Happy Chapter 69, hehe funni number

These days, there was a subtle shift in the air of Zhongqing. 

Feng Yanyan seemed to have a free pass in Wangye's courtyard. Eunuch Cheng Li would usher him in as soon as he stepped into the inner gate. Meals would be prepared whenever he was here too.

But Beauty Feng had a pressing question in his mind. He wanted to ask this to the young eunuch for quite some time but couldn't bring himself to do so.

He didn't know whether it was alright to ask Wangye.

"What's bothering you? Spit it out."

The mei ren jumped in his seat. He didn't know he was that obvious.

Wan Li Wang was distracted with his fidgeting. She was working and she saw him in her peripheral vision looking like his seat was made of hot coals.

He didn't answer.

"Ben dian already told you, you only have to prepare your luggage. All the people will be mobilized accordingly." She was referring to his stay in the Mo mansion.

But Feng Yanyan only rose from his seat and went near the King.

"Wangye..."

"What is it?" Long Xu Le was still patient.

"Wangye..."

Her Highness dropped the memorial she was holding. "Feng. Yanyan."

Onyx eyes met his light brown ones.

"Hehe, I was wondering because... you know. The Empress..."

"The Empress what?" Long Xu Le's brow twitched in annoyance. A storm was already brewing inside the study.

Feng Yanyan knew he was in danger if he dilly dallied more. "Because the Empress said you have lots of concubines and tongfang but I don't see any of them."

>tóng fáng - 同房 - a servant whose only purpose is to share the bed with. Even though the master slept with them, they are not considered a concubine<

He closed his eyes and said this in one breath.

When he didn't hear any response after a while, he covered his face but took a peek at her from the gaps between his fingers.

There was a rare look of confusion on Long Xu Le's face. "She said what?"

Beauty Feng's brain worked so he stood straighter. He had to be careful of the words he said here.

"Her Majesty didn't say it directly... but on multiple occasions hinted that the King of Suliang's rear yard is teeming with beauties but no proper consort."

"Oh, is that why you were sent here? To add to the number of beauties?"

Feng Yanyan read the hidden danger in that tone.

"Hehe, Feng has no idea."

Long Xu Le rubbed the space between her brows. "Did you ask this to anyone else?"

"Hmm? I was about to-"

"Don't. Don't mention it to anyone else in the wangfu." Other people can mention it but if Feng Yanyan did, it would be another round of suspicions again.

It would look like he was desperate to be named as a concubine.

Beauty Feng shrugged. He didn't exactly know why he shouldn't but alright. Just do as she said. It was probably some weird palace rule again.

"...Also no, the only residents of Wan Li Wangfu were ben dian, the prince, Long Tang, the servants and the officials before all of you arrived."

Feng Yanyan's mouth twitched and then he felt depressed. "So we invaded your quiet life."

Wangye had always been direct. "Yes you did."

That was why the night when they were attacked by assassins was her doing. She wanted to eradicate them and pin it on the Hu Ren Kings. It was a coincidence that Sangyu was nearby.

It was a stroke of luck for the inn to be saved.

Long Xu Le looked at Feng Yanyan. Either way, she doubted something would happen to this man even if Sangyu wasn't there.

After that incident, Her Highness had received reports that the imperial convoy was protected by some people from Tanglin up to Suliang.

Later on, she learned it was connected to the Feng family.

That family, she shuddered to think what would happen if they were her enemies. But she reminded herself that she had the key to taming the Feng clan over here.

If her Highness wanted them to remain loyal, she had to grasp this man by the palm of her hand. She also needed to know the reason he was so valuable to them. Her Highness had been thinking a lot about what to do. In fact, she made that conclusion long ago but kept going back and forth. 

This wasn't the King's usual style of doing things. Swift, decisive, aggressive. That was Wan Li Wang. 

Long Xu Le stood up. "Feng Yanyan."

"Y-yes?" He was surprised by her sudden movement.

"Ben dian decided to keep you."

Beauty Feng was on the receiving end of another intense stare. He had no idea what the King was thinking about but it looked like they were dark thoughts. Was this why he was  getting a lot of privilege lately?

