Chapter 13：Demon and Little Demoness

"It seems there are festivities happening outside?" Yin Hua Lei was disturbed by the faint noise.

Her Gao Le palace was situated in the northeastern part of the imperial city. She really liked it here because it was the quietest part of the capital mainly because the residents here were either of the royal family or of the higher ranking nobility.

But today, her ears picked up on large movements as though feet were stomping the ground at the same time and some cheering.

She deduced that soldiers were welcomed in the city.

"Mistress, this servant heard that the Huoyang troops have returned to the city. And the general's, Feng wang's household will permanently settle here." Xin Tao kindly filled in.

"Furthermore, Feng palace is just next door. This servant saw their procession. Their carriages are all pretty!" Xin Ling was obviously more gossipy but never did she breach proper etiquette.

Yin Hua Lei and the tenth princess had just finished their lunch and were having tea to help digestion.

This Xia Luyoung unexpectedly persisted to follow princess Gao Le around and even started calling her elder sister! The first time Yin Hua Lei heard it, she almost tripped!

Since then, Yin Hua Lei couldn't shake her off even if she wanted to. She didn't know if Xia Luyoung lost her head somewhere.

Good thing the tenth princess learned the art of keeping quiet these past few days. More accurately, she just couldn't take it whenever Yin Hua Lei stared at her for being too talkative.

When Xia Luyoung heard the two words Feng wang, she choked on her tea.

"Princess!" Her personal maid hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth and snot. But Xia Luyoung continued to cough out the tea.

Yin Hua Lei subtly narrowed her eyes at the girl. What kind of reaction was this?

Xin Tao and Xin Ling behind her were both expressionless. If it were other maids of a higher ranking lady, they would have crumpled their faces in disgust.

What kind of princess puts herself in such embarrassing situation?

But they were princess Gao Le's personal maids. They were even called princess Gao Le's fays for they followed their mistress' celestial footsteps.

By the end of the girl's coughing fit, her face was bright red due to the strain and embarrassment. But Yin Hua Lei didn't miss how the tenth princess' pupils shrunk in what could only be called fear.

"Forgive this princess, elder sister. Young'er needs to change clothes so I will withdraw first." She bowed while still obviously shaken.

Yin Hua Lei was now curious as she watched the tenth princess' sullen back.

She looked at Xin Tao who immediately got the hint.

"The tenth princess is pampered since birth. Although his Majesty is neither hot nor cold towards her, she was still spoiled by the Empress and her other prince and princess siblings, especially the third prince. Tenth princess only feared two people in her life. Now, she feared my lady for some reason, but back then the person she's scared of the most is her imperial uncle, Feng wang."

So that's what it was.

Even Yin Hua Lei had someone she feared. She still called that person Uncle Emperor though, because she admired him as much as she feared what he could do.

But Xia Luyoung's fear looked like she had been sentenced to death. How scary was this Feng wang shu[1]?

"Would mistress want more information on prince Feng?"

"No, this princess knows about him." She turned to her two maids.

"Xin Tao's information gathering is more and more reliable these days. What reward should this princess give?"

Xin Tao who failed to hear the hidden teasing tone immediately bowed.

"Being by your side is a blessing in itself. Also, it's not all this servant's deeds. Ling'er also helps and most information is passed from Zhao Gang..."

"I see... Then Zhao Gang also needs to be rewarded. You two have great teamwork. This princess will gladly let you two marry. How does that sound?"

"Mi-mistress!" Xin Tao raised her head, alarmed. Her cheeks instantly flaming.

"Kekeke," a creepy laugh sounded from somewhere. "Zhao Gang heard mistress calling and immediately came over. Turns out it's about marriage."

The voice paused but Xin Tao felt herself shuddering. The maid knew she was being appraised by critical eyes.

Zhao Gang didn't reveal his location.

"Mistress should prepare Zhao Gang's dowry. Yes... Tao'er will make a good husband for Zhao Gang. Mistress should not be stingy with the dowry or else Zhao Gang will be bullied by the in-laws!"

Yin Hua Lei's eyebrows twitched. Wasn't it the other way around? Zhao Gang's way of thinking made her speechless every time he opened his mouth.

"Pft! Truly, I will bully you once you enter the family!" Xin Ling couldn't hold it in anymore.

Xin Tao's face looked like it will bleed any moment.

"Mi-mistress, look at what these two are saying! How could... How could Xin Tao marry?!"

"Alright... Alright, there are plenty of time to plan this. We're not in a hurry. All of you, dismissed."

Once Yin Hua Lei entered her chamber, her expression instantly changed.

She sincerely hoped her maids would live better lives and marry them off but she also had other reasons of bringing it up.

To hide her uneasiness about the news Xin Tao brought.

She sat on the arhat couch and stared into space.

Speaking of Feng wang shu, she received another part of the plot but it was totally different.

In the story, Feng wang shu was supposed to go back to the capital but only his corpse made it.

This prince Feng travelled earlier than his Huoyang troop.

His entourage was ambushed by the third prince and his whole household was annihilated.

