Zhao Li Xin was carried in the palanquin once again. He never used to care about it before but he now wished he could walk so that he could be by his little savior's side. His mood turned somber. He started to feel stupid for maintaining the weak façade for long yet he wasn't scared of the Emperor and his cronies.
They passed through the stone moon gate and entered the Refined Beauty courtyard. The courtyard lived up to its name. The maids inside the courtyard were more beautiful than normal maids and wore uniforms that complimented them.
They smiled softly when they saw Zhao Li Xin while others giggled shyly expression. Zhao Li Xin was however disgusted by their behavior. His reaction to them couldn't be compared to his reaction to Lory's coquettish act.
Mong Ki and Mong Yi also maintained indifferent expressions like their lord. They visited the Vermilion Palace on Zhao Li Xin's behalf and had seen many beautiful women. The Vermillion Palace was filled with all types of beautiful women.
The Mong brothers were numb to the courtyard beauties as they were used to seeing beautiful women. The same couldn't be said of Lory who felt like she was at a pageant full of beauties. Their uniforms were made of lace and frills, and they happily waved their beautiful small fans decorated with dangling beads at the bottom of the handle. They giggled and whispered as they talked but the Mong brothers were indifferent to them while Zhao Li Xin looked constipated.
The maids and eunuchs were stunned when they saw Lory walking next to Zhao Li Xin's Palanquin. Everyone knew Zhao Li Xin hated young maids. The Royal Consort had sent some maids to his manor, all of whom had a bad ending.
Some were beaten to death, some got crippled and they were those who disappeared into thin air. The Royal Consort was angered by this but Zhao Li Xin's attitude didn't change. The maids got scared of being picked to work in his manor. Luck was on their side as Royal Consort Ying gave up the idea and stopped sending maids to her son.
Lory felt like a monkey in a zoo as everyone whispered to each other as they watched her. Some even gave her pitying looks. Lory was baffled as she really didn't understand the people of this world.
"Your Highness, the Sixth Prince has arrived!" The eunuch shouted as they got close to Royal Consort Ying's chamber. His yell jolted Lory. She didn't understand why the eunuch had to shout their arrival.
Zhao Li Xin felt bad when he saw her shocked face. He also found the custom annoying and unnecessary. He glared at the young eunuch who was clueless about what he had done wrong.
Zhao Li Xin descended from the palanquin and raised his hand at Lory to help him. She quickly held his arm as he continued his frail prince act. It seemed she got the supporting role this time around.
"Stay here…" He gave Lory a meaningful look and said with a quiet voice once they were at the door.
"Understood," Lory bowed respectfully and tried not to call him your highness. She knew he would allow her in such a situation but she thought it was best to avoid it if she could. Her action comforted Zhao Li Xin's heart.
He gazed meaningful at the Mong brothers. He would rely on them to take care of her. The Mong brother nodded simultaneously.
Lory could feel the air in the chamber become chill and intimidating. Zhao Li Xin's face turned dark and stern. His expression wasn't the one a son would wear to meet their mother. Lory's heart raced with worry as she watched him leave.
Zhao Li Xin entered the room and saw his mother silhouette behind the red curtain. The woman always took her time when she wore makeup. He didn't think more powder would make a face different.
Zhao Li Xin sneered as he watched the maids add more hairpins in the consort's hair. The hairstyle was too heavy for Zhao Li Xin's taste. However, he also knew why his mother chose such a style. His mother was getting older and her beauty had started to wither. She also had to fight for the Emperor's favor as they were many younger women in the harem. Her desperation was what drove her to find beautiful servants as it encouraged his lascivious father to enter her courtyard. Her craziness was such that she would let her maids serve the Emperor in her own room.
Zhao Li Xin flicked his robes and kneeled before his mother once she was done with her makeup. He cupped his fist and courteously hanged his head low, "This son greets Royal Consort mother,"
Consort Ying ignored Zhao Li Xin and took her time to settle into her chair. Her maid poured her warm tea. She accepted the cup and took her time to inhale the tea's fragrance. It was like her son wasn't kneeling before her.
Zhao Li Xin was used to her behavior and didn't care about her treatment. Royal Consort Ying never liked meeting her weak son. However, she met with Xiang Wu Ci and made a lucrative deal with him. It was something that could help her become the Empress dowager. This was the reason she didn't lash out at her weak son like usual.
"Raise…" She said eventually. Her show of power was like a joke to Zhao Li Xin as he could easily kill her with the flicker of his finger.
"What took you so long? You have become more impudent after being away from the palace for many years," Her anger rose once again when she remembered a servant informed her Zhao Li Xin was delayed. She didn't think her weak son could be so bold. Zhao Li Xin smirked inwardly at her complaint. Wasn't she the one who made him leave the palace in the first place?
