Chapter 219 He Xing, The New Concubine? (1/2)

Chapter 219 – He Xing, The New Concubine?

Tong, Friday, Hua Shi, He Xing, and Sima Fang gathered in Tong's courtyard. Everyone was summoned here to clarify the unusual situation when the master of the house was away.

The trouble was the existence of He Xing and her son, Liu Xie, the future Emperor Xian of Han. He Xing still possessed the title as the Dowager, and Liu Xie still had the right to the throne.

Had these two joined other lords, Tong did not have to guess, that lucky warlord would have used her and her son as a tool to gain a political status and influence in the Han Court.

However, having both of them residing in Julu would also bring a lot of problems. If the news about their location were revealed, all neighbor lords would be ganging on the Yellow Turbans even without an edict.

Now, Sima Fang had done it! He revealed to the public that He Xing was Tong's concubine while he was away during the war.

Tong expected that one spring arrives, all hell would break loose as everyone would misunderstand him as an opportunist warlord who abused the Dowager and her son to get ahead.

The people and scholars around the country would forever recognize Tong as a scheming tyrant or a wicked warlord.

…

Sima Fang kowtowed to Tong as he apologized, ”Please forgive me, young master. To ensure their safety and to protect Your Majesty He, I had to lie about their status.”

Tong was sitting on a chair at the garden while Hua Shi and Friday were standing behind his back. They looked at Sima Fang in dissatisfaction. Tong did not like Sima Fang's move because of the political problems. The two housewives did not like He Xing as they thought that she wanted to seduce their husband.

”Couldn't you have hidden her status while you disguise her as a commoner or a maid? Why concubine? My wives talked to her, and it seemed she wanted to retire from the political world. Why have you dragged her into this again?”

A dried laugh came from Sima Fang's mouth. As a royalist, he did not want his former Empress to experience hardship or the harsh life of a commoner. He wanted her to live in a better place and had servants to take care of her and her son.

Hundreds of reasons were in Sima Fang's mind, but he could not utter a word to explain his doing to his young lord.

Despite the troubling heart, this officer's face did not change the slightest. His serious and intimidating expression was unchanged after the barrage of questioning from Tong.

Seeing that Sima Fang did not answer his interrogation, Tong repeated his question again.

”Why is she my concubine? You could've told everyone that she's a maid or one of your wives.”

Sima Fang shook his head, ”I would not dare to pretend to be her husband. Young master, what do you think if your subordinate suddenly has a higher status than you? Won't the others find it awkward if I were to become a prince consort of the Han Dynasty while you are still a young master of a rebel force?”

Tong pondered. It would have caused friction in his ranks if such a scenario had really happened. Political factions would be formed by the officials who backed the Han Dynasty and the officials who supported the Yellow Turbans.

At the side, He Xing was standing behind Sima Fang with her child in her arms. She tried to help her loyal retainer.

”Young lord Zhang, please don't blame this matter on him. It's me who is being selfish that took advantage of you. If you don't want me here, I can leave this city with my son.”

Tong's face turned ugly as he was not the type who enjoyed tormenting a mother and a son. Seeing the worried look on He Xing's face and Liu Xie's innocent smile, Tong was reminded of the faces of his victims at Liyang City.

Guilt.

Regret.

Heart pain.

The heart of Sima Fang skipped a beat. As he saw the young lord's unsightly expression, Sima Fang thought that Tong despised the royal family.

”It's not your fault. You can stay in this city as long as you want to.”

Betraying Sima Fang's thought, Tong compromised.

Everyone in other cities should have known about her location. Should she wonder outside of the town, all wolves and foxes would prey on her and turn her into a political slave.

Tong could not afford to let those ambitious lords take advantage of this woman.

”Don't get me wrong. I don't want your status or want to turn your son into a puppet, and I don't want those bastards like Yuan Shao or Liu Yan getting their hands on you. So I'll let you use my name to protect your family.”

Sima Fang kowtowed again, and his forehead hit the floor.

”Thank you, young master!”

He Xing also bowed her head.

”Thank you, Lord Zhang.”

Although she was ashamed that she had caused troubles to this young man, He Xing did not want to abandon her privilege as a royalty. Having many servants and bodyguards around her was better than being a single-mom commoner in the street.

'He doesn't look like those old foxes in the palace. Those men will definitely use me,' She evaluated Tong in her mind.

'He doesn't have that lustful look like Yuan Shao or Liu Ping. Am I not attractive enough?'

Alas, the former Empress had high self-esteem as a first-lady and the most beautiful woman in this country. Seeing Tong ignoring her charm damaged her pride.

The young lord in front of her was not a eunuch or gay either as he had a wife and a busty concubine, who were standing behind Tong.

Hua Shi and Friday glared at He Xing without hiding their killing intents. Both of them viewed He Xing as a gold digging woman who wanted to latch onto Tong, and they did not want her here.

As a woman, He Xing also noticed the two's hostility. She smiled wryly at the girls and made a mental note, 'I must not seduce this young lord, or I'll be killed by these two.'

The matter of He Xing and her son was temporary on hold, and Tong ended up allowing them to continue living in his manor. However, Hua Shi and Friday secretly bullied He Xing and barred her from visiting Tong at night as it was their precious time.

He Xing acknowledged her status and kept her distance from the trio. With her experience as a former Imperial concubine and the Empress, this veteran women understood which line that she could not cross.

…

Tong sighed after He Xing returned to her room and Sima Fang excused himself. It was fortunate that the lady behaved herself, which was totally opposite of Hua Shi when he first met her.

'I don't want a third mental wife. Having two is more than enough.'

He turned to look at the two girls behind his back, ”You didn't bully her when I was away, right?”

”Nope.”