I was editing this earlier morning, but I forgot to post lmao

It was a long and boring discussion but Feng Yanyan wasn't allowed to go anywhere without Wangye's presence.

At one point, the King asked for a folding screen to be set up behind so Beauty Feng could rest.

Head Mo agreed and snapped his fingers once again. But this time, Feng Yanyan couldn't be amazed anymore. He was busy hiding his sleepiness.

After getting a place of his own, even though it was just a screen away, he immediately fell asleep. It was good that he didn't have a snoring habit. That would be embarrassing.

This amount of consideration...

Mo Quan took everything in and elevated his appraisal of the beauty. The gentleman wasn't even a concubine but the King spoiled him to this degree.

Was this really just a plaything?

It was absurd.

The discussions continued even amidst these thoughts. He didn't need to worry about his daughter being harmed in his own territory.

He knew the King enough to expect that she wouldn't do anything suspicious as long as it would benefit her. In addition to that, this mansion housed all the men that he could station just for Wan Li's visit.

Her Highness might be a white tiger but this time, she entered the hyena's den. Suliang's King wasn't a fool to blindly attack, right?

Mo Quan might think that he hid his thoughts properly but Long Xu Le was aware.

After all, she wasn't a clueless young girl. The King knew what others would think about every action of hers. Even her own shifu was raising a brow. Madam Lian must be really curious too.

Then why did Wan Li Wang continue to indulge Feng Yanyan? Was this still in the bounds of keeping the promise with Old Master Feng?

No.

Long Xu Le gave her word. His name would be cleared in Suliang and he would be free to choose whoever he wanted to be with.

It was both her Highness' gratitude and personal wish. Many things would happen in the future but until then, she would make sure to protect Feng Yanyan and bring him back to the Feng family.

By that time, she could also meet Old Master Feng for old times' sake.

Besides, there were other selfish reasons...

Long Xu Le wasn't benevolent. Every action had a clear intention and she was never one to be swept or dictated by emotions. Her Highness lowered her gaze to hide her calculations. 

Half past noon, the discussion about the wedding preparations ended. It was mostly just Madam Lian and Head Mo talking with the King stating her opinions from time to time.

Her Highness rose from her seat and called. "Feng Yanyan."

There was no answer. The King stilled. Did he... fall asleep?

Judging from that man's personality, it wasn't far off if he slept when other people were doing something serious just a few paces away from him.

Even Long Xu Le was wondering how Empress Yao tolerated this attitude.

From her side, Madam Lian only watched her disciple. She chuckled. The child looked like a husband waiting for his wife. The shifu found Long Xu Le amusing when it came to this Beauty Feng.

Maybe she should stay for a while more to see if this Feng kid would end up ensnared by her disciple. It wasn't that she didn't recognize Long Xu Le had schemes in her mind. Whether it was only schemes or had real feelings mixed in, that was what she wanted to see. And if there was, she wondered if she should help the stubborn disciple realize it.

Madam Lian was sure Xu Le wouldn't like any intervention from her though.

Over her Highness' side...

King Wan Li wasn't one to wait. When the mei ren didn't answer, she decided to just fetch him.

Head Mo turned to the distinguished Madam Lian. "It seems like her Highness is really fond of Gentleman Feng?"

His tone was lighthearted. The Triad would always have dealings with the Jianghu people so he was used to conversing with them.

What he didn't expect was that Madam Lian was different even among the Jianghu people. She was after all a noble entity first becoming one of the Jianghu.

The madam laughed amicably but her words were rather biting. "Who Wangye is fond of, does Head Mo think he can deliberate on it?"

One of San He Hui's biggest bosses. That was Mo Quan's identity. But even if he was, did he have the power to be curious about the King's life?

Head Mo realized Madam Lian's barbed tongue had never perished.

The madam had been famous for defying everything to break free from Suliang's noble society. Her sharp words would always be paired with her friendly and charming façade but none could par her martial arts and medical expertise.

Even after years of vanishing to the Jianghu, no one doubted that she still reigned supreme.

