Phoenix: Rules Of The Harem
Chapter 24: Pretending Not to Know

Early in the morning at the busy fourth princess residence, the servants and First Companion Wei Yun Rui were made confused when Physician Xia Lu Si came to visit unexpectedly. I don't know what reason brought Physician Xia to bring her two children to the manor of the fourth princess. Ling Mei raised one of her eyebrows questioningly, now the three of them were in Ling Mei's study without saying anything. Of course, that Fourth Princess of Shao Empire was waiting for Physician Xia to say something to her. In contrast to that, the eldest daughter of the Xia family, Xia Hui Fang actually stared silently at Ling Mei's familiar face inside her gaze. He felt like he had gotten to know the young lady, yet he felt it was an impossible matter considering he had never met the Fourth Princess before.

"So, what made you come here Physician Xia?" Ling Mei asked casually even though she felt quite curious, due to the rumors about her improved mental retardation, Ling Mei no longer needed to pretend to be an idiot princess in front of others.

Even so, his cold and sharp look could not be taken out easily given his condition that had not been said to fully recover in public. Even with his original character that he was still unable to show carelessly in front of others. Physician Xia smiled a little awkwardly making Ling Mei become even more curious, even for a shameless Xia Lu Si, the no longer young woman could still feel uneasy, even for a shameless Xia Lu Si, that was a strange thing for him.

"Your Majesty, if you don't mind, may I leave my youngest son to stay at your residence for some time?"

"What?" Ling Mei rounded her eyes in surprise, entrust a son to her, has Physician Xia gone mad?!

Physician Xia grimaced in his heart, quite understanding with Ling Mei's response who would definitely be shocked to hear her remark. "Let me leave my youngest son, Xia Huan Ran to stay at your residence for some time."

"You!" Ling Mei closed her eyes and sighed heavily before returning to continue her words. "What made you leave your son here? I think you already know that my life is filled with a lot of rumors and I don't want your son dragged into it."

If noticed, there was only Fourth Princess Shao Ling Mei, Physician Xia Lu Si, and her eldest daughter Xia Hui Fang there. It was because Physician Xia's youngest son, Xia Huan Ran was outside the Yin Pavilion accompanied by Main Companion Wei and Concubine Shi. Hui Fang was only speechless with questions in his head, he had indeed heard the news that Fourth Princess Shao Ling Mei's mental state had improved and was gradually recovering just like it used to be. But, is it really this fast? Many questions stuck in her heart, only that her mother who took care of the Fourth Princess' health condition directly made Hui Fang impossible to doubt her because she knew how great her mother's ability in the medical world was.

"I, my partner, and Hui Fang will have to leave for some time to Linhua city. It was quite a long and risky trip because we had to do medical research there and look at the residents of some of the villages affected by the outbreak to find a cure."

The long explanation of Physician Xia made Ling Mei understand, yet would it be good considering all the things she did could be a great rumor for the imperial people?

"Then, are you sure about this?" Ling Mei poured the tea into her cup and sipped it slowly.

Xia Lu Si nodded with confidence. "Yes, Your Majesty. I hope you don't mind my plea."

Other than to guard his youngest son, there was another hidden thing he was doing, of course to bring his youngest son closer to Fourth Princess Shao Ling Mei. For Physician Xia, there was no one who was good enough for his son, Huan Ran other than the Fourth Princess. She had been following the Fourth Princess since she was a child, seeing that she was confident enough to hand Huan Ran over to Ling Mei someday.

"If you think it's good, I'll allow it."

Physician Xia smiled with a pleased face, this would be good since the Fourth Princess did not reject him. "Hangao, thank you Your Majesty."

