The four girls were sitting in a circle and talking.
"Stop chatting, master is back."
Baishao saw Lin Mengya first and squinted her eyes at her little sisters. They all shut up.
"Master? What happened? Where is the prince?"
Baiji walked up to her, but Lin Mengya looked absent-minded.
Although she had guessed what happened, she still couldn"t bear to say it.
"Oh, the prince may have gone out."
Lin Mengya forced a smile. She suddenly remembered that Long Tianyu said it was all up to her when he left.
It seemed that it wasn"t a joke.
Had Long Tianhao ever made any jokes? She smiled bitterly.
"Actually, master, the prince, he— "
Baiji wanted to say something but stopped. She knew master was very sad.
But if she didn"t say it, the situation would be even worse for her master.
"What"s wrong? If you want to say something, say it."
Lin Mengya patted her face. The frustrated look was not suitable for her. It was just a man, not the end of the world.
She tried to put on a smile and ignore the sadness in her heart.
Baiji finally told her the news.
"Today His Royal Highness will bring Princess Ming Yue home. I had heard servants talking about it. Then a message arrived. Princess Ming Yue will move in during the evening."
Lin Mengya felt her heart was broken into pieces upon hearing it.
She could even hear the sound her heart breaking.
"Oh, that"s it. Did they clean up the room for the princess?"
It came unexpectedly fast.
Long Tianyu, you couldn"t wait to take her, right?
"Concubine De has sent men to clean up the place—the Qinyu Pavilion next to the Qinwu Courtyard.
Concubine De sent the message about the arrangement two days ago.
But their master was confining herself in her room at that time, so she missed it.
"Good! Baizhi, Baisu and Xiaoyu, I heard that the Baixiang restaurant has rolled out many new dishes recently. Let"s go and try some."
Lin Mengya didn"t know until then that her dowry was outstandingly large.
In other words, she was a rich woman now.
Since love was gone, she needed money to fill her empty heart.
"Oh yeah! Master, I also wanted to eat Jinyuzhai"s dessert, is that all right?"
Baizhi smiled and she reached out her hand, gently rubbing Baishao"s arm, which was a signal.
Baishao knew her meaning immediately. Baizhi was always the slowest among the four girls, yet she was the first one to cheer their master up.
"I want to go with you, too. Master, it"s not fair. Whenever you go out to eat delicious food, you would take Baizhi and Baisu with you. Now it"s my turn."
Lin Mengya laughed. She waved her hand and said,
"All of us will go. Baishao, fill my purse with money. Today we will buy whatever we want!"
Long Tianhao dared to take a side imperial concubine. He had chilled her feelings.
Though she travelled to the ancient world, she would never share her marriage and husband"s love with another woman.
At that moment, Long Tianyu, who was misunderstood by his wife, had his face purple with anger.
He went to turn down King Ming"s offer, but was told that two days ago someone had already paid a visit and discussed about the marriage on behalf of His Royal Highness.
Although, their marriage hadn"t been settled.
King Ming couldn"t wait to send his daughter to Long Tianyu regardless of her reputation.
He was so keen on being Long Tianyu"s ally that he decided to give him his daughter before being wed.
"Your Highness, the princess" things have all been packed up. Now we can return to the mansion. Is it necessary to inform Princess Lin Mengya to make sure that dinner is ready?"
Lin Kui asked gingerly. Long Tianyu only gave him a cold glimpse.
That man had experienced b.l.o.o.d.y battles but still, he trembled after that look.
"Did you know of this?"
Lin Kui almost shook his head off to deny it.
He could swear on it; he knew nothing. He didn"t know what had happened when he was sent to pack baggage for Princess Ming Yue.
The relationship between Prince Long Tianyu and Princess Lin Mengya was good. He hadn"t heard anything about marrying the princess of the western va.s.sal state.
What was going on? He was confused.
"Check it out! Who did this?"
Long Tianyu was in the guest room at the station. His face looked sullen and his brows were full of anger.
He would never let other people manipulate his life.
If he found that person who dared to make a fool of him...
He would let him know what the rage from h.e.l.l was like!
"Yes, Your Highness, but now..."
Lin Kui looked at Long Tianyu perplexedly. Princess Ming Yue must make up her mind to move to the mansion.
