Chapter 233
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"Why are you bringing stranger inside my mansion?" Xiao Tianyao asked agitatedly as he let go Qianru's hand when they already away from Bai Yuyan.
Bai Yuyan couldn't follow them because more than five guards were surrounding her and didn't allow her to go further, Liu Wei and the other guards couldn't help her too, or to put it in the right words, they were not willing to even lift a finger to help her.
"In the future she will not be a stranger anymore." Qianru took a deep breath, before she continued to speak, Xiao Tianyao had walked so fast and Qianru almost couldn't catch up with him. "She will be Jun's concubine."
"Jun's concubine?" Xiao Tianyao suddenly stopped walking and faced her. "What kind of nonsense that you blurted out?" He crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"That is the true." Qianru chuckled upon seeing Xiao Tianyao's strong reaction. "The Emperor had just bestowed her to Jun as a present." She leaned her back against the hand rail of the hallway.
"Present?" Xiao Tianyao repeated the word incredulously. "A concubine as a present? Doesn't he know that taking a concubine is never been our tradition? He wanted to make people questioned Jun instead."
"Well, that what I assume as well." Qianru agreed.
Because taking a concubine wasn't their tradition, people would make uproar if Xiao Jun was really married Bai Yuyan, though Qianru was still alive.
Once that happened, Xiao Jun most likely would lost many support from the Elder Ministers, who had been very loyal toward him for these past years. They would be strongly against it.
Not to mention Azura's people, who admired Xiao Jun and still wanted to see him took back his throne.
Without doubt, Xiao Jun would lose a lot of strong supporters and people's heart.
"Does Jun know about this?" Xiao Tianyao leaned his back against the hand rail beside Qianru.
Qianru shook her head. "I don't know, I think Liu Wei wrote a letter for him."
"Liu Wei?" Xiao Tianyao stared at her in deep thought. "You fight with him." That wasn't a question, but a statement.
He had known each other for more than decades, it was easy to see if something unpleasant had happened to them.
"How can I fight him? He could crush me with his single finger." Qianru tried to avoid the real topic as she laughed dryly.
However, there was nothing for Xiao Tianyao to be laughed as he waited for Qianru to stop. "You know what I meant." He only said that when Qianru's laugh turned awkward.
"I didn't fight with him." Qianru sighed and stared at the distance, repeating her words. "I give up on him."
"Give up?" Xiao Tianyao didn't believe with what he heard, Qianru had loved his brother for, only God knew how long. Like Xiao Jun, Xiao Tianyao also didn't believe that the word 'give up' would come from Qianru's mouth in the same term with Xiao Jun. "There must be a big mistake that Jun had committed for you to give up on him."
Qianru shook her head slowly as she reminisced the moments when she was with him. "No, he didn't do anything wrong, he just being true to himself. He had never loved me the way I love him."
Xiao Tianyao wanted to say something, but he canceled his intention as he listened to her.
"He loves Riana, until now." Qianru raised her head and there was sadness that crossed those beautiful eyes. "My presence will not be able to compete with her in his heart and I am very tired, so I quiet."
"He loves Riana indeed." Xiao Tianyao also reminisced the moment when his brother was obviously infatuated by the girl named Riana. "But, he also loves you."
Qianru rolled her eyes and said with chuckle, "Thank you for your encouragement, but I don't need that now, I have someone who will be Jun's concubine at home and she quite gives me a headache."
"That's not encouragement words, I stated the fact." Xiao Tianyao scrunched his nose in disagreement. "Except Riana and you, I have never seen him with any other woman."
"That was just because he was too busy to save the world." Qianru waved her hand, didn't want to continue the conversation.
"I wonder how his reaction once he comeback and found out there will be a concubine waiting for him." Xiao Tianyao contemplated, it was only with Qianru he would talk a bit longer and less cold than usual.
"I wonder the same thing too." Qianru giggled as she imagined how Xiao Jun's reaction would be when he realized Bai Yuyan had been living inside his chamber as well.
"So, tell me why are you here all of sudden?" Xiao Tianyao asked in serious tone, he had feeling that Qianru wasn't there to see him.
Qianru looked up at Xiao Tianyao. "I heard about Luna from Jun…" She started, but she already could see Xiao Tianyao's jaws tightened. "Don't get me wrong, I am not here to judge you, I just want to see her."
"She is on our side now." Xiao Tianyao directly stated, he became defensive all of sudden.
"Let me see her and I will sure which side she had taken." Qianru assured him.
