Phoenix: Rules Of The Harem
Chapter 22: My Wife, Please Never Ditch Me!

Early in the morning at the fourth princess's residence, inside Guang Pavilion, where Official Consort of the Residence Shi Yu Han was staying, it was seen the young man was busy helping Ling Mei put on her clothes. Since the day before Ling Mei had spent the night in the Xuanshi Pavilion, then yesterday night she chose to spend the night in the Guang Pavilion. It was really just an ordinary night since Ling Mei still did not want to touch Yu Han. A gentle smile was reflected on Yu Han's face when he had finished tidying Ling Mei's clothes, his wife actually looked charming, perhaps this was what attracted many young masters to her. Fourth Princess Shao Ling Mei indeed had a sharp and charming aura.

"Well! It's finished! My wife really looks as beautiful as ever." Yu Han looked at Ling Mei who was in front of him happily, a red hue clearly visible on both of his cheeks.

Gently stroking Yu Han's head, Ling Mei said, "You're being overly complimentary. I will leave after this, be fine with Yun Rui inside the residence."

"This shack? Is that gonna be long?" Yu Han asked with rounded eyes in surprise.

Shaking softly, Ling Mei patted Yu Han's arm and looked at him for a moment. "Maybe. Because I've spent a lot of time, I'm gone."

Hearing that the look in Yu Han's eyes dimmed, feeling a little disappointed because the time he spent with Ling Mei felt so short. Only, commenting more made Ling Mei would probably feel uncomfortable with him and Yu Han did not want that to happen.

The young man smiled and nodded slowly, letting Ling Mei go for some time ahead. "The concubine understands."

Immediately after, Yu Han escorted Ling Mei all the way to the main hall of her pavilion, then he looked fixedly at Ling Mei's back which began to disappear from behind her pavilion door. Yu Han let out a long sigh, it would be best if he asked Mo Xi to accompany him to the city center after this, perhaps by shopping would make his feelings better. Taking the time to get ready to get out of the residence, Yu Han had also asked Mo Xi to tell Yu Shen that she was going to go downtown to shop. Entering the horse carriage, Yu Han looks beautiful wearing purplish-colored hanfu with beautiful peony flower motifs.

Concubine Shi Yu Han was a gentle and honorable noble beauty, she had purplish eyes that always shimmered softly as everyone looked at her, thin lips pink like ripe peaches, the delicate white skin was like jade, and the purplish-black hair that would look so lustrous while in a bright place. Even when he got off the horse carriage, everyone was staring at him, of course everyone knew him as well. Yu Han was one of the most beautiful men in the empire, it made many young misses from the upper nobles as well as ordinary people crave for his face. Unfortunately, the news that she became the concubine of the mentally disabled Fourth Princess Shao Ling Mei had been widespread. A lot of people regret that it happened, but can't say anything about it.

Staring at the many shops that were close to each other, Yu Han chose to go to the teahouse first. He could see some young masters and misses chatting leisurely there, in contrast to the wine shop which was dominated by women drinking, he said, tea shops are crowded with men in their leisure time. Sipping the tea slowly, Yu Han tried to enjoy his time well. However, shortly after, Yu Han and Mo Xi accidentally heard a conversation from the room next to him. Inside the teahouse were rooms separated by closed wooden barriers, which was why Yu Han could listen to the conversation from the room beside him, and vice versa. Although we can't see who's inside, there's a good chance their voices will be heard all the way out.

"Do you know how the face of the Fourth Princess is?" the voice of a young master, Yu Han and Mo Xi clearly heard it.

Another young master chimed in, speaking in a questioning tone. "Fourth Princess? You mean that mentally disabled imperial trash princess?"

"Aiya! Don't speak out loud! I heard that she is the Grand Empress' beloved daughter, the two of us might be punished for insulting the imperial family! And do you know any new rumors?"

"What's? What's?" the third young master asked quickly, it seemed like he felt so curious about the news.

Back, the first young master spoke curiously. "Rumors say that the Fourth Princess is recovering from her illness, does that mean she is no longer a mentally disabled princess and will be preparing to follow the usurpation of the throne?"

"Oh! Oho! Many are telling the truth that she is a great and powerful princess like the Grand Empress, it's just that a few things happen to make her a fool." in contrast to that, the, the second young master chimed in casually.

"Haish! Compared to the seizure of the imperial throne, I was more curious about one thing!"

The third young master who was listening said, "What is that?"

"Fourth Princess Shao Ling Mei has had two men beside her and they both have no small background! It was truly shocking when the Fourth Princess married the Second Prince of Wei as the official husband, but to me it was even more shocking when the Fourth Princess made the First Young Master of the Shi family her concubine!"

There was a long sigh from the three young masters right after the first young master spoke long, just then Yu Han and Mo Xi were still listening silently. They wanted to see how far they would talk about this.

"Well! It was the imperial princess! They won't marry just one man!" the third young master again commented, he felt quite understanding about the members of the imperial family.

"That's right! The Imperial Palace is a cruel place! Many say that if the members of the empire were cold-blooded, even the Grand Empress or the imperial princesses, they had cold hearts. Anyone who was deemed useless would be disposed of easily! In several generations there were some concubines who were banished to the Cold Palace because the Grand Empress no longer liked it, it was truly terrifying!"

The explanation from the second young master made Yu Han who was in the next room secretly feel choked up, it was indeed true that the palace harem was extremely cruel. Even the harem within the noble residence did not hesitate to get rid of each other in order to gain the affection of their wives.

Mo Xi who saw his master began to feel uneasy asked in a small voice, "Master, should I reprimand them?"

Yu Han looked at Mo Xi and smiled gently. "No, that's not necessary."

