Media: Yanyan behind the curtains
https://pin.it/40LtTQL

The paths were carefully paved with cobblestones but they seemed endless. Feng Yanyan wanted to cry. Why was the residence so far?! He just wanted to sleep. In the Great Palace, he traveled by sedan so he didn't have to walk anywhere. Here, he could only suffer.

Liu momo had already been sent to a guest courtyard. The ten beauties were escorted by two female servants to who knew where.

The other two that were gifted to the princess accompanied her Highness back to her residence.

Feng Yanyan was barely able to hold his grumbles when one of the servants said. "We've arrived."

Beauty Feng could see two plain establishments without plaques.

"The one on the right is for the females and the one on the left is for the males."

"A senior eunuch will go later to explain the palace rules."

The pair of yatou spoke in turns and left.

>丫頭 - yā tou - servant girl<

It seemed that not only Feng Yanyan was stunned. This courtyard that they spoke of was nothing more than servants' quarters. A single building with multiple small rooms.

The only redeeming quality is the adjoined veranda on the second floor. But even that looked shabby with vines climbing on the wooden rails.

Yes, the paper doors looked sturdy enough but the walls of the rooms looked thin. Would he hear someone snoring from the other room?

Feng Yanyan was this close to throwing a tantrum. Even if he was a shu son in his clan's house, he still had his own courtyard.

"Well. Certainly, one should be grateful for what one has." Zhang Yunlei calmly said this.

He was still looking pale from the injuries he received last night. When he said this, the other beauties couldn't complain anymore.

But Beauty Feng only harrumphed and stomped his way to the second floor, taking the left room.

"I can't believe this..." everyone could hear him mumble.

As his routine in the palace, Feng Yanyan took a nap. The servants who knocked on his door to deliver noon lunch didn't get any reply so they left. Because of his tiredness, he only woke up when the sun was about to set.

Hungry, he expected hot food to be served on the table.

But seeing the foreign room, he remembered he wasn't in Tanglin anymore. Feng Yanyan's delicate eyebrows were scrunched together.

This is tough. He was used to being spoiled.

As if reading his thoughts, there was a knock on the door. "Young master Feng..."

He gave them permission to enter.

To the servants who entered, they only saw a willowy silhouette behind the muslin bed curtains. Long yet dainty fingers brushed a layer of the sheer fabric aside. And the servants were met with hazy and curious round eyes.

These servants had seen their Ping Junwang multiple times but they had never been this captivated. And they hadn't even seen the full person yet!

The maids bowed. "Under his Highness' orders, these slaves will serve young master Feng."

"Hmm?" Feng Yanyan's brain was still foggy and it took a long while for him to process what they said.

The three girls' hearts almost melted when they heard the confused hum.

Junwang's orders? He noticed me?!

Feng Yanyan almost cursed out loud. It was good that he held back.

"Oh, then please take care of me."

After a moment of silent screaming inside their heads, two of the girls walked up to the bed and drew the curtains aside. Feng Yanyan in his sleeping garments was fully revealed.

White cross lapel shirt that was loosely tucked into his trousers revealed his chest down to his abdomen. At this moment, Beauty Feng lost the ambiguity and was definitely a man.

The chest is open like this
Media: https://pin.it/7EGB3Cm

The girls blushed from their cheeks to their necks.

"Will the gentleman dress first?" It was the oldest with the most stable composure.

Feng Yanyan smiled sweetly. He knew the effect he had on all genders and he always used it. "One ought to know the names of the maidens first."

"This servant is JuZi."

"This servant is Pu Tao."

"This servant is Jiao."

Hearing their names, Feng Yanyan's lips twitched. They were all fruits. Tangerine, grapes and banana.

He wanted to ask what kind of creative person named them but decided to just sew his mouth shut.

"Alright. I'm famished. Set up the food."

Minutes later, the three girls were graced with the view of Feng Yanyan's elegant eating.

Our Feng Mei Ren did his routine on his own time and decided to go for a walk. But he was greeted with the sight of all the beauties waiting in the courtyard.

In front of them was a stern-looking eunuch.

Zhang Yunlei was the first to notice his arrival. "Brother Feng is here."

All eyes turned to the stairs to see a pretty youth walking leisurely.

"Brother Feng adapts to Wan Li palace quickly. Was your nap good?" An exquisite beauty commented and glanced at the eunuch.