"She must have been sleeping at this time." Xiao Tianyao said.
"Sleeping? At this time?" Qianru asked him skeptically, it was just a bit past noon.
"Yes, her pregnancy makes her sleepy." Xiao Tianyao crossed his arms. "Her health is not good either."
Actually, Luna's health had improved significantly since Doctor Lin checked on her and she got her medicine from her younger brother, Gong Xu, in time. However, recently Luna didn't want to drink anything that was given from Doctor Lin and she didn't want to let him know what happened.
There was some secret that Xiao Tianyao felt Luna tried to hide, she seemed quite uncomfortable near Doctor Lin.
"Well, I have come this far, at least you have to be sure that she is sleeping." Qianru stated stubbornly as she took a step toward Xiao Tianyao's courtyard.
"My place and your place is only fifteen minutes apart, what do you mean by 'this far'?" Xiao Tianyao complained, but he followed Qianru in the end.
If he would have a strong reaction against Xiao Jun whenever they had argumentation, Xiao Tianyao couldn't do that toward Qianru, she was like a sister for him and she was the only person who closed to him after his brother.
Xiao Tianyao and Qianru walked toward his courtyard, where Luna stayed, while talking about trivial thing, Qianru didn't ask Xiao Tianyao about his discord with Xiao Jun, she also didn't bring up the topic about Luna as a mind controller or the fact she was a daughter of Modama.
Qianru didn't want to talk about those things.
Fortunately, when they arrived at Xiao Tianyao's courtyard Luna was there, she was sitting on the bench while enjoying the wind that blew past her hair and fluttered her dress.
She was very different person from the woman that Qianru had met months ago, when she was pretending to fall asleep while Qianru looked after her.
Luna looked calmer and less hostile than before, there was something in her, which was telling, she was a happy person now.
Qianru also noticed the slight bump on her stomach and subconsciously touched her own, if her baby was still there, they would be friend with each other as they only a few months apart.
This realization hurt Qianru as she tried to suppress it.
All this time, she had been avoiding to think about this topic, though the sadness of losing her baby would leak every time she was alone, but she tried to not fall too deep into depression.
"Luna, I think you have met with Qianru before." Xiao Tianyao walked toward Luna and introduced Qianru casually. "She comes to see you."
Luna looked at Qianru and gave a faint smile that Qianru reciprocated the same, both of them still remembered the last time they met, after all that wasn't a pleasant event to remember.
"Thank you for your visit." Luna said politely, her relax expression changed into the serious one as if Qianru would attack her anytime.
"There is something that I need to do, I will leave both of you here." Xiao Tianyao said as he walked back toward his study room, leaving both women in awkward situation.
Qianru took a seat beside Luna and tried to initiate the conversation. "So, how many months you are in now?" She looked at Luna's stomach.
"The baby will five month next week." Luna said as she caressed her stomach and her gaze softened. It must be a great feeling to be an expectant mother.
Qianru looked Luna with envy.
"I am sorry for your lost." Luna stated her condolences all of sudden, her voice was sincere when she said that.
"How do you know?" Qianru was squinted her eyes, felt uncomfortable because Luna knew about it.
She could understand if it was the Emperor as he had spies everywhere, but Luna…
"Don't worry." Luna reassured Qianru. "I don't try to use my ability, after all I can't do it now, it will take so much effort for me to do that, but I am still able to feel your grief." She explained, trying not to scare her.
"It's alright." Qianru replied with downcast eyes, recently that answer became her favorite as she often said it.
"You are not alright Princess Xiao." Luna spoke in low voice. "And moreover, Tianyao also knew about this."
Qianru first reaction was surprised, but then she chuckled. "I think this matter is a secret, I don't know that many people had known about this."
"It must be hard on you." Luna looked at Qianru with soft eyes. "But everything will past."
"I know…" Qianru looked down at her fingers, didn't feel like she wanted to continue the conversation. Luna felt her reluctant as well.
"I am in Tianyao's side." Luna suddenly blurted out.
"What?" Qianru abruptly raised her head.
"You don't have to worry, I am in Tianyao's side." She repeated her words. "He is the father of my child, there is no way I want to harm him." A beautiful smiled grazed her lips when she mentioned Xiao Tianyao's name.
"Your ability is creepy." Qianru knitted her brows, but Luna only chuckled upon her complaint. "I think you will be a good mother."
"Thank you and you also." Luna saw the pain crossed Qianru's eyes and reached out to grab her hand. "Don't lost hope, everything is possible."
