I... totally need to have an alarm clock or a calendar reminder to post. Here's the chap for today, my dear >.> 

"Master Feng..." Cheng Li was caught between a rock and a hard place.

The man Beauty Feng beat up was one of the distinguished advisers of the King. But now, Gentleman Adrina looked far from the dignified man that he had always been.

Passed out and slumped on the floor with bruises all over his face. Cheng Li also believed he had one or two teeth missing.

The young eunuch's gaze went back to the delicate mei ren. He looked every bit as pristine now as he always was. It was as though the moment of violence earlier was an illusion.

Feng Yanyan also noticed the man on the floor. One wouldn't miss the villainous glint in his eyes.

"I don't care who that man is but he's going to be tied up until Wangye has recovered."

It was just in time that Xiao Bao heard these words when he arrived after sending a message to his father.

"This one doesn't think Feng mei ren has the authority to order her Highness' people around." The young man was polite but his tone was on edge.

This situation was already demanding a lot from him and there was a certain spoiled mei ren here that wanted to do things his way. Of course, Xiao Bao would be incensed.

Beauty Feng flashed an evil yet charming smile. "If you... knew what happened, you would probably kill this man on the spot."

Not needing to say anything more, that statement alone displayed Xiao Bao's incompetency as the chief guard.

It was an insult to Xiao Bao but he had also seen Beauty Feng's rage firsthand.

The mei ren who was often ganged upon by the other beauties didn't display this kind of behavior whenever he heard ugly words from his peers.

And the way Feng Yanyan protected the King from their view like a mother tiger showed another hint. Combining these pieces of information, one could only arrive at the conclusion that Gentleman Adrina really did something heinous to her Highness.

"Find Madam Lian. Wangye's fever has risen again." Beauty Feng threw these words and the young eunuch immediately followed.

Wangye was always top priority. He left Xiao Bao to get more information from the mei ren.

"Feng Yanyan." Xiao Bao caught up with the man just outside the doors. "As her Highness' guard, I need to ask you a few more questions."

This attitude ticked off Feng Yanyan.

"As Wangye's head guard, you failed at protecting her, you bastard!"

The younger man flinched. What kind of Beauty cussed like this? But he still tried to explain.

"Gentleman Adrina has been a close friend of Wangye all these years."

"You think I care?" Feng Yanyan was baring his fangs again as he stalked closer to Xiao Bao.

"You, as Xiao Hao's son. You of all people should know that... in this world, the only person she could trust fully is herself." He hissed in anger, even forgetting to refer to the King with honorifics.

It was because of his knowledge of the novel that he knew that Wan Li Wang and her brother only had each other to trust. But the reality right now was Junwang was immature and the King bore all the responsibility of protecting them both for so many years.

Long Xu Le probably faced attacks from all sides, both covert and open.

And in this defenseless state of hers, her people actually made a blunder like this.

Somehow, Feng Yanyan knew that her Highness wouldn't punish this young man severely. He didn't know what happened and why Xiao Hao wasn't here. But judging from what he observed during the few moments he spent time with the King, she held deep respect for Xiao Bao's father.

Heck, he even heard her call this stinky brat A'Bao. Who would have thought that the indomitable tiger was capable of calling nicknames to someone? As far as he knew, she only called her brother directly by his name, Sangyu.

Feng Yanyan realized his thoughts were getting side tracked. A little bit guilty, he backed down.

"Alright, let's say it wasn't really anyone's fault. But this should serve a lesson to you, Xiao Bao." He looked the man straight in the eye. "Friends and foes. There is no clear distinction."

Someone you're friends with now could disappoint you tomorrow. A foe of yesterday could aid when mutual benefits were at stake.

It was something Feng Yanyan learned in his past life.

He thought he could be more carefree here, to be honest. But the anger he felt earlier. It was surreal.

Beauty Feng didn't even have a clear reason why. He just lost his reason when he saw what he saw. And he knew he had to act. 

As he was questioning himself, Xiao Bao must have also realized a question.

"You're a mei ren, are you doing all of these to get into her Highness' good graces?" It was a question of curiosity that was worded in a bad way.

Feng Yanyan shook his head. "What a dumb idiot you are."

