Chapter 32：Black Swan

"Mistress, Zhao Gang is getting goosebumps ah! You look like a husband lovingly looking at his little wife. Why do we even need to stop here?"

A coarse voice was heard inside an inconspicuous carriage.

Prince Feng had long entered the palace but Gao Le princess' simple yet elegant carriage stayed near the end of the line.

Yin Hua Lei had a faint smile on her thin lips, remembering the looks of admiration the maidens threw at the wang shu.

With a gifted visage like that, this should always be the case but that prince nearly permanently destroyed it with the way he dressed himself.

Of course, she had a hand in this forced makeover. Where else would that Feng prince find a better aesthetic master? With his tastes, he might end up finding a jester instead.

Yin Hua Lei took advantage of Xia Luyoung needing to go back to the imperial palace to jump over the walls towards the wangfu next door a few times.

The first time she did it, she got severely scolded by a certain wang shu. But could she really go the normal way and pass through the main doors?

Wouldn't that be the same as announcing to the whole world that she had some connection to Feng wang?

In the end, Xia Lian Bei relented.

From then, the Feng prince's wardrobe met a radical change. Yin Hua Lei seemed to take it as her life mission to change the way Xia Lian Bei dressed.

In truth, the prince never cared for his appearance. It just so happened that the eunuch who was in charge of his clothes was a prankster.

The eunuch loved hearing stories of people's horrific reactions at Feng wang's clothes.

This eunuch was also the one who took care of Xia Lian Bei since he was young. He even served Consort Liu Qing back in the day so Feng prince let him be.

Let's just say that the eunuch managed to personally meet his worst nightmare.

But he was still alive and kicking. Don't worry, Yin Hua Lei was not that heartless to the old eunuch.

Seeing her master not replying to his taunts, Zhao Gang became more courageous.

"Aren't you jealous, mistress? That's your man ah! Should Zhao Gang claw their eyes out?"

"If you don't shut your mouth, this princess will just sew them together with a burning hot needle!"

Yin Hua Lei's voice was bitingly cold. The hidden guard had no choice but to clam his lips tight.

Their mistress became more violent these days ah. Was it the effect of having a fiancé?

"Let's go." Going back to her neutral tone, she beckoned the carriage forward when she saw a familiar symbol.

The Yin ducal house had arrived.

Yin Huaying and Yin Huajing were riding their horses on either side of the carriage.

Once they stopped, the twins descended.

The elder twin, Huaying, went to assist the people from inside the carriage.

Huajing, who saw another carriage getting closer, went straight to it.

Duke Yin, Eldest Lord Yin and Madam Nuo all descended from the first one.

Meanwhile on the second carriage, a gloved hand held Huajing's as the person alighted.

"Jing ge," Yin Hua Lei softly smiled at her cousin.

Huajing was immediately displeased when he saw his meimei.

"You're still skinny. What are you eating inside your princess residence? If your servants can't properly take care of you, then go back to the fu."

These words were said in a hushed tone.

"Why are you nagging the moment you see meimei? Geez, brother needs a wife since you're becoming grumpier like an old man as the days pass." Huaying came in like a gentle breeze.

Yin Hua Lei merely chuckled after greeting them. Then she walked past the twins towards their grandfather.

Duke Yin Guo glared at his eldest grandson.

"Xiao Jing's right. If your servants can't serve, fire all of 'em! Look at you, all skin and bones!"

Huaying only rolled his eyes. Xiao Lei's dress had wide sleeves. Just how were they saying that she was skin and bones? Grandfather and Huajing were always a tag team. He was used to it.

Yin Hua Lei let the old man nag his heart out. She could see the sincere worry lurking beneath his aging eyes.

"Granddaughter is fine now. Your health is still more important so don't concern yourself over trivial things." She squeezed the duke's hand as she spoke meaningful words.

Yin Fang Qi stepped in before they all got carried away.

"We should go in first." Holding his wife by the hand, he led the family in.

The people who were also about to enter all gave way to the Yin family.

Of course, an invitation weren't needed. Just their faces were enough.

Seeing this family in public was rare. Only during the winter banquet could noble men and women catch a glimpse of the elusive family who was in charge of the martial arts academy of Da Xia.

Nevertheless, they were still quite famous among the crowd.

"Have you seen the young master Huaying? By the gods, as ethereal as always! Last time I saw him was five months ago and it was by mere accident!"

"Too bad, he's already married though? But young master Huajing is quite the catch too. I hope he'll look at me later!"

"Yes, although the two have identical faces, young master Huajing has a heroic bearing. My aunt said that he's just like Duke Yin when he was young!"

"Don't you think it's really a waste that the Yin clan only ever marries their minor branch? What's worse they never take any concubines!"

