It took every fiber of Feng Yanyan's being not to squirm under King Wan Li's stare. Just because he brought up the Summer Solstice Festival, he was being gawked at like a criminal.

"Alrigh-" the words got swallowed when Long Xu Le opened her mouth.

"Go with Sangyu." Her Grace turned around as though it wasn't worth her time anymore.

But Cheng Gong, who was following her, had deep thoughts. Beauty Feng seemed to be more significant than he first thought. To actually be escorted by Junwang? 

One must know that the official way of being escorted outside by someone of Prince status was only reserved for a master/lady of the house. What was Feng Yanyan?

He was a mei ren. Not even half a master of the palace. To put it bluntly, all the Beauties sent from Tanglin were freeloaders or unwelcome guests but the palace had to treat them with respect.

Then how was Beauty Feng any different? He was now neither a master nor a freeloader. It was confusing.

Far from other people's conjectures, Long Xu Le was thinking about whether partaking in a festival was included in the term "taking care". Old Master Feng told her to take care of his grandson, after all.

In the end, she thought of just letting him be. If he enjoyed his stay in the wangfu, she guessed that meant the King's people took care of him well.

But the summer solstice festival was deeply appreciated in Suliang. Any kind of feast symbolized the rise of the province from its impoverished state of before. That was why compared to the capital, festivals in Suliang tended to be more energetic and crowded.

If Feng Yanyan was harmed while roaming outside, this would probably reach Old Master Feng's ears. But on this account, she could trust Sangyu to watch Beauty Feng and protect him at the same time.

Long Xu Le felt this arrangement was okay. In any case during the festival, Suliang's army, her Danwan Troops, would be the force surveilling the perimeters and ensuring public security. So it was another layer of peace of mind.

However, Feng Yanyan couldn't walk properly. Outwardly, he thanked her Highness but his feet felt like lead and he was just dragging them. The energy he had was sapped out of his body.

Why did it need to be the prince? He could go out anytime with just a few guard escorts.

"Do you have objections?"

That question was a lightning that struck his heart. He jolted and straightened his body, realizing that King Wan Li was quite perceptive of other people's feelings.

"This one dare not." He lowered his head and bowed.

Long Xu Le looked at the pretty man. He wasn't good at lying. "Behave yourself well."

She tapped his arm twice and walked ahead once again. The festival was tomorrow. He shouldn't cause any ruckus there. Or else, he wouldn't be allowed to go out or even sneak out anymore.

---

"Is mei ren sure of what you saw?" A thin and short eunuch asked in a low voice while cleaning the shelves.

Those in the palace knew him as the second-ranked eunuch serving Concubine Zhang. Junwang didn't promote this eunuch when he took the Concubine and instead assigned other higher-ranked servants.

The people of the wangfu talked about this for a period of time. Because such a thing could mean the eunuch was unsatisfactory.

However, Concubine Zhang didn't seem to mind and still used this eunuch frequently.

Zhang Yunlei was sitting behind the desk practicing calligraphy.

"Yes, Eunuch Jiang can also ask other people at the scene. Wangye took Feng Yanyan away and the two are obviously well acquainted." He murmured under his breath with a steady face.

If one looked from the outside, the two didn't seem like they were talking at all.

As Concubine Zhang lifted the brush from the paper, he left it to dry. And the room resumed to stillness.

Several moments later, a certain eunuch folded Zhang Yunlei's parchments and put them inside his sleeve.

The room was pristine.

---

A few weeks later...

Feng Yanyan knew this would happen the moment King Wan Li said he would be escorted by Junwang.

He knew there was no way Zhang Yunlei and Liu Weiwei would let him be alone with the prince.

Chuck that Long Sangyu to your ribcage for all I care!

He glared at the back of the three's heads. They were parading down the streets of the First District like peacocks.

Everyone greeted the prince with warmth and their smile even widened when they saw the two beauties on each side.

Liu Weiwei was like a morning tulip in her sunshine yellow silk robes while Zhang Yunlei was the fresh spring water in his turquoise damask robes.

They walked on each side of the prince acting like flank guards.

I ain't even gonna steal your man.

