Media: Junzhu
https://pin.it/6nFbfsr

Alas, there was only a muffled hum of assent from behind the screen.

Ping Junwang looked apologetic as he ordered an old servant from the estate to guide the beauties to the backcourt.

"We have troubled momo to travel this far. You can rest first. This prince has prepared a farewell banquet for momo in–"

"What is this?!" An indignant yet juvenile voice entered their ears.

All eyes moved to the entrance of the hall and saw a young lady, probably just before her coming of age.

>笄禮 - Coming of age or the Hairpin event is at 15 y/o. A rite of passage that signifies a child is now a woman and can get married. The male version of this is the Hat ceremony when the male is 18 y/o<

Spoiled brat! Feng Yanyan lowered his eyes to hide his judgmental gaze.

But Long Sangyu was patient with the young lady. "Tang'er, come greet Liu momo. She came from the palace to give gifts and visit wang ye."

"Ah, this must be the little junzhu. This servant greets!" There was another series of bowing and curtsies.

Aside from Liu momo, no one was informed of the existence of a junzhu in this palace.

But Feng Yanyan, with the little power of plot knowledge, knew this little brat. Wan Li Wang was infertile. His highness knew about this trait of his and even used it to his advantage. Wan Li King got girls and boys left and right and acted wantonly without care.

After all, no matter what he did, he wouldn't impregnate any of them. So why not just have fun?

The people viewed the King as a fearsome general but he was also utterly enamored by beauty. When his Deputy General died in battle, he left this one daughter of his in Wan Li Wang's care.

King Wan Li adopted and made her a junzhu.

>郡主 - jùnzhǔ - Princess of the Commandery/Princess of the Third Rank<

Seeing the subservient pretty maidens and boys, Long Tang's eyes brightened. She chirped, "Then, are these all mine?"

A soft small hand pointed to the male beauties.

Feng Yanyan almost stomped his foot in annoyance.

I, this grandfather, will not be owned by a kid like you! Get lost!

>not a literal grandfather but an arrogant way to refer to oneself<

Ping Junwang only sighed, as though this was a normal occurrence. "No, they aren't."

When he saw the princess was about to burst into tears, he gave in. "Fine fine, you can pick one male servant and two maidservants."

Liu momo's brows faintly jumped. This... this palace was truly bold. The Junzhu hasn't even come of age yet and Junwang was giving her a man to serve her.

This palace didn't seem to have any rules. If this was in the capital, it would be a great scandal.

But who was Liu momo to stop them? The more they acted out of bounds, the more it would be beneficial to the Empress. She didn't utter a single complaint as the Junzhu was taking her pick.

Long Tang chose the two youngest beauties and seemed stumped when it came to the male beauties. Her eager eyes showed that she wanted to choose the best.

And when her eyes landed on Feng Yanyan, her choice was written all over her face.

Only then did Liu momo silently panic. Feng Yanyan must not be chosen by Junzhu. Or else a carefully nurtured pawn would be ruined!

"You! Come here."

Feng Yanyan was floored. He shouldn't be chosen by this brat! He should be chosen by Long Sangyu. When did Sangyu become Tang?!

His mind was a mess but he still looked obedient as he strode forward.

"Tang'er will pick him, Uncle." She blinked innocently at Ping Junwang.

Long Sangyu didn't pay any mind to it and was about to nod. But he suddenly heard a silent chuckle behind him. It was only possible to hear it because of his high martial arts.

He felt cold sweat run down his back. He knew he made a mistake.

Feng Yanyan was racking his brains but still couldn't find a solution to this problem. If he fainted, that would mean he was rejecting royal favor. He also couldn't decline straight to the junzhu's face.

He cast a glance at Liu momo. The old woman was at a loss too.

Liu momo was about to speak out of her station when they all heard Ping Junwang.

"That... this beauty's disposition might be well-liked by wangye. Tang'er should pick someone else instead." In Long Sangyu's panic, he could only say this and pretend to have a straight face.

Mentioning Wan Li Wang, Long Tang didn't put up a fight. It seemed like she had an innate fear of her adoptive parent.

Feng Yanyan sighed quietly. Wait... what did he say?

Wangye?

His eyes darted to the screen, only to be greeted by the image of the white tiger.

No way, I'd rather want to serve as this little brat's water boy than serve that lecherous man in bed!

But Liu momo seemed to be elated by this. "It is Beauty Feng's fortune if wangye will look favorably at him."

"Beauty Feng?" Ping Junwang asked.

"Go ahead and introduce yourself to the Prince." Liu momo commanded.

