Chapter 31：Tacky to Ornate Real Quick

"Meeting at night is detrimental to your reputation."

Xia Lian Bei reminded the lady as he sat.

"We only ever meet at night though?" Yin Hua Lei retorted.

Prince Feng paused to think and indeed, they've only been meeting at night ever since.

"Those times were special circumstances. You shouldn't make it a habit. Ben wang doesn't see you as a promiscuous woman so this won't happen again."

Yin Hua Lei's lips parted in surprise then she chuckled.

"What's funny?" Xia Lian Bei got annoyed. "You don't believe me?"

The woman shook her head. She only found his thoughtfulness quite pleasing to the ears. Unlike his certain nephew who shamelessly visited his lover almost every night even before they got married.

"Tiandi's asleep?" She steered the topic.

The man only hummed in reply as he crossed his legs.

Yin Hua Lei found it amusing that he sat as far away from her as possible.

"Ben wang admits that I didn't consider you at all when I took Bao Bei that year. This prince isn't the best father either but I do my best to make her happy every day. Still, there are times when I also mess up."

Yin Hua Lei's face was blank. She didn't understand what he was rambling about.

"That day you saved Bao Bei on the street, it was a miscalculation on my part. I wanted to have a definite reason to kick the concubine out of the wangfu so I let her carry on with her plan but I never would have thought that Bao Bei would run further and almost get into an accident."

Only now that Yin Hua Lei realized that Feng prince was apologizing for the things that upset her weeks ago.

The stuff about him teaching Tiandi how to shoot, the war stories, the sweets, and the concubine who bullied the little dumpling.

"There's no need to explain. I was just mad when I first heard it but I soon realized that I shouldn't complain either. After all, it was Prince Feng who raised Tiandi and not this good for nothing mother...

"If your Highness didn't take Tiandi that year, I'm afraid she wouldn't be as lively as she is now. Hua Lei was blind before and sought treasure where there was none. So I must really thank Prince Feng for taking good care of Tiandi even if my gratefulness is not needed nor wanted."

There was a self-deprecating smile on her lips. She didn't bow her head in shame and instead looked the wang shu in the eye to let him know that her words were sincere.

Xia Lian Bei was speechless for a long moment and Yin Hua Lei let him digest her words. She didn't want him to see her so-called change but she at least wanted to tone down his hatred of her. That way, Tiandi wouldn't suffer in the future.

But the prince seemed to have a different idea as he spoke: "This prince can arrange for the both of you to be together. You only need to give me time."

Yin Hua Lei instantly understood what he was saying. "Your Highness means without marrying you?"

The wang shu almost choked on his own saliva at her reply. He was used to being the blunt person in conversations. It was the first time for him to taste his own medicine.

Yin Hua Lei was only stunned that he could be this generous but what was the point of this magnanimity?

"Prince Feng, Hua Lei doesn't doubt your abilities. But let's say that you'll be successful, can your Highness truly say that this is the best solution? What of the person sitting on the throne? The chances of bi xia being extremely dissatisfied with Feng wang is almost ten out of ten."

"You... Imperial Older Brother already told you?"

She shook her head. "I only deduced."

"Then, you don't disagree with the engagement?"

"Why? Is there any other woman in Da Xia that Prince Feng would like to marry?"

"Wha- What nonsense?!"

"How about in Northern Chu?"

"There's none! This prince even sent the ladies back to their homes already!"

"So I've heard... It's settled then."

Xia Lian Bei was baffled. Was it supposed to go this way? Why did it feel so easy?

"What are you still thinking of?" Yin Hua Lei prompted.

"You don't abhor this prince?"

"Aren't you the same?"

"Don't you have someone in your heart?"

"Do I?"

Feng wang gave up. Talking with this woman was really exhausting. Since she didn't seem to disagree then there was no problem. He didn't know what he was fussing about either.

For a while, there was only silence inside the pavilion.

Yin Hua Lei was the one who broke it. "I originally wanted to talk about the winter banquet."

The winter banquet happened before mid-winter yearly at the Imperial Palace.

Despite Da Xia having an inept Emperor, it was still very prosperous. Winter disasters were rare to occur because during this time every year, the citizens near mountains would already be evacuated to the plains. All the provinces, towns and villages of Da Xia would have a granary reserved just for this season and other unforeseen disasters.

These were the products of the previous Emperors' hard work since the beginning of the empire. Their accomplishments piled up as the many years passed by which made the citizens have better lives today.

