Chapter 30：Cleaning the Wangfu

Xia Lian Bei absentmindedly stroke his daughter's cheeks while staring at his so-called mistresses.

They were now inside the Consort Jiu's courtyard and he was sitting at the head position.

To his left was Consort Jiu and behind her were the other three concubines.

Xia Lian Bei felt like he left flowers inside his rear courtyard to rot. These flowers were also quite poisonous but their toxicity wouldn't be half as much as that woman living at the palace next door.

His imperial older brother was right. He had to clean his wangfu.

The chill of Prince Feng's stare was diffused by the enchanting curve on his lips.

But his next words were completely unexpected.

"You have a few choices: pack and return to Northern Chu; or stay here at the capital but live in a separate residence; or be married off to other officials arranged by ben wang." He said while counting up to three with his fingers.

Nobody answered him so he continued.

"Naturally, this prince will prove your chastity once you exit the wangfu. This part, you don't have to worry. No matter what you choose, you are still eligible to marry as the first wives of lower ranking officials or concubines of high ranking ones. You will also be compensated properly by this prince and will be conferred Second Rank Noble Lady and Third Rank Noble Ladies respectively. This is to ensure that you won't be slighted wherever you go."

"Wa-wang ye! This concubine only wants to stay here in the wangfu. Why is wang ye driving this concubine away?" A seductive looking lady voiced out her grievances.

The way she said it would make any man's blood to pump and boil, and would not be able to resist pampering her.

But Xia Lian Bei only grinned in a cheshire-like way, making his pallid face appear ghastly yet alluring.

"Ah, yes. There is also that choice. Stay here and be turned into lifeless pretty dolls."

Prince Feng couldn't utter something barbaric since his daughter was here so he settled with these words hoping they conveyed his meaning.

The problem with people was when he tell them straight to their face that they would die, they'd always laugh and never believe him. Some even called him names, not knowing that they'll really die tomorrow. He always tried to be magnanimous and give them some warning but they never took him seriously.

In the end, their loved ones would point fingers at him after those people died unknown deaths.

He already told them though? Was it still his fault that they didn't write some last will or something?

Now he spoke in quite poetic words. Would these ladies understand, he wondered.

The seductive concubine was stunned silent. Tears gathered on her almond eyes before falling one by one.

Sigh... a crying beauty was still a beauty.

Xia Lian Bei suddenly recalled that darn girl's crying visage. He unconsciously chuckled because she was quite ugly when she cried.

But the concubines got frightened due to Feng wang's quiet laugh. It felt like the reaper was already clutching their ankles.

Later on, it was settled that the three concubines wanted to go back to Northern Chu. There was no point marrying officials here in the capital of Da Xia. Their roots were in Northern Chu and they would only suffer in the hands of the in-laws here.

But all throughout the talk, Consort Jiu just stared at the prince, mulling over his words carefully.

She was like a deep lake, unperturbed even though her husband was literally abandoning her. To Consort Jiu, Prince Feng was never her husband.

The moment she laid her eyes on him, she knew that behind his glamorous and magnetic smiles was a heart longing for someone.

This was the reason why she calmly accepted her family matchmaking her to Da Xia's wang shu. She made a bet with her life then but it was worth it.

Consort Jiu could easily have been the first wife of a prince in Northern Chu but her family wanted to have direct connections with Da Xia.

But she, she only wanted one thing...

"Wang ye..." Her smooth and deep voice gingerly sounded. "This consort is glad that wang ye has found the missing key to his heart."

Consort Jiu's gaze fleeted on Tiandi for a second.

"Allow this consort to speak her wishes..."

Xia Lian Bei narrowed his plum blossom eyes at the consort. What missing key was this woman talking about?

"This consort doesn't wish to go back to Northern Chu. Please allow me to live a simple life away from the place I once called home. This consort wishes never to participate in their grand plans again... Only wang ye has the power to grant me freedom. Please grant this consort's only request."

It took a while for Feng wang to answer.

"You want to be a commoner?"

There was determination in the consort's eyes. "Yes..."

Seemed like there was another queer who he sheltered in his home. Who would have thought that this consort wouldn't choose any of his preparations for them? And instead opted to live a rough life as a common citizen.

His respect for the consort lightly grew as he flicked his robes to stand.

"Then it shall be done."

He turned around to leave with his daughter.

"Thanking wang ye!" For the first time, Consort Jiu smiled with all her heart but the prince didn't see it nor was it for his eyes.

She finally broke free from her family's control. She could finally live!

