Phoenix: Rules Of The Harem
Chapter 17: My Wife, Can't You See Me?

In retaliation for the invitation given by Ling Mei, Shi Yu Han, the first young master of the Shi family visited the fourth princess residence personally. Because she had been willing to marry Ling Mei and would become her concubine, Yu Han decided to come to Ling Mei's residence according to the invitation given by the imperial princess and see what kind of new residence she would live in. Not to mention, the residence of the fourth princess already had a great master as well as an official companion which was also the first marriage of the fourth princess carried out massively within the imperial palace on the basis of the marriage decree. It made Yu Han feel worried in his heart about the rejection he might get from Main Companion Wei Yun Rui who was the main husband of Ling Mei.

Yu Han let out a long sigh inside his horse carriage that had stopped, he stared at the large, sturdy gate decorated with large signboards that read 'The Fourth Princess Manor of Shao Empire's' from behind the window of his carriage hesitantly. When the Shi family's first young master got off his carriage, the guards standing guard in front of the residence's gate then opened the gate quickly. Previously, Ling Mei had told them that this residence would have an unusual guest from the Shi noble family. Together with Mo Xi, Yu Han was greeted warmly by a man dressed in the typical attire of a servant upon entering the front of the residence.

"Greetings to the Shi Family's First Young Master. I am Cao Yu Shen, the butler of the Fourth Princess residence as well as the personal servant of Her Majesty. He gave the order to me to greet you and escort Young Master to Yin Pavilion, Your Majesty has been waiting for you there. In that case, would First Young Master not mind?"

Yu Han smiled gently, his gaze really looking shady without being laden with arrogance. "No objection. In that case, please help him, Chief Servant Cao."

"ah! Please do not call me like that, here all the servants are equal and call each other names. Therefore, you are an esteemed Young Master, please call me Yu Shen only." Yu Shen shook his head quickly with a stern expression, the butler's call was too heavy for him.

"Well, as you say."

Yu Shen smiled, then in a polite position he walked first and escorted Yu Han to the Yin Pavilion. When they entered the area of the Yin Pavilion, Yu Han could see the atmosphere of the pavilion that Ling Mei was occupying was so calm. Yu Shen stopped stepping as he stood not far from the door of his master's study, slowly he knocked on Ling Mei's workroom door and said a little loudly.

"Your Majesty, this is Yu Shen. First Young Master Shi has come."

"Yes, let her in." Ling Mei's voice sounded making Yu Han who was outside the room smile inwardly, not since when, but she missed him.

Permission had been issued, Yu Shen opened the door and allowed Yu Han to go inside alone, whereas Mo Xi would wait outside with him. "Now that First Young Master can enter, me and your servant will be waiting here."

With a carefully closed feeling of pleasure, Yu Han smiled gently and looked at Yu Shen warmly. "Thank you, Yu Shen."

Yu Shen nodded with a small smile and let Yu Han enter the room before he closed the door again. Entering Ling Mei's study, the fourth star of the empire was busy writing something on a parchment scroll with a serious face. Yu Han could guess inwardly that it was an important document.

"Shi Yu Han saluted the Fourth Star of the Empire, may you always be filled with happiness."

Hearing that voice Ling Mei stopped the movement of her hand, she carefully placed the writing brush beside her parchment and raised her head, staring right at the handsome face of Yu Han. "En, sit down."

"Sorry to make you wait any longer. As soon as this job is done, I'll take you around the residence. Meanwhile for now, do you want to have tea with me?" the tone sounded flat, but Yu Han quite understood that Ling Mei's remark had guilt in it.

Yu Han smiled wryly as he briefly looked at those cold glittering blue eyes, then he again lowered his head with a faint blushing face. "Sure, as you offer. You are willing to pour tea for me this lowly, in that case it is an honor for me, Your Majesty."

"No need to hesitate, in the near future you will be my concubine. It's still nothing..." Ling Mei sighed, her gaze refocused on the parchment sheet that was in front of her, she had to finish her delayed writing.

Rumors are rumors! Looking at the current Shao Ling Mei, the fourth princess had indeed never been mentally disabled. Who would have thought that he managed to deceive many people in such a long time. Yu Han shook his head softly and softly said, "Thank you for the kindness, Your Majesty."

"Good, fine. You can relax for this, First Young Master."

.

.

