An Eight-year-old Princess novel Chapter 126

Confusion reflected on the faces of everyone present at the banquet. After all, the marriage edict issued by the Emperor during the New Year's Eve feast was well known. However...

They all looked at Prince Jing who seemed to be aloof. He calmly sipped from his teacup without so much as a glance at Yu'er. As for Princess Yun Shang who always kept to herself, she seemed to be calm as well. There was a faint smile of amusement on her lips.

Emperor Ning contemplated before replying, "Lady Yu'er has good taste in men. But, I have already permitted the marriage between Princess Hui Guo and Prince Jing. Although the wedding ceremony hasn't been held yet, the marriage edict has been issued and is well known. An Emperor's words should be taken seriously. Are you asking me to contradict myself?"

Yu'er didn't seem to be surprised. She did a small curtsy and blushed scarlet, "It's fine. I want to be with Prince Jing, even if it means serving him as his concubine."

Emperor Ning stopped smiling and spoke seriously, "When the deceased Emperor was alive, he promised that Prince Jing could make his own decisions. And the Prince asked me to issue the edict allowing his marriage with Yun Shang. Lady Yu'er, if you want to be his concubine, you have to ask his permission. If he is comfortable with this proposal, I will respect his wish."

When Yu'er heard these words, her eyes sparkled. She smiled and handed a cup of wine to Prince Jing, "Prince, I have admired you for a long time. Can you help me to achieve my dream?"

Yu'er was confident. She was aware that polygamy was common in the State of Ning. She also knew that she was beautiful enough to enchant any man she met. Nobody would refuse her proposal.

Prince Jing raised his head but didn't look at Yu'er. He looked across the Hall at Yun Shang. Yun Shang raised her eyebrow wittily and proposed a toast to Prince Jing.

Prince Jing sensed the slyness in her glance which seemed to convey that he was a ladykiller. Prince Jing couldn't help smiling when he thought of Yun Shang saying this in her unique tone and voice. However, his smile surprised Yu'er and increased her confidence.

As she mused over the possibility of such an attractive man becoming her husband, she heard Prince Jing speak. His hoarse voice made her heart throb. At this moment, however, Prince Jing said, "I was thinking about other things, and didn't hear what this lady was talking about. But..." Prince Jing turned, looked at Emperor Ning and asked with doubt, "Your Highness, I have no idea how a dancing girl can talk to me in this way."

Everybody in the Hall was surprised by his words. Prince Jing was thinking about other things and completely ignored Yu'er. Besides, he belittled Yu'er by saying that she was just a dancing girl.

Yu'er was taken aback and smiled awkwardly although she was angry.

Emperor Ning was also astonished. In retrospect, he was aware that he didn't like Yu'er either. As Emperor, he should not have accepted her outrageous behavior simply because she was part of a diplomatic mission. Despite being aware of Prince Jing's marriage with Yun Shang, Yu'er was brazen enough to put forward the proposal of being Prince Jing's second wife. This was clearly an attempt to embarrass Yun Shang. Emperor Ning laughed heartily, "Prince Jing, can you tell us what you were thinking about? This lady standing before you is the daughter of the Chief Councilor of the State of Yelang. She is a respectable lady."

Prince Jing looked astonished, and replied, "I see. I was thinking that..." Prince Jing frowned faintly, which certainly made others curious about his thoughts. Then, he spoke leisurely, "The pattern embroidered on Yun Shang's clothes is white pear flower. However, we were drinking jasmine tea at the tea house. So, I wondered which flower Yun Shang liked better, pear or jasmine. Yesterday, I asked the owner of Suiyu Shop to make a jewelry set for her."

Prince Jing stopped for a moment before looking across the Hall at Yun Shang, "It was intended as a surprise for her. However, I couldn't decide which kind of flower was better. So, the owner of the Suiyu Shop suggested that I should observe her favorite flowers." He added after another moment's silence, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for mentioning such trivial things. What did you want to know?"

Prince Jing's unexpected response truly astonished the Emperor as well as other officials who feared him. How could a man as cold and cruel as Prince Jing, think about such things in such a serious setting?

After hearing these words, Yun Shang lowered her head, and blushed.