Joss-sticks/incense sticks – burnt as offerings to the dead and the gods, additionally, due to the nature in which they burn slowly, they are often used as a ‘timer’. The modern incense took around 45 min to burn up.
Anointment – cleansing oneself for sanctification, in this case Feng Ming felt the need to be transformed for the occasion.
Mistake clarification: I’m not sure why I’ve been writing Ruo Yan as a country from which Lie Er is suspected as a spy, it’s永殷 Yong Yan. I’ll make those corrections in the future…XD!
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Gui Sen nearly tore apart the dainty curtains as he self-righteously made his entrance.
Feng Ming promptly caught up to the man’s side, however before he disappeared under the shade, he paused and turned his head back to issuing a glance directed at the cunning maid, that girl sure had given them a performance worthy of an applause.
In her wildest calculations, she hadn’t anticipated the Prince to shadow along Gui Sen’s intrusion, as their eyes met Feng Ming gave her a mischievous grin. Wasting no more time he signaled the small envoy to cross with him into the grounds of the Princess’s halls.
Beyond the curtains, Feng Ming and Gui Sen were now standing in the middle of grand courtyard, and straight in the group’s path was an extravagant building. Official Xia cleared his throat to loudly herald the arrival of their Prince, “An He Crowned Prince of Xi Rei, has arrived to pay a visit to His Royal Aunt. With our greatest sympathize for the Your Highness’s recent loss.”
In a subservient manner Xia told his master “Official Xia and the rest will await your Highness outside.” Less than a blink of an eye, the old man quietly extricated through the parted doorway. The two men and the reminder of the Prince’s entourage then proceeded through a small door leading to the main household.
No one responded to their announcement, but there was definitely voices streaming from a room nearby.
“Ah!” Gui Sen sounded genuinely surprised, recognizing one of the speakers. His eyes widened, as his mind registered the voice to the face of the notoriously powerful King of Li.
The King of Li’s voice was silvery and modulated, with a deep undertone. It had no trouble travelling to the visitor’s ears from afar.
Lie Er couldn’t contain himself, his face planted with a big smile of delight as he tried to figure out what exactly was taking place from the direction of the voices.
Almost seconds later Gui Sen’s complexion waned, his eyes had a murderous glow of red it was obvious that the man was suppressing his anger from boiling over. He glanced over at Feng Ming who stood silently, saying nothing the older man left unexcused in a hurry.
Feng Ming was perplexed by the man’s departure, so he shrugged defeated in his attempt to make an audience with his aunt. Deciding to take his company out of the area and await further instructions back at the main courtyard.
By now Official Xia had gathered hints and made his deduction, “It appears one of the guests the Princess is paying audience to is the King of Li.”
His master nodded, and asked, “How did you draw that conclusion?”
“The Third Princess, a connoisseur of mathematics and world famous for her obsession and innate talents in the matter. Being widowed recently, the only one that could engage her Highness with such fascination is most likely, the great master of arithmetic from the Country of Li, Dong Fang Tian.”
“Why did you mention the King of Li?”
“Prince, don’t forget, there are two guests, if the Princess deems one to be a very important guest, than the other present and could only make Gui Sen retreat silently with his tail between his legs is no doubt, the King of Li.”
“Is it possible, that Rou Yan intends to rely on Master Dong to help him win her affections and entice the Third Princess to follow him back to Li to be his new Queen?”
Official Xia was stunned, before admiringly replying with flattery, “Prince is extremely clever! The country of Li’s trickery certainly didn’t last long undetected under your watchful eyes. Official Xia had a similar notion.”
The Prince laughed and flashed Li Er a complacent signal with his eyes before continuing casually, “Isn’t it better this way! Now we won’t have go through with the troubles of convincing her to migrate to Xi Rei. Let her have a second chance with love, Ruo Yan can marry her. We can wish them happiness and a blissful life together until ripe age.”
