shackles of the imperial palace were not holding him down.

But he also subconsciously felt the countless people in the shadows brought by Yin Hua Lei. This girl wasn't exaggerating earlier, she really brought half of their forces to this place so he was complacent.

Regarding the talk of showing one's true self, Xia Chun could only smile in mockery.

Since he was born as a crown prince inside that cage that ate people raw, he had to feign weakness. Always pretending to be powerless and acting like he was only holding an empty title.

It was effective because he was the one who succeeded in the end. When he ascended the throne, he didn't put the effort to change his reputation. He found it easier to catch prey when they thought they were the predator. And he had been doing that for twenty-six years.

So who was he to admonish Yin Hua Lei for being a wolf under sheep's clothing?

Xia Chun stood up after finishing his noodles.

"It's time to go back."

Once again, he would wear his dragon robes.

It was afternoon when they got back to the palace safe and without noise.

"Bi xia, this servant..." almost died!

Eunuch Min had red eyes and looked like he aged a lot in a span of one day.

Why wouldn't he be? He had to fend off princes, concubines and ministers who requested audience with the Emperor the whole day.

Heavens knew how nerve-wrecking it was! One mistake and the cat would be out of the bag.

"Min Tong, you've gotten complacent over the years. Zhen[1] arranged this as an exercise for you."

The old eunuch's face went blank when he heard that. How could this be an exercise? This was clearly a death sentence!

"Welcome back, your Majesty, Mistress." Xin Ling who was supposed to be Yin Hua Lei was invited inside the receiving hall, signalling the end of the punishment.

The maid knelt outside for a whole day but still saluted without fail.

Emperor Du Liang looked at her briefly and ordered Eunuch Min to bestow a golden bracelet to the girl.

To which Xin Ling kowtowed in gratitude. She was a mere maid although she was a first-rank palace maid who grew up with an imperial daughter so this was a big grace for her.

Yin Hua Lei threw a look of dissatisfaction at her Uncle Emperor.

The old man still knew his conscience.

"What?" Xia Chun snorted at her.

He could read the young lady's well-hidden thoughts.

"Change clothes while Zhen reads memorials. Then sit for a while and eat snacks. Zhen's people will think We are cruel if We send you right away after kneeling for so long." The Emperor ordered while sitting on the mahogany chair of his study desk.

Yin Hua Lei curtsied, never forgetting her manners. "Niece thanks Uncle Emperor for the grace. But Uncle Emperor should be reminded that next time, send word ahead of time before punishing this Lei like this."

The Emperor only waved his hand to send her away then turned to Min Tong.

"Tell, has Zhen spoiled that niece too much? We still have to send word before punishing?"

The old eunuch choked on his own saliva.

"Bi xia, this servant thinks that imperial daughter Gao Le is referring to other things."

Emperor Du Liang only answered "Hmph, Yin Fang Qi's daughter really!" before returning to the piles of memorial on his table. But there was mirth underneath his gaze.

Others might be confused of the Emperor's treatment of the Yin family's eldest miss but those who served closely by his Majesty's side personally witnessed it over the years.

Xia Chun worried that his junior brother would never have a child. The Emperor watched his Imperial Palace grow by the year but Yin Fang Qi only had thoughts of serving him.

Good thing, Nuo Wan captured his junior brother's heart and bore him a daughter. The first Yin daughter in five generations.

Eunuch Min Tong recalled how the Emperor was more excited when Yin Hua Lei was born than having his own child, quickly passing a title bestowal decree.

The child spent her childhood inside this Sacred Sky hall as much as her Duke Yin's manor.

Yin Hua Lei received the finest education offered to his Majesty's daughters. Many looked down at the Emperor's actions back then but as the child grew, they also saw her infinite grace, thus being called a fairy.

But instead of spending time with the Empress (according to customs due to her being female), young Yin Hua Lei would often be seen with the Emperor.

It could be said that the child's character was greatly influenced by his Majesty to the point that she sometimes would not listen to her own father and would refuse to go home.

Eunuch Min would often catch Emperor Du Liang talking to her animatedly which was very unlike his personality in court. And personally teaching some subjects to the young Yin Hua Lei as though preparing her for a big role.

The old eunuch's bushy eyebrows suddenly jumped when he thought to this point. His neck snapped at the entrance where Yin Hua Lei was now seen clothed with a new palace dress.

Her steps were light as a flapping butterfly's wings but still managed to look steady and dignified. Her gaze was soft and stable yet one would find themselves strangely intimidated if they were under the scrutiny of those phoenix eyes. Upon entering the hall, she carried herself with outstanding elegance.

She looked straight ahead, her chin slightly raised as though she expected everyone to kneel. But there was no one here except the Emperor and Eunuch Min.

Eunuch Min also watched Yin Hua Lei grow up but since when did imperial daughter Gao Le have such imposing presence?

Yin Hua Lei took a seat just below the platform.

"Does Eunuch Min want to say something to this imperial daughter?" She asked in a soft voice but managed to echo fear in the eunuch's heart.

"Nothing important, imperial daughter." Eunuch Min Tong tore his eyes away. It was indeed impolite to stare.

"Being grumpy, is it one of the effects of a broken heart?" Emperor Du Liang didn't lift his head from the memorials.

Yin Hua Lei only pursed her lips and said nothing.

It was then that the eunuch outside announced the arrival of the Head Minister of Rites and his Assistant Minister.

The Emperor carelessly raised his hand.

Two middle aged men in official's clothes entered and did a grand salute[2].

The moment they entered, they already saw Yin Hua Lei so they also greeted her to which they only got a hum as a reply.

The Assistant Minister of Rites saw this attitude and wanted to say something.

"Aye, you two came in time. Zhen is solving a dilemma right now. Tell Zhen, who among Da Xia can marry Our niece?"

It wasn't just the two ministers who were speechless. Even Eunuch Min and Yin Hua Lei didn't know why the Emperor suddenly brought this up.

"Uncle Emperor is making this niece shy with your words. Minister Ling and Assistant Minister Bai have seen something embarrassing. Who will marry this girl who's way past the age of marrying?" Yin Hua Lei said in a deadpan manner, not shy at all.

Emperor Du Liang became indignant when he heard this.

"What nonsense are you saying? In Zhen's Da Xia, will someone reject Our niece because of age?! What say you two?"

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[1]Zhen- form of Emperor's address to himself. Will be interchanged with We and Our

[2] Grand salutes in this story means a deep kowtow. A salute is either a slight bow, a cupped hand or a curtsy for ladies.