Chapter 35-Empress Jin & the Royal Lovebirds

A.N:              ***Drop***

The members inside the courtroom gaped at seeing Bai Yuan. They have all seen Emperor Wang and undoubtedly he was one of the most desired man among all the Empires but they had never seen someone as ethereal as Bai Yuan before. It seemed the beauties in their empire paled in front of him. Xia Empire surely produces beauties. First it was their crown Princess and now it was Bai Yuan. Even in his simple pale orange attire he outshined all the women present there. Regaining their sense, they greeted them in unison, "Greetings to the sun of the Xia Empire, Emperor Wang Yiheng and his Consort," before getting dismissed by Emperor Shen.

Emperor Shen and Empress Jin got up from their throne when Yiheng and Bai Yuan came to stop in front of the stairs of the throne.

Both of them said adjointly , "Emperor Wang greets the sun of the Wu Xi empire."

"First consort Bai Yuan greets the sun of the Wu Xi empire."

Emperor Shen came to Yiheng and grabbed his shoulders. He had a serious face and his blazing red attire with a big golden dragon just made him look more scary.

"Welcome to Wu Xi, Emperor Wang and Consort Bai. It's been so long since I last saw you, Yiheng."

Yiheng had his usual calm face, "I apologise for not paying visits in the past few years."

"I forgive you, son. But, I want to know something."

Yiheng looked as if he was taken back for a second.

Emperor Shen continued in his deep voice, "Why didn't you tell me if you needed manpower on the battlefield? I would've sent our army along with my useless son."

Shen Haixiong cried from behind, "Father!"

Emperor Shen scolded his son, "Why? Look at him. He's the youngest Emperor I've witnessed, led the Army singlehandedly, won the battle with those ferocious Barbarians, governs the empire with skillful hands. And you?"

Haixiong stomped his feet in annoyance while Mo-er was busy taking pride in her Eldest brother, forgetting her husband. During the time, Bai Yuan and Yeye were changing their focus between the arguing father and son in amusement.

Empress Jin had been silently watching them from beside the Emperor, but she finally came forward to side with her child.

"He has his mother and father alive, why would he need to become mature so early."

Even a newborn baby could sense Empress's arrogant and hurtful attitude towards Yiheng. Bai Yuan's face twitched, did this old wolf with fake sheep skin just called my partner an orphan?

His frustrated eyes met Yiheng's calm golden eyes as if they spoke, "It's okay."

Surprisingly Mo-er had the same expression as Yuan. Because indirectly calling her brother orphan meant direct insult to her too.

She spoke after collecting her composure in one place, "Mother in law knows very well just how much our mother loves us. She gave my Emperor brother the huge responsibility only after she confirmed that he was ready for it."

Haixiong helplessly stood there, dejected by his dearest wife and father. He mouthed to Yiheng, 'I hate you!'

Yiheng didn't take any of the taunts and replied to Emperor Shen's previous question, "I truly appreciate that Emperor Shen wanted to help me during danger, but it pained my conscience to ask for your loyal people shed their blood for my Empire. I wanted to avoid the war but they were just too much with their demands so I couldn't help going to the battlefield. Everything is under control now."

Emperor Shen patted his shoulder with glistening eyes, "That's a true leader. Mark my words, you'll shine brighter in the future, making your parents in heaven proud, unlike someone I know. Cough."

"Father!"

Empress Jin gestured Haixiong to shut up and wore her fake happy mask again, " Your majesty, they must be tired. Let them rest for sometime. I'll tell the kitchen to prepare our meals as soon as possible."

Emperor nodded in affirmation but remembered something suddenly, "I totally forgot-"

Emperor took a step toward Bai Yuan who suddenly looked very nervous under the scary eyes of the tall Emperor.

"This is my first time meeting you in person, Consort Bai and Prince Yefeng."

Emperor Shen tried to take Yeye in his arms. Surprisingly, Yeye, the national goofball, didn't flinch a bit. He happily went straight to Emperor Shen, melting his scary aura with his adorable toothy smile.

"What a beautiful child!" The Emperor cheered.

Bai Yuan nervously replied, "It's an honour to meet you in person, Emperor Shen. Please call him Yeye, it's his nickname."

"How old are you Yeye?" Yeye didn't know any numbers, he just knew pictures and name of some familiar food. He tilted his head in confusion and looked at his mother.

"Yeye old? Mommy?"

"He'll be turning three this Autumn."

"I'll surely attend Yeye's Birthday Celebration."

Yiheng replied from his side,"You're always welcome in our Empire. I don't see my Grandfather," and went to take Yeye from Emperor Shen who looked reluctant. But he had to give Yeye away anyway.

"He's old now. Your Uncle took over the job in his post. He rarely leaves home but he wrote a letter saying that they're expecting your visit eagerly."

