CROWN PRINCE'S CONCUBINE

Plum Villa.

The door was opened from the outside. There were no guards at the door to report about Princess Wu Lan’s arrival at Bai Ying and the Crown Prince’s room.

Bai Ying was standing in front of the mirror after finishing cleaning himself and getting dressed. His two loyal maids Yan and Bi helped him wear Young King Wah Ye’s royal attire which was very grand and beautiful. It looks quite heavy from the shapes and ornaments that hang around the clothes. Beautiful sparkling natural stones increasingly radiate from the Young King of Xin Hua the charming face.

“Oh, Your Majesty, the clothes are such pretty, it’s enough to match Your Majesty’s shining face,” said Yan.

Bi agreed.

“Yes Your Highness, this is very beautiful”

Bai Ying turned around to see himself, he was almost finished and all that was left was to tidy up his hair which didn’t need much ornamentation because he would just tie it up and stick it in his favourite hairpin.

“Yeah, It’s pretty.”

.....

His maids chuckled, however, according to both of them there was no world’s most well-dressed that could match Young King Bai Ying’s dazzling face.

Bai Ying turned around and was surprised to find Princess Wu Lan whos already there.

“Grandma, you’re coming? Why didn’t anyone report Grandma’s arrival? Where is the guard outside?” Bai Ying asked trying to glance outside the room.

Yan and Bi lowered their knees down to greet the Princess.

“Greeting, Your Majesty, Princess.”

Wu Lan smile at the two until the maids excused themselves to step back and leave the room.

Bai Ying held his old grandmother’s hand and led her towards the chair. She was usually accompanied by Me Ma everywhere, maybe the girl wait outside.

Bai Ying pulled a chair out for his grandmother to sit on.

“Come on grandma, let’s sit here.”

Wu Lan glanced around the room, not finding the Crown Prince around the room which was quite large in size.

“Where is the Crown Prince, is he still busy cleaning himself?” he asked.

Bai Ying shook his head.

“No grandma, His Majesty has finished cleaning up and now heading to the entrance hall to welcome guests, and Ying er would like to ask what is Grandma doing here instead of being there waiting for him. Did you not meet His Highness on the way?”

Wu Lan frowned in thought, she shook his head.

“Em didn’t see, earlier when I came here grandma and Me Ma had stopped by the kitchen to see dinner preparations, maybe grandma missed it, and this old lady is can’t seat too long there, just let the youngster who handles it”

Bai Ying looked at her for a moment, he didn’t suspect the slightest of his grandmother even though what she was talking about was a bit strange, how could she not see The Crown Prince pass by because the only path leading to the main palace building also passed through the kitchen, it was not that far from the main Palace.

“Er, do, grandma wants to discuss something with Ying er, without His Highness the Crown Prince?” Bai Ying asked. Hearing that Princess Wu Lan was a little surprised, she stuttered, how could this young man know what she was thinking? It was not wrong for the little boy to become a Viceroy at such a young age.

Slightly stiff, Wu Lan nodded.

“Um, yeah, a little bit, grandma isn’t afraid of the Crown Prince, it’s just, grandma isn’t ready for the Crown Prince’s gaze to think this grandma is some kind of a traitor who can’t keep the promise.”

Hearing Wu Lan’s words, Bai Ying chuckled, his grandmother’s face when she said that looked adorable, she was like a child who is afraid of her teacher.

“Hehe, this grandma is just making it up, is His Highness the Crown Prince so scary? He only looks scary, but actually has a very good heart, Grandma. And Ying er never hides anything from His Highness, so if Grandma wants to talk, it’s better to wait and see with His Highness later.”

Princess Wu Lan nodded. The old lady looked a bit embarrassed by being so discreet. However, he took Bai Ying’s two hands and placed them on her lap, patting them gently.

