The Emperor gave a speech and the guests listened carefully as some nodded to show their support. The speech was long enough to make Lory sigh with relief once it was done. It was hard for her to contain a yawn as the Emperor spoke. It a battle she almost lost a few times.
The eunuch standing below the Emperor's throne clapped his hands and a dozen beautiful dancers entered the room. They spun gracefully enchanting the men's eyes. Their dresses were quite tight and skimpy for women in this world.
One was teased by the shadows of their legs and white bosoms as they threw seductively smiles. The ladies in the room scowled at their men but women in this world couldn't show their jealousy blatantly, even when their man flirted next to them.
Lory was one of the few who didn't have time to be jealous as someone clasped her hand and refused to let it go. He even caressed her hand gently sending tingle all over her body. She kept looking down to hide her bright red face.
Lory tried to retract her hand a few times but a certain lord's hand was like glue. She couldn't do anything but yield to him. Zhao Li Xin smiled faintly when he saw her shy and anxious expression. She looked adorable. His focus was solely on his little savior that he didn't realize the dancers and ladies close by were dumbstruck by him.
Xiang Feng Ran and Lao Min Na were among the mesmerized women. They never knew Zhao Li Xin could wear a gentle expression. Xiang Feng Ran was clueless as to why he was smiling, but Lao Min Na had suspicious for who his smile was meant for. Lao Min Na gave a piercing look at the maid next to Zhao Li Xin. Unfortunately, the maid was too busy flirting with her lord to see Lao Min Na's contempt look.
The dance was over in fifteen minutes. The pretty dancers left the room disappointing the men but their women rejoiced. Lory looked up and saw the Emperor's face was slightly bright from the wine. Lory surprised to see a drunk Emperor because she's had never seen Zhao Li Xin drunk or tipsy as much as he drunk wine like water. She once tried his wine and was almost knocked out by the taste. It tasted like absinth with floral fragrant. That was the last time she tried it as even Zhao Li Xin didn't let her drink wine.
With her attention off her lord, Lory could feel a piercing glare. She looked around and wasn't surprised to find it was coming from Lao Min Na. Lory frowned as she couldn't understand why Lao Min Na seemed mad at her yet she (Lao Min Na) was flirting with Zhao Yi Chen.
Lory knew the customs in this world didn't allow men and women to sit next to each other unless they were engaged or married. The fact that Lao Min Na was next to Zhao Yi Chen meant they were in a deep relationship and if Zhao Yi Chen didn't marry her then her reputation would be ruined.
Lory was still thinking this when Zhao Yi Chen rose from his seat, flicked his robes, and kneeled before the Emperor. He cupped his fist and said, "Father Emperor, please mind this son's disruption."
"You may raise, Third Prince," The Emperor slightly waved his hand. It seemed like he might have expected it as he didn't look angry. Zhao Yi Chen nodded his head and rose slowly.
"Tell 'Zhen' what you need."
The Emperor was good at acting a benevolent father despite having neglected Zhao Li Xin. Lory might have bought the Emperor's righteous façade if she didn't know what he did to Zhao Li Xin. She had also heard a lot of gossip about the Emperor from a certain bird.
Girsha claimed the Emperor was a 'beast' even by beasts' standards. His appetite for women wasn't only limited to his consorts and concubines, but to also the maids around him. He was someone who couldn't keep it in his pants. He wasn't the type to hesitate to pounce on a beautiful woman once he set his eyes on them. He never cared if the woman was willing or not.
This secret was only known to the royal family and close subordinates. This behavior had sadly been passed down to most of his son, especially Zhao Mu Fan. The Crown Prince was a carbon copy of his father while Zhao Qin Feng also had a weakness for beautiful girls.
Zhao Yi Chen could be considered the righteous one of the three but he also had two concubines in his manor. Zhao Li Xin was the exception as he was the complete opposite of his father and brothers.
Zhao Yi Chen pleaded to his father, "Your Majesty, this prince wishes for your decree to make Second Miss Lao my Consort..."
Zhao Yi Chen's words surprised everyone. They were those who were disappointed as they wanted to marry Lao Min Na after she won the competition. They didn't care about her background as she was a heaven beauty with great talent.
Prime Minister Lao was annoyed. He would have wanted to use his daughter for his own benefit but Lao Min Na's character and their cold relationship deterred this. Lao Min Na would never listen to him so he thought he could control Lao Min Na through marriage. Zhao Yi Chen's proposal ruined his plan. However, he could only grunt secretly.
Zhao Mu Fan was stunned to the point of almost breaking his wine cup. In the deepest part of this heart, he always believed Lao Min Na would go back to him sooner or later. He couldn't believe she would easily forget him. It seemed she had done more than forget him as she had now moved on to another man. Zhao Mu Fan was a narcissist and chauvinist. His big ego was hurt.