When the soldiers of Huoyang found them, the corpses had been feasted by vultures in some valley for several days and were barely recognizable.

The return of this mighty troop in the capital was filled with grief and despair.

But today, wasn't it obvious that the capital was very lively? Her maids even confirmed that the household was now occupying the palace next to hers.

Then, Feng wang shu survived the ambush somehow.

Yin Hua Lei tried to think of the cause of the difference from the plot. She thought back to what happened recently.

Sorting out her thoughts, she finally began to understand.

It was somehow related to her.

Yin Hua Lei stopped courting death by giving up on the ninth prince. She then had a sincere talk with the Emperor, after which she was promoted to a first rank titled royal princess.

This became a more valid reason for the tenth princess to remain at her Gao Le palace.

By some series of events, it wasn't impossible for the third prince to also learn of this. With his Highness' blood sister being confined at another princess' residence, he probably thought she was keeping the tenth princess hostage.

Yin Hua Lei felt her forehead and back drench with cold sweat.

Uncle Emperor was really scary, ah! His Majesty's actions looked so random but he was actually looming an intricate trap.

Here she was thinking that she already understood the meaning behind the Emperor's actions. Turned out it was only the tip of the iceberg. A dragon's mind was really deep!

If the Yin family's master casted such a huge scheme to save Feng wang shu, then this prince was probably important in his Majesty's future plans.

***

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"

This was the first time Eunuch Min saw the Emperor have an outburst.

And the cause of this was the demon sitting indolently in front of the Emperor.

Sitting on the prince's lap was a little demoness. Her eyes had the same haughty look as the demon and they were the most prominent features on that little face.

"Poppa... who?"

The little demoness pointed her naturally chubby finger towards the Emperor while looking up at the demon.

Eunuch Min Tong had wide eyes. So bold! What child in Da Xia wasn't intimidated and always on the verge of crying in front of the Emperor?

"Yo-your Highness, Prince Feng. This... isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Eunuch Min still managed to keep his dignified demeanor before apprehensively looking at the Emperor.

No matter what, he was the father of the world. How could his Majesty let a child point at him?

The demon who was actually Feng wang shu reached out for the little demoness' hand. Slender fingers gently wrapped around small ones.

A perfect contrast.

"My sweet, he's your Uncle Emperor." Prince Feng said in an indulging tone.

The entrancing demon was still a demon but what was scarier was his silken voice could actually come out with such adoration!

Obviously, he was the god-slaying machine who killed people while laughing alluringly but suddenly seeing him treating the little girl so endearingly... Why did it seem so fitting? Like nothing was wrong with the picture?

But there was definitely something wrong! A demon birthing a demoness, how would that child grow up?

Eunuch Min shuddered. It was obvious how the little girl got her daddy wrapped around her little fingers. What kinds of troubles would she brew in the capital?

Meanwhile, Emperor Du Liang's head felt like it was swelling.

Even more so, when the little demoness' creamy voice said. "Too old... Grandpa Uncle Emperor, little Treasure greets."

The child's charming face blossomed to a toothy grin.

By now, Eunuch Min barely held himself from fainting.

But Prince Feng didn't mind anything other than his daughter.

"Good! This prince's daughter is really intelligent! What does Brother Emperor have to say?"

Xia Chun, for once, actually didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Zhen thinks little Treasure is really cute too. But Lian'er... you married without Zhen's consent." It was more of a statement than a question. "How will We accept this? You didn't even bring your princess consort here today. At least, We can give the blessings even if it's late."

Prince Feng, Xia Lian Bei blinked at the Emperor's exhausted speech. It was as though his Majesty gave up on being angry and was mainly helpless.

"But... Ben wang[2] has yet to marry an imperial consort."

When he heard this, the Emperor's eyes brightened. Only to dim again at the next words.

"Merely a consort and four concubines."

The Emperor's face became as desolate as it could be.

"What a good youth! Taking in wives without elders' consent!" Xia Chun snorted.

His face coloured with annoyance while the person that could elicit this much emotions from the Emperor still sat lazily.

"Sigh... Go rest. The child also needs to rest, you travelled for many days. Zhen won't hold you for longer." His Majesty sighed.

Emperor Du Liang watched his brother's retreating figure. The man still held the child in his arms.

The girl who called herself little Treasure looked back to the Grandpa Uncle Emperor who sat in his throne. In her eyes, the old man looked sad so she offered him a smile and waved.

When Xia Chun saw this, he was thunder struck! A similar image from years ago overlapped with what he was seeing.

Mist clouded his half-closed eyes, lost in thought, not even hearing his eunuch's calls.

Eunuch Min only felt his bushy brows twitch when he saw the Emperor's lips rise to a meaningful smile before saying:

"That rascal didn't even let Zhen hold his daughter!"

---

[1]Wang shu- imperial uncle

[2]Ben wang- form of address to oneself; means This prince.

Take note that a prince shouldn't technically use this address when in front of the Emperor but XLB still used it anyway instead of This brother-subject/younger brother.