XH 265 - Their boss played truant
Today, Long Lian had booked a private room in a famous little restaurant near the 'Xiao Bao' store for lunch and had a good chat with her soon-to-be sister-in-law. It was also to celebrate their birthday together.
Yu Zheng did not join the young ladies' chat and stayed at the 'Xiao Bao' store to wait for them, giving excuses that they would not want an old person to ruin their fun.
"It's so adorable, especially this rabbit!" Long Lian gushed as she held onto her birthday present from Xiao Hua. The rabbit looked similar to her contracted beast in its Saint Rabbit form! "I will treasure it well! This is truly lovely!"
Xiao Hua smiled as she thought it was Long Lian that grew even more lovely the older she gets. Even the King of Munzhu was aware of it too and accompanied her everywhere to fend off other men with designs on her.
He was even here for today's visit!
But, doesn't he need to take care of his country? Wasn't the ruler supposed to be the busiest?
Xiao Hua momentarily has sympathy towards Tian Liang's subordinates that had to overwork because their boss played truant.
Placed onto a table and pushed to Long Lian was a small bag with three steamed buns that Xiao Hua had chosen the best among the others. "This is also for you. It's steamed buns with sweet corn filling inside."
"Oh! I have long ago wished to have a taste of it!" Long Lian looked overjoyed.
Xiao Hua turned to Tian Liang, giving him an apologetic look. "If I had known the King of Munzhu would be joining us today, I would have brought more steamed buns for you to enjoy. I apologize for not being thoughtful and wronged you."
Tian Liang wondered why this little chili had never been sincerely friendly towards him, despite she had verbally accepted his courtship towards Long Lian. Just like her word of apology, which sounded sincere but she should have known he would always be beside Long Lian every time they met up!
And what's with her gaze that held sympathy and disgust at the same time?
He could not see which part of this chili that Long Lian would be so fond of and even learned bad habits from! Other than coming up with weird food, but acceptable taste.
"Xiao Hua, will you go back to Guilin with me tomorrow?" Long Lian asked.
"...Eh?" The question seriously caught her off guard that she blurted out, "Why?"
"Certainly because you will be going back to Guilin as well! I will be going back to Guilin too, so it will be best to go back together."
Previously, she had headed to Munzhu as an envoy to help send a sensitive letter for her Eighth brother's behalf. Tian Liang insisted on escorting her back home, afraid she will encounter danger on the way back. His joining in today's meeting was truly coincidental.
"Sorry, but I can't go back yet."
"Why not? Is it not already past two years of your promised stay? If it's about the seven days' taboo, it will be fine once you married my third brother within the time period. The wedding preparations are already completed back home and my horses are fast."
Xiao Hua did not say anything, looking indecisive. But Long Lian caught her gaze trailed to Tian Liang's direction and knew she would not speak as long as he was here.
"Tian Liang, could you leave us alone for a while?" Long Lian asked.
Tian Liang scowled and placed down the cup of tea he had been enjoying. "Why? Is there anything I'm not allowed to hear?"
Annoyed at his tone, Xiao Hua spoke in a slightly defensive tone, "Unless you put on rouge and wear a female dress, you will not be allowed to join in our sisterhood conversation."
Xiao Hua had never excluded him from any conversation she had with Long Lian previously since their topic of conversation was not sensitive issues. But this conversation would not be suitable for his ears. Especially if Xiao Hua might accidentally reveal some methods that will be useful for Long Lian in tormenting Tian Liang a bit.
Both young ladies agreed that the rumored favorite concubine that was his childhood lover would need to be handled properly before Long Lian would marry Tian Liang. Even if Tian Liang said that the concubine was just a childhood friend who he only has a friendship with, it was not the case in the mind of those people around Tian Liang. His act of kindness to save his childhood friend from an unwanted arranged marriage by letting her be his concubine was seen as his declaration of a man towards his lover once a rival appears.
It was nearly half a year ago when Long Lian first went to Munzhu Country as an envoy instead of a hostage. It was a pleasant visit until a beautiful female dressed in lavish attire greeted Tian Liang with a sweet smile and eyes that spoke she missed him. Those that do not know the truth would easily believe that the King and the concubine were childhood sweethearts with a loving relationship!
