Phoenix: Rules Of The Harem
Chapter 18: Dodging With Cunning Like a Fox
Today Ling Mei got a call from the Grand Empress to go to the palace, it was not unusual for Grand Empress to call mentally disabled Ling Mei to the palace just to accompany or visit the most influential woman in the Shao Empire. After the rumors that he had exhaled had spread widely, Ling Mei was sure that the Imperial Palace would have heard those rumors already. Since the news that was circulating was about Ling Mei's state starting to recover, yet not really being as normal as before, Ling Mei did not need to pretend to be a foolish childishness. He only needed to act as if he was becoming a normal, naive and innocent person.
"Fourth Princess, are you sure of this plan?" The Grand Empress placed her teacup down slowly, her gaze turning towards Ling Mei who was sipping her tea while smiling faintly.
"Of course, Your Majesty. Quitting the mental handicap made me have to deal with my first brother, even though I had been hiding for a long time. Over the years people have become oblivious to me and have no vigilance towards me, it is enough for me to build up strength. Since first brother decided to speed up his movements, I thought it was a good thing if I also moved faster."
Shao Fang Hua nodded in understanding. "If you want it, I understand. Stay careful, the Crown Princess is a dangerous person! Ah, I heard that you will be taking the concubine for the first time and it comes from the side of the Great General of the Shi Empire."
"That's right, Your Majesty. I have managed to get Great General Shi to side with me, but instead Great General Shi has me take his son, Shi Yu Han as a concubine, Your Majesty." no childish tone could be heard, Ling Mei actually became someone different while having a private conversation with Grand Empress Shao.
"Hmm .. is a good exchange. Great General Shi knew that the Crown Princess was targeting her beloved son to be brought in as a concubine, which in a hidden sense the Crown Princess wanted to take the sole legitimate son of the Shi residence as her hostage in order for Great General Shi to be willing to side with her."
Ling Mei sighed even though her face looked calm like it had no problems whatsoever. "In that case I hope that His Majesty and Empress Wei will not feel any objection related to the matter of concubines and harems."
"Do it if you think it's true, my daughter. I don't think we can talk any longer, there are some secret inspectors I've hired who want to report to me, so I need to be prepared after this." Fang Hua patted his daughter's arm a few times slowly, the ruler of the Shao Empire smiled faintly.
The two of them stood up with Ling Mei who was bowing respectfully to the Grand Empress. "The princess understands. Sorry for interrupting your precious time, Your Majesty. Then I say retreat, Ling Mei thanks the Grand Empress for the time she has been given."
.
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Ling Mei walked through the Imperial Palace with an uneasy feeling, she intended to return to the residence as soon as possible after spending a little time to meet her father, she intended to return to the residence as soon as possible, Imperial Hong's Imperial Chief Apprentice with the intention of informing his decision regarding making the first young master of the Shi residence his concubine and meeting the man Ling Mei already considered to be his second father, that is the Official Consort of the Yang Empire to just know the news. This time Ling Mei personally asked Wu Jin to keep her hidden, given the information that had been reported to her saying that her third brother, was, Third Princess Shao Ming Fei had shown a different gesticulation than before, Ling Mei felt the reason was enough to make her alert.
According to the information that had been provided, the past few times Ming Fei was seen frequently visiting the Liang Pavilion which was the best brothel in the entire Shao Empire. It was not unusual for an imperial princess, young lady, to have a great mistress of a distinguished family in the brothel. It was common to remember that in the Shao Dynasty, official rules allowed women to practice polyandry and the like. It's just that for a rough and tempramental Ming Fei, compared to his first brother who was also the crown princess, Ming Fei actually did not really like playing men. The 17-year-old woman was much more fond of her sharp sword than having to spend hours with some men.
Seeing that, Ling Mei had asked Wu Jin to follow her secretly today. Unlike the usual who was guarding Ling Mei blatantly, the current Wu Jin specifically hid his existence around Ling Mei to keep an eye on things that might come unexpectedly. Sure enough! As Ling Mei had thought, several women in bodyguard uniforms came over to Ling Mei who was seen walking alone.
"Greet the Fourth Star of the Empire. Your Majesty, the Third Princess asked us to pick you up right now." when it was right in front of Ling Mei, they bowed respectfully.
"Heih, what do you mean pick me up?" Ling Mei looked at them with astonished faces, unlike her usual who always smiled foolishly and spoke in a childish tone, Ling Mei really looked different this time around.