“Sweet child, actually, grandma is also embarrassed to say it, because you and His Highness the Crown Prince are together all the time, this old hag, dare not say, that in recent years, the Viceroy, has not been allowed to leave the palace before his appointment. You’ve travelled enough out there, it’s time to go back and stay in the palace for the inauguration,”

Bai Ying stuttered. He saw his grandmother’s wrinkled hands that were still very soft holding his hand as if trying to calm him down.

“Grandma, you have said that before, and, His Highness the Crown Prince has responded with an order from His Majesty the Emperor that Xin Hua is still under the administration of the Great Yue Yang, we all agreed to obey the rules of the palace right? One of them, by not binding Ying er as the Viceroy who always has to sit in the palace.”

Wu Lan pulled her lips, she nodded slowly.

“That’s right, but, that was back then when all the Wah Ye great tribes didn’t come and try to claim their position in the palace. You see after you left, there were already fifty-twelve great tribes, including Son Wa who would acknowledge the sovereignty of Xin Hua as their leader, just like what the Great King Father used to do. However, this time the conditions Son Wa asked for were quite big, if King Son Wa were to step down, there is a possibility, the other chiefs would also step down, and, we urgently need everyone’s support for this palace to stand firm, Ying er, understand what does it mean, right?

Bai Ying nodded.

“Yeah, Ying er understands that, then, what are the conditions they put forward? Then grandma didn’t suspect anything from this Son Wa King, even if Ying er hasn’t met them, it could be that their main wish is to taint the good reputation of the palace and take control of the power, have you ever thought of going there?”

Wu Lan looked at Bai Ying who was looking at her for a long time with his pair of big round eyes. Slowly releasing her grip on her great-grandson’s hand, she had thought there, but, what choice did she have?

.....

In the great hall of the Eagle.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!” cried the doorman.

From the end of the hall, Luo Xiang who was dressed in his royal attire as the Crown Prince majestically and charismatic entered the hall followed by Bei Yau. All the officials lined up on the side of the road lowered their heads in salute at the same time.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince, may Your Highness always be healthy and happy, long live, long live!”

The Crown Prince stopped in front of the sitting area of ??today’s grand guest since noon, the King of the Son Wa tribe, Bi Lou. The burly man reluctantly lowered his head when he saw the Crown Prince’s arrival. Bei Yau was about to step forward but Crown Prince raised his hand to stop him.

“Bei”

King Bi Lou, as a tribal king in Wah Ye, no matter how strong he is, is still a citizen of Yue Yang and also Xin Hua, he should obey all state regulations. But the King whose face looked so proud of his position didn’t show the slightest attitude of bowing down to anyone, even if it was the Emperor.

Luo Xiang smiled, he pointed at the seat behind the huge King.

“Please King Bi Lou, if I am not wrong to mention your name”

King Bi Lou and his two advisers sat back in their seats, at least they were standing to welcome the Crown Prince.

It wasn’t long after the formal state talks, in fact, Luo Xiang himself didn’t really follow the developments that he turned to Shin Ya several times to answer all the questions of the chief of the Son Wa tribe, the King of Bi Lou.

“This tax is issued to traders and business owners, not to farmers, it is hoped that King Bi Lou can understand the regulations that have been set by the Minister from the start. And the contents of the document will be forwarded to the advisor after this, please wait patiently. And for the Son Wa area, without exception, everyone must send personal data with the name of each family member for documentation..”

King Bi Lou patted the chair when he heard Shin Ya’s next words. He almost stood up from his seat.

“That’s impossible, we Son Wa citizens have freedom in everything, there’s no way we’ll reveal our personal data, after all, it’s very troublesome”

Shin Ya was somewhat surprised by King Bi Lou’s sudden loud voice. He glanced briefly at the Crown Prince who was sitting beside the young King Xin Hua’s royal chair while enjoying his tea, as usual. The Crown Prince was just trying to enjoy his tea as if in the room there was nothing so important that deserved his attention, and it was the Crown Prince who naturally didn’t like this kind of lengthy and time-consuming state affairs meeting.

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