Chapter 52 - The Engagement

The Emperor gives a speech and the audience listened carefully some even nodded as if they agree with the Emperor, it took a few minutes until the speech finished, Lory sigh in relief it's hard to contain her yawn she almost lost it a few times. The eunuch below the Emperor claps his hands and suddenly a dozen beautiful dancers enter the room, they spin gracefully enchanted the eyes of males inside the room, they dress quite tight and skimpy for woman in this world, they show her leg silhouette and their white bosom while throwing seductive smiles, the ladies inside the room scowl at their husband and fiancée but woman in this world cannot show their jealousy blatantly even though their man flirting in front of them.

Lory doesn't have time to be jealous someone just holds her hand and refuse to let her hand go, he even caress her hand gently give her tingling all over her body, she keeps looking down hiding her bright red face. She tries to retract her hand a few time but a certain Lord has glue his hand with her, she can't do anything but yield. Zhao Li Xin smiles faintly when he sees her shy and anxious expression, she looks so adorable while his focus solely to the little savior beside him he doesn't realize the dancers and ladies in front of him who was dumbstruck by him.

Even Xiang Feng Ran and Lao Min Na were mesmerized by him, they never knew Zhao Li Xin can make a gentle expression. Xiang Feng Ran might clueless about what happened but Lao Min Na has suspicion for who his smiles for. Lao Min Na's eyes pierce to the maid beside Zhao Li Xin.

Unfortunately, the maid is too busy flirting with her Lord so she missed Lao Min Na contempt face.

Fifteen minutes later the dance is over and the pretty dancer left the room and the men disappointed but the women relieved, The emperor face slightly bright because of the wine. Lory surprised that the Emperor can be drunk because she's been with Zhao Li Xin for a while but even though he drinks wine like water she never saw him drunk or even tipsy, she had been tried his wine and she almost knocks out its taste like absinth for her only with floral fragrant, she never try again and Zhao Li Xin also never let her.

Lory realizes someone glaring at her, and no surprise she was Lao Min Na. Lory doesn't understand why she still mad at her while she's flirting with Zhao Yi Chen, Lory knew the custom in this world didn't allow man and woman to sit side by side if they are not married or engaged, when Lao Min Na sits next to Zhao Yi Chen it shows to everyone's the deep of their relationship and if Zhao Yi Chen didn't marry her then her reputation would be ruined.

Just like she thought, Zhao Yi Chen raises from his sits he flicks his robes then he kneeled in front of the emperor.

"Father emperor please mind this son's disruption" Zhao Yi Chen cupped his fist.

The Emperor didn't look angry he might have expected it "You may raise third Prince" the emperor wave his hand slightly. Zhao Yi Chen nodded his head then he raises slowly.

"Tell 'Zhen' what do you need?"

The emperor is so good acting as a benevolent father despite everything he had done to Zhao Li Xin, the Emperor always have righteous reason and maintained his façade, Lory might think the Emperor is a righteous person if not because what happened to Zhao Li Xin and she heard a lot of gossip from certain bird.

Girsha said the emperor is a 'beast' even for a beast standart, his women are not only consort and concubines but also maids around him, he was someone who can't let his pants on if he saw a beautiful women's he will take them without hesitated, he never cares if the woman willing or not.

This is the secret only royal family and close subordinated who knew about this, sadly he inherited this behavior almost to all his Son's especially Zhao Mu Fan, he is the carbon fiber of his Father, while Zhao Qin Feng also have weakness with beautiful girl, although Zhao Yi Chen is righteous among them but he also has two concubines in his household, only Zhao Li Xin who is different completely he is the opposites everything about his Father.

At the moment Zhao Yi Chen pleads to his Father "Your Majesty, this Prince wishes for your decree to make second miss Lao as my Consort..."

Zhao Yi Chen's words surprised everyone, some people even disappointed after Lao Min Na wins the first place everyone wants to take her as a wife, who cares about her background who doesn't want a heavenly beautiful and talented woman like her as a wife.

Prime Minister Lao also annoyed, at first he want to used her for his own benefits but with Lao Min Na character and cold relationship between them he knew Lao Min Na would never listen to him so he wants to control Lao Min Na through her marriage but then Zhao Yi Chen ruined his plan, what else he could do but grunt secretly.

Zhao Mu Fan stunned his hand almost break the wine cup, deep down he always believed soon or later Lao Min Na would be back to him, he can't believe she would forget him easily but not just she already forget him she already move on with other men, Zhao Mu Fan is narcissist and chauvinist how could his 'Big Ego' not hurt because of this.