Moreover, King Ming seemed like he couldn"t wait to marry his daughter to the prince.
The people of the western va.s.sal state said, there were three big carriages of dowry.
There were also 18 stunning beauties, and 36 warriors of the western va.s.sal state.
It all was magnificent. And civilians came and exclaimed over it.
"I have made up my mind. Neither those things nor those people should be transported to the mansion. I"ll go to see King Ming, please wait outside."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Lin Kui bowed and left. And Long Tianyu softened his face a little.
Getting angry wouldn"t help. And he wouldn"t marry Ming Yue.
He walked into the main room; King Ming and his sons were all there. Everyone looked at him up and down, as if he were already a member of their family.
Although he was neither used to it, nor did he like it, Long Tianyu still tried his best to control himself.
"My dear son-in-law. My daughter was a little spoiled by me. If she fails to behave herself in the future, please discipline her well."
Hu Tianbei failed to get married.
Neither did Hu Lunan manage it. Long Tianyu didn"t know what King Ming was planning, insisting on marrying him to his daughter.
"We need to reconsider it in no hurry. I"ve already got a wife. I"m afraid that marrying me would disgrace the princess."
Long Tianyi"s words made King Ming slightly unhappy.
But soon, he put on a face of a loving elder.
"You can rest a.s.sured. I have seen your wife. She came from the wealthy Lin family. And she is smart and beautiful. It isn"t bad for Yue to rank beneath her."
Hearing King Ming"s words, Ming Yue had lowered her head with coyness.
Although, she would only be the vice Princess.
With her wit and beauty, it was only a matter of time for her to win over Long Tianyu"s affection.
"Father, sister Lin and I get along well with each other. I believe that in the future, we can get even closer."
Ming Yue"s sounded very polite and courteous.
Hu Tianbei remained in silence, but showed a look of disapproval.
"As you wish, King Ming. But Princess Ming Yue will move to my house only as my guest. The princess is born n.o.ble, I must ask my father for permission. My father is still sick, so I"m afraid I have to wait for his recovery. King Ming please forgive me for my filial piety."
In terms of cunning, no one could compare to him.
He was just too proud to use those tricks most of the time.
If King Ming refused that request, it would be against filial piety.
If he granted it, things would be out of his control.
"This— "
"Father, I think you should grant Prince Yu"s request."
Hu Tianbei said, while King Ming was trying to persuade Long Tianyu.
King Ming looked at his son, with a bit of disapproval.
But Hu Tianbei was a prudent person and he knew Long Tianyi well. Maybe, he had his reasons.
"All right, I"m moved by your filial piety, Prince Yu. So, please ask the emperor for permission first. Ming Yue, go to the prince"s mansion with Prince Yu."
Ming Yue"s face changed. She wanted to seize the opportunity of moving into Prince Yu"s Mansion as Prince Yu"s vice princess, not as a guest.
But her father was persuaded by her brother. She was not resigned to accept it, and her eyes were filled with anger.
The emperor of the Jin Dynasty hadn"t held his morning court for half a year. She really didn"t know why his permission was so important.
"As my guest, Princess Ming Yue needn"t bring so many servants with her. I"ve heard that King Ming, you will soon set off to the western va.s.sal state. With so many burdens, there will be many inconveniences."
Long Tianhao made his requirement before bringing Ming Yue with him.
King Ming was blue in the face and nodded.
But that was enough as long as Long Tianyu took Ming Yue back to his house.
"Thank you, King Ming. I must return now. Farewell!"
Long Tianyu walked out of the room thereafter.
"Please wait for me, Your Highness!"
Ming Yue was shy as well as angry. She gave Hu Tianbei a cold stare and then trotted after Long Tianyu.
Only King Ming and Hu Tianbei were left in the room.
King Ming picked up his teacup and said nothing. For people outside his family, he, the king of the western va.s.sal state was always rude and ignorant.
No one knew that in fact, he had read a large number of novels and poetry since he was a child. He was as good as the emperor of Dajin in terms of civil and military skills.
He took the tea in his hand for example. People in the station, knew that he loved to drink strong wine, but they only treated him with cheap jasmine tea.
The taste was bad, but he swallowed it without changing his face.
"Father, are you angry with me for my interjection?"
There were many princes in the western va.s.sal state, but he resembled his father the most.