The guards stared at each other, before one of them answered. "The Third Daughter invites you to an unofficial banquet she hosts."
Wu Jin observed silently from a place unseen by the bodyguards, lucky from the distance where he stood he could still hear his master's conversation with the female bodyguard. 'An unofficial banquet? Could it...'
Ling Mei turned her eyeballs the other way, her gaze slightly sharpened even though they were unable to see her. "Did the Crown Princess and second brother also come to the banquet?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Currently only you are not present in the banquet, the Third Princess has chosen the best room in the Liang Pavilion to carry out the banquet. Mari! We'll take you there, Your Majesty."
"Liang Pavilion? But I never heard the name of the place. What kind of place is Liang Pavilion?"
"You'll find out as soon as you see it, Your Majesty."
Ling Mei looked at all of them with a hesitant expression, inwardly thinking that this was already beyond prevention. If he still refused, it seemed like the bodyguards would force him to come the other way.
"I've been gone for so long, Yun Rui might get angry if I don't return home immediately after finishing my affairs in the Imperial Palace."
"Sorry before Your Majesty, we don't have enough time right now. The other princesses may have been impatient waiting for your arrival, we hope that at least you will come with us to show yourself for a while before returning home to your residence."
As Ling Mei had expected, they forced her in a subtle way. Secretly she snorted, with her acting as an innocent and naive princess, Ling Mei was unable to resist such a request of pity. "All right, I'll come. Please take me to see the sisters carefully."
"We understand. As you wish, Your Majesty."
...........................
"Welcome fourth sister, we have been waiting for you for quite a long time. Was your trip here fun?"
Ling Mei said in a delicate tone without laden childishness. "Yes, thanks to my sister. I didn't have any problems during the trip."
"Sit down! I held a sudden banquet thinking that we had not been together for a long time. And again, just think of this little banquet as your wedding gift from us, fourth sister." Ming Fei looked at Ling Mei with a cold smile.
With a mask of an unsuspecting expression, Ling Mei sat herself down next to the third princess. "In this case it has made third brother bother, sister feels grateful."
"Not a big deal. Also, I heard that your health is starting to improve over time, it would be nice if we celebrate by drinking a few glasses of wine, isn't that so first brother?"
Shao Mu Lan saw her, that first princess of the Shao Empire smiled faintly. "En, that's good. You can try some of the best wine from this pavilion, fourth sister. You'll probably like it."
"Thank you for the first brother's offer, but I have to return to the residence as soon as possible because Yun Rui has been waiting for me."
Shao Mu Rong who was also there only heard in silence. He said it was a good show and he didn't want to be involved in it at all. Even the look on his face was still so cold even though some of the comfort men tried to tease him.
"Truly a loving wife! Are you going to miss a fun opportunity just for the sake of a man, fourth sister? Sit here for some time, at least it'll make me and the other sisters feel good."
As expected of a Shao Mu Lan, the woman had a firmness that made others feel strongly intimidated. She had a absoluteness in her tone that would come out when Mu Lan was trying to subdue her interlocutor. Things that even made a Shao Ming Fei who was referred to as the daughter of an imperial troublemaker submit and fear him.
"Well! Nah! Drink this glass of wine, fourth brother!" different from usual, this time Ming Fei said with a pleased look.
A faint glint of a cold smile was seen in Ling Mei's eyes as she looked at the wine glass that was in front of her. That glass, Ling Mei had secretly exchanged the wine glass for a glass belonging to a comfort man who was busy approaching his third brother who also happened to be right next to him. He was sure that something had been put into the wine glass intended for him and Ling Mei would be able to see his reaction as soon as the comfort man drank the wine he had deliberately exchanged. The fourth princess of the empire looked down at the glass filled with wine she now held before she quickly sipped the intoxicating liquid.
"Do you like it, fourth sister?" after being silent for some time, Shao Mu Rong asked with a meaningful look in his eyes.
Ling Mei furrowed her brows, yet a strong sense of suspicion she was hiding in her heart. It was strange when her cold second brother looked at her deeply and filled with meaning. It seemed like Ling Mei had to be more careful, her second brother Shao Mu Rong, she knew a lot more things than Ling Mei had imagined. Even though Mu Rong was not interested in the throne, Ling Mei should still keep an eye on her second brother as there might be a big surprise waiting for him in the future.
Ling Mei smiled widely with eyes that showed innocence. "It's delicious, I can't help but like it, second brother."
