Chapter 57 The Empress Sends Beauties to King Xuan (1/2)

All was peaceful in the time after. The Empress did not do anything else after gifting gifts to a few more ladies. She did not make anyone a princess, or even a concubine. There was no change on the Emperor's side either. It was as if the Flower Appreciation Banquet was just a normal banquet.

King Chu, King Yan, and King Xuan did not have any main wives. Of course, this did not mean that there were no beauties or concubines in their inner courtyards. King Xuan's inner courtyard was floris.h.i.+ng. It was said that the wild and arrogant King Xuan had the greatest number of concubines.

He had not returned for too long when he started bringing in concubines into his manor. Even though Emperor Zongwen was angry, there was nothing he could do. In the beginning, he would send someone to rebuke him and then, after that, it was too late for any scolding. The Emperor just allowed him to do what he wanted. However, this annoyed the Empress and Concubine Su greatly and they started to become wary of King Xuan.

As such, Feng Yuran's King Xuan Manor was the most bustling manor out of the three princes' manors. He would get gifts from the palace from time to time. If it were not nanmu wood furniture from the Empress, then it would be Concubine Su sending calligraphy. They all behaved as if they doted on Feng Yuran a lot.

They just wanted to indulge him so that he would become a mess.

Inside Jin Wei Pavilion of King Xuan's Manor.

The handsome youth's eyes shone. They were as lively as the rippling waters in autumn. His eyes swept across the thick stack of paintings brought to him by a eunuch. He was sprawled lazily on the couch and he picked up the crystal-like grapes that still had water on them and tossed them into his mouth casually. A languid expression gradually appeared on his handsome face.

”These were all found by Her Majesty?” The lazy voice had a trace of impatience in it.

The wind blew at the paintings in the eunuch's hand. They were all pictures of beautiful smiles. Smiles fell like flowers where the wind blew. They were delicate and beautiful, pure and unique...

”The eighteen ladies here are all main daughters of court officials third grade and above. They are beautiful and intelligent, dignified and gracious. Her Majesty said that if you like them, you can keep a few. You can never have enough beauties like them. No matter whether you take them as wives as concubines, they can all help you.” The eunuch said, sending him the paintings. He helped Feng Yuran to lay them on the desk and introduced them helpfully.

Then, he intentionally smoothed down the topmost portrait and said, ”Your Highness, look at this one. She is the most beautiful of the 18. I have placed her on top intentionally. Look at her carefully, she's a ravis.h.i.+ng beauty! She's even more beautiful than some of the concubines in the palace.”

The beauty in the painting was indeed stunning. Her long thick hair was tied into a bun. She wore a peony green satin s.h.i.+rt and a pink daffodil dress. She also had a light green shawl around her shoulders. Her clear eyes and gentle beauty made one feel as if she was as beautiful as jade. Feng Yuran's eyes could not help but land on the picture. He looked at the beauty on it carefully and a smile appeared on his handsome face.

The eunuch felt a wave of satisfaction. This beauty was one that the Empress took special care of. The beauty in the picture was gentle and beautiful. The Empress had had other plans, but had decided part with her treasure reluctantly and give it to King Xuan to get him on her side. Which man would be able to leave this beauty behind. King Xuan would more than likely pick this beauty. Even t hough the other ladies were all beautiful, they could not compare with this one. After seeing her, and then the other ladies, any man would definitely pick her to be their wife.

She was the most famous beauty in the capital!

”Which family is this beauty from? She is indeed beautiful. Then...” A lazy smile appeared on the youths handsome face. His lips curled up with a faint smile, looking rather seductive. He was like a nightshade flower waving in the wind, seducing the hearts of others. The eunuch was in a hurry to reply. He looked up the handsome face. Even though he was used to seeing beauties in the palace, he was stunned by the prince's beauty and stared at him speechlessly.

”How audacious. How dare you look at the prince.” Someone yelled angrily.

”Hurmph!” There was a cold harrumphed and the guard looked at him menacingly. The eunuch did not have time to speak before he was slapped heavily. Pain radiated from his chest and he spat out blood onto the jade-like face of the first beauty on the painting. The face on the painting was sprayed red with blood and looked frightful.

”Your Highness, please, Your Highness, please!” He looked at the guards standing by the side looking at him coldly and at the cold and handsome face of the youth wearing elegant clothes and seated on the high couch. How could he not understand? He ignored the pain in his chest and his face became pale with fright. He shook as he knelt on the ground, kowtowing and pleading with King Xuan. He kowtowed so frantically that his head started to bleed, blurring his eyesight.

”Am I handsome?” Feng Yuran asked with a gentle smile. He did not speak in a hurry and did not seem angry. His eyes were filled with good humor.

”Your slave does not dare. Your slave does not dare!” The eunuch did not dare to say anything. He kept kowtowing and did not dare to say anything as the blood blurred his eyesight.

How dare he say anything else after offending King Xuan.

”Do you think I'm not handsome?” There was a deep lazy sigh.

”No, no, no, no...Your Highness's handsomeness is second to none. No one can compare.” The eunuch shook and kowtowed. He was feeling dizzy.

”Can no one truly compare?”

”Of course. Of course that's true!” The eunuch would say whatever Feng Yuran wanted him to say right now.

”Since no one can compare, why did you bring such an ugly picture here? You've made my desk ugly. Feng Yue, throw him out. How can the woman in the portrait be a beauty? She's a female ghost and has frightened me. Take it away. Take it away!” Feng Yuran flicked his sleeves with disdain and pushed the painting to a corner of the desk. He frowned, looking disgusted.