Taming Tyrants I

Arc 1: Beauty and the Beast (15)

Tributes were presented and the foreign prince Chun Meng gifted a lot while purposely inquiring for Zhao Xue's identity. Of course, with Lin Xingjin, Lin Siji and Nian Xiaoyuan's presence, Chun Meng was unable to get anything from them. Hong Cha scanned her eyes around the room. She get to see Zhao Xue sitting across Lin Xingjin's position. They often give each other affectionate glances. Seems like they have reconciled. But this means bad news to Hong Cha. She had given her body but nothing happened. So its not as easy as she thought. How can she break the plot? Should she rely on Nian Xiaoyuan again?

Well, she could reconsider. Nian Xiaoyuan almost destroyed the main characters' love story and he even made them break their trust for each other. His halo is effective. She can make use of him to complete half of her mission then she can do the rest. Its lucky the Chun Meng is here. He's the third man who tasted Zhao Xue. In the novel, he fell for her quite quick that he also forced her worse than Nian Xiaoyuan. That is how Zhao Xue realized Nian Xiaoyuan respected her more than Chun Meng does.

"Ai Wen." Hong Cha turned to her maid. "Tell Head Minister Nian to go outside. I want to speak with him."

Ai Wen nodded. Hong Cha left the banquet hall and chose a seat on a stool that viewed the wide river. The moon is quite full tonight. Its mesmerizing. In no time, she came to notice someone behind her. That familiar cool scent, she is sure its Nian Xiaoyuan.

"Head Minister Nian, great you came." she turned behind but to her shock, its not Nian Xiaoyuan. It was Chun Meng, the reckless looking prince. Unlike Lin Xingjin who is cold, or Nian Xiaoyuan who is devious, or Lin Siji that is gentlemanly, Chun Meng have a look of playfulness. He is the youngest among the male leads in the story, younger in two years than Zhao Xue.

"I heard that Divine Doctor is a great beauty." Chun Meng started and moved in front of her. He heard a lot of rumors about Zhao Xue. That she is incomparably beautiful. It is even said even if she is shu-born, her beauty is enough to make a man unable to forget her. Among all the women in the banquet hall, Hong Cha was the one who caught his attention. She is incomparably beauty, check. Eye-catching demeanor, check. And her haughty gaze, check. "This prince wonders why Divine Doctor is expecting for General Nian?"

"Your Highness." she stood up and performed a bow. Hong Cha didn't expect Chun Meng would notice her. "This girl is not the person Prince Chun is looking for. This girl is surnamed Song, given name Cha Hua. The Imperial Tutor Song's only daughter."

"Eh?" the young boy was stunned. He took a good look at her. From the information he got, Zhao Xue is eighteen or nineteen, two years older than him. But the girl in front of him, she does look too young for the description. "Oh. Apology, Miss Song. But Miss Song does look beautiful. I came to hear people in Zhou praising the divine doctor's talent and beauty. This prince thought..."

"It is understandable, Your Highness." Hong Cha instinctively glanced behind upon feeling a chill creeping from her spine. Nian Xiaoyuan is already there.

"Why is Prince Chun out here? It was like the entertainers in the palace are not good enough?" Nian Xiaoyuan went out here to see what Hong Cha is up to. He thought Chun Meng should be there to ask for Zhao Xue.

"Not really. Zhou just have an enchanting beauty." Chun Meng kept his gaze on Hong Cha. It is unfortunate she is not the doctor he is looking for. "Well, seems like Grand General and Miss Song are going to talk. This prince should go first."

Once they were left alone, Hong Cha cleared her throat to break their cold silence. Nian Xiaoyuan stood on his place.

"What is so important you want to meet me?" Nian Xiaoyuan started. He is busy guarding Zhao Xue from any prince. But since she is his ally, he should hear what she had come up with.

"Head Minister, I will agree to anything you want to do. What plan you can think of, I will follow it. But I don't wish to have Lin Xingjin. I only want vengeance." she said with a stubborn tone. Nian Xiaoyuan raised a brow. He stepped closer and pinched her chin.

"Little girl, why so sudden you hate him?" he is suspicious of her. What if Lin Xingjin asked her to gain his trust and betray him? After all, once Lin Xingjin was chosen as the heir, Nian Xiaoyuan will be his greatest obstacle in the imperial court next. Nian Xiaoyuan holds two-third of Zhou's army. Even the palace guards are following his commands. Thus, removing him will be necessary. But in order to do that, Lin Xingjin needs to plan. The most effective way is to earn Nian Xiaoyuan's trust.

"He ruined my life. How can I not hate him? He took my chastity but refused to take me in, even as a concubine! All he thinks is about Zhao Xue!" Hong Cha closed her eyes in anger. "I promise to not harm Zhao Xue. I only want to bring Lin Xingjin down. Head Minister, you're the only capable to do so."

"Little girl, how will you show your sincerity?" a playful arc formed from his lip. Hong Cha had expected this.

"We can trade. Money is no problem." she chose to tread the innocent path than trade her body.

"I am far wealthier than Master. What I don't have is..." his gaze lowered. In truth, after that night in Qi Qiao Festival, he dreamt of her more than once. It is unbearable but Zhao Xue was able to divert his attention for some time.

"Fine." Hong Cha resigned to her fate. She slowly approached him. "Head Minister can have me for one night. I do not want to keep this trade for a long term."