Since he was already ordered, Feng Yanyan strained his face to smile. "This one is named Yanyan, surnamed Feng. May wangye, Junwang and Junzhu live peacefully and happily!"

Long Sangyu smiled kindly. "Indeed, Beauty Feng is graceful."

"Not as graceful as your Highness. Thanking Highness again for saving us last night." Feng Yanyan wouldn't go down without a fight!

Ping Junwang gave a faint laugh. "It is the magistrate's people who saved all of you. This prince just happened to be with them last night."

"Your Highness is humble." Beauty Feng covered his lips with his sleeves. His misty eyes were tempting.

Long Sangyu was stunned at this sight but played it off with a smile.

"Speaking of last night, Beauty Zhang's heroic bearing was commendable. Not running away and turning back to fight takes a lot of courage."

Zhang Yunlei stepped up upon hearing his name, his arm was still visibly limp. "This one doesn't deserve praise. Anyone would have done what I did given the circumstances."

Lofty, brave, and kind. This was Zhang Yunlei's selling point. 

Feng Yanyan wanted to sneer but he wasn't suicidal as to sneer in front of Imperial kin.

He could almost see flowers falling with this kind of atmosphere between the MC and his little shou. This isn't what he wanted. So... of course, he needed to bring the spotlight elsewhere.

"Yes, brother Zhang had always been this way. Protective and nice, if I were a small girl, I would feel at ease relying on Brother Zhang." Feng Yanyan threw a glance at the princess, as though imagining he was a girl like the little junzhu.

Sure enough, Long Tang took the bait. She looked favorably at Zhang Yunlei.

She also heard of the assassination attempt that happened last night. But it was only now that she get to know something like this happened.

Long Sangyu saw that his niece made her choice and she was purposefully led. He glanced at the perpetrator with sharp eyes. But didn't pursue the matter.

"Alright. Liu momo and the beauties must be tired. Tang'er can choose when they settled down. Will that be okay?"

The Junzhu pouted but she had always been obedient to this young uncle of hers so she nodded.

The beauties were led to the backcourt and Junwang's eyes flitted over Beauty Feng. Feng Yanyan didn't even notice the piercing stare.

Long Sangyu was still glaring at the threshold until a voice commanded him, "Come."

Just like last night, he gingerly went over to the source of the voice.

The mysterious lady was wearing a deep red set of robes with golden qilin patterns that looked like two-toned damask.

>Qilin - Chinese mythological beast<

Media: A simplified version of this sewn into the robes. 
https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-asia/gentle-and-benevolent-qilin-chinese-mythology-001933

Her hair was pulled up by a cherry wine-colored jade coronet. Last night, she looked like a sickly scholar. Today, she had the bearing of someone of royal descent.

She was lying on the soft couch. She should have looked soft and fragile. But her face had a touch of sharpness that made one quiver.

Ping Junwang sat on the only cushion reserved for him, waiting for the woman to speak.

But he couldn't take the silence anymore so he was the one who broke it. "Younger brother is wrong. I won't send any servant to Tang'er." He was afraid to be rebuked.

He knew he did something out of bounds. Long Sangyu only thought of pleasing the princess and forgot that he shouldn't have stuffed her residence with the Empress' people. It was an embarrassing mistake.

"Too late." The timbre was low yet succinct. "A prince should never go back on his words."

He already agreed to the two maidservants. Long Sangyu tried to think of solutions. It was true he shouldn't go back on his words but she also said before that there were solutions to everything.

"Then... there will be no male servant." He will just treat it as never being said since nothing was set in stone yet.

Long Sangyu lowered his head in respect but his tone eased. "I will heed Da Jie's warning. I will carefully filter all the beauties from Tanglin."

In front of other people, the prince was as bright as summer. But before this lady, he was as somber as autumn. Looking at him this way, it was easy to spot the similarities between the two's faces.

They have the same nose and lips. But because of the difference in their eyes and the stark contrast in their personality, one couldn't easily tell if they were siblings.

"What do you think about them?" The Lady's brow was raised.

Long Sangyu stilled. "One's ambitions are written on his face. While another gives off a reliable aura. This younger brother will especially pay attention to them."

The other person didn't reply and the prince remained seated. Not hurrying her one bit.

After some time, he finally heard her. "Good, go back to studying."

"This brother obeys." Long Sangyu cupped his hand and rose.

As he was passing by the screen, he paused. "Da Jie..."

There was no answer but he knew she was listening.

"Can I eat lunch here?"

"..."

The honorable Junwang was about to pretend that he didn't ask when he heard a brief "Alright."

It was like a switch and Long Sangyu was back to his sunny self. Smiling, he ordered someone to take away the incense in the room.

Edited: Feb. 10, 2023