"Is that so? Good if you like it, I'm glad that sister is satisfied." Mu Rong smiled, the same smile as Empress Wei often showed on Ling Mei.
It seemed like Ling Mei really did not know that Mu Rong had seen what he had done, in silence the woman learned that Ling Mei had deliberately exchanged her wine glass for a comfort man's glass without the knowledge of Mu Lan and Ming Fei. Sure enough, shortly after the reaction that Ling Mei had expected came from a comforting man drinking wine from a glass that Ling Mei was supposed to wear. The young and beautiful man looked to be furrowing his brows with a stark uncomfortable expression. Ling Mei smiled coldly inwardly, this was not the first time when her sisters tried to harm her, unfortunately she was not a truly stupid person like her mask.
Then, the comforting man moved like a hot person. His face flushed in panic with sounds that should not have appeared starting to be heard from his mouth, he was seen sweating with a faint look in his eyes. Everyone was shocked by this, even the cold Shao Mu Rong was seen staring dazedly at the comforting man. Then, Ling Mei cunningly pretended to be surprised upon seeing him, her two eyes were rounded with a puzzled and surprised expression that was quite convincing. Some of the other comfort men who were there trying to help their friends, the atmosphere felt quite panicked and chaotic.
"Gee! Y-Your Majesty .. i-it's hot!" the comforting man clasped his clothes tightly, he was sweating quite a lot with a flushed face extinguished, shrill and desperate voices heard from his mouth. He tried to plead with the imperial princess.
"W-what happened?! Big brother, is that guy okay?!" Ling Mei asked amidst the chaos that was happening. Like a clueless person, the fourth star of the empire tried to help the man, but Shao Mu Lan's hand held him back quickly.
"That's not necessary, fourth sister. He'll be fine after this, you don't have to worry!" Mu Lan said with a cold expression, a dark aura felt in the glare of her sharpening eyes. However, other than holding Ling Mei to stay in place, the imperial crown princess was simply silent with a flat look on her face.
Mu Lan looked displeased, her face completely turbid like water soiled by mud. Ming Fei also showed the same facial features, the talented general of the empire really did not look good. This did not go according to their original plan, even without Mu Rong's interference, Ling Mei should have fallen into the trap of the two of them. Aye! There's mistake! The glass was supposed to be worn by Ling Mei, not that comforting man! Neither Mu Lan nor Ming Fei, both of them thought about this in their hearts. Mu Rong sighed softly, his cold eyes glancing towards his two brothers who were now dark-faced, then he turned his gaze right towards Ling Mei.
"Fourth sister, it looks like it would be better if you go home first. Sorry for showing you such a bad mess, instead I'll lend you my carriage and ask my guards to drive you home."
Hearing that Ling Mei looked at Mu Rong with her lazy gaze, yet she continued to wonder about the other purpose of Mu Rong. Ever since they were children, it was Mu Rong's character that he could never guess at his heart. Ling Mei's face wrinkled like a panicked rabbit. "Sister understands, then Ling Mei is grateful for second brother's kindness."
When he came out of that special room, Ling Mei snorted inwardly with cold glinting eyes. It seemed, at first Mu Lan and Ming Fei were planning to publicly humiliate her and make bad rumors about her. Even if it wasn't for the wine, the glass had been smeared by a medicine that would have made it wild of touch. Because so many people did not recognize her face as the fourth princess, Ling Mei showed her true countenance that was cold and full of arrogance. Ling Mei looked straight ahead with an indifferent and flat expression that made others not dare to offend her, even a strand of hair as black as his falling night covered half of his jade-fine face he just let it slip.
Her charming and charming appearance had some young men there stunned her, inwardly wondering which young lady from the family was so beautiful and domineering in front of them. As the wind blew a few reddish curtains flying around Ling Mei, strands of silvery-colored hair fluttered between her body with the sound of gurgling anklets sounding quite loud in her ears. So beautiful and shining, Ling Mei stopped and turned her head with one eyebrow raised. Unfortunately, when he saw it only the back of a young man with a sparkling silver-golden hanfu was visible within his gaze. Deciding not to care too much about it, Ling Mei walked back quietly.
Almost the same as him, the silvery-haired man stopped and turned his body. Gazing right at Ling Mei who was getting further and further away from her gaze, the look in her eyes was full of curious twinkles. The beautiful face of the man showed a small smile that was so charming. "She looks cold, yet beautiful at the same time. Totally different from most women, and I think I like it..."