"I'll surely visit them this time. Then, we will be taking our leave."

Haixiong and Mo-er walked before him to take him to their manor. Wang Yiheng took Bai Yuan's hand in his hand and followed them behind.

No one noticed the Empress gnaw on her teeth in dissatisfaction and fume with rage when he saw Yiheng hold Yuan's hand.

****

That afternoon Wang Mo-er was called in the Empress's residence. She quietly entered the room after the maid announced her arrival. She bowed to show her courtesy to the Empress and her mother-in-law, Empress Jin.

"Mo-er greets the Empress."

Empress Jin was resting on her lavish lounging chair. One maid was massaging her temples and other was massaging her feet. Seeing Mo-er arrive on time, she dismissed the maids and told Mo-er to take a seat.

She then began, "I'm so disappointed, Daughter-in-law."

Mo-er bit her lips in frustration, she knew what she was pointing at. It's the Nth time she called her to make sure that she must convince her brother for the marriage this time. Since a long time ago, she has been eyeing the position of the Empress for Emperor Wang. She, Minister Feng(Feng Mian's father)  and her cousin Minister Yang (Yang Zi's father) entered the Court almost at the same time. Empress Jin's beauty and her background was very captivating. It didn't take long before she became the official wife of the (then) Prince Shen Guang. Using the power she yielded, she rose his cousin from a simple clerk to a minister of regional affairs. But, even after so much done, she noticed that Minister Feng didn't do anything exceptional to get on her good side. She was enraged. Simple, kind and devoted  Minister Feng was Prince Shen Guang's one of the most trustworthy men. She failed every time she tried to shove him out of the court. Later, Minister Feng's daughter, Feng Mian was chosen as the envoy and in turns of events became the first official wife of Prince Jinrei. Empress Jin bit her nails frantically when she got the news that Prince Jinrei was about to become the Emperor and Feng Mian, his Empress. She couldn't accept the fact that Minister Feng achieved so much without her grace. Her madness died slightly when she got the news of Feng Mian's death. That day, she had a party with her cousin, Minister Yang. To them, the righteous man, Minister Feng, was nothing but an eyesore.

However, with the passing years, Feng Mian's son, Wang Yiheng grew up and became the rightful owner of the throne his father left behind for him too early. Now Empress Jin's target was to make Minister Yang's eldest daughter, Yang Zi who was widely known for her captivating beauty, the next Empress, Emperor Wang's official wife. She even let Feng Mian's daughter, Wang Mo-er to get married to his beloved son, in hopes that she could get on good terms with the Queen Dowager and Wang Yiheng as Wang Mo-er's in laws.

But, alas, The reigning Queen Dowager passed the throne to Wang Yiheng and got him married to some general's son, someone called Bai Yuan who they had never seen or heard of before. This time both Minister Yang and Empress Jin were infuriated.

That day she swore to her cousin, "Brother, I will definitely make our Zi-er the next Empress!"

Since then they have been continuously persuading Mo-er to convince her brother after they got their proposal officially rejected by Wang Yiheng.

Now, it was there chance to corner Wang Yiheng and prove him that he deserved someone like Yang Zi who had both beauty and high status.

****

Wang Mo-er exited that suffocating room and inhaled fresh air. A sturdy arm came from behind and got wrapped around her waist, carefully covering the swollen belly. She gasped in surprise, "Ah, you scared me!"

Shen Haixiong kissed her cheek from side, taking her deep in his arms. The passing maids blushed seeing the couple, all lovey-dovey and quickly ran off to give them privacy.

"Again?" He asked, lifting her in his strong arms in bridal style. Mo-er skillfully wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed, "Hmmm. You know that I don't like Yang Zi. Then, how can I, myself, paste that arrogant thing to my precious brother?"

Haixiong walked carefully with Mo-er in his arms and chuckled at her angry expression, "You know, you look the cutest when you're angry. Thanks to my mother I get the chance to see these cute, cute chubby cheeks puffed up so often."

He bent down to plant another soft kiss on Mo-er's flushed cheeks.

"Y-you are so sly…but-"

"Anyway, I love you." She leaned on his shoulders happily, unaware of the spectators.

Yiheng and Yuan was taking a walk with Emperor Shen nearby when they spotted the lovebirds lost in their own space. Yuan reacted as the most amazed one, "They're so adorable."

While Yiheng coughed in shyness.

Emperor Shen replied to Yuan like it was a common scene, "You'll soon get used to it. Let's continue our walk."

Yuan playfully poked Yiheng's arm and saw a blushing man with an unusually calm face.

"Haha, that's some mixed expressions you have."

"Hn"

"Hahaha"

***

A.N: BTW what is your ideal type? Openly romantic-head Shen Haixiong or Clueless one like Wang Yiheng?