"I don't know…" Qianru shook her head, but didn't mind with Luna's supportive gesture. "I don't even know that I want to try again."
"Princess Xiao, you just need time to heal your wound, but don't quit the fight." Luna squeezed Qianru's hand in encouragement.
The initial meeting was to assure Qianru that Luna had changed for good, but it turned out as Qianru confided in her.
"I was looking for you everywhere." There was a cried that startled both women in their melancholic atmosphere. "Why did you leave me alone?!"
Qianru raised her head as she was growing familiar with Bai Yuyan's voice.
"Oh, you have done with the check?" Qianru asked innocently, she sighed in regret. "I forgot to tell you that Tianyou's mansion really not that kind with outsider."
"I am not an outsider! I will be his sister in law!" Bai Yuyan was livid.
Her statement surprised Luna as she looked at Qianru questioningly, but the later had her eyes on Bai Yuyan as she replied. "But, you are not now." She stated the fact.
Bai Yuyan had never been success to disturb Qianru's calm demeanor, no matter what she did or what she said, Qianru would response to all of those calmly and that almost drove her insane.
Bai Yuyan shifted her eyes on Luna. "Oh, so this is the last survivor of the palace maid of Xinghe Kingdom?" She crossed her arms arrogantly, if she couldn't shake Qianru's patience to vent her anger, then Luna would do.
Bai Yuyan didn't know Luna real identity as the only thing that she heard was the rumor inside the palace about a woman that Xiao Tianyao had brought from Xinghe Kingdom, after all, Xiao Tianyao lost his position in military because of this woman.
The romance story and how other people envied how lucky Luna was, had spread through all the corner of the palace. People only knew Luna as a servant in the Xinghe Kingdom, thus that was what Bai Yuyan also knew because there was no way Xiao Zi would say something very confidential to her.
Luna raised her eyebrows as her lips curled into smile. "And you are?" Luna drawled her question lazily.
"You don't need to know me, all you have to remember is, my status is higher than you." Bai Yuyan was so livid because of the check that those guards ran on her and was so agitated by Qianru callousness, so there was nothing that she cared except find someone to let out her anger.
"I don't know who you are, but I am still the mistress in this mansion, so you don't have anything good to say, I will be very glad if you leave us alone, your present is not welcomed." Luna said sternly as she glared at Bai Yuyan.
"She is a concubine who is bestowed by the Emperor for Jun." Qianru generously explained.
"A concubine?" Luna scoffed. "I don't know if that position is existed in this country.
"A mistress?" Bai Yuyan didn't want to back down easily. "You are not even married Prince Xiao Tianyao yet." She blurted out disdainfully.
"Yes, I am not." Luna suddenly stood up gracefully and this startled Bai Yuyan, though the distance between them quite far, but the hostility that emanated from Luna's eyes was enough to make her took a step back. "But, what Tianyao did for me is enough to see how much he valued me."
Luna's word wasn't completely wrong, although their relationship recently had been better and Xiao Tianyao often show his sincere affection toward her, but at the time Xiao Tianyao stepped down from his position in the military was the time when he was still under Luna's control.
However, Bai Yuyan didn't know about this and she didn't need to know.
In the other hand, Bai Yuyan clenched her fist agitatedly, she wanted to talk back at Luna, but couldn't find a chance to bring her down.
"The Emperor also said he chose Miss Bai for a purpose." Qianru crossed her legs leisurely while looking at Bai Yuyan who had been spitting fire from her eyes.
"What purpose?" Luna played along with Qianru as she knew her intention.
"Her purpose is to give an heir for Jun." Qianru feigned a sad expression that disgusted Bai Yuyan, in her eyes, both Qianru and Luna was making a fun of her.
The position that she proud of before, when it was spoke by Qianru and Luna, it turned out to be an unpleasant status that lower than a servant. Bai Yuyan couldn't help but felt embarrassed.
How both of them could play with their words in such a way until it could change people point of view in such a calm manner?
"Oh," Luna covered her mouth as her perfect brows locked together. "Such a poor thing."
"Poor thing?" Bai Yuyan's voice raised a few octaves as she glared at Luna and Qianru. "The real poor thing is her." She pointed her slender finger at Qianru. "Who couldn't give a birth to her own husband!"
Bai Yuyan's words were really set Qianru off, she stood up and was about to slap Bai Yuyan for saying such thing.
Her behavior couldn't be tolerable anymore.
