Chapter 43：Extra: Lei Feng

It had been three months since their arrival at Lei Feng, former Northern Chu.

They left Da Xia two weeks after the small belated wedding banquet and travelled for over a month with the Huoyang troops.

Although the military group was technically part of Da Xia's army, they lived in Lei Feng for more than a decade. Most of them found their wives there or let their families migrate after the war was over eight years ago and Feng wang started capturing Northern Chu with a myriad of tactics ranging from soft to violent.

Emperor Du Liang roughly knew this. He was also keenly aware that even if he integrated Huoyang back to Da Xia's armies, the chain of command would only be diffused. There was a big chance that these soldiers wouldn't unleash their full potential if the newly appointed leader was also unfit.

Hence, he didn't insist on keeping Huoyang and just bestowed it to the new country, Lei Feng, to show Da Xia's support and stance.

Since the establishment of Lei Feng and the coronation of its new king and queen, Yin Hua Lei was surprised to learn that Xia Lian Bei was deeply respected in this lands.

After he led Da Xia to win against Northern Chu eight years ago, he and his troops stayed to handle the aftereffects of the war while the other military officers of the time and their army went back to Da Xia.

The devastated lands were rebuilt, soldiers were given proper burial, even the existing royal family retained their reign even if it was in name only.

By Xia Lian Bei's meticulous planning, the economy also took slow steps towards advancement.

Northern Chu recovered from its dire strait under the general-prince's hands.

He wasn't a stranger to the people too as they feared his ways of handling things but also admired his contribution to Northern Chu.

Yin Hua Lei finally understood why he didn't have any violent reactions when the Emperor made him King of Lei Feng.

It turned out, the unreliable-looking wang shu already had future plans for Lei Feng the moment he captured it.

Even during their journey to this place, she witnessed his vivacity whenever he discussed the laws he wanted to enact, the reforms he thought of pursuing, and how he didn't want their Lei Feng (his words, not hers) not to end up as rigid as Da Xia.

He took it seriously whenever Yin Hua Lei brings up something he missed or adding what she thought would be greatly beneficial.

They collaborated with open minds and willingness as they decided to stray from the centuries long tradition of ruling a kingdom.

That was how Lei Feng, from the very beginning had an equal King and Queen who were also fondly called by the people as the White and Black Phoenixes.

Xia Lian Bei was adamant on not being a mighty and lofty dragon, sitting on top of the world. He was a phoenix through and through, fathering a nation underneath his wings while flying side by side with the mother of his children (even if it was only Tiandi right now) and country.

Thus, Lei Feng's court consisted of hand-picked and thoroughly screened individuals who discussed matters of the state with the monarchs.

The new nation adopted the existing major six Ministries of Civil Appointments, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice and Public Works.

But new ones were formed such as the Ministries of Education, Health, Agriculture and Trades.

The court was held in a way that only the head ministers would convene with the King and Queen once a week. While each day, two ministry heads would have respective personal meetings with the monarchs.

These were known as the first steps to differentiate the legislative, judicial and executive branches of the state under a monarchy. But such technicalities of government were a story for future historians.

Needless to say, the everyday life of the husband and wife was truly hectic.

For those who personally knew them, it was a wonder how the two maintained showing love and attention towards their child.

It also never failed to amaze people how the two seemingly worked with a single mind and were always in sync when it came to decision making.

Their cutting decisiveness and razor sharp solutions even in times of near-crisis left people in awe.

All of these showed how harmonious their relationship was but who would know of their one tiny secret?

They had been official husband and wife for almost five months now and had not once consummated their marriage.

It was because of various factors such as their duties came first. Tiandi was also a priority. And there were still the remaining supporters of the last dynasty to take care of.

Even before leaving Da Xia, they couldn't count the nights they spent awake forming their action plan for Lei Feng.

There was an existing government that they could use as a blueprint, yes. But they both wanted change and implementing them in the beginning was better for the long run.

Despite these, Xia Lian Bei discovered something astonishing.

Yin Hua Lei, the damn girl never once maltreated him!

In fact, it was the exact opposite.

She treated him so well, he wanted to cry and thank all of his ancestors profusely, which he almost did if only Shai didn't walk in before he even started.