Who would have thought that she would make a comeback as King Wan Li's master? And now, she was even willing to step in the murky waters of high society again just to help her disciple arrange the Prince's wedding.

There was no doubt that one of the pillars solidifying the King's position in Suliang was Madam Lian's presence.

When word got out that Wan Li's honored master was Madam Lian, the commoners saw the King in a new light. Her image as a bloodthirsty demon still remained but she also became a god who wouldn't hurt the people.

Because Madam Lian was a beacon of the oppressed, the King became the darkness that punished the oppressors.

It was only the nobility of Suliang who were still on-guard with the King. And they could never drop their guard. After all, who was it that drove Madam Lian to be the person that she was today?

Lian Shu was an abused young wife hailing from a strict military family. No one heard her pleas so she took the matter into her own hands and escaped to the jianghu after revealing the dirty deeds of her family and her husband's family.

That same iron lady became the guardian of Wan Li Wang. For years, they expected retaliation from the King in the name of her master.

But nothing happened.

So now, they were back to their old ways. Countless young noble ladies were still treated as commodities to advance the family's agenda.

This was the norm everywhere in the Dalong. It was also something Mo Quan promised to never do to his daughter. But here was King Wan Li to his door.

Head Mo gritted his teeth and rose from his seat. "Well, it would be embarrassing to send the King off without a banquet. I'll go ahead and check the preparations. Servants will soon fetch you."

With that, the hulking figure left the hall.

Madam Lian relished the silence only to be disturbed by the knocks of the said servants. She was given refreshments.

"Madam, is her Highness occupied with something?" One of them asked.

Lian Shu was still sipping from the cup of tea. She glanced at the folding screen while the maids followed her gaze.

"She's there. Go on and don't mind this old woman."

The leader of the maids trotted over. The one following after her were carrying a basin of water.

"Wangye, our master sent us over to aid the mei ren."

When Long Xu Le heard the call from outside, she was still staring at the sleeping Feng Yanyan.

It was the first time for her to not know whether to be annoyed or amused. Did he really just sleep in a dangerous place? Granted, he didn't know this was San He Hui.

But didn't he have just the slightest amount of caution?

The King heard the calm call again from the maid.

"Hold it." She snarled in a low voice.

The maid shut up.

Long Xu Le inclined toward Beauty Feng and rubbed his earlobe. "Wake up, fool."

However, the mei ren only leaned his face on her cool hand. Her Highness chuckled dangerously.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Wangye tapped his cheek. When it still didn't work, she pinched it.

When Feng Yanyan opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a heavenly face.

"Damn, I could wake up like this every day." He mumbled.

When he felt the previous gentle hand was now strangling him, he realized...

"Wangye!"

"Awake?"

It was the same mellow voice but the choke hold on him was real. Seriously, this woman. Oh wait, she was a King. Twisted and calculating.

"Still going to dare sleep in someone else's territory?"

Feng Yanyan shook his head. "You're here so I thought it's alright."

Long Xu Le, who was fixing her sleeves, paused. She caught Feng Yanyan's chin and raised his head. His skin felt like silk under her touch.

"This is Suliang, fool." Her words were harsh but her voice was barely above a whisper. "Ben dian has too many enemies. Where does your confidence come from?"

Beauty Feng grinned. "If Wangye can't protect me, no one else can, so why should I bother?"

He heard a soft angered laugh and sure enough, Wangye's peach-blossom eyes were curved. "Fool."

Before he could process anything, her highness straightened up and called, "Serve."

The maidservants who were foreign to his eyes helped him get ready and rearranged his coronet. Their hands were light and nimble, only a tad away from the quality the palace had.

Feng Yanyan wondered who this Mo family was. To have such capable people, one couldn't be just an ordinary noble family.

Aside from his curiosity, he was already glad to meet Junwang's wife. Even though he was almost attacked , he knew the real target was not him.

That made him happy. The days in the wangfu wouldn't be boring when the new Princess Consort arrived.