Bai Yuyan had been making a fuss since the first time she arrived at Xiao Jun's mansion and threw sarcastic words every now and then, however Qianru could still bear with her childish attitude and mostly ignored her.
But, her words earlier was really improper words to say and it really hit Qianru hard. Bai Yuyan hit the sore spot that Qianru couldn't tolerable anymore.
Qianru clenched her fist as she stomped forward, but before she could reach Bai Yuyan, a harsh slapping sound was heard as Bai Yuyan fell to the ground.
It wasn't only Bai Yuyan who was in shock, but also Qianru, she never thought that Luna would slap Bai Yuyan instead.
Silent fell in the yard, even the two guards, who were always guarding Luna, were caught out of guard. They had never thought Luna could be so fierce.
In the other hand, Bai Yuyan's eyes opened wide, her lips trembled as the pain stung her cheeks and her face turned red.
Standing tall, Luna stared down at Bai Yuyan. Her eyes, somehow, were so dreadful until the other person could feel chill ran down from her spine.
"Guard!" Luna shouted, her voice was so powerful that the two guards immediately came into her view. "Throw this girl out of the mansion!"
Without waiting, the two guard immediately grabbed Bai Yuyan's each arm and dragged her out of Luna's line of sight.
Qianru, who witnessed the event before her eyes, was amazed. Seemingly Luna had really secured the position of mistress of the household to be able to give an order like that.
"You don't have to do that." Qianru walked toward Luna after those guards brought Bai Yuyan, who was screaming and kicking, away.
Luna glanced at Qianru. "Don't say that you pity her."
"Pity her?" Qianru asked with a mocking laugh. "I have been waiting to do that for days and you did it instead of me."
"A 'thank you' will be sufficient." Luna smiled as she caressed her stomach.
Qianru looked at the woman in front of her. "Maybe we can be a friend." She said softly.
"I am looking forward into it." Luna replied with smile on her face.
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"Why are you bringing stranger inside my mansion?" Xiao Tianyao asked agitatedly as he let go Qianru's hand when they already away from Bai Yuyan.
Bai Yuyan couldn't follow them because more than five guards were surrounding her and didn't allow her to go further, Liu Wei and the other guards couldn't help her too, or to put it in the right words, they were not willing to even lift a finger to help her.
"In the future she will not be a stranger anymore." Qianru took a deep breath, before she continued to speak, Xiao Tianyao had walked so fast and Qianru almost couldn't catch up with him. "She will be Jun's concubine."
"Jun's concubine?" Xiao Tianyao suddenly stopped walking and faced her. "What kind of nonsense that you blurted out?" He crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"That is the true." Qianru chuckled upon seeing Xiao Tianyao's strong reaction. "The Emperor had just bestowed her to Jun as a present." She leaned her back against the hand rail of the hallway.
"Present?" Xiao Tianyao repeated the word incredulously. "A concubine as a present? Doesn't he know that taking a concubine is never been our tradition? He wanted to make people questioned Jun instead."
"Well, that what I assume as well." Qianru agreed.
Because taking a concubine wasn't their tradition, people would make uproar if Xiao Jun was really married Bai Yuyan, though Qianru was still alive.
Once that happened, Xiao Jun most likely would lost many support from the Elder Ministers, who had been very loyal toward him for these past years. They would be strongly against it.
Not to mention Azura's people, who admired Xiao Jun and still wanted to see him took back his throne.
Without doubt, Xiao Jun would lose a lot of strong supporters and people's heart.
"Does Jun know about this?" Xiao Tianyao leaned his back against the hand rail beside Qianru.
Qianru shook her head. "I don't know, I think Liu Wei wrote a letter for him."
"Liu Wei?" Xiao Tianyao stared at her in deep thought. "You fight with him." That wasn't a question, but a statement.
He had known each other for more than decades, it was easy to see if something unpleasant had happened to them.
"How can I fight him? He could crush me with his single finger." Qianru tried to avoid the real topic as she laughed dryly.
However, there was nothing for Xiao Tianyao to be laughed as he waited for Qianru to stop. "You know what I meant." He only said that when Qianru's laugh turned awkward.
"I didn't fight with him." Qianru sighed and stared at the distance, repeating her words. "I give up on him."
"Give up?" Xiao Tianyao didn't believe with what he heard, Qianru had loved his brother for, only God knew how long. Like Xiao Jun, Xiao Tianyao also didn't believe that the word 'give up' would come from Qianru's mouth in the same term with Xiao Jun. "There must be a big mistake that Jun had committed for you to give up on him."