Every meal, she would give him and Bao Bei the most nutritious food. When it was cold, she'd give him a hand warmer. When spring came, she embroidered new clothes for him. (To which he didn't know how she found time!)

She always personally brewed him tea and made him stop working when she noticed how dizzy he was already.

Yin Hua Lei also liked combing his long white hair which she never missed every night before sleeping. He was even suspecting that it was her favorite part of him.

They regularly went out of the palace with Bao Bei to see how the people fared. But he knew it was also her way of having a day off and going out as a family.

These things, when done by other women, would be accompanied with soft endearing smiles and charming tenderness.

When it was Yin Hua Lei, she did all of it without a change in her aloof face.

But Xia Lian Bei was filled with so much happiness that he sometimes pinched himself when no one was looking.

He had long been neglected that little things like these made him ecstatic. If Yin Hua Lei knew, she probably wouldn't know how to react.

The damn girl's actions were all seamless and as though she did them a thousand times before.

She'd help him pick clothes and get dressed in the mornings with attentiveness like it was the most important thing in the world.

At times, she held his forehead to check if he was running a fever while burying himself under piles of memorials.

Yin Hua Lei displayed the might and matriarchal excellence of a Queen but she was unexpectedly a divine homemaker too.

Every day, Xia Lian Bei would look at her with more adoration almost to the point of worship.

In return, he worked with more vigor but if one was to ask him (and it was very much evident), his priority would always be Yin Hua Lei and Tiandi.

If it was in the modern times, he would surely be her number one and most ardent fan.

However, he didn't cling to her like a puppy. Yes, he took care of her with the same rapt devotion (often very tenderly like he was caring for a newborn while struggling not to make it too obvious) but he never demanded time and attention.

It wasn't because he didn't want to but because he knew the damn girl would probably stab him without hesitation if he abandoned his duty.

So what he did was ensure that the Queen of Lei Feng would soon be known by all people as the best Queen in the world.

The people already knew and accepted Xia Lian Bei long before he was King but they were probably skeptical of the Queen as it was unheard of for a Queen to take political office and to have similar standing as the King.

Of course, Yin Hua Lei would find no time to publicly show and prove herself to the citizens.

So it was Xia Lian Bei who took it as his duty to think of a subtle but sure-fire propaganda.

He was thinking that she probably knew it but was too busy to care.

All in all, Xia Lian Bei lived in contentment until one day...

"Your Majesties, this topic had long been put off but this official thinks it is now time to talk about this." The Minister for Rites started carefully.

It was the time of the week when the head ministers gathered and sat with the monarchs in the conference hall to talk of the matters of the state.

"Speak." Xia Lian Bei was the one who answered.

"It's about the royal harem. This official has received too many inquiries about when his Majesty will open... the rear court for... the Noble Ladies to enter..."

The minister couldn't help but slow down his speech when the hall became muted that one would probably hear a single needle dropping.

He cautiously looked around to find his fellow young ministers scrutinized him with odd expressions.

Thunderous of all was the air around the Minister for War who was Shai.

The Minister for Rites didn't know what he did wrong. It was only right for the new King to build his harem to stabilize his foundation, wasn't it?

Why did they look at him like he committed treason?

In this room, Shai was the person who understood that this topic was the reverse scale or should he say reverse feather of a certain white phoenix.

"Hehe~" A chuckle was heard from the King but for some reason, it was enough to elicit shivers up and down one's spine.

The pale man wearing moonlight robes and a black crown on his head had a bewitching countenance. One that could seduce a whole country if he wanted.

His thin and pallid lips curved in a tempting arc.

"Our beloved minister must have struck his head this morning. You'll be dismissed for now. And don't let this King see you until I say so."

His bony fingers held the golden chalice so tight that it would probably be dented.

"Let's call this a day and don't show your faces around this area for a day. This King can't garantee I won't suddenly see red."

Minister Shai was the first to stand up from his seat and saluted the monarchs.

Without looking back, he left the hall.

He was thinking to recommend a replacement for the Minister for Rites. Shai had long silenced the matter of the harem but the bastard dropped the bomb now.

Following the Minister for War were all the other head ministers who desperately held themselves back in order not to look like their butts were on fire while fleeing the conference hall.

The Queen who was in her usual dark plum robes and white crown stood with an unconcerned face and started brewing tea on the smaller table on the side.

