Zhao Mu Fan's eyes unconsciously followed Lao Min Na for a mere second as she left the hall. For someone who loved beauty, Lao Min Na's perfect figure was a great temptation for him. The truth was other than Lao Fei Yan, he also courted Lao Min Na secretly. Making Lao Min Na fall in love with him was easy.
However, Zhao Mu Fan never intended to make her his legal wife as she lacked the proper background and could not cultivate. Her face was the only selling point but other than that, she could not be compared to Lao Fei Yan who would bring more advantages. The truth was Zhao Mu Fan had secretly courted Lao Min Na without others knowing. He did it because he knew she held a lower position which also made her vulnerable to his seduction.
Unfortunately, before Zhao Mu Fan can 'do' more with Lao Min Na, Lao Fei Yan found out about them. He quickly denied everything and put the blame on Lao Min Na.
However, being a notorious playboy, he did not want to let Lao Min Na slip through his fingers. He persuaded Lao Min Na to ask the Prime Minister to bestow her to him as a concubine so that he could maintain his reputation as a faithful man.
Zhao Mu Fan was smart and didn't tell Lao Min Na what he wanted her to do directly. He implied to her that their relationship would work out well if Prime Minister Lao would propose to the Emperor to have Lao Min Na be the Crown Prince's concubine.
This is because the Emperor regarded the Prime Minister very highly and a proposal from him would be easily considered. The fifteen-year-old Lao Min Na quickly agreed to Zhao Mu Fan's suggestion without thinking too much.
However, the Crown Prince didn't anticipate how things turned out. Lao Fei Yan quickly complained to her mother when she learned what was happening. The unhappy Yang Wei Lan then complained to her husband, Prime Minister Lao who in turn condemned Lao Min Na. The Prime Minister called Lao Min Na a shameful woman who was like her mother. This prompted the unhappy Lao Min Na to attempt suicide.
The present Lao Min Na was different. She was calmer and more collected. She had a cold outlook and was indifferent to all, especially towards Zhao Mu Fan. There was no trace of love or yearning in her eyes when she looked at him.
She kept her distance from Zhao Mu Fan since she was saved and no longer accepted his invitations or gifts. At first, he thought she was doing all that because she was angry or was playing hard to get. However, a year had gone by and she still acted the same. Her behavior made Zhao Mu Fan feel restless.
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The Prime Minister quickly dispersed the servants from the main hall once since there was nothing else to do. The servants and maids sighed in relief as they left. Their legs were numb, but they were unharmed. They initially were afraid one of them would be turned into a scapegoat. It was never easy being a servant in a noble household.
Lory also left the main hall together with the rest. She had a lot of things she needed to do like scrubbing, sweeping, and brushing around the manor. She didn't hate her job since she didn't need to think or interact too much with the Lao family members. She found it easy to do and did not complain as it could not compare to the last decade of her previous life. Her last decade was nothing but a trial.
"Ri Yi!" Someone suddenly called her.
"Mister Mu?"
"Take this to the Sixth Prince in the main hall," Housekeeper Mu Han said. "The Sixth Prince's body constitution is not well, and this wine would help keep his body warm."
"But… I need to prepare the bath for the old Madam. Can you ask someone else?" She remembered the additional work she had to do. Bathing was not an easy task in this world.
"It's fine. Someone else would do that. Remember this… When you serve the Sixth Prince, don't linger around him for too long and don't stare at his face no matter how handsome you think he is… also don't talk unless he talks to you.
" Mu Han strictly warned Lory as he did not wish for her to get in trouble. He also liked Lory's quiet and diligent attitude.
"Yes, Mister Mu. I'm going now," Lory nodded her head obediently.
'What a troublesome prince' she sighed inwardly.
"Good. Leave now!!" Mu Han said.
Lory held the tray carefully while the other male servants opened the door for her when she reached the hall. Lory bowed respectfully for a second at the Prime Minister and his guests, but they all ignored her as if she wasn't there. They continued with their conversation as usual.
Zhao Li Xin sat in the corner of the room looking bored as hell. Lory wondered why he hadn't left yet. Zhao Li Xin's male servant, Mong Ki, glared at her when she approached his table. Mong Ki scrutinized the wine she carried: he opened the wine flask and smelled the contained. Satisfied with his findings, Mong Ki placed the flask back on Lory's tray with a word.
Lory at him smiled wryly as she moved towards Zhao Li Xin's table. She placed the wine flask and clean cup beside the Sixth Prince and sighed. She wondered how they could all drink like camels without needing to go to the toilet all the time. 'Tch… so envy'
Zhao Li Xin was really bored, he didn't know what made him think coming here coming here was a good idea. He didn't know why he thought he could easily bump into his savior in the Lao manor.
Zhao Li Xin suddenly rose from her seat as he grew impatient. He wanted to bid farewell to the Prime Minister before leaving for the sake of courtesy even though he didn't care. Zhao Li Xin suddenly turned around and his chest accidentally bumped Lory's head.
Lory gasped and took a step backward while Zhao Li Xin frowned. However, the frown was not because he bumped into her but because of the familiar scent that teased his nostrils.
Lory saw this and thought the Sixth Prince was upset. She quickly bowed and said, "Apologies to the Sixth prince!!"
Zhao Li Xin froze when he heard her voice. His heart suddenly pounded.
'It's HER!!'
The two were soon engulfed in an awkward moment. Lory did not dare straighten her back as she waited for his response while Zhao Li Xin was still digesting his shock.
"What have you done to the Sixth Prince?" Prime Minister Lao saw what happened he yelled at her furiously. Lory bit her lips as she knows she was in trouble. Lory wonders what was the penalty for accidentally bumping royalty.
Zhao Li Xin saw her react to the shout and thought she was afraid. He suddenly had the urge to hit the Prime Minister's head. Why was he shouting at her for a minor mistake? Couldn't he see how scared she was? Zhao Li Xin fighting his urge not to hit the Prime Minister.
"It's nothing, It's my fault for moving too suddenly," Zhao Li Xin raised his hand and said in a monotone voice. As indifferent as he sounds, his words startle Mong Ki who is standing behind him.
'What the Hell...!'
The Prime Minister shook his head profusely, "This official wouldn't dare!"
Ignoring the Prime minister's courtesy, he turned his gaze to Lory again, "What's your name?" he said as gently as possible so he wouldn't scare her.
"Lu… Luo Ri Yi, your highness," Lory said awkwardly.
"How long have you been working here?" He asked with a stern face.
"Almost three years, your highness," Lory answered with confusion. The Prime Minister was also confused with the line of questioning. Why was the prince asking unrelated things?
"Hm..." Zhao Li Xin pondered. It was possible for him to forget someone's face or name, but he never forgets a person's voice. It was an inborn skill and he had depended on this skill for a long time. He could not forget his savior's voice.
"..."
"I bid you farewell Prime Minister Lao," Zhao Li Xin suddenly nodded and left before the Prime minister could respond. Zhao Li Xin also slightly at Zhao Mu Fan before he left the Lao Manor. Mong Ki quickly lifted the carriage curtains for Zhao Li Xin to enter. He sat comfortably in his carriage as his mouth curved up slightly as he murmured to himself, "Found you!"
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He left some people confused…
The confused Prime Minister let Lory leave the main hall without reprimanding her. Lory was baffled unsure of what to make of the encounter. Lory's mouth twitched as Girsha perched on her shoulder, He was also confused…
[Hey Lory, what was that?] Girsha frowned.
[I had no idea...….] Lory shrugged her shoulder in puzzlement.