Qianru shook her head slowly as she reminisced the moments when she was with him. "No, he didn't do anything wrong, he just being true to himself. He had never loved me the way I love him."
Xiao Tianyao wanted to say something, but he canceled his intention as he listened to her.
"He loves Riana, until now." Qianru raised her head and there was sadness that crossed those beautiful eyes. "My presence will not be able to compete with her in his heart and I am very tired, so I quiet."
"He loves Riana indeed." Xiao Tianyao also reminisced the moment when his brother was obviously infatuated by the girl named Riana. "But, he also loves you."
Qianru rolled her eyes and said with chuckle, "Thank you for your encouragement, but I don't need that now, I have someone who will be Jun's concubine at home and she quite gives me a headache."
"That's not encouragement words, I stated the fact." Xiao Tianyao scrunched his nose in disagreement. "Except Riana and you, I have never seen him with any other woman."
"That was just because he was too busy to save the world." Qianru waved her hand, didn't want to continue the conversation.
"I wonder how his reaction once he comeback and found out there will be a concubine waiting for him." Xiao Tianyao contemplated, it was only with Qianru he would talk a bit longer and less cold than usual.
"I wonder the same thing too." Qianru giggled as she imagined how Xiao Jun's reaction would be when he realized Bai Yuyan had been living inside his chamber as well.
"So, tell me why are you here all of sudden?" Xiao Tianyao asked in serious tone, he had feeling that Qianru wasn't there to see him.
Qianru looked up at Xiao Tianyao. "I heard about Luna from Jun…" She started, but she already could see Xiao Tianyao's jaws tightened. "Don't get me wrong, I am not here to judge you, I just want to see her."
"She is on our side now." Xiao Tianyao directly stated, he became defensive all of sudden.
"Let me see her and I will sure which side she had taken." Qianru assured him.
"She must have been sleeping at this time." Xiao Tianyao said.
"Sleeping? At this time?" Qianru asked him skeptically, it was just a bit past noon.
"Yes, her pregnancy makes her sleepy." Xiao Tianyao crossed his arms. "Her health is not good either."
Actually, Luna's health had improved significantly since Doctor Lin checked on her and she got her medicine from her younger brother, Gong Xu, in time. However, recently Luna didn't want to drink anything that was given from Doctor Lin and she didn't want to let him know what happened.
There was some secret that Xiao Tianyao felt Luna tried to hide, she seemed quite uncomfortable near Doctor Lin.
"Well, I have come this far, at least you have to be sure that she is sleeping." Qianru stated stubbornly as she took a step toward Xiao Tianyao's courtyard.
"My place and your place is only fifteen minutes apart, what do you mean by 'this far'?" Xiao Tianyao complained, but he followed Qianru in the end.
If he would have a strong reaction against Xiao Jun whenever they had argumentation, Xiao Tianyao couldn't do that toward Qianru, she was like a sister for him and she was the only person who closed to him after his brother.
Xiao Tianyao and Qianru walked toward his courtyard, where Luna stayed, while talking about trivial thing, Qianru didn't ask Xiao Tianyao about his discord with Xiao Jun, she also didn't bring up the topic about Luna as a mind controller or the fact she was a daughter of Modama.
Qianru didn't want to talk about those things.
Fortunately, when they arrived at Xiao Tianyao's courtyard Luna was there, she was sitting on the bench while enjoying the wind that blew past her hair and fluttered her dress.
She was very different person from the woman that Qianru had met months ago, when she was pretending to fall asleep while Qianru looked after her.
Luna looked calmer and less hostile than before, there was something in her, which was telling, she was a happy person now.
Qianru also noticed the slight bump on her stomach and subconsciously touched her own, if her baby was still there, they would be friend with each other as they only a few months apart.
This realization hurt Qianru as she tried to suppress it.
All this time, she had been avoiding to think about this topic, though the sadness of losing her baby would leak every time she was alone, but she tried to not fall too deep into depression.
"Luna, I think you have met with Qianru before." Xiao Tianyao walked toward Luna and introduced Qianru casually. "She comes to see you."
Luna looked at Qianru and gave a faint smile that Qianru reciprocated the same, both of them still remembered the last time they met, after all that wasn't a pleasant event to remember.
"Thank you for your visit." Luna said politely, her relax expression changed into the serious one as if Qianru would attack her anytime.
"There is something that I need to do, I will leave both of you here." Xiao Tianyao said as he walked back toward his study room, leaving both women in awkward situation.
