Chapter 253: Intention (1/2)

“This official has something to talk to Your Majesty about,” Prince Duan said with feign hesitance, his eyes fixed on the emperor.

The emperor looked at him, then at Qi Yun. Qi Yun put aside his report and rose to leave, but Prince Duan stopped him. “Please stay. What I'm going to say has something to do with Your Highness.”

Qi Yun stilled. He wondered what Prince Duan wanted. He went back to his seat and waited for him to continue.

Prince Duan chuckled. “I happened to run into Wan'er on my way here. It's a surprise that she's gotten pregnant. Motherhood suits her. That reminded me that Nan Xun and Qi Yun don't have any women in their manors yet. I'd like to ask Your Majesty to gift them with a few beautiful women to pa.s.s down their bloodline.”

The emperor frowned. “It won't do. Nan Xun and Feng Baiyu have feelings for each other. Neither are interested in women.”

“This official has heard about their relations.h.i.+p, but following their desires is one thing. They have to settle down one day even if it's against their will. It's tradition that a man should pa.s.s down his legacy. They aren't going to not have children, are they? They may not care about that now, but in a few years, once their friends get married and have children, they'll want the same thing as well.”

“We live in this world for only a few decades. It'll be a shame to waste time. I'm not saying that they should split up, but they must have children. Even if they aren't going to marry a wife, they need a serving concubine.”

“Qi Yun has also reached the age for marriage. Even if he doesn't want to get married yet, there should be someone taking care of his needs in his manor.”

Prince Duan presented his arguments clearly and logically. The emperor was swayed.

Qi Yun wanted to say no, but Prince Duan didn't give him a chance. “This official knows that the emperor hasn't been feeling well, so I volunteer to pick a couple women for the two princes and the gentleman. Rest a.s.sured, Your Majesty, that I'll pick the rarest beauty.”

The emperor nodded after a pause. “Then I'll leave it in your hand.”

“Understood. Please excuse me.” Prince Duan knelt down and bowed to the emperor before walking away.

Qi Yun swallowed down the objections threatening to fall out of his mouth. What the h.e.l.l did Prince Duan want?

The emperor threw a glance at him. “What? Do you have anything against the idea??”

Qi Yun hurriedly shook his head. “Royal Father has misunderstood. This son is more than happy about the offer. I'd like to express my grat.i.tude to Royal Father.”

Night fell. Lamps were lit all around the city. Jun Huang and Nan Xun decided to return. They ran into Little Girl on their way. She said there was something in the manor that required Jun Huang's attention. Jun Huang thought for a moment before telling Nan Xun that she'd like to go back to her place to check. Nan Xun was going to follow her, but a servant from his manor came to find him as well. They had no clue about what had happened. At Jun Huang's suggestion, they parted and returned to their respective homes.

As soon as Jun Huang entered her manor, she saw a woman with delicate features standing at the center of the main hall. Her eyebrows slanted along her contour and her eyes glinted with tender light. The layered dress she wore made her look even more stunning. The warm glow of the candlelight added a surreal quality to her. If Jun Huang had been a man, she may have fallen for a woman like her.

The woman spotted Jun Huang from a distance. She walked up to Jun Huang with a faint smile. The dangling ornament in her hair clinked and her dress waved gently as she walked. She was indeed a rare beauty.

“Who are you?” Jun Huang asked with her brows furrowed.

The woman didn't say anything. The young eunuch accompanying her woke up from his short rest and widened his eyes when he saw Jun Huang. The gentleman was even more beautiful than the woman!

He shook his head and sighed inwardly. What a shame that Feng Baiyu was born a man.

Jun Huang waited for him to explain with a serious expression. The eunuch cleared his throat to mask his embarra.s.sment and took out a decree. “With the heaven as witness, His Majesty has decreed that Feng Baiyu, a man of integrity… is to be gifted with a woman to serve at his side and bear his child.”

Jun Huang was stunned. She didn't expect the emperor to do this. She took the decree from the eunuch and read it over again. For a long moment, she didn't say anything.

She glanced at the woman and ordered Little Girl to take her to the east wing. Then she personally walked the eunuch out.

On their way to the door, Jun Huang wondered how she should justify sending the woman away. The young eunuch interrupted her train of thoughts when he said, “Prince Duan complimented Gentleman Feng for your good look when he made the proposal to the emperor. He said that he'd have to find someone who could match you. This servant has thought it was an exaggeration, but Gentleman Feng turns out to be more handsome than I expected. Even the woman pales in comparison to the gentleman.”

Jun Huang could tell a flatter when she heard one. She paid attention only to the part that the woman had been handpicked by Prince Duan. Once the eunuch left, she convened a meeting with her confidantes.