Chapter 40：Growing Some Guts

After the morning court ended, Yin Hua Lei found herself accompanying her grandfather along the way to the cold palace.

Together with Feng prince of course.

"Lian'er, this old man haven't seen you in a long time but you already scored on our Xiao Lei ah! Youngsters these days, really! Nevermind, nevermind, just give this old man plentiful little dumplings to hold. This old man gives you two my blessing!"

Duke Yin was saying auspicious words but he was gripping Xia Lian Bei's shoulder in a death grip.

"Grandfather Guo is still the most understanding...!" He could only reply through gritted teeth.

"Tiandi must be awake now. Grandfather wants to see her right?" Yin Hua Lei had to interfere before the wang shu's shoulder blade was crushed.

"Ah, yes! My first great granddaughter, how cute can she be? C'mon, you two walk faster ah!"

It appeared the Duke wasn't ailed with rheumatism that he could half-run half-walk in such a manner.

When they arrived at the receiving hall of the cold palace, the three of them being masters of martial arts, immediately heard soft sobs.

Yin Hua Lei was distraught so she ran to the bedroom Tiandi was in.

The little treasure was sitting near the window, tears streaming down her small face but she wasn't wailing or throwing a tantrum.

The child woke up in a different room and even though she saw familiar faces, she was still alarmed by this.

The maids hovering around her didn't know what to do, even Nuo Wan was at a loss how to coax such quiet crying.

"Tiandi..." | "Bao Bei..."

Yin Hua Lei and Xia Lian Bei called at the same time.

The little treasure's lips parted as she turned her pretty head towards the door to see her parents standing.

This was a surprising sight for her as she always only got to see one of them at a given time. Even in the banquet yesterday, her mommy fairy princess was sitting far away from them.

After choking back a sob, she clumsily bounced off her sit and sprinted towards the two.

Xia Lian Bei accurately predicted that the little demoness would jump towards her mother instead of him so he saved himself the humiliation of spreading his arms to catch her.

"Treasure.... hush now. Don't cry, mommy's here." Tears welled up Yin Hua Lei's eyes, she could finally say those words out loud.

She hugged the small ball of warmth and gently nuzzled her face.

Xia Lian Bei settled with wiping his darling daughter's tears. He knew his wife (ehem...) didn't know how to do cute stuff like cooing and baby talking but it was fine. He could settle for that job.

"Why're you scared? Didn't poppa tell you that if someone wants to hurt you, chop 'em!"

Yin Hua Lei's shoulders went stiff. She stared at the wang shu.

"Pardon?" She asked in a quiet voice.

"Uhmm... What this prince meant is to let her maids protect Bao Bei. It's not like this prince is teaching violent things to my sweet little treasure!"

The princess only hummed in reply and turned back to Tiandi. "Hungry?"

Feng prince ordered the servants temporarily sent here by the Emperor to fetch breakfast.

For the first time, the cold palace would witness a lively meal.

Moments later, a large table full of dishes were served.

Feng prince haphazardly sat down anywhere and pulled the mother and daughter with him.

The highest seat was left for Duke Yin. To his right was Yin Fang Qi, Nuo Wan and the twin brothers.

To the Duke's left was the family of three and Xia Luyoung who recovered enough strength.

"Tenth princess is feeling well?" Nuo Wan asked in a motherly tone.

They had chatted the night before when she woke up and the madam had been nothing but gentle towards her.

Xia Luyoung could already guess the ending of her Mother Empress and elder imperial brother but Nuo madam strayed from that topic to avoid hurting her feelings. Even now, no one blamed her for being connected to traitors of Da Xia and also being the reason why Bao Bei was hurt.

"Madam should just call this princess Young'er. After all, Young'er now owes her life to the Yin family-"

"Silly child,"

The tenth princess felt a light tap on her head.

"Eat to recover fast."

Yin Hua Lei then proceeded to feed Tiandi who hadn't let go of her since she saw her.

Madam Nuo also vaguely explained this to her last night. Who would have thought that her scary uncle and Gao Le princess jiejie were husband and wife?

But thinking of it, they were quite a match too as Xia Luyoung was scared of them both.

"There won't be a problem if Young'er visits the fu anytime. Niece Xiao Yue is still so young, I sometimes get lonely because we lack daughters in the fu." Came Nuo Wan's voice yet again.

Xia Luyoung's heart was swelling with gratitude for this family. This was the only time she ever felt warm during a morning meal.

"Aiy, why do girls like crying. Xiao Lei meimei rarely cried though?" A gruff voice ruined the scene.

Duke Yin suddenly laughed.

But Huaying smacked the back of his younger twin's head.

"Ruffian, you don't know anything so shut your mouth!"

Huaying looked apologetically at the tenth princess who was speechless.

"Tenth Highness, please forgive Ah-Jing's manners. He's sometimes a disgrace to our family."

