Chapter 7：Little Trap

Yin Hua Lei's age had been a taboo topic for her.

She waited and waited for the ninth prince and refused other proposals so now she was already twenty.

Usually, nobility treated this age to be spinsters in the making but being a Yin, this Hua Lei had a special identity.

Her age didn't matter because a marriage tie with her family was equivalent to a jackpot. A prize of being closer to the Emperor.

"This lowly official thinks that imperial daughter's spring will definitely come. Who doesn't know that all the bachelors in and outside the imperial city admires imperial daughter Gao Le?" Minister Ling tactfully answered to fill the awkward air.

"En, doesn't wine need a long time of fermenting for it to have the best taste? This humble official has the same thoughts as Minister Ling." Minister Bai carefully uttered and didn't dare to look at Yin Hua Lei.

This Bai Ping Bo is the father of both Bai Chan Yi and Chen Rong. Of course, he already knew that Yin Hua Lei was dissatisfied with his daughter Chan Yi and had a vague idea of her enmity with Chen Rong. He didn't want to further provoke her.

If he knew that this Yin Hua Lei hadn't left the palace, he wouldn't have come here to curry favor with the Emperor.

"If Minister Bai really thinks so, then this imperial daughter is at ease. After all, Minister Bai raised such a good daughter who is now betrothed to ninth brother. Congratulations needed to be met."

Before Bai Ping Bo was able to kneel and say 'This official doesn't dare,' Xin Tao was already there holding his elbows effectively stopping him.

"Minister Bai shouldn't be too polite. You will soon be a relative to Uncle Emperor, thus being this imperial daughter's elder. What kind of elder kneels to his junior?"

Her seemingly careless words made cold sweat run down Bai Ping Bo's back. Outside the palace, he could put on airs in social circles but how could he dare claim to be in-laws with the Emperor in front of his face?

Wouldn't that be seeking death?

"Imperial daughter's jokes, this humble official cannot take. Rong'er is able to marry the prince, that's her good fortune. This father is happy for her."

Yin Hua Lei had to applaud Bai Ping Bo for deflecting her attacks but-

"Indeed it is Miss Bai's blessings and completely unrelated to Minister Bai. After all, a married daughter is like spilled water. She will carry the surname Xia along with her children and create a new home in Chang palace."

The people inside the hall all understood the hidden meaning. Bai Ping Bo made a trap for himself. Yin Hua Lei meant that Chen Rong would be a member of the imperial family and the Bai family would have no rights whatsoever to gain power through Chen Rong.

There was a smile hidden beneath Emperor Du Liang's eyes as he resolutely nodded: "Indeed Minister Bai is an honest official, not at all shamelessly wanting to climb the higher branches even though his daughter will be Zhen's daughter-in-law. Quickly, write an announcement for the world to see and follow this beloved official's virtues."

Eunuch Min naturally couldn't miss this opportunity.

"Bi xia, the announcement reads: Let the world witness! Third rank official Bai Ping Bo of the Ministry of Rites has a heart as lucid as the waterfalls of Qingchu[1], not gaining advantages through personal relationship. For this, his Majesty bestows a silver Buddha to the Bai household."

Monarch Xia Chun was satisfied with this and sealed it with his dragon stamp.

Just a few words and Bai Ping Bo's route to promotion was successfully blocked. He now couldn't use the excuse of being related to the Emperor through marriage to throw his weight around other officials.

The announcement also served as a warning to other officials. Those who would help Bai Ping Bo with thoughts of gaining power should think twice because the Emperor did not support him.

Bai Ping Bo secretly gnashed his teeth. He never imagined imperial daughter Gao Le would retaliate this way. He already planned on using his daughter, Chen Rong to pave a way for him to be a second rank official or more but he was shot down even before he made his move.

Really wanted to strangle someone!

But he still had to salute to thank his Majesty for his grace and to imperial daughter Gao Le for her thoughtfulness.

The day after that, two pieces of news became tea topics in the imperial city.

First was the imperial announcement of Minister Bai Ping Bo's virtue and second, the commoners' favorite noodle stand in Yulan[2] Lane reportedly moved to the far province of Tuo.

The masses of the lower class thought that the second news was far more important as this noodle stand was said to be the best in the capital. Now that it's gone, where would they go?

When Yin Hua Lei heard this, she only had a wry smile. She wanted to say: 'Blame your country's father for the loss of one good noodle stand.'

But decided not to speak a word about it.

On the other hand, Bai Ping Bo had to stay at home nursing his wounds.

The third miss of the Bai household was said to be sick after going to Ancient Willow restaurant and hadn't gone out ever since. When in truth, she couldn't get out because her body was injured.

Her father Bai Ping Bo thoroughly beat her up to vent his frustrations of losing the Emperor's backing.