Afterwards, Ling Mei stood followed by Physician Xia Lu Si and his daughter Xia Hui Fang. The Fourth Princess of the Shao Empire intended to drive her two guests out of the Yin Pavilion, after which Ling Mei had to meet Yu Shen to arrange a temporary residence belonging to Xia Huan Ran. Yes, maybe with Huan Ran, Yun Rui and Yu Han will not feel lonely because they are always left to work by him. Arriving at the doorstep of the Pavilion, Xia Lu Si and Xia Hui Fang greeted the Fourth Princess before then Physician Xia turned around to leave and met her son for a while. However, there was something strange that made Ling Mei furrow her brows incomprehensibly. Why was Hui Fang just standing in front of her while looking at her quite fixedly?

"Is there something wrong with me, Miss Xia?" Ling Mei was wary in her heart, considering that they had met once in her appearance disguised as a man, she felt quite worried about it.

Hui Fang who heard it became jolted and felt nervous all of a sudden. "ah! Nope, no! It's just, Your Majesty, have we met before?"

Ling Mei rolled her eyes downwards, before looking back at Hui Fang with a flat gaze. "Have we ever seen meet before? I thought it was impossible."

In fact, ever since Hui Fang's arrival some time ago he had recognized the young miss, he had recognized the young lady, however Ling Mei chose to pretend not to know because of Hui Fang and her who had never met at all in her appearance who was an Empire's Fourth Princess.

"I'm sorry for my indecency, Your Majesty. It's probably because you look like the person I met back then." Hui Fang quickly bowed respectfully with a full apology, he felt guilty for a few things.

"Not to think about it, I understand." Ling Mei sighed in relief in her heart, it would not be a good thing if Hui Fang really recognized her as a man. Luckily, back then Hui Fang did not have time to ask her name or she might have to think twice about it.

As soon as Hui Fang confirmed, he decided to say goodbye and left following his mother leaving Ling Mei who was still fixated on looking at Hui Fang's departure in silence.

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

Several hours passed inside the peaceful fourth princess manor. Bored, Huan Ran decided to go out of the temporary pavilion he was currently in. The Xia family's Young Master, Xia Huan Ran was 15 years old and had yet to enter the age of marriage. She has a unique beauty with long golden hair, milky white skin, and fresh green eyes, her appearance looks striking and is very easy to recognize. Because of her young age, she has a cheerful and adorable nature. Even for Yun Rui and Yu Han, Huan Ran looked like a little sister to them. Although Huan Ran had one servant by his side, he somehow managed to escape the guard and sneak into the library room that had its own building inside the Ling Mei residence.

The library room was behind the Yin Pavilion and not far from the pavilion Huan Ran was in, therefore Little Young Master Xia easily found him. Entering the inside of the library, Huan Ran stared sparklingly at the books of various sizes that were neatly lined up on the shelves.

"Well! The library is big and big!" Xia Huan Ran smiled happily, tracing the parts of the library one by one.

Then, unintentionally, from behind the hollow shelf Huan Ran saw a woman with night-black hair, clear blue eyes, and the little mole under his eyes was busy reading the book in his hand while sitting leaning against an open round window. Huan Ran quickly lowered his head with a thoughtful one.

"Are you going to keep peeking at me from there?"

The voice made Huan Ran flinch with eyes that were getting rounder in surprise.

Dugm!

"Akhc!" in a hurry, Huan Ran's head hit the shelf when he was about to straighten his body. Rubbing her head, Xia Huan Ran came out from behind the shelf with a big frown on her face.

"Why did you surprise me?!" Little Young Master Xia spoke in an annoyed tone.

In Ling Mei's heart an amused snort, this young man reminded her of his twin brother Shao Qiao Feng. Even if they were of the same age, Qiao Feng always acted spoiled and childish when he was nearby. Carefully Ling Mei pointed her palm over the head of Xia Huan Ran who was in front of her and rubbed it slowly. "Is it better?"

The gentle rubbing made Xia Huan Ran stay in place, so soft and warm made Huan Ran feel comfortable and wanted to feel it longer. Then, when his consciousness started to return, Huan Ran quickly shook his head and said nervously, "That's fine! It's not sick, you just calm down!"

