CH 14

Biying only took Ah Ruo to see her a few minutes and then led her back again. She said that Ah Ruo could only return to serve her after she had washed and changed her clothes.

Ming Zhu was a bit surprised that Zhao Zhi was convinced by her so easily this time and returned Ah Rou to her.

She silently thought, maybe Zhao Zhi could be influenced by the coquettish act.

Ah Rou couldn't help but ask Biying on the way, "Does His Highness treat my lady well ?"

Biying thought about it and said truthfully, "His Highness has always treated miss very well."

Ah Rou sniffled, she did not believe at all what she said. If he was really good, how could he bear to humiliate her so ?

Her young lady should have had a good marriage and lived a peaceful and happy life.

When Ah Rou was doing hard labor in the woodshed, she heard that the lady's ex-fiancé had passed successfully the highest examination and was now considered a man of great distinction.

The lady was supposed to be the wife of an esteemed scholar, but now she was not even considered an outside mistress.

Moreover...

Moreover, Ah Ruo knew that the crown prince was just interested in sex. He picked women for their beauty. He had no true feelings for her lady.

There was a time when the crown prince and Chengwang shizi talked about the young lady, at that time Ah Rou was hiding in the backyard, behind the rocks and without intending to, she overheard what they were saying.

The crown prince simply did not value her young lady at all. She didn't know since when the misunderstanding began, but he thought that her young lady was no different than those scheming concubine-born women who liked to cling to the powerful and relied on tricks to fly to the top.

Biying found new clothes for Ah Ruo, and before handing the clothes to her, she added a few more words: "Ah Ruo, you must realize that His Highness is our only master, this time you mustn't do stupid things, running away is impossible and will only get the miss punished, at that time, you will be the heartbroken one.

Ah Ruo took the clothes, "Mm."

Biying thought that since they had already suffered once the consequences of a failed escape attempt, they wouldn't try it a second time.

*

Wangyue Pavilion was very bustling this day, and Ming Ru made a visit in the afternoon.

She was the eldest legitimate young lady of the Ming family, her status was honorable, and just by standing quietly at the door, one could feel that her aura was of the ordinary.

Ming Ru wore a scarlet dress today. The skirt was embroidered with pieces of rosebuds. She wore on her snow-white wrists jade bracelets of an excellent color. On her face was painted a light makeup as well as a little red-colored rose between her eyebrows. She said, "Please inform my sister that I am here to see her."

The guard at the gate was about to go and report the news when Liu momo, the intendant in charge, happened to be passing by. Hearing that the legitimate and esteemed lady of the Ming family had come over, she immediately ordered the guard to let her in.

Ming Ru thanked the old maidservant and then ordered someone take her to the backyard.

Ming Ru had not seen this ravishingly beautiful sister of hers for a long time and she almost forgot about her.

If she wasn't about to become the crown prince's side consort, she really wouldn't have remembered that this concubine-born sister was currently warming the crown prince's bed.

Ming Ru met the prince at a palace banquet a few days ago. She felt that the prince had a good impression of her, for he discussed a few lines of poetry with her and complimented her on her talent and excellent upbringing.

Ming Ru knew that the prince was a very traditional man who loved women who came from a clean background and who understood the classics and the rules.

When Ming Ru walked inside the main room of Wangyue Pavilion and saw the furnishings inside, she squeezed her fingers tightly.

The floor was covered with golden upholstery, the corners were wrapped in gold leaf all around, and the poems and paintings hanging on the walls were rare and unique masterpieces.

This lowly concubine-born sister of hers was living a better life than she thought.

Ming Zhu was taken aback, "Eldest...eldest sister?!"

Ming Ru, when doing anything, was always very secretive. She smiled at her, "Little sister, long time no see."

Ming Zhu thought to herself that they indeed had not seen each other in a long time. But she wasn't a fool either, her legitimate sister came with a fierce look and it didn't seem like she was coming to reminisce about their sisterly love.

Ming Ru sat down graciously and drank a cup of tea, "I came today because I want to talk to you about one matter."

"What matter?"

"His Highness and I are in love, and His Highness is intending to marry me as a side consort."

Ming Zhu only knew that in her previous life, Xiangyang junzhu was to become the crown prince's main consort, she didn't know that Ming Ru would actually become his side consort.

She lowered her head and said nothing.

Ming Ru, triumphant, was proud of herself as she said, "The Ming family is very strict and if the rumor spread outside that two sisters are serving one husband, it would be a very unpleasant thing to hear."

Ming Zhu wanted to laugh, the family rules were so strict that they gave her away as a bed-warming tool ?

Ming Ru raised her eyes to look at her, "I, as your elder sister, am here to remind you that you'd better prepare yourself early and act accordingly."

Ming Zhu didn't want to be to be subjected to her bullying, so she said with a cold face, "Biying, escort the guest out."