The hall was spacious and had a wide oval table in the middle where all the head ministers sat earlier with the King and Queen at the head.

Yin Hua Lei could feel her husband's burning stare while she prepared tea.

"You... have no reaction?" She heard him ask.

The reason of Xia Lian Bei's anger was not because of the thought of Yin Hua Lei's impending jealousy.

"My King, the suggestion of building your harem is not a bad one. It can even make things easier for our reign."

Xia Lian Bei's fury was precisely because he knew that Yin Hua Lei would not disagree. She would even welcome the harem with open arms if it meant that Lei Feng's gentry would soon accept their supremacy.

He felt like cold water was poured all over him, sending its chill to the depths of his soul.

Just thinking how she was so possessive of his ninth nephew before made him want to hunt him down and ask how he did it.

Of course...

Yin Hua Lei treating Xia Lian Bei well these days was because he was Bao Bei's father. No more and no less.

The different hues of his overpowering emotions colored his face. In the end, he only lowered his eyelids to hide how hurt he felt.

"Xiao Lei... why must you be so heartless? Do I even have a place in your heart?"

Yin Hua Lei watched the man crumbling in front of her.

What's going on? Why did she feel that it was her fault? What happened to him?

She thought hard for a long time what she did wrong.

Meanwhile, Xia Lian Bei was thinking that her silence meant that she couldn't reply because she didn't want to hurt him more with the answer.

Loving this damn girl could be the death of him.

The queen who was mulling over by the side finally found some enlightenment.

Her eyes actually shone with amusement as she walked over to Xia Lian Bei.

Yin Hua Lei stood in front of her king and pulled his chin up to see his eyes. Her willowy figure fitted the space between him and the table.

She leaned down and put her other hand on the backrest of the simplified version of the throne.

"Lian Bei," her sweet breath fanned his cheeks as laughter danced in her eyes. "Why so stupid?"

Her hand cupped his exquisite but confused face and her thumb lightly rubbed his lips.

She chuckled. Why did she feel that this should be the other way around?

"What did I tell you?"

Xia Lian Bei didn't know what to answer. Could someone explain what was happening?

"I told you that I will devote my whole life to you." She leaned her forehead onto his. "You and only you. Why do you still doubt me?"

The man was silent. Yin Hua Lei had her eyes closed but his were wide open. He watched how her lashes slightly trembled.

"Having a harem won't affect us. Any woman who will dare to be even just ten feet near you will be shot dead before they know it. But if you don't want a harem then so be it. That's also better as Lei Feng's death toll would lessen...

...You ask me if I have you in my heart. Stupid, will I even stay one minute with you if I find you detestable? Why are you so stubborn? Why do you keep hurting yourself?"

She fluttered her lids open and put a slight distance between them to properly look at him.

"Before you, I never knew that a single person can adore every bit of me other than my family. Do you think I'm so blind as to not see the devotion behind your gaze, the thoughtfulness in your every action? That I'm deaf to how you call my name so earnestly?

Even if my heart is the most evil in the world, do you think it won't be moved by the deluge of your exaltation for me?"

Her inky black orbs travelled down to his thin petal-like lips. By now, the series of explosions inside Xia Lian Bei's mind hadn't stopped.

"I love you, those three words can only be repetitive as time passes. Even the word love is not as sacred it should be for people often mistake false feelings for love. How can I say I love you when I once told another man such words? It would then be a blasphemy to what I really feel for you.

My heart holds you. You and only you..."

She leaned forward once more and planted a feathery kiss.

Xia Lian Bei was jolted awake because of this.

The warmest of smile graced his peerless face. Only he knew how endless showers of joy bathed his whole being in that moment.

In the end, this damn girl wasn't so heartless after all. And she was even a good talker if she wanted to ah.

The happiness he felt couldn't be described.

He'd be really stupid if he didn't take advantage of the situation.

"I'm not stupid. How would I know? Your face is always the same no matter what." Xia Lian Bei snaked his arms around his queen's waist.

Yin Hua Lei was led to his embrace and sat on his lap.

"Stupid," was her last word before the king conquered her lips.

Let's just say that it was fortunate that the King and Queen's quarters was only a short distance from the conference hall.

And the King's wish of having another daughter was granted nine months later.