"I'm deeply sorry, mother. This one's health is getting worse so he needed more time to recuperate," Zhao Li Xin pleaded with remorse but this only angered Royal Consort Ying more. Why wasn't he dead if he was so weak? It was all...so annoying.
"If you aren't well… Why don't you stay in your manor? Don't make trouble for everyone here!" Consort Ying berated Zhao Li Xin. Talking to this son always made her lose patience.
Lory could clearly hear their voices through the door. It was a wooden door, after all, and it didn't have soundproof.
Lory's eyebrows furrowed and her heart ached for him. How could his mother treat him like that? Hearing the rumors was different from experiencing it for herself. Her guilty deepened. She shouldn't let him enter the palace again.
"Master Xiang Wu Ci wants you to marry his daughter," Royal Consort Ying sipped her tea to calm her anger. She looked at him as she ridiculed, "Xiang Feng Ran is a beautiful and talented woman and I'm confused as to why she wants to marry you. That aside, I want you to marry her. The Emperor will release a decree for both of you. Take it as a sign of good fortune."
Zhao Li Xin's hand clenched tightly. He didn't want Luo Ri Yi to hear this and misunderstand.
Unfortunately for him, Lory heard Consort Ying and her face turned pale. She felt like someone was poking her heart with a knife. Her eyes became hot as she suddenly had the urge to run off and cry but before she could do that, she heard Zhao Li Xin respond.
I refuse…" Zhao Li Xin said calmly.
"What did you say?" Royal Consort Ying glared at him with disbelief.
"I won't marry that crazy woman," He said calmly.
Royal Consort Ying threw the teacup towards his face in anger. Zhao Li Xin tilted his head and swiftly dodged it. His ability stunned Royal Consort Ying. Although she was not a talented cultivator, she was a cultivator at Warrior Level yet Zhao Li Xin was a waste dodged the cup. She became suspicious at his stunt and questioned him with an icy glare, "You dare refuse…?"
"I dare..." Zhao Li Xin's face remained placid. There was no worry or fear on his face.
"You changed... Can you cultivated know?" She probed. She wanted to know where he found his confidence. Her weak son had never refuted her before.
Zhao Li Xin smiled, "I've never changed mother. I have always been the same…"
She stared at her son's cold dark eyes. There was no reflection in his beautiful eyes. There was no anger, sadness, fear or anxiety. It was like staring at a night sky with no moon or stars. A chill ran down her spine. Looking at him now scared her. It was the first time she felt that emotion around him. She couldn't understand why she was suddenly scared of him. She shook her head. There was no reason to fear him.
"You will marry Xiang Feng Ran! After you marry her, you will use the Ming Hua Sect to support your Fifth brother. You will help him become the next Emperor," She demanded with absolution and didn't give Zhao Li Xin the option to reject.
Zhao Li Xin's mouth curved into a sinister smile as the room temperature spiked. Royal Consort Ying and the maids next to her shivered in fear. Consort Ying didn't recognize the man before her. This man wasn't her weak son. He was like a devil from hell coming to collect his debt. Royal Consort Ying couldn't help but regret provoking her son.
"As you wish…" Zhao Li Xin bowed respectfully and left the room before Royal Consort Ying had time to respond.
Royal Consort Ying's legs turned to jelly as she slumped in her chair and broke into a cold sweat. She had a bad premonition. The maids either leaned on the table or in the wall as they felt like their souls had almost flown out of their bodies. They all wondered if that was the weak Sixth Prince that they all knew.
"Let's go!" He commanded the Mong brothers and Lory to follow him once he got outside.
"Your Highness, your palanquin…?" A young eunuch spoke anxiously.
"Leave it!" Zhao Li Xin didn't even look at the young eunuch. He held Lory's hands and left the courtyard.
Lory tried her best to keep his pace only for her to stumble. Luckily, Zhao Li Xin quickly held her waist preventing her fall. Guilt filled him when he saw her forehead covered in sweat. He wiped her forehead gently with his sleeve, "I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
Lory nodded although she was still panting. More guilt surged through him. His mother had infuriated him beyond belief. It seemed like he needed to hasten his plans. "Mong Ki"
"Milord!" Mong Ki moved forward and cupped his fist at Zhao Li Xin's call.
"Summon Bei Li Yan. Tell him to bring his flower… Tell him, this lord wants to see red."
Mong Ki and Mong Yi were stunned. Chills spread all over their bodies. Royal Consort Ying seemed to have exhausted Zhao Li Xin's limit to have angered their lord tremendously. They couldn't tell what calamity would befall this country. The thought of it was both exciting and frightening.