"What do you mean?!" Huajing pointed his chopsticks at the older twin. "I was already being kind ah, telling her to be stronger from now on is also for her good. Tsk, my good deeds are always taken for granted!"

The old duke was still laughing. He was really reminded of his younger self when looking at this second grandson.

"It's fine, Young'er knows I'm weak. But that doesn't mean I'll easily get bullied!" She threw a sharp glance towards Huajing.

The man only scoffed, "Good for you."

"Alright, alright." Yin Fang Qi started. "You two, what are your plans?"

The question was for the Feng prince and Yin Hua Lei.

Xia Lian Bei already thought of this the whole night before even if he was supervising the imperial city's cleanup.

"Although everyone will know that we're legally married, this prince still wants to give you a proper wedding banquet. But there's no need to invite unnecessary people. What do you say?" He was looking at Yin Hua Lei instead of her parents.

Yin Hua Lei understood how odd the wang shu's thinking was. The prince respected the elders but he also wouldn't hesitate not to consider their opinions when it came to his life decisions.

In this society, that counted as being unfilial but Xia Lian Bei was generally an outcast all his life so he stopped caring about those menial things.

Yin Hua Lei slowly nodded. "Open a moon gate between Gao Le palace and the wangfu. We can have a small dinner banquet for the family and close friends. Do you want to do the ceremony?"

He scrunched his nose. "Troublesome... unless you want to?"

"With or without ceremony, this princess will be spending the rest of my life with you."

She said this with a straight face and even breath that the rest of the people in the room choked on their food.

Xia Lian Bei was getting used to her unfeeling statements so he only laughed. But his chest seemed to have skipped a beat.

"It's settled then. The moon gate will be finished in a week. Bao Bei can stay with you for the meantime."

Yin Fang Qi couldn't believe how they settled this matter in such a strange way. But he also understood.

Their relationship had been uniquely special since the beginning.

"Then during this week, stay in the fu first. So we can properly send you away." The father almost said in a pleading tone.

Yin Hua Lei knew her parents' sentiments. Their daughter wasn't like the usual brides and they had been so lenient and accepting so she obeyed their wish.

After breakfast, they all had to part ways.

Xia Lian Bei pulled the Gao Le princess' elbow.

"Will you go tomorrow?"

He was talking about the public execution.

"My presence isn't needed. I'd rather rest or be with Tiandi."

"Good. Take care."

Yin Hua Lei who was carrying the bubbly treasure, went back after a few steps.

"Look out for Young'er."

The wang shu smiled. Who knew what spirit possessed him as he raised his hand to caress Gao Le princess' chin then suddenly leaned down.

"Don't worry." His face grew closer and closer to Yin Hua Lei's...

Until he kissed the little treasure's pretty little head who was in her mother's arms.

When he leaned back, Yin Hua Lei eyed him with a weirded out look.

This damn girl was so hard to seduce ah! He knew that his appearance was unique but it wasn't so bad either. Why was it that it had no effect whatsoever on this woman?!

"Prepare a sedan for tenth niece! Ben wang will send her to the Empress' palace." And he stomped his feet inside.

Yin Hua Lei just watched him throw a tantrum and walked away.

Once out of earshot, she chuckled.

"Tiandi, your father's growing some guts. But I'm afraid the fool still has a long way to go. Should mommy make his life easier?"

Tiandi's clear eyes were one of the few things similar to her mother. But the child's orbs were more vivid and expressive.

Her chubby hands held both sides of her mother's cheeks as she only repeated the words she understood. "Make easier!"

Yin Hua Lei felt her heart liven up seeing the dumpling this chirpy.

"En... As the treasure wishes."

The little treasure of course, didn't understand her mommy but seeing her laugh, she laughed too.

The sound could tickle anyone's heart in the white expanse of snowy field.

That day, pieces of juicy news circled the capital. Messengers also spread out in all directions to deliver the decree to every city and province of Da Xia.

The highest ranking royalty and some ministers committed such a huge crime that they would be punished by taking their lives!

And the criminals included the capital's beloved gentle prince and his wangfei!

Why oh why? Although they weren't part of the group that would be publicly executed, they were still accomplices.

Did that mean the gentle prince only wore a mask and the wangfei was really a calamitous beauty? They betrayed public trust just like that.

There was also another news that was slightly overshadowed but still affected too many people in the imperial city.

The Feng wang shu and Gao Le princess had been married for three years?! And they even had a daughter already!

Some young ladies of noble houses didn't buy this bull as they personally saw how the Gao Le princess almost worshipped the ground Chang wang trod on.

Even though her admiration wasn't openly talked about before, those who had eyes could still see.

Gao Le princess only stopped when the ninth prince was engaged to the Bai miss.

Nevertheless, some words couldn't be said aloud even if the heart was unwilling.

The dragon himself broke this news. His Majesty, whose words weighed more than gold could never be wrong.

Those who would question it would only be digging their graves along with their families'.

So with reluctant hearts, all of them sent belated gifts either to the Feng wangfu or the Yin fu.