Qianru took a seat beside Luna and tried to initiate the conversation. "So, how many months you are in now?" She looked at Luna's stomach.
"The baby will five month next week." Luna said as she caressed her stomach and her gaze softened. It must be a great feeling to be an expectant mother.
Qianru looked Luna with envy.
"I am sorry for your lost." Luna stated her condolences all of sudden, her voice was sincere when she said that.
"How do you know?" Qianru was squinted her eyes, felt uncomfortable because Luna knew about it.
She could understand if it was the Emperor as he had spies everywhere, but Luna…
"Don't worry." Luna reassured Qianru. "I don't try to use my ability, after all I can't do it now, it will take so much effort for me to do that, but I am still able to feel your grief." She explained, trying not to scare her.
"It's alright." Qianru replied with downcast eyes, recently that answer became her favorite as she often said it.
"You are not alright Princess Xiao." Luna spoke in low voice. "And moreover, Tianyao also knew about this."
Qianru first reaction was surprised, but then she chuckled. "I think this matter is a secret, I don't know that many people had known about this."
"It must be hard on you." Luna looked at Qianru with soft eyes. "But everything will past."
"I know…" Qianru looked down at her fingers, didn't feel like she wanted to continue the conversation. Luna felt her reluctant as well.
"I am in Tianyao's side." Luna suddenly blurted out.
"What?" Qianru abruptly raised her head.
"You don't have to worry, I am in Tianyao's side." She repeated her words. "He is the father of my child, there is no way I want to harm him." A beautiful smiled grazed her lips when she mentioned Xiao Tianyao's name.
"Your ability is creepy." Qianru knitted her brows, but Luna only chuckled upon her complaint. "I think you will be a good mother."
"Thank you and you also." Luna saw the pain crossed Qianru's eyes and reached out to grab her hand. "Don't lost hope, everything is possible."
"I don't know…" Qianru shook her head, but didn't mind with Luna's supportive gesture. "I don't even know that I want to try again."
"Princess Xiao, you just need time to heal your wound, but don't quit the fight." Luna squeezed Qianru's hand in encouragement.
The initial meeting was to assure Qianru that Luna had changed for good, but it turned out as Qianru confided in her.
"I was looking for you everywhere." There was a cried that startled both women in their melancholic atmosphere. "Why did you leave me alone?!"
Qianru raised her head as she was growing familiar with Bai Yuyan's voice.
"Oh, you have done with the check?" Qianru asked innocently, she sighed in regret. "I forgot to tell you that Tianyou's mansion really not that kind with outsider."
"I am not an outsider! I will be his sister in law!" Bai Yuyan was livid.
Her statement surprised Luna as she looked at Qianru questioningly, but the later had her eyes on Bai Yuyan as she replied. "But, you are not now." She stated the fact.
Bai Yuyan had never been success to disturb Qianru's calm demeanor, no matter what she did or what she said, Qianru would response to all of those calmly and that almost drove her insane.
Bai Yuyan shifted her eyes on Luna. "Oh, so this is the last survivor of the palace maid of Xinghe Kingdom?" She crossed her arms arrogantly, if she couldn't shake Qianru's patience to vent her anger, then Luna would do.
Bai Yuyan didn't know Luna real identity as the only thing that she heard was the rumor inside the palace about a woman that Xiao Tianyao had brought from Xinghe Kingdom, after all, Xiao Tianyao lost his position in military because of this woman.
The romance story and how other people envied how lucky Luna was, had spread through all the corner of the palace. People only knew Luna as a servant in the Xinghe Kingdom, thus that was what Bai Yuyan also knew because there was no way Xiao Zi would say something very confidential to her.
Luna raised her eyebrows as her lips curled into smile. "And you are?" Luna drawled her question lazily.
"You don't need to know me, all you have to remember is, my status is higher than you." Bai Yuyan was so livid because of the check that those guards ran on her and was so agitated by Qianru callousness, so there was nothing that she cared except find someone to let out her anger.
"I don't know who you are, but I am still the mistress in this mansion, so you don't have anything good to say, I will be very glad if you leave us alone, your present is not welcomed." Luna said sternly as she glared at Bai Yuyan.
"She is a concubine who is bestowed by the Emperor for Jun." Qianru generously explained.
"A concubine?" Luna scoffed. "I don't know if that position is existed in this country.
"A mistress?" Bai Yuyan didn't want to back down easily. "You are not even married Prince Xiao Tianyao yet." She blurted out disdainfully.