Bai Ping Bo could only hit Chan Yi and not Chen Rong for fear of giving an explanation to the ninth prince. This only left Chan Yi with a belly full of grievances and thoughts of revenge.

Meanwhile, Chen Rong lived lazily in her own courtyard waiting out the days before her marriage.

"That Yin Hua Lei must be mad." Chen Rong said with a smile when Xia Yu Heng visited her one night.

The ninth prince regularly visited her at night and she as a modern woman didn't seem to mind. After all, they weren't doing anything shady. They both got used to it as the years went by.

Xia Yu Heng only shot an eyebrow in question. The prince clearly didn't like talking about the woman who always pestered him calling, 'Ninth brother this, Ninth brother that.'

"I thought she only had a little fight with Bai Chan Yi but she took it to another level and even attacked Bai Ping Bo, that shameless father. Isn't she afraid that Chan Yi will expose all her secrets?"

When it came to Chen Rong addressing her family members as such, Xia Yu Heng got used to it. He reasoned that even he would not have an ounce of respect for this kind of family that threw their daughter in the suburbs, leaving her to fend for herself.

If he didn't find her back then, what would happen to her? Xia Yu Heng didn't want to think towards that direction.

"Even if she did, the first one who would kill your sister is your father." The ninth prince's gentle manners were somewhat opposite to his awful words.

Chen Rong was visibly stumped by this statement so Xia Yu Heng patiently explained.

"Yin Hua Lei is more known by her title Imperial Daughter Gao Le. The people revered her as an unmoving fairy because of her unparalleled grace and aura as though she was unreachable by mere men. All of these, you know. But..."

Xia Yu Heng listed and Chen Rong nodded like an attentive student to which she got her forehead rubbed by her fiancé.

"Even though she's called an imperial daughter, she isn't surnamed Xia but Yin. Yin, this ducal household is normally a quiet clan who doesn't involve themselves in politics that much."

"Aren't the Yin in charge of the imperial martial arts academy? I only know Duke Yin as the Emperor's shifu and his eldest son, Lord Yin is sworn brothers with his Majesty. What's that got to do with Bai Ping Bo killing Chan Yi?"

Xia Yu Heng faintly laughed. His wangfei was really impatient.

"In truth, this Yin family is not as unconcerned of political matters as they appear. Because since the Xia Dynasty started, there will always be a Yin near the Emperor when he assumes the dragon seat. Appearing as the martial arts tutor or an adviser. I know these things because as a prince, I studied the whole history of Da Xia but that doesn't mean that common citizens know. They only know that the Yin is a relative of Xia."

Chen Rong sank into deep thought upon hearing this before speaking.

"Then the other princes must know this too."

Xia Yu Heng nodded while saying: "In fact, they, especially third brother has been trying all sorts of ways to gain the Yin family's support but Duke Yin and Lord Yin remained stoic despite many attempts."

"If so, then father will really kill Chan Yi if she spilled Yin Hua Lei's bloody secrets. No prince will like an official detested by the Yin eldest miss. This also clears my doubts why Yin Hua Lei acts like an overlord as though everything is at the palm of her hands most of the times. Looks like her family can really hold the skies up for her[3]."

Chen Rong's beautiful little face glowed in the moonlight. Sitting alongside Xia Yu Heng on a lounge, the two looked like a painting.

"This Yin household is like a fortress that only moves when the choosing of the next emperor is near. As my imperial father grows old, expect more movement from the Yin but it is extremely hard to track their trails." The ninth prince added.

"Then, it looks like Yin Hua Lei is really growing a brain. Let's just wait for now. If she still hasn't given up on you, I don't believe she'll sit back and watch me enter your palace."

"Don't worry, this prince will protect you well..." Xia Yu Heng murmured to which Chen Rong softly laughed.

It wasn't like she couldn't protect herself. As a modern woman, she would not just watch her husband do all the work. In addition, she wasn't too weak herself.

Since transmigrating here when the original body was twelve years old, she wasn't so idle. She did what she was most confident of and that was making money, coming from a 21st century business woman.

Right now, her Ancient Willow restaurant had proliferated in the major provinces of Da Xia. She had a stable network of information. Also, she had the backing of the Red Panthers of the jianghu[4].

Her honored master would never forsake her. Needless to say, she wasn't really afraid of Yin Hua Lei, such a small rival in love.

But she had some reservations against the Yin clan. What could she do if this family made a move? Chen Rong had to investigate them further.

At least now, she learned that Yin Hua Lei's actions were not entirely from being muddled.

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[1]清楚 - qīngchu - to be clear about, distinct, lucid, obvious, evident

[2]玉兰 - Yùlán - magnolia

[3]Holding up the skies/covering up the skies - to have a big backer that one can do as one pleased