"Pardon?!"

The beauty looked up at the sky in exasperation. He thought this guy grew up with the King. How come he didn't even pickup a single brain cell after spending time with Wangye for so long?

"Her Highness is someone that can never be manipulated into liking a person just because of select words and actions. You think she'll suddenly like me just because I did this for her? Oh, please cut the crap."

One good example of this was Long Tang. The girl probably sweet-talked the King since she was adopted but did that lead to anywhere? None.

In the novel, Wan Li Wang was easy to appease with sweet words and a pretty face. But one look at the Wan Li Wang right now, Feng Yanyan couldn't even dream of using the strategy he planned for Ping Junwang on her.

Didn't Wangye also warn him during the Summer Solstice Festival not to play word games with her?

Ah, he feared for his life to play around like that in front of the King.

"What she needs is a person who will be genuine to her no matter what." That was his conclusion from the days he spent with her.

Xiao Bao was stumped for words. Feng mei ren probably hadn't realized it but his face right now had an incomparable gentle smile when talking about her Highness. Even though he looked really annoyed by Xiao Bao, there was still an arc on his lips when he referred to the King.

It was too far from the usual haughtiness and vanity that the young Xiao doubted his eyes. He felt like he was learning a lot of things today.

The two didn't realize the approaching presence who heard snippets of their conversation.

"And does Master Feng think he can be genuine to the King no matter what?"

Feng Yanyan whipped his head to the side and hurt his neck. "Ow!"

"Father." Xiao Bao greeted the middle-aged man.

Beauty Feng blinked a few times, realizing that his sappy words were heard by someone else. These people and their damn quiet footsteps!

"We'll talk later." Xiao Hao's reply was curt which made his son flinch. But it couldn't be helped.

King Wan Li encountered mishap after mishap under Xiao Bao's supposedly watchful eyes.

Wangye's true chief guard and confidant went back to study the mei ren. Gone was his playful uncle demeanor whenever Feng Yanyan met him.

Xiao Hao raised a brow as though telling him to answer the question.

"Oh me?" Feng mei ren laughed sarcastically. "It's not a matter of 'can', Chief Xiao. Feng is simply unsuitable."

He knew his place real well. Although he could tease the King every now and then, he could never be her equal. All that talk about being genuine to the King would never be applied to him.

It was the definition of a toad wanting to eat the meat of a swan, if he aimed for King Wan Li.

Xiao Hao's gaze deepened but didn't say anything until Feng Yanyan left with his maid.

"Yu'er, what are you doing behind that shrubbery?" Xiao Hao called out.

There was no moon tonight and even the stars refused to shimmer. But how could Xiao Hao miss another person's presence especially if there were two of them?

"Uncle." Long Sangyu awkwardly greeted. Su Chen was a few paces behind him, also hiding behind the greenery.

"Go inside, all of you."

It was a quiet order. Xiao Hao had been the three's father figure. They knew he was upset right now.

First, Wangye got badly sick after a long time since her condition last flared up. Apart from the doctor, Madam Lian, Xiao Hao was the person who nursed Long Xu Le to become somewhat healthy.

He always knew that the King's immune system was complicated. It was only holding up because of her warrior physique. But once she contracted something, her body could deteriorate fast.

It could take a long time again for her to recover. That was what Xiao Hao feared.

They had always put up a show for Tanglin's Empress that Wan Li Wang was chronically ill. The truth wasn't really too far away from that. Wangye was stronger than anyone but she could also be the weakest if certain circumstances occurred.

And the current situation was leading to that.

It wasn't even done and another blunder occurred.

Someone was able to take advantage of this moment's weakness relying on his relationship with the King.

Xiao Hao thought he would go crazy after hearing this piece of incredulous news.

Adrina.

He should have known. That foreigner had shown interest in Xu Le years ago even when Feng Ting was still alive.

Back then, Adrina could only suffer because he could never outshine Feng Ting's achievements.

When Feng Ting perished, the foreigner made attempts to woo Xu Le but she politely rejected him in light of their friendship.

Who would have known that the bastard was only waiting for an opportunity like this?

He would have to ask Master Feng the gritty details tomorrow but tonight was all about instilling discipline to these three.