Chapter 91: In the End... That’s It?
Xiao Yang did not give Rong Yin a clear answer, nor could she.
Her current identity was that of a man. ’Am I supposed to confess that I like the Regent King and want to be with him?’
’Official status? That’s even more of a fantasy.’
A single kiss was enough.
And Rong Yin’s ambitions were clearly not big enough. A single kiss in response, and he had backed down.
Xiao Yang wanted to laugh at him. He had put on such an air of deep desire, a sexiness that could make one’s legs go weak, but the result... ’That’s it?’
Rong Yin’s only real advance was staying one night in a side hall of Zichen Palace, shattering the rumor that Xu Xingchen was the only person to have ever stayed overnight in His Majesty’s sleeping quarters.
In the blink of an eye, the Lantern Festival arrived. Rong Yin entered the palace first thing in the morning and stuck close to Xiao Yang. Though he didn’t say it out loud, his message was clear: ’Don’t even think about shaking me off today.’
As long as he wasn’t forcing her to study or work, Xiao Yang was perfectly fine with it.
As was customary, Xiao Yang first performed the sacrificial rites. That evening, she held a small banquet in the palace, but the only guests were Prince Jing and his family.
Xiao Yang had no consorts or children, nor did she have many siblings.
Prince Jing felt her life was too lonely and insisted on bringing his entire family to keep her company.
Prince Jing had not remarried, but he had a consort and two concubines. Besides Xiao Lv, he had another son and two daughters. The son was seventeen, and the daughters were fifteen and thirteen.
Xiao Yang had never met them before, as Prince Jing had never proactively mentioned them. This was the first time she was seeing them.
Prince Jing showed no particular warmth toward these three children, though his treatment of them seemed adequate. Xiao Lv’s attitude toward them was as dispassionate as his father’s, and his words were always polite.
Prince Jing’s other son also had a very interesting name: Xiao Hong.
’Another one for the rainbow group.’
Xiao Lv was the steady, warm-hearted older brother type, while Xiao Hong was the handsome, gloomy sort.
His demeanor was refined yet sullen, tinged with a faint melancholy. He looked as if he were weighed down by troubles and had little interest in interacting with anyone.
His two younger sisters, Xiao Wanxia and Xiao Chaoyun, were both demure and quiet, not ones for conversation.
’If one child is gloomy, it might be the child’s own issue. But if three children are gloomy, it’s definitely someone else’s fault.’
Xiao Yang had met Consort Jing once at the Prince’s mansion. She was an exceptionally dignified and elegant woman. Though a consort in title, she held the status of a primary wife. Her personality, however, was not gentle. It wasn’t cruelty, but a cold indifference—she seemed to hold everything in disdain, including her husband, Prince Jing.
’Those three children are definitely her doing.’
Seeing Prince Jing’s unconcerned expression, Xiao Yang’s lips twitched. ’What a hands-off father.’
But it was none of her business, and she couldn’t be bothered to meddle in another family’s affairs.
The Empress Dowager was still ill, so this time, Xiao Yang sat alone at the head of the hall. Aside from Prince Jing’s family, Rong Yin had also forcefully taken a seat for himself, and Xiao Yang hadn’t driven him away.
All in all, the banquet proceeded smoothly.
After the meal, they chatted for a while. As dusk fell, it was time to head out and enjoy the lantern displays.
It was a rare opportunity to go out and have fun, so Xiao Yang was definitely going.
Xiao Lv, Xiao Cheng, and Xiao Lan had intended to accompany Xiao Yang, bringing guards to protect her. However, the Regent King sent the three of them to the rear and monopolized the spot right beside His Majesty.
Watching the two of them walk side by side, the image of the kiss he had witnessed that day flashed through Xiao Cheng’s mind. Although the Regent King and His Majesty were both men of rare beauty, making for a picturesque scene, it still didn’t change the fact that they were two men!