Well, anyone would be threatened just seeing Feng Yanyan near the prince. He loved being the center of attention that was why for him, there was no way that the concubines would outdo him.

The ranking and status be damned! He was determined to look the best.

In fact, today he decided to be simple.

Dressed in white hanfu with a silver waistband. His Feng jade pendant and a blood red tassel hung from his hip. From afar, it was an elegant sight with a dash of bold color.

But once you get near, you would see the translucent embroidery of vivid pure white roses blooming on the flowing sleeves.

From his pale brown eyes and hair that seemed to reflect the sun to his cherry red lips and faint smirk. He lost the sense of androgyny to give way to a feeling of seeing a mischievous fairy prince descending on earth's soil.

The more one looked at Feng Yanyan, the more you couldn't take your eyes off him. Liu Weiwei and Zhang Yunlei coudn't be blamed if they feel threatened.

But it seemed that Long Sangyu was now immune to Beauty Feng. After a few days of seeing him during breakfast, the prince knew nothing could top the view of his sister and Feng Yanyan close together.

If he was to be honest, seeing Feng Yanyan alone was easier on his heart. He couldn't help but think of useless things when his sister looks at the mei ren. He trusted his da jie but he also feared she would suddenly fall for the vixen.

It was difficult to explain. How absurd would it be if his sister showed interest in someone? To Suliang, King Wan Li was a demon god that had no use for human relations, even more so romance.

But Long Sangyu couldn't shake off the nagging feeling.

The prince had all kinds of dreadful thoughts but none of them could affect Feng Yanyan's good mood.

He succeeded stealing the limelight and he also got to sightsee the streets of the First District. He was having a blast.

This was the district closest to Wan Li Wangfu. It could also be treated as Suliang's little capital. Such claims were common among the populace but not spoken by nobility.

Nobody wanted to be caught comparing Tanglin's First District to Suliang and be accused of planning a revolt.

Feng Yanyan smiled at the people he passed by. One of the perks of having the prince with him was people giving way to them. They weren't being crowded over at all.

This kind of discipline was something the fanboys and fangirls of modern era should emulate.

The soldiers guarding the area didn't need to take out weapons. Their presence was enough to evoke respect from the people and not make trouble.

Of course, just looking at the insignia on the soldiers' armor, no one would dare to make trouble. A red sphere with a silhouette of a tiger inside. They were obviously part of Wangye's Danwan troops.

The army that bathed in blood and loyal to death to King Wan Li.

Even Feng Yanyan had no guts to speak too loudly in their presence.

"Paying respect to Ping Junwang. Your Highness' entourage this time is too eye-catching. They must be the Concubines sent from Tanglin?" A portly middle-aged man was looking directly at his Highness and didn't gawk at the lady and two gentlemen.

The man must have thought he would still appear respectful if he did that. Well, he would have if all of them were the prince's concubines as he assumed.

Long Sangyu shook his head. "Official Pei, these are Concubine Zhang and Liu but the one at the back is Gentleman Feng from Tanglin."

"Oh?" Surprise was etched on the official's face. But he laughed again after some thought. "Isn't it only a matter of time before the Prince becomes his Lord?"

Such a joke would have been laughed at during intimate events. But standing in the middle of the street with festivities on both sides and people walking to and fro, it was distasteful.

People's ears naturally perked up upon hearing that the most beautiful man they had ever seen wasn't Junwang's concubine. Some of them even thought he was a Consort.

Then who was he? To be able to follow the Prince like this, surely his identity wasn't simple?

Liu Weiwei's face crumpled in annoyance while Zhang Yunlei secretly clenched his fist. This official had a mouth that would be cut if he spoke like this in Tanglin.

It seemed that rules here in Suliang were too lax that officials could talk to Junwang like they were normal neighbors.

Even though Long Sangyu was known to be honey-tongued, he still struggled to find a reply in this situation. But soon, he didn't have to.

"Oh isn't this the famous young master Feng? I've heard a lot about you. Thus, this one decided that I would exchange drinks with you!" 

A cheerful voice cut through the awkwardness like a sword. But the owner was a stranger to Feng Yanyan's eyes.

---

Hohoho I love it when Yanyan shows off

Edited: Feb. 16, 2023