It was a small thing for Xia Lian Bei but he admired it when a person struggled with all their might to achieve the things they wanted in life. For that, he would also give her a gift.

He nuzzled his face on Tiandi's cheeks while laughing cheekily.

That lady wasn't bad. But he noticed a certain wooden person behind him almost stumbled when he heard the consort wanted to be a commoner.

"Shai, you will arrange Jiu lady's lodgings and will also take care of her security."

The wooden person suddenly stepped on a slippery rock and almost fell face forward. Luckily, he caught himself.

"M-master? You care for the Lady Jiu?" Shai was dumbfounded and there was a slight pang in his heart but he hid it well.

When Xia Lian Bei heard how stupid his right hand man was, he wanted to kick him.

"Be careful of your words, you fool!" Then he turned to the little treasure. "Bao Bei, don't mention this to your mother."

The innocent Tiandi didn't know what he was talking about. Her wide clear eyes just looked back at him.

When they finally reached the main house, Xia Lian Bei let the little dumpling run around.

But when he put her down, Tiandi didn't bounce as usual. Her tiny face kept on scrunching as though trying to remember something.

Seeing this, Prince Feng stooped down to her level and knelt in front of her. He rubbed the space between the little treasure's brows while chuckling.

"What is it? Why do you have to think so hard?"

But Tiandi's black orbs suddenly sparkled. "Poppa, mummy fairy princess wants to see you."

Xia Lian Bei was stupefied.

"Oh, oh, oh, to-nite. Uhmm. Tonight!"

The small dumpling's smile was blinding. She felt that she did a good job at this big task.

Feng wang's stiff face turned to Tiandi's nurse who was always with her.

"Is this true?"

The nurse didn't know.

Xia Lian Bei's face darkened as he turned to Shai.

"That girl won't call randomly. Did something happen? Why is this prince unaware?"

Shai instinctively backed away but stopped himself.

"Master, this one suggests not to think too negatively. Mistress may only want to talk about something." Seeing as you're so adamant to evade her.

Don't know when exactly but Shai had changed his way of address to the Gao Le princess.

The wang shu slightly calmed down when he heard this. He also realized he was overreacting so he rubbed his face in frustration.

***

The night was deep. The crescent moon hang high up the indigo sky.

Down below, the wind was cold. It lightly snowed in the afternoon, making the temperature frigid.

In a pavilion on the middle of a huge frozen man-made lake, a lady in thick clothing would be seen sitting.

In this frosty night, she looked rather comfortable.

It was partly because of her good constitution and partly because underneath the pavilion's flooring was a complex heating system. There were also charcoal burners in every corner.

During the summer, this pavilion would be fully opened and airy. But now, only a single window was slightly left open to let in the moon's silver rays.

The lady was hunched over the table in the middle of the small room. The lamp illuminated her serious face.

Her hand hovered over a piece of paper. A kohl stick that was only ever used by peasants was her writing instrument.

The sheets of paper was soon filled with all sorts of design for clothing. Some were images of nature, beasts that were both mythical and real. Others were recurring patterns that were very pleasing to the eyes.

The lady was wholly concentrated on her work. She had been prohibited to sketch anything for what felt like forever. All the ideas in her head seemed to be pouring directly onto the paper.

She didn't even notice that her face showed an array of colors that wouldn't be seen on normal days.

Her eyes would suddenly twinkle every now and then. Her nose would crinkle when she found something difficult. Her lips would pucker indicating her many thoughts or part when she was slightly at a loss, then would be back to a thin line when an idea suddenly came.

Her cheeks would huff in annoyance if she made an incorrect line. Her teeth would be gritted once a lock of hair got in the way.

But then, she would be serenely smiling when she felt gratified.

Xia Lian Bei was rooted at the entrance of the pavilion.

The woman inside was a wonderful sight when she was encased in her own world.

The prince knew this was Yin Hua Lei without the tall walls she surrounded herself with.

A warm feeling slowly blossomed in his heart as a delicate smile formed on his thin lips. If time stopped, he could just watch her forever.

His pale hair reflected the moonlight. Standing there with a straight back, he appeared mystical and a little unreal. It was as though the man was a messenger sent to earth by the celestial gods and goddesses.

Truly, his countenance and the way he held himself was unparalleled.

Yin Hua Lei felt the cold enter so she looked up to find the wang shu by the door.

Slightly frowning, "Why aren't you entering?"

A normal lover should have said something along the lines of 'How long have you been standing? Get out of the cold or you'll get sick!'

Xia Lian Bei chuckled. Did he just consider this damn girl his lover? He must be deranged.