Chapter 35 Princess Royal Mingzhu (1/2)

The enormous Mingzhu Hall seemed rather quiet. The two huge red empress trees made the palace more sinister than others. It was unlike the fanciness that concubines and princesses liked. Instead, there was not a single flower at the door. Even the dressing of the maids inside was very plain. One would not believe that this was the palace where there were beautiful people and fragrant flowers. This was because the Princess Royal Mingzhu, who had lived alone since she was young, lived here.

The princess' consort died of illness not long after they married, leaving her behind. She swore to uphold her marriage and did not marry again. As such, she lived alone in the princess manor. Emperor Zongwen saw that she was alone and pitied her for being widowed at a young age. As such, he allowed her to move back into Mingzhu Palace. On the other hand, the Empress Dowager pitied her. She had raised the princess and their relations.h.i.+p was unlike hers with the other princesses. As such, she would often invite her to the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace to accompany her.

A handsome man entered the hall with a eunuch. He wore a light purple robe which was embroidered with a dense floral pattern. The flowers twisted and turned, blooming beautifully. He wore a black jade belt and his eyes were beautiful as if they were drawn. Under his almond eyes were red lips and a tall nose. He had a beautiful curved chin which made him look like a devilish spirit in the night.

He was a beautiful and enchanting man!

The palace maids who saw him backed away, face flushed and hearts beating wildly. Their hands holding their skirts as they curtsied, trembled slightly, showing how excited they were. The palace maids only discovered when he walked off into the distance that they had been so attracted by his mesmerizing eyes that they had forgotten to greet him. Not a single person thought to report to the princess either.

When they reached the corridor, they suddenly heard a sharp voice calling out, ”His Highness King Xuan is here. King Xuan is here! Ladies, quick welcome the guest.”

He looked up to discover a hanging birdcage. There was a green-feathered peac.o.c.k with a red peak that c.o.c.ked its head as it looked at the handsome man approaching. It suddenly recognized the man and shouted in surprise. It flapped its wings in a panicked manner and shouted, ”Come, someone come. Help. Help! His Highness, King Xuan is here.”

”You little thing. It's been so many days and you still haven't forgotten. You can really bear a grudge!” King Xuan stood there and flicked the birdcage with his long fingers. The parrot was even more panicked and it immediately shouted, ”Princess, princess. Take his filthy hand away. Take his filthy hand away.”

”Old Eight, come in. Stop scaring it. The last time you scared it, it did not dare to speak for a few days and didn't even dare to eat.” The gentle voice of a woman emerged from the hall.

”Aunt, relax. This little fellow is really strong. It's jumping around again these few days.” King Xuan's beautiful red lips curled up slightly. He looked slightly lazy and careless. His startling beautiful face had a vague smile on it as he strode into the hall.

Inside the great hall was a beautiful woman in her mid-20s. She was arranging a pot of orchid placed on a table at the window.

Her dressing was plain. Her dark hair was piled on top of her hair. There was a silver pin on her head. She wore plain colored clothing that looked like a Taoist nun's, making her seem as if she did not belong in the secular world. She had a beautiful face, but there was a loneliness that could not be hidden in her eyes. She was watering the orchid carefully.

”Aunt, you're fiddling with the orchid again. Is it that beautiful? It's not as beautiful as the peony I have. It is the king among flowers. How about I pick a few pots that look the best and send it over in a few days?” King Xuan bowed and sat on the nanmu wood chair lazily. The sun shone through the windows and shone on his beautiful face. A look at it would make a person drunk.

”You'd better leave those peonies of yours for those beauties to admire. It's only been a few days and you've already added more beauties to your back courtyard. Are you not worried that your father will scold you?” The princess gave him a side-eye and put down the bottle in her hand. She accepted the handkerchief a palace maid handed her and carefully wiped away the dirt on the orchid.

”Aunt, Father can't be bothered with how many beauties I have in my back courtyard. But I'm interested in your orchid.” King Xuan looked at the orchid and reached out to touch it. His eyes were full of emotion and he was a natural beauty. One could not resist him and they would follow him willingly even if it meant that they would be d.a.m.ned.

”Hold it. If you dare to kill the plant, I cannot guarantee that I won't speak up for you in front of your father!” The princess saw that his hand was about to press down on the orchid's stem. She glared at him angrily and tossed away the handkerchief anxiously.

The slender fingers caressed the orchid's leaves. The handsome youth turned around. His eyes were a cesspool of emotions. He was naturally beautiful and one could not resist him even if it meant that they would be d.a.m.ned.

”Aunt, what are you talking about. I was just interested and wanted to touch such a beautiful orchid.” Feng Yuran made a face but his eyes were filled with laughter. He withdrew his hand as if nothing happened. He rubbed his fingers together as if he had not been satisfied.

”If you become interested in it again, do you plan to kill this orchid that I had a hard time getting?” The princess said impolitely. She knew her nephew's character well. There was once he said he was interested in a pot of peonies and that pot of peonies had died, not even leaving behind any leaves.

There was another time he became interested in a fake mountain. In the end, there was only a crater left behind in that spot!

She did not want her orchid to end up like them.

”Aunt, I will be sad if you say that about me. After all, you didn't have a hard time getting this flower. You'd just gotten it easily and I was the one who helped you bring it to the capital. I had worked hard for you. You should reward me!” Feng Yuran did not feel at all awkward after the princess rebuked him. He pointed casually at the table's surface with interest.

”Talk. What is it you want to ask me again? You've come to my place to ask for a reward.” The princess smiled lightly. A palace maid brought her a bronze bowl to wash her hands.

”Aunt, you're really amazing. You've guessed my thoughts perfectly. No matter the people outside say that you're extremely intelligent. You're the most intelligent amongst the women of the palace.”

”Alright, alright. Stop flattering me. I'll say this first. Don't look for me if it's too difficult. I can't do anything against your father's rage.”

”Aunt, relax. It is nothing difficult. It'd be the flower viewing banquet in a few days. You just have to help me a little.” King Xuan glanced at the orchid somewhat meaningfully. There was a slight curve to his lips and he looked a little distant.

”Oh, you have to ask of this favor here?” The princess asked, her brows raised.

”Aunt, it is simple for you...”King Xuan stood up and whispered into her ears.

”Alright, Old Eight, I didn't know you...”The princess smiled and glanced at him incredulously as if she did not know him.