She seemed to be the leader of the female beauties.

Her only reason for speaking out was to gauge the eunuch's reaction. They had been waiting here for a quarter of a shichen. She was sure Feng Yanyan would be scolded.

>時辰 - shí chen - one shichen equivalent to two hours<

Everybody here knew Liu Weiwei's agenda but they didn't stop her. Why would they? Their legs were already sore from standing. Not to mention they hadn't forgotten what Junwang said earlier. That wangye might like this kind of beauty.

They hadn't seen Wan Li King yet and they knew his bad reputation. However, who didn't want to climb higher branches?

But Feng Yanyan didn't seem to understand the underlying context.

"Yes, I napped well. Thanks for the concern, Weiwei mei." He smiled at the lady. It was almost blinding.

>妹 - mèi - younger sister, not necessarily blood-related <

Liu Weiwei staggered. This Beauty Feng was so dumb. He couldn't even sense that she wanted to implicate him!

"Greetings to the eunuch." Feng Yanyan grasped his hand in front of his chest and bowed.

Eunuch Shu's eyes lit up upon seeing the bright youth. "This must be Feng Mei Ren. This servant is called Shu. Honored to meet you. Would you like to sit?"

The beauties were shell-shocked. It looked like the eunuch's personality had taken a full turn. Who was the grumpy eunuch earlier?

Feng Yanyan was also surprised. He didn't know this eunuch. Why was he fawning over him?

"Ah..." he glanced at the other beauties struggling to get their emotions in check. Beauty Feng covered his mouth with his sleeves to chuckle. "Thanking Eunuch Shu, Feng will stand with my brothers and sisters."

Still leisurely, she stood in line with them. His countenance was ever so haughty.

Zhang Yunlei was used to this attitude of the top Mei Ren. It didn't make any waves on his expression. Only he knew what he felt inside.

Seeing the misses and gentlemen settle down, the eunuch went back to his intimidating aura.

"Aside from the standard rules you learned in the Great Palace, Wan Li Wangfu has only one thing to add."

He eyed each one of them as though silently judging who was likely to disobey.

The beauties quivered under the harsh stare.

"Never seek out wang ye on your own. Anyone who disobeys this rule..."

These boys and girls didn't know that they entered the worst place. Still thinking about how to scheme. How to curry favor. Eunuch Shu sighed in his heart.

No one noticed his inner monologue. Outside, his tone was still severe.

"...No one can save you."

When these words were let go, some of them paled. Some of them had their eyebrows jumping. But all of them knew they couldn't go anywhere else.

The tall, reliable youth, Zhang Yunlei, lowered his eyes. He could only look at the eunuch's shoes. No one can save us?

Not our families. Not our connections. Not even the Empress, not even the Emperor.

He grasped the real meaning of Eunuch Shu's statement.

Such knowledge that King Wan Li actually had the guts to say this, Zhang Yunlei wouldn't dare to say out loud.

On Feng Yanyan's side, he was only thinking this rule was stupid. Truly, ignorance is bliss.

Of course, he wouldn't actively seek death. He only wanted Junwang to notice him, and make him the little Emperor Consort in the future. Sacrifice his chrysanthemum a little and be done with it.

Anyone who would read his mind would vomit blood.

Use honey trap to bag the future Emperor? What kind of person would only rely on their beauty? Others still had to prove their family's loyalty to death. Prove that they were useful.

Feng Yanyan only wanted to sit there and do nothing!

It was good that he had the beauty to back it up. In fact, it was a world-toppling beauty.

Standing there, his presence didn't make the other people seem like rocks and pebbles. Instead, they became like intricate details especially there to make the painting more attractive.

His beauty didn't trample people. Rather, his beauty enhances the things in his vicinity.

Such a sight was really pleasing to look at. He could stand beside a dead tree and its dry branches would seem aesthetic.

Finishing what he was ordered here to do, Eunuch Shu turned and left.

The beauties didn't know what to feel at this time. Were they sent here to serve? Or to be prisoners?---

A/N: Yanyan is so pretty smh

I will now dedicate the chapter to the first user who will give me a notif for this story (vote/comment). The first chapter is an exception though as it was dedicated to @limli949 for being the first ever to add the story to their library <3

Edited: Feb. 10, 2023