CROWN PRINCE'S CONCUBINE

636 Concubines?

The main street of Sui Lian is crowded and full of people.

Traders of all kinds of goods filling the main roads that have been visited by residents who are just walking around and enjoying the fresh air in the morning or really looking for something.

“Excellent silk, Sui Lian’s signature silk, special price only for today!” exclaimed the cloth merchant who enthusiastically shouted to attract people’s attention.

Residents take their families, wives and children and even their parents to fill the streets. Some small children were even running among the crowds.

“Hahaha come and chase me if you can”

A little kid almost bumped into Xiao Hong who was on the street with the others.

“Eits, be careful kiddo.”

There is also Chen Ming, also Bai Ying comes with him on that beautiful morning. The three of them left the palace to mingle with other residents in the city which were getting busier day by day.

Bai Ying’s face was radiant, holding the candied fruit in his hand and still chewing with his mouth rounded just like a young person of his age. The boy had not stopped admiring the atmosphere of the street market selling whatever object caught his eye, if not for Chen Ming watching him he would have been running around buying whatever he wanted without limit.

.....

“Brother, the silk looks so good, it’s so shiny, grandma must like it.”

Chen Ming held Bai Ying as he was about to turn.

“Brat, you promised not to buy anything else but food, grandma already has a lot of silk of the best quality, she doesn’t need the usual cloth anymore” ”

“But, Brother, that’s so pretty, grandma must not have that colour, just now the seller shouted that it was a new one, come on Brother, let’s take a look.”

“How could grandma not have it? All silk merchants are royalty, if grandma doesn’t have a new colour, that’s too much, let’s just go find something to eat, I’m so hungry.”

“How come you be hungry? Bother already eats a lot earlier, I haven’t hungry yet”

“Fussy, I like to eat a lot, so what’s wrong with that?” Chen Ming exclaimed.

“Brother will be swollen like a fat rabbit later, His Majesty often said that, if you eat too much first the cheeks will swell, then the stomach and the whole body”

“This kid, why are you so fussy now? And why do you have to mention that rotten Crown Prince at such an exciting time? Don’t spoil the mood”

“Brother why do you always call him Rotten Crown Prince!” Bai Ying exclaimed.

“That’s up to me, why? Do you mind again?”

“Brother!”

Bai Ying let Chen Ming tug at him like a child. The three of them disappeared among the crowd of residents who kept arriving.

“Meat buns! Freshly made, stuffed with red meat, beans, and sweet potatoes! Come three one tael, buy it please!” exclaimed the bun seller that Bai Ying and the others passed by.

“Brother, the meat buns look delicious, let’s buy that!”

But Chen Ming didn’t care, he kept pulling Bai Ying’s hand towards the place he seemed to look for from the start.

“Brother is stingy!”

......

“Counselor Pai has arrived!” shouted the guard at the door of the Moon hall, Princess Wu Lan’s study.

Before long, Counselor Pai entered with several of his men following behind. Seen carrying lots of medium-sized boxes held in both hands. Everyone lined up behind Counselor Pai and together greet Princess Wu Lan who was accompanied by Me Ma reading some important palace letters on her desk.

“Greetings, Princess.”

Princess Wu Lan raised her head, frowning at the dozens of red boxes with various motifs brought by Pai’s advisers. Everyone had almost filled the Princess’s private study.

“Old man, what is this? Has anyone given any more gifts? This much?” she asked.

Old man Pai nodded.

“That’s right Princess, these are all the gifts from the chiefs to His Highness the Viceroy, and all asked to be handed over directly to the Princess, servant and others have checked the contents, and so far all are only valuable items such as jewellery and divine medicine.”

Wu Lan frowned and asked Me Ma to help her up to look at the boxes that Advisor Pai’s men had neatly placed on the floor. Everyone opened the lid of the box they brought with them, it resembled a proposal gift because it was red in colour and decorated with a gold bow.

“Hmmh, everyone is so enthusiastic, we haven’t even made an official announcement yet, at this rate it will be very difficult to pull it out.”

Old man Pai nodded as Wu Lan checked the contents of the box one by one.

“That’s right Princess, um, Princess, about this matter, does His Majesty the King know about it? I am afraid that he will be furious when he finds out about it when everything is prepared.”

Wu Lan widened her eyes at the glistening contents of the box when the lid was opened.

“Waah this is so beautiful, this is the black pearl of the south sea, how did the Wah Ye tribe get this rare thing?” Wu Lan said lifting a small red box within the big red box and finding a coin-sized diamond that was pitch black and shining. It is said that black pearls are said to be an ageless drug for anyone who wears them.

Wu Lan put the small box into the big box and continued to look at the others. There are live plants with white flowers resembling lilies with a slightly larger size than usual.

“This, Old man is this thing called fairy lilies?”

The old man nodded.

“That’s right Princess, it comes from the Boa tribe that lives up in the mountains. They say this flower cannot be planted carelessly and can only grow in the wild. So to be able to find it and bring it alive here requires a lot of effort. This flower can cure all the most chronic diseases and even renew lives that are almost cut off”

Wu Lan nodded. See also other valuables in the other boxes.

“Hmm, all very nice items, but, will that brat accept it?” she asked.

Old man Pai was still looking at Princess Wu Lan and lowered his head when their eyes met.

“Princess”

Wu Lan chuckled. She knew what old man Pai’s question meant, which she haven’t replied it.

“Hehe old man, you don’t have to worry about this matter, after all this is the custom that every Young King who is about to ascend the throne has to do, I guess that kid has no other choice but to comply, after all, in this world who can beat the Crown Prince, just let them try”

.....

“What?” cried Bai Ying who almost choked on the dumpling he had stuffed into his mouth.

His eyes widened seeing his older brother sitting in front of him enjoying his favourite boiled noodles. Bai Ying hastily swallowed the food and pulled Chen Ming’s hand who casually shoved the noodles into his mouth.

“Hey”

“Brother, don’t be joking, can grandma do that? W-what if His Highness the Crown Prince finds out? He will be furious” Bai Ying cried out in panic.

The three of them were already sitting at the noodle shop by the road which was one of Chen Ming’s favourite noodle stalls whenever he visited Sui Lian. Chen Ming looked at Bai Ying with sharp eyes and withdrew his hand from his brother’s grip who was still shocked.

“This brat, what does this have to do with that rotten Crown Prince? This is a state matter, and as Viceroy, it is mandatory for every King to have more than one concubine. The Crown Prince will still be in his position, as he also has many concubines within his palace, have you forgotten about that?”

Bai Ying stuttered.

“Bu-but, uh, it’s different, Brother”

“What’s different? A King has the right to have more than one life partner. Grandma has said this before, and you already know this, right?”

Bai Ying pursed his mouth.

“Yeah, but, uh, Ying has already promised that position to someone else, I can’t break my promise, didn’t I?”

“You mean that Princess Kili?” asked Chen Ming who was leisurely enjoying his noodles.

Xiao Hong had even finished three bowls. That greedy young bird thought Bai Ying who was in a state of dismay.

“Well, who else, She might kill me later if I don’t keep my promise”

“That’s easy, the King can have more than one concubine, or two, or even three”

“Brother!” Bai Ying shouted stopping his brother’s words. He has no desire to continue eating. While he was so panicked that his brother actually looked very relaxed in response, he really didn’t understand his feelings.

“This little brat, don’t overdo it, this is just the Palace tradition, given the Crown Prince’s ability is so great is there anyone who can beat him? One light movement all the enemies will surely retreat because of it, what are you afraid of?”

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