Inside the Xuanshi Pavilion, Wei Yun Rui happily thought of visiting Ling Mei who was in the Yin Pavilion. His mood was so good that Yun Rui felt impatient for some things, he intended to see Ling Mei just to see her face or if possible he wanted to have a quick chat with his wife. Yun Rui walked towards the Yin Pavilion with Shu Lian behind him, her eyes glowing like stars in the sky. But unfortunately, he had not yet reached the Yin Pavilion, Yun Rui's footsteps came to a halt when he saw the scene that made his heart feel uneasy. There, not too far from where he stood, was Ling Mei walking side by side with a young man. Even the young man was seen looking at Ling Mei with a radiant face and a sweet wide smile.

Yun Rui's gaze was fixated with brows furrowing confusedly towards the two who didn't seem to see it. The fourth princess' main companion continued to look at Ling Mei and the unfamiliar young master with a sad look until the two of them started to become invisible again by her gaze. At first glance the two seemed harmonious when together, like a couple destined by heaven. Disappointment began to envelop his heart, Yun Rui lowered her head with sad furrowed brows and both eyes were tightly closed, both of her hands squeezing the golden black hanfu she was wearing tightly. As soon as he felt calmer, Yun Rui sighed deeply. The young man thought of returning into his pavilion and undoing his intention to meet his wife.

However, when he accidentally turned his head to the side, Yun Rui looked at Liao Wu Jin who was standing not far from his current place. The man that Yun Rui knew as the fourth princess' personal bodyguard was visibly speechless with a straight forward gaze right in the direction where Ling Mei and a young master were walking away. Shortly after, Wu Jin also turned his head towards Yun Rui standing up making the two of them accidentally stare at each other. An awkwardness was seen between them, but then Wu Jin walked closer towards Yun Rui and lowered his head briefly.

"Greet Major Companion Wei."

Yun Rui sighed silently, understanding the awkwardness between her and Wu Jin. "There's no need to be so formal, Liao Guards. There are some things I want to ask you, do you mind walking with me for a while?"

Wu Jin was silent for a while with his flat face, after which he gave a brief nod. "Yes, I understand."

They walked together in silence without any conversation with each other. When several steps had been passed, Yun Rui asked something that made Wu Jin stop his steps.

"Servant Liao, I'm sure you know the identity of the man who walked along with the Fourth Princess ... In that case, are you willing to tell me?"

"That's currently the guest who was together with His Majesty is the Shi Family's First Young Master, Shi Yu Han. His Majesty invited him in person to come and pay a visit to this residence, that's why Young Master Shi is here."

Hearing Wu Jin's reply, Yun Rui furrowed his brows. He looked at Wu Jin with a stern questioning gaze. "For what reason did His Majesty invite Young Master Shi into this residence?"

Wu Jin looked down with a faint grim look, there was no way he would not know about this. But, without orders from Ling Mei, Wu Jin was unable to say anything.

"In that case I cannot tell you anything without His Majesty's permission, if you wish, you can ask His Majesty personally. Therefore, please Main Companion Wei forgive this lowly bodyguard."

Wu Jin looked at Yun Rui for a while before turning his gaze the other way, not wanting to look back at the man who became the official husband of the woman he loved. "I'm sorry for not being able to accompany you any longer because I have to see His Majesty to report some things."

"Go! I won't hold you back much longer, my wife can't wait too long." Yun Rui said it without looking towards Wu Jin.

"Shy." Wu Jin lowered his head briefly before walking away leaving Yun Rui and Shu Lian who were still speechless at their place.

.............................

That night, when Yun Rui had to do her duty to serve and accompany Ling Mei at her contest, she came with doubt in her heart. His mind still kept spinning about that man, a First Young Master Shi who had an honorable status in the empire. This might just be a guess from him, but it seemed like this residence would have another 'Host Lord. Both, Ling Mei and Yun Rui were sitting on top of the fourth star of the empire without seeing each other. Even at night like this, the woman looked busy with the documents she had in her hands. A really busy career woman!

Yun Rui glanced at his wife, looking at her in silence with a curious expression. Then in a soft tone he asked, "Ling Mei, may I ask you something?"

Ling Mei turned her head towards Yun Rui and nodded with a non objectionable look. "En, say! If I could give you an answer."

"About the young master who was with you this afternoon, do you want to tell me?"

"He is the First Young Master of the Shi family, his name is Shi Yu Han. My mother and I were involved in an important deal."

The answer from Ling Mei made Yun Rui feel disappointed in his heart, many things he did not know about his wife, even though they were involved in the feelings of spring in the past. "Then, if I don't ask, aren't you going to tell me?"

Ling Mei sighed, she knew that this was not good news for Yun Rui. However, her deal with Great General Shi was also unable to be left aside, so with a still calm face Ling Mei opened her voice again. Trying to explain well about the intent of Shi Yu Han's arrival into this residence.