"Then, what if the Fourth Princess no longer liked her concubine? Is he also going to throw it away and divorce her?" very suddenly the third young master said something that made the other two young masters shocked.

The first young master said in a panic. "St! Are you crazy? Talking like that about members of the imperial family! What if someone hears it? We'll all probably get a harsh punishment!"

"Stop talking about this, I think we've gone too far! It was better to be quiet and enjoy tea alone." the second young master closed the conversation gently, telling the other two of his friends to be quiet and no longer say anything.

Again, there was a remark from the next room that made Yu Han startled while gripping his hanfu cloth tightly with trembling hands. The question from a young master made Yu Han suddenly feel frightened, that's right! Will Ling Mei also throw it away someday if she no longer likes it and is useless? Slowly Yu Han's eyes glazed over and his face looked sad. Mo Xi looked at him, he felt so panicked when he looked at Yu Han who was probably going to cry. His master was a gentle person, words like this, he could not possibly be able to endure it.

"Master, you don't have to think about their words! It's just meaningless nonsense, Her Majesty the Fourth Princess even appreciates you so much. Should I scold them now?" Mo Xi exclaimed frantically, trying to convince Yu Han that the young master's remark was nothing but meaningless nonsense.

Blinking his eyes a few times, Yu Han shook his head then stood up while smiling lightly. "No. I'm hungry, let's go to the restaurant and have a good meal!"

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

Back from the city center, Yu Han had a not-so-good face. He was speechless with eyes that more often stared blankly ahead, it made Mo Xi feel worried about his master. The horse carriage had stopped and they reached the fourth princess' residence, Mo Xi got off from where the coachman then walked over to Yu Han who was still inside the horse carriage.

"Sir, we're here."

Mo Xi's voice made Yu Han regained his senses from his daydream. "ah! I'm going down."

The two walked towards Guang Pavilion in silence, as soon as they reached the main room of his pavilion, Yu Han looked at Mo Xi for a moment and said, "Mo Xi, if Your Majesty comes and asks me where I am, tell him I've gone to bed first."

"But, sir, you haven't had dinner yet and isn't it still too early to sleep?"

"I'm not hungry, you just do as I tell you. I'll go to the room, don't bother me if nothing matters."

Mo Xi looked down respectfully, then hesitantly replied, "This servant understands, Master."

Some time passed, the atmosphere of the Guang Pavilion looked quite quiet with no activity in sight, but behind the silence was Ling Mei who was wearing black hanfu was walking towards the area of Guang Pavilion belonging to Official Consort of the Residence Shi Yu Han. Ling Mei's arrival was not without reason, previously Mo Xi who was still feeling so worried about the state of Yu Han chose to wait for Ling Mei's return and met the Fourth Star of the Empire with a look of uneasy face. The young maid quickly told her the thing that happened when she and Yu Han went to the teahouse, she also said the state of Yu Han who looked sad and scared after hearing all those conversations. Ling Mei nodded in understanding and decided to meet Yu Han at the Guang Pavilion afterwards.

Arriving at Yu Han's room, Ling Mei slowly entered his concubine's room and looked at him in silence. Ling Mei was able to see that Yu Han was not asleep like she had said before to Mo Xi, but the young man instead sat curled up on the contest with his knees bent in front of his chest and eyes staring blankly at the round window that showed a bright night scene with some stars and a great full moon shining.

"Are you going to keep daydreaming like that?" ling Mei's voice broke the silence that was there, making Yu Han who was initially unaware of Ling Mei's existence jerked slowly.

Yu Han quickly got up and looked down respectfully, feeling puzzled by Ling Mei's arrival to his pavilion. "ah! Y-Your Majesty! You coming?"

Ling Mei nodded briefly, then walked over to Yu Han. "Your servant told me everything, I came to see you."

"Mo Xi?" muttered Yu Han in a small voice.

"You don't have to scold her, she's a good servant and she's worried about your situation, so she's coming to see me."

Ling Mei sighed, looking at the face of Yu Han who was still silent without saying anything. The Fourth Princess of the Shao Empire brought her hand towards Yu Han's cheek, rubbed it slowly and said with gentleness. Sensing that warmth, Yu Han's tears fell unexpectedly. The young man cried as the fear continued to haunt him, Yu Han was afraid of being left behind and he did not want Ling Mei to leave him after Yu Han realized that he loved the Fourth Princess of the Empire.

Yu Han touched Ling Mei's hand that was on her cheek and grasped it tightly. "Since I married you, I've been yours. Whatever you want to do to me, I will accept it obediently, but my wife, please never throw me away!"

Ling Mei looked at Yu Han's eyes in seriousness, her countenance softened with a gentle look. Ever since she chose to agree to Great General Shi's terms, Ling Mei had confirmed to herself that Yu Han was now one of the people she would protect. Even if there was no love in her heart for Yu Han, but she would strive to give all that Yu Han wanted and become a good wife for him.

"Listen, Han'er! From the very beginning I had promised Great General Shi to accept and take good care of you, if you think I will throw you out after all is done, that will not be possible. I've always appreciated all my people and you're one of my precious people, Han'er."

Hearing that Yu Han smiled, he knew that Ling Mei was a good person and Yu Han felt lucky to have had Ling Mei in his lonely life. He stared fixedly at the charming face of the Empire's Fourth Star, then Yu Han without warning brought her face closer and kissed Ling Mei's lips made the young woman round her eyes in surprise when she realized what was going on. As soon as she took her face away, Yu Han chuckled at the expression of Ling Mei who was still staring helplessly in front of her, the woman looking adorable at a time like this.

"My wife, are you going to stay quiet like that?" chuckling softly, Yu Han said in a seductive tone.

"You!" A few seconds after waking up, Ling Mei exclaimed a little loudly making Yu Han laugh even more.