"Fool! That rule is the most golden in Da Xia. Who doesn't want to be the only woman in their husband's courtyard? I wish I can marry into the Yin family! Wuuwuwuuu~"

"What wishful thinking! Look at Gao Le princess. She's the image of beauty and power but still unmarried up to this day! What are your chances?"

Not so quiet murmurs were heard all around.

But the Gao Le princess they were talking about was already the center of attention inside all the young masters' hearts.

Saying that she was the most eligible bachelorette of the capital city was not an understatement at all.

Especially when she stepped out of her carriage earlier.

Yin Hua Lei was wearing a dark plum colored palace dress, its skirt embroidered with white plum blossoms with red center spots. It had wide flaring sleeves and the skirt flowed all the way to the snow covered ground.

It made her appear to be gliding over instead of walking.

Over her shoulders was a coat decorated with countless long black feathers reaching down to the small of her back.

Her long ink black hair was unusually tied high up at the back of her head, held by a black jaded coronet. It went against the style of loosely hanging for maiden women or the elaborate style for married ones.

It was actually the style for men!* But it was strangely charming ah.

Her face was bare of any makeup, a refreshing sight among the countless powdered faces smeared with rogue.

This only accentuated her sharp features: the keen edges of her slanted eyes, straight nose, high cheekbones and thin lips.

Her gaze was piercing, her conduct was detached yet impeccable.

Those who were fortunate enough to be closer smelled the faint scent of plums as the royal princess walked past them.

Unbeknownst to Yin Hua Lei, her goddess image in the hearts of men went up another notch.

Totally unapproachable! Completely unobtainable!

They could only sigh in their hearts. Who could capture such a high class lady?**

Afraid that she was only meant for royalty! But the perfect pair in their hearts was already shattered when the ninth prince Chang got married months ago.

Furthermore, it was with an otherworldly beauty, Bai fifth miss, Bai Chen Rong. So no one complained.

But who else could par up to Gao Le princess' standards?

The line of people slowly thinned as they admired the entrance of one grand personage after another.

Moments later, the banquet finally started.

There were music, pleasant laughter, chatting people freely all around.

The royal family was sitting all together on a raised pedestal overlooking the banquet hall.

The highest seats were reserved of course, for the dragon and phoenix.

On the right side of the throne was the Emperor's sons and their families.

The princes were all present now. Even the third prince Xia Yu Sheng was back from the northwest.

Ninth prince Xia Yu Heng and his princess consort Bai Chen Rong sat lovingly with each other, attracting looks of admiration and jealousy all around.

The left side was for the noble and imperial consorts together with the princesses.

Speaking of princesses, Yin Hua Lei sat with her family who occupied one corner. She didn't see the need to sit with royalty even though she was basically one of them.

The Yin family, although sitting at an unremarkable location still warranted attention but they only interacted with a few but deeply cherished friends who were also among the highest officials of Da Xia.

Of course, other aristocratic families could only hide their scorn and envy towards this clan which was a powerhouse in itself.

Countless ministers tried bringing them down in the past but the Yin remained standing. Still acting all high and mighty while those ministers were forgotten with the passage of time.

Needless to say, the banquet looked very harmonious on the surface. Everybody put on masks to cover what they truly felt about the person they were talking to or about.

Maidens from different families performed their talents one by one. Some were met with enthusiasm, some not so much.

Yin Hua Lei briefly saw Feng wang talking and drinking with the eldest prince. Tiandi was in his arms.

Later on, she saw Xia Luyoung accidentally walking over their direction.

The little dumpling immediately tried to escape from her father's clutches and probably from their boring conversation to play with her cousin.

Yin Hua Lei discreetly smiled.

Eldest prince Xia Yu Sinen's two children also came to play with them.

The dignified tenth princess became an instant nanny to three rowdy kids.

Xia Luyoung probably enjoyed it at first but would soon become annoyed with them.

The sounds of drinking, cluttering cups and chattering voices were endless but Yin Hua Lei didn't participate.

There were some brave xiaojie who wanted to provoke her but they all went running back to where they came from when Gao Le princess so much as glanced at them.

Yin Hua Lei had no clue that her stare alone was overbearingly evil-looking that the pampered girls couldn't take being under watch of her pitch black orbs.

In the past, she could have wasted saliva, sparring words with these ladies and therefore angering herself to the point of internal injuries. Especially when the topic was about Bai Chen Rong.

She only shook her head while chuckling softly.

Stupid Yin Hua Lei.

The winter banquet was usually like this.

The weak would most probably be bullied using sophistry and the mighty ones would be left untouched and revered silently or exaggeratedly.

Yin Hua Lei was soon bored because of the lack of something eventful.

According to her guess, the hosts' entrance would not be long from now.

Lo and behold, her guess was right as the high-pitched voice of a eunuch was heard echoing in the banquet hall.