The Phoenix Reborn Book II

Chapter 91 Consort Huang

“I understand, Brother Yaoyao,” Yuanli said as he saluted the escort servant Huang Yan’an.

Yaoyao nodded, “Go.” Before waiting for Yuanli to leave, he had first turned his back to return to his master's page.

Finishing his brief conversation with the servant Huang Shufei, Yuanli twisted the body to return to the main street of the palace. However, just as he set foot on the main street of the palace, he was startled by a group of servants who ran small towards the main courtyard of the palace.

“Excuse me,” Yuanli stopped one of the maids, “what happened?” ask with a polite smile.

Looking at Yuanli, the servant clicked his tongue. “Don't you know? Today was the day of the Fourth Prince's departure to deal with Zhou-Shi's border. Everyone should escort his departure in the main courtyard of the palace.” Without saying goodbye, he immediately ran away.

That disrespectful attitude did not make Yuanli angry nor upset. After all, it was only natural that he would no longer be respected after his master in the palace lost his position. Compared to upsetting Yuanli, he felt happy. That disrespectful act was proof that Huang Miaoling's plan to destroy Huang Wushuang.

After ascertaining the reason for the uproar, Yuanli turned his body and went back on his way. The girl had no intention of participating in delivering Wang Junsi's departure. There was no obligation for him to do so, especially since Huang Wushuang's courtyard was also uninvited.

The courtyard that Huang Wushuang now occupied was much simpler compared to the crown princess courtyard. When compared to Wang Zhengyi's other concubines, the courtyard that the woman lived in was arguably shabby. This treatment is not a strange thing. Huang Wushuang was no longer the precious jewel in Wang Zhengyi's eyes, especially after the man found out regarding the woman's involvement with the accident that almost befell Huang Miaoling.

Yuanli pushed the door of Huang Wushuang's room open, then walked in to put the tray containing the food he had brought onto the table. Just as the tray parted from his hand, the corner of Yuanli's eye caught a shocking movement from his left side.

“Haa!” the call accompanied an attack in the form of a konde stab directed at Yuanli's figure.

Before the sharp tip of the konde puncture landed on his face, Yuanli caught the wrist of his assailant swiftly. The waiter's gaze shifted to the assailant's face, savoring the determination and hatred emanating from the chocolate bead before him. “Usaha good, Huang Wushuang.” Then, without mercy, Yuanli tightly gripped his opponent's slender wrist, making Huang Wushuang drop her weapon while screaming in pain.

Disgusted, Yuanli threw down Huang Wushuang's hand, making the woman fall backwards. “Don't you understand what ‘diam’ means? Should you try to kill me every day, knowing it won't work?” yuanli asked as he grabbed the skewer of the konde that had fallen on the floor.

A smile was plastered on Huang Wushuang's face. “Who knew that one of those days I was lucky and could create a hole in your heart?!” His right hand was crumbling, a sharp pain attacking as he moved it. However, Huang Wushuang did not want to show his weakness to Yuanli, he was unwilling.

“Losing dignity and being revealed to be a concubine is still not enough for you?” Yuanli frowned, no longer understanding whether this woman before him had a functioning brain. “The only reason Wang Zhengyi kept you inside the walls of his courtyard was because of the Huang clan that was still clinging to your name. If you are known to kill me, the consequence is the anger of Mingwei Junzhu.” The maid crouched down before Huang Wushuang and smiled widely, “ Guess what the Crown Prince will do to calm Junzhu's anger?”

Given how much her husband respected Huang Miaoling, Huang Wushuang was confident that she would be sacrificed. However, he grinned, unwilling to lose the debate, “Huang Miaoling will be angry because of your death? Don't you consider yourself too tall, Yuanli?” The woman was intending to provoke the girl's anger in front of her. “Against his own blood brother, Huang Miaoling have the heart, especially against a girl of no status like you!” He added, “In addition, I can't be quiet to see me punished!”

Hearing Huang Wushuang's words made Yuanli smile widely, his voice holding back a laugh. “Ah .. sad,” he said in a mocking tone, “Brother said you?” With one hand propping up the side of her face, Yuanli revealed a secret, “You think why the Huang Family did nothing when your status as crown princess was forcibly withdrawn? Why are Empress and Empress Dowager Shen fighting so hard to bring you down?”

Huang Wushuang was silent, her face that had looked so haughty started to turn worried. “What do you want to say?!” the hardic.

Yuanli pointed his index finger at Huang Wushuang, “Kau .. not a descendant of the Huang family, not a single shred of Great General Huang's blood flowed within your body.” A smile that looked so sweet appeared on the girl's face, “Instead, you are the descendant of the person most hated by the entire Huang— family Ah! Wrongfully. Descendant most hated everyone,” she chuckles, “Li Hongxia.”

***

‘I ... not Dad's daughter?’ Huang Wushuang looked blankly into the air, no longer caring how indecent her appearance was sitting on the floor now. ‘I ... daughter of the traitor, Li Hongxia?’

Chaotic, very messed up Huang Wushuang's mind at this moment. Initially, he had thought that Yuanli's outrageous attitude was based on Huang Miaoling's position being so high in the current kingdom. If he could tell his father about this, perhaps he could do something to stop the torture he was receiving. However, now ….