"Yes, I am not." Luna suddenly stood up gracefully and this startled Bai Yuyan, though the distance between them quite far, but the hostility that emanated from Luna's eyes was enough to make her took a step back. "But, what Tianyao did for me is enough to see how much he valued me."
Luna's word wasn't completely wrong, although their relationship recently had been better and Xiao Tianyao often show his sincere affection toward her, but at the time Xiao Tianyao stepped down from his position in the military was the time when he was still under Luna's control.
However, Bai Yuyan didn't know about this and she didn't need to know.
In the other hand, Bai Yuyan clenched her fist agitatedly, she wanted to talk back at Luna, but couldn't find a chance to bring her down.
"The Emperor also said he chose Miss Bai for a purpose." Qianru crossed her legs leisurely while looking at Bai Yuyan who had been spitting fire from her eyes.
"What purpose?" Luna played along with Qianru as she knew her intention.
"Her purpose is to give an heir for Jun." Qianru feigned a sad expression that disgusted Bai Yuyan, in her eyes, both Qianru and Luna was making a fun of her.
The position that she proud of before, when it was spoke by Qianru and Luna, it turned out to be an unpleasant status that lower than a servant. Bai Yuyan couldn't help but felt embarrassed.
How both of them could play with their words in such a way until it could change people point of view in such a calm manner?
"Oh," Luna covered her mouth as her perfect brows locked together. "Such a poor thing."
"Poor thing?" Bai Yuyan's voice raised a few octaves as she glared at Luna and Qianru. "The real poor thing is her." She pointed her slender finger at Qianru. "Who couldn't give a birth to her own husband!"
Bai Yuyan's words were really set Qianru off, she stood up and was about to slap Bai Yuyan for saying such thing.
Her behavior couldn't be tolerable anymore.
Bai Yuyan had been making a fuss since the first time she arrived at Xiao Jun's mansion and threw sarcastic words every now and then, however Qianru could still bear with her childish attitude and mostly ignored her.
But, her words earlier was really improper words to say and it really hit Qianru hard. Bai Yuyan hit the sore spot that Qianru couldn't tolerable anymore.
Qianru clenched her fist as she stomped forward, but before she could reach Bai Yuyan, a harsh slapping sound was heard as Bai Yuyan fell to the ground.
It wasn't only Bai Yuyan who was in shock, but also Qianru, she never thought that Luna would slap Bai Yuyan instead.
Silent fell in the yard, even the two guards, who were always guarding Luna, were caught out of guard. They had never thought Luna could be so fierce.
In the other hand, Bai Yuyan's eyes opened wide, her lips trembled as the pain stung her cheeks and her face turned red.
Standing tall, Luna stared down at Bai Yuyan. Her eyes, somehow, were so dreadful until the other person could feel chill ran down from her spine.
"Guard!" Luna shouted, her voice was so powerful that the two guards immediately came into her view. "Throw this girl out of the mansion!"
Without waiting, the two guard immediately grabbed Bai Yuyan's each arm and dragged her out of Luna's line of sight.
Qianru, who witnessed the event before her eyes, was amazed. Seemingly Luna had really secured the position of mistress of the household to be able to give an order like that.
"You don't have to do that." Qianru walked toward Luna after those guards brought Bai Yuyan, who was screaming and kicking, away.
Luna glanced at Qianru. "Don't say that you pity her."
"Pity her?" Qianru asked with a mocking laugh. "I have been waiting to do that for days and you did it instead of me."
"A 'thank you' will be sufficient." Luna smiled as she caressed her stomach.
Qianru looked at the woman in front of her. "Maybe we can be a friend." She said softly.
"I am looking forward into it." Luna replied with smile on her face.