Xiao Cheng clutched Xiao Lv’s sleeve. "Xiao Lv," he said worriedly, "shouldn’t you try to talk some sense into them? Or... is His Majesty being threatened by the Regent King? If so, we should go to the Prince! We can figure out a way to rescue His Majesty together. He is the dignified Emperor! How can he be humiliated like this..."
No matter how powerful the Regent King is, he shouldn’t be allowed to covet and humiliate His Majesty!
Xiao Lan was a bit more level-headed. "Have you forgotten? His Majesty was the one who first claimed to like men and humiliated the Regent King by offering to make him a consort."
Xiao Cheng argued, "But His Majesty was just talking! We all know he didn’t actually do anything, but the Regent King..." ’He actually kissed him!’
Xiao Cheng’s thinking had always been straightforward: he sided with whoever was good to him. Right now, he was solely on His Majesty’s side. To him, His Majesty could do no wrong, while the Regent King was clearly harboring ill intentions and plotting something sinister.
"Enough," Xiao Lv said. "You don’t need to worry about this. It’s not yet clear who the real prey is."
The Regent King’s martial arts are even greater than ours, and he’s completely devoted to watching over His Majesty. He would give his life to protect her. Having him by His Majesty’s side isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
’As for who’s humiliating whom, His Majesty started it. The Regent King, however, actually fell for it head over heels. The one who is truly getting the short end of the stick isn’t His Majesty.’
There was no curfew on the night of the Lantern Festival. The entire Capital City was ablaze with lanterns and colorful streamers. Shops stayed open late, and the streets were a dazzling array of food stalls, acrobatic performances, decorative lanterns, and snacks.
This was the heart of the empire, the most prosperous of cities. The sky had just darkened, but the streets were already bustling with activity, packed with a surging, lively crowd.
Although Xiao Yang wanted to stroll through the streets, her identity made it unwise to venture into such a large crowd. Therefore, Xiao Lv had booked a private room with an excellent view in advance. From there, they could drink tea and watch the festivities below, making it easier to ensure Xiao Yang’s safety should anything unexpected happen.
The private room was on the third floor, overlooking the busiest central district below. From this vantage point, they had an unobstructed view of everything happening on the street.
Xiao Yang had instructed the Ministry of Rites to set up a competition stage across the street, where talented scholars could participate in an examination-style contest. The prizes were three exquisite lanterns—one of white jade, one of gold and jade, and one of colored glass. All were of superb material and craftsmanship.
In addition, the top ten contestants would receive generous rewards: gleaming gold. It was a bit vulgar, perhaps, but impossible to refuse.
Word had been sent out the day before, so an exceptionally large crowd had gathered tonight, mostly composed of accomplished young masters from noble families.
A competition held by the Ministry of Rites was a clear sign of the Emperor’s will. If a scholar could make a name for himself here, his path to a court official’s post would be all but secured.
Xiao Yang did indeed intend to scout for a few talented individuals tonight, so it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
The teahouses and taverns in the area were packed to the rafters. People were everywhere, a motley crowd of good and bad. Some were simply out to enjoy the festivities, while others harbored ill intentions and ulterior motives.
"The Emperor has arrived."
In an unremarkable private room in the building opposite Xiao Yang’s teahouse, a beaded curtain concealed the occupants from prying eyes, while still allowing them to see everything outside.
"Master, this is a rare opportunity. Shall we make our move?"
The middle-aged man calmly brewed his tea. "Look to your left."
The man dressed as a guard looked over as instructed. In a private room to the lower left of the Little Emperor’s, he could see other people. He didn’t recognize two of them, but he instantly identified the one whose body was only half in view: Li Wei.
Li Wei’s combat prowess went without saying, and he was certainly not alone. The entire area was probably under a dragnet, with Hidden Guards posted solely to protect the Emperor.
The middle-aged man said, "The Little Emperor has the Regent King with him. An assassination attempt wouldn’t succeed; it would only alert our prey."
The guard was reluctant to give up. "The Emperor so rarely comes out in public. Are we just going to let this chance go?"
"Don’t be impulsive and ruin my plans," the middle-aged man chided in a low voice.
"Yes, sir."