"You want to marry second Miss Lao?" The emperor question him, it's a pity because the Emperor also has his eyes on Lao Min Na but he can't do anything if his son wants to marry her, he must pretend to be wise Father.

"Yes, Your Majesty!!" Zhao Yi Chen said firmly, deep down Zhao Yi Chen always knows about his Father aberration just like Zhao Li Xin he also has spies inside the Palace, he knew what his Father do behind the closed door. Lao Min Na is a very beautiful girl soon or later his Father's eyes would be laid on her and he can't let that happened to the woman that he loves so he uses this opportunity to ask engagement in front of other people so his Father can reject him without a reasoned.

"Prime Minister Lao, what do you think?" the Emperor now question the Prime Minister.

The prime minister raised from his table quickly and kneeled on the floor "It's Lao Min Na fortune to become Third prince wang-fei, this subordinated gladly accept it" what else Prime Minister Lao could say how could he reject a Prince, and it's the third prince nonetheless.

"Second Miss Lao…..do you agree?" The Emperor shifts his gaze to Lao Min Na's beautiful face.

Lao Min Na stunned for a moment, she clenched her hands she raised from her seat and kneeled next to Zhao Yi Chen "This one gladly accept it" Lao Min Na cupped her fist solemnly. Lao Min Na knew he position as unmarried woman is not safe and her power still growing he can't fight them all, since 'Long Ming' refuses to lend her a hand she must find another solution and for now Zhao Yi Chen is not a bad option but if she can choose she would choose Zhao Li Xin instead.

"Then 'zhen' would release decree for Lao Min Na and third prince engagement" The Emperor smiles with satisfaction although his heart would not.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!!" the three of them kowtow in front of the Emperor.

Zhao Yi Chen smiles happily while looking at Lao Min Na while Lao Min Na have complicated feeling towards him, but the one who has it hard is Prime Minister Lao he looks like he just eating flies, he blaming Lao Min Na for everything not that his wrong but where there is action there would be reaction.

Lory watch them and then she takes a deep breath, the relationship between them is so messy and complicated everyone seems to have ulterior motive and every one of them try to take advantages from one another, and Lory right at this time all noble and official wrecked their brains try to salvage the situation, because the position as third prince wife already taken now they must take the second-best option, that is to make their daughter as the second wife for the Prince or maybe concubines.

Suddenly Royal Consort Ying approaches the Emperor, she whispers something to his ear then the Emperor frown then he looks at Zhao Li Xin with inexplicable expression, Lory feels ominous premonition she can only curse 'OH SHIT!!' inside. While Zhao Li Xin's face remains calmed and compose.

The Emperor straighten his back before he speaks "Master Xiang Wu Ci, I hear about your proposal from Royal Consort Ying, are you sure about this?" the Emperor squinted his eyes still disbelieved.

Xiang Wu Ci table is not far from the Emperor because he one of the honorable guests of the kingdom, Ziang Wu Ci cupped his fist and bow slightly "Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Your daughter is not just talented but also very beautiful, someone like her would have no problem to find a better suitor" the Emperor feel is a wasted for a woman like Xiang Feng Ran.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but the feeling between them has grown deeper even I can't stop them, as a father I can only do the best for my Daughter" Xiang Wu Ci words were humble and righteous, people don't know what is he talking about but they can guess it got something to do with Hiang Wu Ci Daughter.

Zhao Li Xin listened from the side his face turns to scowl 'Who the hell has deeper feeling?!' Xiang Wu Ci words said as if he and Xiang Feng Ran have loved each other, he doesn't care about other people though but he worries his little savior misunderstood what if she believed this old fools, Zhao Li Xin tightens his grip on Lory's hands then he shakes his head slowly he wants to reassured her that it was a lie, Lory was stunned by Xiang wu Ci words but when Zhao Li Xin reassured her, she begins to calm again.

The Emperor sigh "Than it's a fortune for the Sixth prince" the Emperor gaze Zhao Li Xin but not with his usual contempt looks but with content expression "Sixth Prince, come over here!" he beckoned Zhao Li Xin.

Zhao Li Xin smirk, this old fool eventually have something to used him. Zhao Li Xin lazily stand up but people though it because his weak body he move so slowly, The emperor become impatient just watching him move and scowl inwardly how weak and useless his Son is, Xiang Wu Ci also annoyed his Son In-law to be is so frail like flower he doesn't understand what his daughter see from him other than his 'pretty face'

Lory watching him move so slowly she also grew impatient 'Damn!! he really can moves so slow...."

Mong Yi also sighs while watching his Lord "You just lazy aren't you Milord...….."