So every winter, the officials and nobility in the imperial city could relax and afford to attend banquets despite the cold weather.

One of the more prestigious gatherings was of course done inside the Imperial Palace itself.

Hosted by the Emperor and Empress themselves, only officials of the fourth rank and up were invited along with their families.

During Emperor Du Liang's reign, the winter banquet also served as his Majesty's birthday celebration. So this was really an awaited occasion every year.

Xia Lian Bei grinned widely when he heard her statement.

"Oh, about that? Ben wang also wants to hear your thoughts." He leaned forward, putting his chin on his palm.

***

The nights were longer now but this didn't stop the days from quickly passing by.

There was the air of excitement among the gentry of the imperial city.

The winter banquet was coming, when the officials could openly fawn over the highest ranking ministers, their chosen princes and the Emperor.

The officials' wives could show off how harmonious their familial relations were. The sons could either find their future spouses or interact with other promising youths. The daughters could chat with their bosom friends while eyeing the crowd for potential suitors.

Everyone had their own reasons for going to the winter banquet which made the anticipation all the more obvious.

All the skilled seamstresses and tailors of the capital were fully booked to make all sorts of dresses and robes.

Most especially, every family was preparing their gifts for his Majesty's birthday.

One could not give anything shabby and risk their family to lose their face.

Even though the Emperor was said to be quite clumsy in his rule, he was easy to please with extravagant gifts and one could even have the chance to be promoted just because of a unique gift.

Until the day finally came...

The entrance to the Imperial Palace was lined with carriages of different sizes and designs.

But these people who were waiting to enter couldn't help but crane their necks to see the arrival of an imperial carriage.

Four tall steeds drove the large pitch black carriage decorated with silver and gold. The corners of the roof had four aloof and realistic white snakes baring their fangs at every onlooker.

Who else in the capital had such elaborate ride other than the Feng wang shu?

Everybody expected an overly colorful prince to alight the carriage.

But all around, there were sharp intakes of breath when the person showed himself.

The first to see were the black leather boots. It was expected of a prince to wear such material but nobody predicted the person to come afterwards.

The pale-haired prince wore pure white brocade robes embroidered with blood red snakes coiling against each other in an endless pattern at the hem and sleeves.

From the left side of his body, a white wolf pelt was draped with its head intact and hanging over his head. It should have been a horrid and barbaric sight but coupled with his enthralling face and the snowy strands of untied hair underneath the wolf, the overall look was irresistible.

Prince Feng took his clothing to a whole new level!

Not only that, his normally pallid face was also decorated.

His phoenix eyes had a tinge of shadow. His eyebrows, instead of making them look darker were even more highlighted to be frosty. And on his pastel lips, a gradient of red were applied and concentrated where the lips met which made a sharp contrast to the general snow theme.

Only he knew how he vehemently protested against putting cosmetics on his face. But that damn girl suddenly became violent and he had no choice but to cooperate.

What were her words again?

"I endured so much seeing you in those intense splashes of colors! Your face is this exquisite yet you always insist on ruining it, that's an insult to the Gods! If I don't make you see what true beauty is, I will destroy my name. Now STAY STILL!"

The stunning scene of Feng prince descending like an immortal caused a wave of reactions from the onlookers. Countless of maidens had their breaths taken by Da Xia's wang shu. With the eternally captivating smirk on his lips, hearts were completely conquered.

Why hadn't they seen how magnificent Feng wang was before? Could somebody with this face and body be really cursed? He was undoubtedly a living deity!

Why did he only dress up like this now? What was with the silly looking clothes of before?

But before the girls could even give some hints of their blooming infatuation, the prince turned his back and reached inside the carriage again.

Before their eyes, Prince Feng's hands carefully assisted a delicate little doll. Skin like porcelain, wide eyes clear and vivid, thin cherry lips, small nose and rosy cheeks.

The doll wore a matching dress as the prince but the colors were inverted.

Her robes were crimson with ivory snakes coiling against each other at the hem and wide sleeves. Around her collar was fox fur jointed with the thick coat that only reached a little further from the waist and bottom.

The little treasure's giggles were like tingling bells.

The love-struck maidens and even the madams had their reveries and fantasies broken.

Feng wang shu had a daughter. Naturally, the princess consort should go out next.

But the prince only carried the porcelain doll and walked towards the palace entrance as though all the pairs of eyes trailing him were nonexistent.

What was this? Where was the princess consort? Or was it that there was no wangfei? Could it be that they still had a chance? How exciting!