Official Xia shook his head, then solemnly replied, “Such absurd events absolutely cannot transpire, the problem lies in Ruo Yan’s ambition to annex his power, he aims to dominate the world. If he marries the Third Princess, there’s the likelihood he will instigate revenge by convincing the King of Fan Jia to bring upon military forces to beat down the doors of Xi Rei. This trap is like a net cast by a fisherman, no doubt the King of Li will benefit from both our losses.”
“Then what are we…”Feng Ming face painted with serious concern turned and faced the scholar, hesitating mid-sentence.
The man looked stared at the Prince sternly, gritting his teeth before softly whispering one word.
“Destroy.”
“You mean we should intervene?”
Feng Ming thought to himself, if they were going to meddle in Ruo Yan’s plan, on Fan Jia’s turf to prevent the Princess hitching herself into a second spring, it wasn’t going to be an easy task.
Given their opponent was the fearful King of Li, Ruo Yan.
Feng Ming snaked his hand behind his neck, rubbing the sudden stiffness to try and expel his tension, “Are we really going to wreck it for her?”
Official Xia’s eyes held him firmly, before giving affirmation with a nod, “Yes, for the sake of Xi Rei, there shall be no marriage.”
The young man blinked before resigning with a groan, “Well, l guess we better intervene to prevent a disaster.”
One could detect the dispiritedness behind the Prince’s voice he really wanted to burst into tears, why couldn’t things be simpler.
After their deliberation over the matter, Feng Ming and his group remained in the area waiting for the Princess to send word.
The small group was stationed out in the open courtyard, exposed to the harshness of the winter. Each individual couldn’t deny that they were numbed down to their bones.
Feng Ming finally hit breaking point and suddenly he called out, “An He is here to pay respects to His Royal Aunt!”
Again, there was no indication that he was welcomed. After about half a joss-stick’s time, there was the sound of a soft female voice calling out to them.
“Please Prince, you could have proceeded straight into the main hall long before, why did Prince stand outside in the cold for so long?”
The Prince who waited patiently to be beckoned by the conceited Princess cursed the woman inwardly several times over, any trace of sympathy fly out the window. She had done it on purpose! He bickered as he stomped towards the main hall. Nonetheless, he was relieved to be addressed, so he replied respectfully, “Royal Aunt is one’s elder, An He dare not trespass, only entering when he has been granted permission.”
From the depths of the house, a melodic laughter rang.
Everyone standing in the courtyard looked at each other bewildered. Then the curtains in the main entrance to the halls suddenly parted. The maid called Fen Yan, which they had the fortune of meeting earlier, was now accompanied by another servant girl who was dressed in red.
Fen Yan walked down a flight of stairs to greet the Prince, her dark crow-like eyes sizing up the Prince for a moment before she bowed, “The Third Princess invites Prince An He inside. Additionally, the Princess wants An He to understand that the halls in this part of her residence are quite small and inconvenient thus she recommends that your Highness’s attendants advance to the guest reception hall for some light refreshments.”
Feng Ming did not expect he would be heading in there alone, and the great responsibility of operation ‘Destroy’ now rested upon his shoulders. Immediately his eyes turned to Official Xia and General Tong, with a very pitiful look about them.
All three men could agree on one thing, the fact that the Princess was even willing to see Feng Ming was a stroke of luck, with the positive turn on events it came as a big relief to know that they weren’t permanently pushed to the side due to any egocentric charade. The Prince’s two senior advisors encouraged him forwards.
Feng Ming watched on as his men were led to the reception room by the maid dressed in red. He was left alone to fend for himself, regardless of his rank he felt like he was wronged…or at least someone up in the heavens was having too much fun toying with him.
Thinking of the intimidating occupants of the room that awaited his arrival, the King of Li, a woman who just lost her husband and a formidable math genius was enough to make him queasy. He was contemplating whether he’d need to anoint the ground he walked on. Fen Yan had already parted the length of shades for him to pass through, a gentle laugh escaped her lips, “Dear Prince, you will freeze to death, make haste and please come in.”
There was no alternative route he could take, bracing himself he summoned the courage to put his best foot forward to bite the bullet.