"There's actually something I want to tell you about Young Master Shi, maybe after this Manor* Fourth Princess will have a concubine. Before agreeing to the deal I offered, Imperial Grand General Shi put forward conditions on me to take the only legitimate son he has as a concubine, he asked me to guard his son from the Crown Princess."

(Manor: can be interpreted as the house of the nobles).

"One ... concubine? And you didn't say anything to me before? Your Majesty, am I really your Official Companion?" when she heard it, Yun Rui felt her heart break like broken glass. His two eyes were glazed over, he was not a gentle and receptive man like Tian Zhi or Imperial Grand Concubine Gu.

Now that Ling Mei was completely facing towards Yun Rui, her one hand she brought with her to wipe away the tears flowing down Yun Rui's cheeks.

"Sorry, I understand if you want to be mad at me. It was my fault for not talking about this with you first, so don't cry! I'm not telling you this to make you cry."

"You've never really been a mentally handicapped princess, you're just pretending about it! Then my wife, can you tell me about the ten-year promise we've been saying together, do you still remember?"

Yun Rui slightly shouted inside her tone before her voice shrieked again with a sternly sad expression, she grabbed Ling Mei's hand that was still holding her cheek and grasped it tightly.

"......Yep. I always remember it, even if I wanted to forget it, your shadow seemed to never let that happen. But, when I decided to take revenge, I closed the affection and love I had and filled it with hatred and burning anger."

When saying all that, the look in Ling Mei's eyes was filled with a freezing chill. A gaze that Yun Rui really did not want to see from his wife throughout his life. Yun Rui looked into Ling Mei's eyes and said with a clear-sounding tone of heartbreak, "Then what? I will be your shield, whenever you want I will give you my soul and blood. But my wife, can't you see me?"

"Yun Rui, I'm not a person worth expecting. If you want love from me, I might not be able to give it to you, nor another concubine."

"No! I've always believed in it, there will be times when you will love me and I don't want to give up on it. Give me a chance, let me make you love me and see me like I used to!"

"Then, what do you want?" seeing the stubbornness that Yun Rui possessed, Ling Mei sighed, in which case Ling Mei chose to give up. Yun Rui wanted to get his heart, then let's see how long it will last!

"You Married me officially for the first time and now you will have another concubine, I am a man who can feel jealous. Seeing you spend time with her as a wife and concubine, I might not be able to hold myself back from feeling uncomfortable. Therefore, before you marry her, make me your whole possession, Your Majesty."

Hearing all that Ling Mei was silent for a while, even with her flat outer face, Ling Mei felt a faint doubt in her heart. It's not easy considering it's also a first for him. "I hope you never regret it, my husband."

Yun Rui shook her head softly with a smile on her face. "No, never will."

Ling Mei stared fixedly at her main husband, her fingers moving down the seductive face sculpted like a devil gently and slowly. Back, Ling Mei started to bring her face closer until her breath could be clearly felt by the young man. Yun Rui looked at him, as Ling Mei pressed both of their lips together and kissed him gently and carefully. His gaze turned into a glare before he then chose to close his eyes and pierce both of his arms to the neck of the fourth star of the empire. When their link came off, Ling Mei's lips moved down Yun Rui's cheeks until it dropped down the neck of the second prince of Wei Kingdom.

Yun Rui furrowed her brows as those light kisses turned into suction and bites that made her entire body crumble and tremble. Ling Mei's one hand tracing Yun Rui's body made the man even more helpless under her control due to the strange pleasure she was constantly getting.

"Do you like it, Rui'er?" Ling Mei asked with a grin seen on her charming face, her gaze turning dark and sharpening making her look even more domineering.

Hearing that, Yun Rui opened both eyes as red as her blood. With a slightly open mouth and a faint gaze, she tried to say something. "Uhhhh! I-i .. i-this ... Uh! Ling Mei!"

"Hhhh .. aghh! Ughhh .. ah!"

This was their first time doing so, even if it was the first night that was too late, Yun Rui did not feel any objection. This sensation, he liked it. When Ling Mei touched him gently and treated him carefully. Even loud shrieks like screeches continued to be heard from Yun Rui's mouth, he was unable to even say anything properly as a sense of pleasure swept through his entire body. Yun Rui smiled cunningly inwardly, she silently looked at Ling Mei with a faint strange glint in her eyes, looking full of love and deep possession. The Second Prince of Wei would try to make Ling Mei see him, so in the future Ling Mei would not leave him even if the imperial princess had another concubine.