Chapter 29

There was a thin sheen of sweat beaded on Liang Lia Jiao's back. The rich smell of peonies wafted through the air. In some areas, the aroma was almost too intense. Liang Lia Jiao bent down and touched one of the petals to a pink rose bush. It was soft beneath her fingertips. The bird in the cage chirped a few times. She turned around to look at it. It was hopping back and forth on a wooden perch inside its cage. She smiled at it, watching it move about as it sang out with its sweet chirping sounds. It was a blue and orange nightingale. It was rare for a nightingale to sing during the day, it was more common to hear them at night or early morning.

When Prince Yi Feng stepped out of his mother's quarters, his eyes instinctively searched for Liang Lia Jiao. It bothered him that that was his first instinct. She was staring at his mother's nightingale. She let out quiet whistles following the song of the bird. He stepped forward and grabbed her wrist, pulling her away from the cage.

"Let's go." His voice was tight, his eyes derisive. One he had jerked her away from the cage, he threw her hand away.

Liang Lia Jiao rubbed her wrist where he had grabbed her. She stared at the back of his head with furious uncertainty. She kept her head down as she followed him and Qin Weimin out of the Harem and into the open space of the Palace.

"Second Prince!" A cheery voice called out. A young girl roughly sixteen ran towards Prince Yi Feng. She was dressed in a pink hanfu and had a dangling jade flower hair ornament. Her eyes were big and expressive as she smiled at Prince Yi Feng. She bowed in greeting.

"Get up, Lan'er," Prince Yi Feng said, helping her up. He rubbed the top of her head and let her lean on his arm. "What are you doing here?"

She had both of her arms wrapped around his arm, holding on as if her life depended on it. "I came to visit Princess Wu Qui. I've been here for a week already." She looked up at him and whined, "I haven't seen you in a long time, your highness."

He smiled softly at her, "Alright, let go now."

She pouted her lips, unwilling to let go.

"Qin Xiulan! Do you want me to send you back to Xinwu to stay with father?" Qin Weimin snapped.

She shook her head, dropping his arm like a hot potato. As they walked, she pranced beside him happily, chatting and peeking at him, sometimes walking ahead of him with walking backward to talk. Qin Weimin rolled his eyes and gritted his teeth, Prince Yi Feng was surprisingly patient with her.

Qin Xiulan noticed Liang Lia Jiao after a few minutes of walking she eyed her curiously, "Who's that Prince Yi Feng?"

"Just a slave, ignore her," casually.

Qin Xiulan visibly relaxed, "Are you staying in the city for a while this time?" She asked, hopefully.

He didn't answer her. His hand reached out and patted her head again, "Go back now. I have things to do."

She unwillingly nodded her head. She stayed put while they continued walking. When Liang Lia Jiao passed her, Qin Xiulan stared at her with intensity.

"I didn't expect to see you here," a deep voice called out. The speaker was a round man with a long thin beard. The hand that stroked it was covered in rings.

"Chancellor Zhou Ping," Prince Yi Feng said calmly.

Chancellor Zhao Ping offered his bow.

"No need," Prince Yi Feng said cynically. "Rise."

Chancellor Ping smiled broadly and rose. His eyes lit up slightly before he bowed again, "Greetings to his highness Crown Prince."

Prince Yi Feng turned around to see Crown Prince Tan Peizhi walked forward. Everyone kneeled down at the sight of him. He wore a black and red hanfu, with sleeves that reached the floor. He was somewhat flamboyant, his brows were drawn thinly at a sharp angle.

Crown Prince Tan Peizhi looked down at Prince Yi Feng. His eyes were calculating, but his lips were set in a warm smile, "Get up, brother." He helped Prince Yi Feng up, smiling all the while.

Prince Yi Feng kept his expression stoic. His eyes darted towards Qin Weimin and Liang Lia Jiao. Crown Prince Peizhi shifted his view towards them and smiled, turning back to Prince Yi Feng. He didn't allow them to rise.

"Are you here to visit the Emperor?" He asked.

"What else?" Prince Yi Feng said coldly.

"Of course," Crown Prince Peizhi said with mock friendliness. He motioned with his arm for Prince Yi Feng to go first. "Chancellor Ping, you should rise. Your knees will get sore."

'Is he the only one with knees?' Liang Lia Jiao sneered.

Crown Prince glanced back at the kneeling Liang Lia Jiao and Qin Weimin. He only now noticed that Liang Lia Jiao was a woman. He turned around and walked back to her, extending her his hand. She looked up at him with uncertainty. He was smiling brightly with a charming expression. "Rise," he said. She put her small hand into his large warm hands.

Prince Yi Feng had paused and turned to watch his brother. His eyes darkened, watching him assess Liang Lia Jiao.

Liang Lia Jiao found Prince Peizhi's smile to be inviting, and she smiled back at him warmly.

"Thank you." She pulled her hand away but showed a grateful expression. Crown Prince Peizhi stared at his empty hand a little disappointed.

"A new servant?" Crown Prince asked Prince Yi Feng.

"Mmm," he answered curtly. It was evident he didn't recognize Lia Jiao. For some reason, that made him feel happy. He didn't want him to know. "I'm going to see the Emperor."

Crown Prince Tan Peizhi frowned, turning from Liang Lia Jiao, then nodded his head and turned around.

"Crown Prince?" Lia Jiao called out.

He turned around, his lips drawn in an elegant smile.

Lia Jiao darted her eyes towards the still kneeling Qin Weimin.

Crown Prince Tan Peizhi chuckled and gave her a pampering smile, "You should get up to Qin Weimin."