Ling Mei only snorted softly with twitching lips. "Then, what are you doing here?"

"I ... I'm of course to see the book! But, what are you doing here and who are you? Did Her Fourth Princess Royal Highness allow a woman other than herself to enter this residence?"

Hearing that, Ling Mei really could not help but have a small smile on her face. This Little Young Master Xia had really comforted him, truly a rare thing. "Are you aware of the appearance of the Fourth Princess?"

"I'm .. That I've never seen it at all." Huan Ran said softly while grimacing small.

Although she was allowed to stay here by Fourth Princess Shao Ling Mei at the request of her mother who was an Imperial Physician, but since then she had not seen how the Fourth Princess looked. All she heard were rumors circulating among the imperial populace, including rumors of the Fourth Princess' mental retardation beginning to improve under the handling of her mother, the Xia Lu Si Imperial Physician. Although she actually felt curious and wanted to see firsthand how the appearance of the Fourth Princess who was so dear to the Grand Empress, was, but he quite understood that the Fourth Princess was not an indiscriminate person that could be encountered at any time even if it was within his own residence.

Ling Mei raised one eyebrow, she suddenly felt like teasing this little young master who was in front of her. "Are you not curious about his face? I heard he's ugly and stupid."

"Caiy! You can't insult him like that! He is a member of the imperial family! Your head will probably disappear in an instant if someone hears it!" Huan Ran said frantically, this woman in front of him! He was really very brave for the size of a noble.

So unbearable! The Fourth Star of the Shao Empire chuckled after hearing that. Even for Ling Mei who was cold and rarely laughed, Huan Ran was a little sister who could comfort her easily. Perhaps right, in the future, the fourth princess manor will not be quiet with the innocent and cheerful Huan Ran. Huan Ran frowned at the originally confused, why would this woman in front of him instead laugh casually?

"Hey! Why are you laughing, Jiejie?"

"No. It's just that you're so funny and I'm not strong enough not to laugh at your words."

Huan Ran crossed his hands in front of his chest, then snorted. "You! Jiejie, I warned you, but you didn't listen to me! If the Fourth Princess hears about it and is angry at you, it is none of my business!"

Ling Mei shook her head slowly, she thought about stopping toying around and revealing her true identity. "Why indeed? I am—"

"Your Majesty the Fourth Princess! Very lucky to find you here! I searched for you since then because there were some urgent matters that His Majesty had to resolve." the voice of Yu Shen made the two of them turn their heads, including Huan Ran who looked so shocked when he heard it.

"Your Majesty the Fourth Princess?!" Huan Ran exclaimed frantically, then looked at Ling Mek with wide-eyed eyes.

Yu Shen nodded and smiled politely. "Of course, Young Master Xia. The woman in front of you is Her Royal Highness Fourth Princess Shao Ling Mei. Uh! Did you just meet His Majesty in the library?"

Huan Ran looked at Yu Shen before then he looked back at Ling Mei with a face of panic and fear simultaneously. How disrespectful was the remark he had said earlier to an imperial princess! Even though it had to bow a hundred times day and night, it was still not enough to secure its life and that of its family!

Despite being late, Huan Ran quickly bowed respectfully to Ling Mei. "Xia Huan Ran greeted the Fourth Star of Shao Empire, may His Majesty always be filled with happiness."

"You can leave now, Young Master Xia. And thanks to the previous one, I felt quite happy about it." Ling Mei said with a small grin making Huan Ran gulp full of nervousness. Immediately after, Huan Ran turned around and went away from the library area in such a hurry.

Yu Shen only looked at his master with a puzzled face at the obvious moment. "Is there something that just happened, Your Majesty?"

Ling Mei shook her head slowly with a face that returned flat and cold. "none. It's just, as you said Yu Shen, it's good if I am comforting myself once in a while."