"You want to marry Second Miss Lao?" The Emperor questioned. It was a pity as he also had his eyes on Lao Min Na. He couldn't do anything about it now since his son wanted to marry her. He could only pretend to be a wise father.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhao Yi Chen answered firmly. Zhao Yi Chen knew his father's aberration as he had spies inside the palace like Zhao Li Xin. He knew what his father did behind closed doors.
Lao Min Na was a beautiful girl and he knew his father's eyes would land on her one day. Zhao Yi Chen couldn't let that happen to the woman he loved. It was why he asked for an engagement public as it would prevent his father from rejecting him without a reason.
"Prime Minister Lao, what do you think?" The Emperor asked the Prime Minister.
"It's Lao Min Na's fortune to become the Third Prince's Wang-Fei. This subordinate gladly accepts," The Prime Minister quickly rose from his chair and kneeled on the floor. There was no way he could reject a prince, more so the Third Prince.
"Second Miss Lao… Do you agree?" The Emperor shifted his gaze to Lao Min Na's beautiful face.
Lao Min Na was stunned for a moment. She clenched her hands, rose from her seat and kneeled next to Zhao Yi Chen. She cupped her fist and solemnly said, "This one gladly accepts."
Lao Min Na knew her position as an unmarried woman was not safe for her as her powers were still growing. She couldn't fight them all especially since Long Ming refused to lend her a hand. She needed to find another solution and Zhao Yi Chen wasn't a bad option for now. She only wished she could choose Zhao Li Xin instead.
"Then 'Zhen' will issue a decree announcing the Third Prince and Lao Min Na's engagement," The Emperor gave a satisfied smile yet his heart felt otherwise.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The three parties kowtowed before the Emperor.
Zhao Yi Chen smiled happily at Lao Min Na while Lao Min Na had complicated feelings about him. The one who was completely unsatisfied was Prime Minister Lao who looked like he had eaten flies. Prime Minister Lao blamed Lao Min Na for everything, forgetting that he was part of the problem.
Lory took a deep breath as she watched them. Their relationships were messy and complicated. Everyone seemed to have an ulterior motive and tried to take advantage of each other. She was right in her thinking as all the nobles and officials had started to wreck their brains looking for ways to make the best of the current situation.
Since the Third Prince had already secured an official wife, they had to look for another option. They thought of having their daughters fill the second wife position or concubine if they were lucky.
Royal Consort Ying approached the Emperor and whispered into his ear as everyone else was lost in their thoughts. The Emperor frowned at what she said and turned to look at Zhao Li Xin with a grim expression. An ominous premonition filled Lory.
'OH SHIT!' Lory cursed in her head. Zhao Li Xin, on the other hand, was calm and composed.
The Emperor straighten his back and squinted his eyes in disbelief, "Master Xiang Wu Yang, Royal Consort Ying has given me your proposal. Are you sure about this?"
Xiang Wu Yang was far from the Emperor as he an honorable guest in the Kingdom. He cupped his fist and bowed slightly, "Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Your daughter is not only talented but is also very beautiful. Someone like her wouldn't have a problem finding a better suitor," The Emperor felt such a proposal was wasted on a woman like Xiang Feng Ran.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, but the feelings between them have grown deeper that even I can't stop them. I can only do what is best for my daughter as a father," Xiang Wu Yang's words were humble and righteous. People couldn't tell what he was talking about, but they could guess it had something to do with Xiang Wu Yang's daughter.
'Who the hell has grown deeper feelings?' Zhao Li Xin's scowled as he listened. Xiang Wu Ci's words made it seem like he and Xiang Feng Ran loved each other. He didn't care what others thought but he worried his little savior would misunderstand him. What if she believed the old fool?
Zhao Li Xin tightened the grip on Lory's hands and slowly shook his head informing her it was a lie. Lory was shocked by Xiang Wu yang's words but she calmed down at Zhao Li Xin's reassurance.
"This is a fortune for the Sixth Prince," The Emperor sighed as he gazed at Zhao Li Xin. The usual look of contempt he wore when he interacted with the Sixth Prince was missing. He had a look of contentment as he beckoned at him, "Sixth Prince, come over here!"
Zhao Li Xin smirked. The old fool had discovered how he could use him. Zhao Li Xin lazily stood up and everyone automatically thought he was slow because his body was weak. The Emperor became impatient with his movement and couldn't help but scowl.
He hated how weak and useless his son looked. Xiang Wu Ci was also annoyed that his future 'son-in-law' was as frail as a flower. He didn't understand what his daughter saw in him other than the fact he had a pretty face.
Lory also grew impatient as he watched him move, 'Damn! He really can move slowly..."
Mong Yi sighed at this, "You are just lazy, aren't you Milord...?"