‘No wonder Aunt Yan’an ignored me, so did First Brother who never replied to the letter I sent her,’ Inner Huang Wushuang. Her chest felt tight and her throat was choked, tears began to descend her beautiful face. ‘They already know ... they obviously knew a long time ago, but never told myself!’

Shame, sadness, hurt, so many emotions mixed in the concubine of the crown prince. All her extraordinary life plans were shattered into pieces, and her dream of becoming the mother of the kingdom could no longer be achieved. With the fact that he was a descendant of Li Hongxia, also a relative of the prairie tribe, Huang Wushuang realized that there was only gloom in his future.

After Yuanli informed Huang Wushuang of his identity, the girl left the woman alone in the room. Not only that, the girl left behind the skewer that Huang Wushuang had used to attack her on the woman's side. Yuanli's goal was none other than .. to give Huang Wushuang the opportunity to take his own life.

“What's the point of you living, Huang Wushuang? You are like a bird in a cage, with the difference of your master no longer intends to enjoy the attractions that you can offer,”, Yuanli said earlier with a condescending look. “Death, that's the only good I can give you.” And, the girl left, letting the former crown princess take her choice.

Huang Wushuang's eyes stared at the skewer of konde that was by his side, then he grabbed it. His wiggly finger touched the beautiful skewer, the first gift Wang Zhengyi had given him.

‘Maticah ... the choice?’

“It has been a long time since the Crown Prince visited Consort Huang, and he feels guilty about it. Therefore, the Crown Prince ordered me to send something,” the voice of a girl so sweet could be heard answering Yuanli's question.

“Thank you for the Crown Prince's attention, I'm sure Consort Huang will sue—”

Before Yuanli's words were finished, Wang Zhengyi's servant girl cut him off, “I myself will give it to Consort Huang, the Crown Prince's order should be carried out until it's done.”

Fearing that Yuanli would force the maid to hand Wang Zhengyi a gift to him, Huang Wushuang immediately stood up and tidied up her appearance slightly. There was hope in the woman's heart, hope that Wang Zhengyi still loved her.

Huang Wushuang hurried to sit down the chair before finally saying, “Yuanli, let him in.” A thin smile was painted on his face, ‘In front of others, can you argue with me?’

“Good .. Consort Huang,” replied Yuanli in a slightly restrained voice, it was clear that she was upset.

Before long, the door of the room opened, and Yuanli and a maid with a small body walked in. A wooden box with unique carvings was on top of the tray the foreign servant was holding.

“Greet Concubine Huang,” said the waiter made Huang Wushuang's temple twitch, he never liked his new status.

“Stand,” reply Huang Wushuang. “What do you bring?”

Hearing the servant explain the same thing as he said to Yuanli, Huang Wushuang nodded her head and grabbed the wooden box from the tray. He opened the box and was surprised to see a ring with a reddish-colored jewel.

Ah, sorry. It was not the beautiful gem that surprised Huang Wushuang, but something that was attached to the inside of the box lid.

‘I-ini—’ Huang Wushuang leaked her shock, making Yuanli who was next to the maid squint his eyes.

Before anyone could act any further, the maid smiled and said, “This is a gem found on Fanhui's heirloom mountain, there is only one in this world and the Crown Prince decided to present it to you, Consort Huang.”

When he saw Yuanli shift the position of his body to look at the contents of the box, Huang Wushuang hurriedly closed the box. Then, with a face that looked sad and bitter, the woman placed the gift box back on the tray.

“Talk to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince .. that I cannot accept his gift,” Huang Wushuang said making not only Wang Zhengyi's emissary's servant surprised, but also Yuanli.

With a panicked face, the servant girl hurriedly said, “A-do you not like the gift, Consort Huang? N-however, the Crown Prince has taken a long time to find—”

“Good intentions the Crown Prince has received, but not with such a precious gift. Bring back the gift,” Huang Wushuang replied as she stood up from her chair and stepped away from her living room. “I'm tired and want to rest.”

The servant girl looked very frightened. Of course, how not? If the reward he delivered was rejected, it was obvious that Wang Zhengyi would be furious and suspect that the reason for Huang Wushuang's refusal was him.

The servant girl was sure that she would be punished. But what can he do?

With a heavy heart, the servant girl lowered her head. “H-servant understood, Consort Huang.” Then he turned and walked away.

Yuanli who was watching the incident from the side only fell silent. Although it was a little unexpected that Huang Wushuang would reject Wang Zhengyi's gift, but she did not intend to force the woman to accept the gift. After all, if Wang Zhengyi really ended up angry and Huang Wushuang's relationship with the man was getting damaged, that was good news.

After everyone left his room, Huang Wushuang sat down by his bedside. He bit his thumb nails in a fit of anxiety, indicating that there was something he was thinking about out loud.

In fact, Huang Wushuang refused the gift not because he did not want it, but because of the message on the small paper attached to the inside of the lid of the box. “Reject this gift after you read my message. Tonight, I'll meet you,” the name of the unexpected ends the letter.

With a face of panic and confusion, Huang Wushuang sat in her heart, ‘Why ... The Sixth Prince contacted me?’

___

A/N: *Author again observing from the top of the tree*: Kayaknya\, tonight there is a dancingque spectacle.