Beforehand, Long Lian could trust Tian Liang's words that he and his concubine have a clean relationship and he never touched her. But after seeing the childhood friend, Long Lian knew that the concubine loves Tian Liang as a woman does towards a man! With such a female with strong position in Tian Liang's heart, Long Lian was not wrong to be worried!
Even if Xiao Hua was Long Lian's good friend, Tian Liang will not excuse her rudeness. "You dare to demand this king to dress up as a female to mock me? Are you not afraid that this King will kill you as your punishment?"
Of course, Xiao Hua was afraid. Tian Liang was a fourth rank cultivator and she was the forever second rank cultivator. However, she has a strong Da Bei with her!
"Please leave, Your Majesty," Long Lian said curtly, fixing a distant gaze at Tian Liang, which hurt him more than he had expected.
For this lowly girl, she would not hesitate to place him aside?
Xiao Hua pursed her lips and frowned. She was taken aback at the obvious hurt reflected in his eyes. Was she too harsh on Tian Liang? Her anger for Long Lian's sake might be too much and wronged him.
"Could it be that Your Majesty is that insecure about yourself?" Xiao Hua lightly inserted her foot between them, pulling the aggro back to her. Her tone was much more amiable than before, but her words were as harsh as before. "We will be speaking of marriage and female issues, which will taint your manly ears. Please excuse us maidens for feeling shy about our feminine concerns and do not wish for a masculine male to pick apart our delicate feelings."
Due to Xiao Hua's softer tone, Tian Liang also put down most of his heavy feelings, but her words made him refute them. "What is there to taint my ear? As an adult, I knew more of the world than both of you combined."
Xiao Hua blinked her round peach shaped eyes. "You mean you knew about a female's monthly concerns?"
Tian Liang frowned. "Certainly."
Long Lian giggled lightly when she remembered that Tian Liang had helped care for her during her delicate days with a stiff posture and a 'what should I do' expression. Her giggle healed a little of his wounded heart.
"Then, I shall be honest on what I wish to talk to Long Lian about," Xiao Hua said solemnly. Her sudden agreement surprised Tian Liang and Long Lian. "I would never agree to have my husband accepting concubines or any other mistresses outside. If he had fallen for another, I would certainly ask for a divorce and return to my maternal home. Even if my husband has a concubine before accepting me as his wife, I would ask him to divorce his concubine first. I am this stubborn and wilful, but I have the backing to do so. Do you agree with me, Long Lian?"
Long Lian blinked in a daze when her opinion was suddenly asked and Xiao Hua's gaze pinned at her pushed her to quickly answer. "Yes."
Xiao Hua looked innocent, as if unaware of what fire she had flamed greater, as she turned to look at the provoked Tian Liang. "Your Majesty, please do not misunderstand. Even though we complain about our life, we have accepted our identity as a female, and would not step a foot out of the drawn line dictated by males. No matter how much we anguished at how terrible our husband is, we must comply with the rules. Isn't this what everyone demanded us, females, to be?"
"You want to influence Lian to develop a rebellious nature?" Tian Liang asked testily, but his eyes showed a brief understanding of her words.
It was enough for now.
With a blooming smile, Xiao Hua laughed lightly. "How could I, a mere young girl that had not seen much of the word, would be able to sway the intelligent and strong-willed princess so easily. Your Majesty, please do not underestimate Princess Long Lian, or you would be insulting her."
In the first place, it was Long Lian that sought Xiao Hua for help, not her that step between their relationship.
"But of course, that isn't what I wish to speak with Long Lian about. I am worried about my upcoming marriage and wish for the princess to soothe my concerns and prepare my delicate heart. Surely Your Majesty will not be interested in it? I do not wish to show my crying face to you and reduce my favourability in your eyes."
Tian Liang's expression changed. He certainly does not wish to see her crying. "Since you have asked for this to a great length, I will leave the two of you to speak."
Raising himself from the floor, Da Bei stalked towards Tian Liang as if asking him to walk out with him. If Tian Liang still refused to go out, Da Bei would have thrown him out himself. He agreed with Xiao Hua that Tian Liang was too busybody for his own good and the two sisters needed some time alone.