Uhh... was it too late to back down now?

Wangye seemed to have read his mind. For every step back that Feng Yanyan did, she stalked closer to him. "Yes, it's too late to refuse. I gave you a lot of time to think. Ben dian told you to leave, you insisted on staying."

Feng Yanyan gulped. "As long as I don't get killed?"

Long Xu Le chuckled. "We'll see about that."

Our Yanyan was dumb but he wasn't an idiot. From the time he was saved from Long Tang to the point her Highness had given him more attention than usual, he knew there was something amiss.

He was someone with no political value but somehow, the King took care of him. Wan Li Wang wasn't the type to do acts of kindness from the bottom of her heart. She was a callous and brutal King.

Her Highness also wasn't one to fall for honey traps. So why? Was it just because he took care of her? It didn't seem like that. No matter how you look at it, it was within a mei ren's duties to care for the master of the house even without being a named concubine.

Vague hints suddenly dawned on him when Madam Lian mentioned something about another Feng being in the Wangfu. Whether it was really a relative of his or just a person with the same surname, he might be treated this way because he was a replacement for someone.

He banked on this fact a lot whenever he acted up in front of Wangye. It was also surprising to him how her Highness tolerated him endlessly. 

Who was he kidding? He is attracted to her. He... he liked her already. It was lame to stay just for that reason but he was willing to try. Feng Yanyan didn't know where he got the courage to do this.

She was a King. What happened to not expecting something?

What happened to being practical and just going home? He knew she wanted something from him. It wasn't romance. Well, maybe she also felt desire. But that wasn't the only reason.

No matter what it was, it was alright to just stay here for a little bit.

"Wangye... can you promise me one thing?"

Long Xu Le gestured for him to go on.

"When the time comes that you're unhappy with me, all I ask is to return to my family. Will that be alright?" The last thing he wanted to happen was to die in a foreign land away from his family.

It wasn't like he hated them. Far from that. They had disputes and opposing beliefs but they were his family.

Her Highness raised a brow. Did he realize something?

Well, she did promise that she would take him back. She would do that whether he asked or not. When the time came that she was sure that the Feng family was loyal to the end, Feng Yanyan was free to go home.

She had known Old Master Feng for a while. It would be counterproductive to hold Feng Yanyan hostage if she wanted the Feng patriarch to help her cause.

And so Wangye nodded. "Alright."

That was how an odd understanding was made between the two.

But Feng Yanyan found himself being pulled closer to her. Her peach blossom eyes curving to an unreadable smile.

"Then for as long as I am not unhappy with you..." Her distinct scent, a mixture of medicinal herbs and something subtly sweet, wrapped around Beauty Feng. "You are not allowed to look at anyone else. Did you hear me?"

Feng Yanyan's thoughts grew dull, only staring at her pallid lips that kept on moving until he felt a pinch on his waist.

"Ah!"

"Ben dian is asking you a question."

He raised his gaze to meet hers again and breathed a yes. Her Highness chuckled.

Always. He would always be like this whenever she was close.

Long Xu Le touched his cheek and pulled away with laughter in her eyes. Beauty Feng appeared like a pitiful lost child.

What Her Highness didn't expect was the man grasping her sleeves and pulling her.

"Wangye." He wrapped his arms around his waist, trapping the King. He smirked.

Beauty Feng was getting tired of her teasing.

Wan Li Wang's pupils dilated as she felt warmth on her lips. For the first time in this life, the mighty King was plundered. And the culprit was none other than the man he always called a fool.

But her shock didn't last long as she took over and pinned him on her seat. He gave up control as soon as she demanded it.

His jade coronet fell on the floor, his hair scattering on his back. Her Highness let him hug her by the neck as he seemed to be drowning in passion. Their breaths mingled in a dance of urgent craving. But she moved no further than kissing him.

Even if his body wanted more, she doused it.

"Not satisfied? That's all you'll get."

Cruel. She really was cruel.

Well, he didn't get in trouble. That was for sure.