A Lonesome Fragrance Waiting to be Appreciated 1

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He Su was silent for a long time. Another thought seemingly crossed his mind, as he suddenly began to laugh. "You may get up, Queen."

He turned around, helping the Queen to stand. His voice was a little pleased as he said, "Yangfeng's qin skills may be spectacular, but she's just a woman of the harem. If we were to talk about strategising, she's nothing compared to Bai Pingting. Never mind losing Yangfeng, I'm surprised that He Xia would give up on Bai Pingting for some temporary interest. He'll have to pay a heavy price in the future."

The Queen was suddenly suspicious, "Is Bai Pingting really that amazing?"

"Has Queen met Bai Pingting before?"

The Queen tried to recall her. "She rarely entered the Royal Residence, I've only seen her once or twice. She doesn't like to talk, and her looks are average."

"Bai Pingting may not be a beauty, but she has a different sort of charm, causing people to want to stay with her, have her forever." He Su looked at the Queen, a trace of a smile on his lips. "Men can easily fall in love with beautiful women and it's easy to be entertained by them, but just how many women are worthy enough so that a man would want to stay by her side forever?"

"Doesn't that mean He Xia has given up?"

"He Xia will regret it, maybe he has already regretted it, but what use is that?" He Su narrowed his eyes, a harsh light seemed to rise from the pits of his pupils. "I won't let him get Bai Pingting back so easily."

After dinner, He Su stayed behind in the main hall, sorting national affairs. The Queen excused herself.

Bumping into the corner of a side hall, the Queen stopped, wiping her tears away with her sleeve.

The Queen's nurse, Mother Cheng Xiang, who happened to accompany her, was shocked. "What's wrong, Queen?"

"The King's fallen in love."

"With who?"

"Bai Pingting of the Jing-An Ducal Residence."

Mother Cheng Xiang was silent.

When the King ordered to get rid of the House of Jing-An, he had privately requested for He Xia and Bai Pingting to enter the Royal Residence. It was strictly ordered that if the House of Jing-An and their followers reacted, they were to be killed immediately. Only one person had to survive, not to be injured.

Bai Pingting of the Jing-An Ducal Residence.
.
The wedding chamber was well decorated and inside, the bride's cheeks were shiny red.

A red scarf softly fell from to the ground, as if picked by a light breeze, and a handsome man entered her eyes.

One of the noblest men of the four countries, the famous Marquess of Jing-An, was standing in front of her.

"Princess."

"Prince Consort."

Their whispers were barely audible and when their eyes met, her hearts wouldn't stop thumping messily.

He Xia untied the red flower strap on his chest and took off Princess Yaotian's coronet with both hands, smiling while sighing. "He Xia didn't expect that ever since being homeless, that he'd be so fortunate to earn the Princess' favour, when no one else was willing to help him. God really isn't unfair to me." He smiled gently, taking in Yaotian's quiet face. "Perhaps Princess has other worrying things in mind?"

Yaotian giggled guiltily, replying, "I'm just thinking, if the House of Jing-An hadn't perished, then would Yaotian still have been blessed enough to be the wife of Husband or not." Tears dripped from her eyes and stopped, hanging down from the frame of the bed. She sighed, "It's the night of the wedding chamber and the man in front of me is talented both literarily and militarily, a true hero. It's just like a really good dream, so I'm a little afraid that it's just a dream."

He Xia frowned, "Why say that Princess, do you not believe in the loyalty in He Xia's heart?"

"Oh, slip of the tongue." Princess Yaotian turned back, smiling sweetly at He Xia. "If I didn't believe in Husband, then why else would I have vowed to always stay together?"

He Xia's starry eyes studied Yaotian carefully, his two pupils were like pools with a magical pull and it made Yaotian feel as if she was sucked in. He was on one knee in front Princess Yaotian, as he affectionately touched her hand. Raising his head, he said, "Don't worry Princess, He Xia will swear right now that there will be one day where I'll make Princess become the noblest woman in the world and then personally crown the Princess as the Queen of the Four Countries."

Princess Yaotian's eyes suddenly brightened, "Does Husband really have such lofty ambitions?"

He Xia tossed his head back and laughed for a long time. "Life is too short, if I don't do something great, how could I feel worthy of my parents who raised me?"

Princess heard that his voice was brimming with confidence, sounding extremely heroic. Secretly delighted, she softened her voice. "Since Husband is so complacent, presumably already having a plan to unify the four countries."

He Xia stopped his laughter, thinking hard before replying, "The first thing to do, is definitely to forbid my life rival from returning to being the strength of Dong Lin's Royal House."

Princess Yaotian had been in charge of politics for a while, therefore she recognised the most important people of each country. She interrupted immediately, "Chu Beijie has already retired to the mountains, not interested in the government, but he'll definitely leave the mountains if Dong Lin is in trouble. How does Husband plan to break Chu Beijie's blood connection to the Royal House of Dong Lin?"

He Xia secretly admired this girl's wit, for knowing the situation of the four countries so well. He flashed her a look of approval, clutching onto her willow-like waist to help her up so that they could both admire the far away moon outside the window.

"There's only one scenario where Chu Beijie would never return to the Royal House of Dong Lin. Even if their Royal House is in danger, Chu Beijie would never dare interfere and will just sit back and watch."

Princess Yaotian frowned for a long time, then shook her head. "I have absolutely no idea. In what scenario, would Chu Beijie leave his family?" Her beautiful, intelligent and wise eyes were trained on He Xia, searching for the answer.

A little hesitation surfaced on He Xia's handsome face. He gazed at the moon, shaking a little. Then, as if remembering that Princess Yaotian's question was still unanswered, he slowly breathed out, whispering, "That is, when Chu Beijie, of the Dong Lin Royal House, loses his most beloved woman."

"Chu Beijie's most beloved woman?"

"Her name is..." He Xia's lips seemed to be as heavy as gold. They spat out the familiar name with great difficult, "...Bai Pingting."

Princess Yaotian was shocked, and she sucked her lip in response.

Pingting, Bai Pingting.

The real mastermind of the Jing-An Ducal Residence. He Xia's most beloved maid.

Rumours said that Bai Pingting was the manipulator behind Dong Lin's forced treaty to Gui Le for five years of peace.