"Why are you bringing stranger inside my mansion?" Xiao Tianyao asked agitatedly as he let go Qianru's hand when they already away from Bai Yuyan.Bai Yuyan couldn't follow them because more than five guards were surrounding her and didn't allow her to go further, Liu Wei and the other guards couldn't help her too, or to put it in the right words, they were not willing to even lift a finger to help her."In the future she will not be a stranger anymore." Qianru took a deep breath, before she continued to speak, Xiao Tianyao had walked so fast and Qianru almost couldn't catch up with him. "She will be Jun's concubine.""Jun's concubine?" Xiao Tianyao suddenly stopped walking and faced her. "What kind of nonsense that you blurted out?" He crossed his arms in front of his chest."That is the true." Qianru chuckled upon seeing Xiao Tianyao's strong reaction. "The Emperor had just bestowed her to Jun as a present." She leaned her back against the hand rail of the hallway."Present?" Xiao Tianyao repeated the word incredulously. "A concubine as a present? Doesn't he know that taking a concubine is never been our tradition? He wanted to make people questioned Jun instead.""Well, that what I assume as well." Qianru agreed.Because taking a concubine wasn't their tradition, people would make uproar if Xiao Jun was really married Bai Yuyan, though Qianru was still alive.Once that happened, Xiao Jun most likely would lost many support from the Elder Ministers, who had been very loyal toward him for these past years. They would be strongly against it.Not to mention Azura's people, who admired Xiao Jun and still wanted to see him took back his throne.Without doubt, Xiao Jun would lose a lot of strong supporters and people's heart."Does Jun know about this?" Xiao Tianyao leaned his back against the hand rail beside Qianru.Qianru shook her head. "I don't know, I think Liu Wei wrote a letter for him.""Liu Wei?" Xiao Tianyao stared at her in deep thought. "You fight with him." That wasn't a question, but a statement.He had known each other for more than decades, it was easy to see if something unpleasant had happened to them."How can I fight him? He could crush me with his single finger." Qianru tried to avoid the real topic as she laughed dryly.However, there was nothing for Xiao Tianyao to be laughed as he waited for Qianru to stop. "You know what I meant." He only said that when Qianru's laugh turned awkward."I didn't fight with him." Qianru sighed and stared at the distance, repeating her words. "I give up on him.""Give up?" Xiao Tianyao didn't believe with what he heard, Qianru had loved his brother for, only God knew how long. Like Xiao Jun, Xiao Tianyao also didn't believe that the word 'give up' would come from Qianru's mouth in the same term with Xiao Jun. "There must be a big mistake that Jun had committed for you to give up on him."Qianru shook her head slowly as she reminisced the moments when she was with him. "No, he didn't do anything wrong, he just being true to himself. He had never loved me the way I love him."Xiao Tianyao wanted to say something, but he canceled his intention as he listened to her."He loves Riana, until now." Qianru raised her head and there was sadness that crossed those beautiful eyes. "My presence will not be able to compete with her in his heart and I am very tired, so I quiet.""He loves Riana indeed." Xiao Tianyao also reminisced the moment when his brother was obviously infatuated by the girl named Riana. "But, he also loves you."Qianru rolled her eyes and said with chuckle, "Thank you for your encouragement, but I don't need that now, I have someone who will be Jun's concubine at home and she quite gives me a headache.""That's not encouragement words, I stated the fact." Xiao Tianyao scrunched his nose in disagreement. "Except Riana and you, I have never seen him with any other woman.""That was just because he was too busy to save the world." Qianru waved her hand, didn't want to continue the conversation."I wonder how his reaction once he comeback and found out there will be a concubine waiting for him." Xiao Tianyao contemplated, it was only with Qianru he would talk a bit longer and less cold than usual."I wonder the same thing too." Qianru giggled as she imagined how Xiao Jun's reaction would be when he realized Bai Yuyan had been living inside his chamber as well."So, tell me why are you here all of sudden?" Xiao Tianyao asked in serious tone, he had feeling that Qianru wasn't there to see him.Qianru looked up at Xiao Tianyao. "I heard about Luna from Jun" She started, but she already could see Xiao Tianyao's jaws tightened. "Don't get me wrong, I am not here to judge you, I just want to see her.""She is on our side now." Xiao Tianyao directly stated, he became defensive all of sudden."Let me see her and I will sure which side she had taken." Qianru assured him."She must have been sleeping at this time." Xiao Tianyao said."Sleeping? At this time?" Qianru asked him skeptically, it was just a bit past noon."Yes, her pregnancy makes her sleepy." Xiao Tianyao crossed his arms. "Her health is not good either."Actually, Luna's health had improved significantly since Doctor Lin checked on her and she got her medicine from her younger brother, Gong Xu, in time. However, recently Luna didn't want to drink anything that was given from Doctor Lin and she didn't want to let him know what happened.There was some secret that Xiao Tianyao felt Luna tried to hide, she seemed quite uncomfortable near Doctor Lin."Well, I have come this far, at least you have to be sure that she is sleeping." Qianru stated stubbornly as she took a step toward Xiao Tianyao's courtyard."My place and your place is only fifteen minutes apart, what do you mean by 'this far'?" Xiao Tianyao complained, but he followed Qianru in the end.If he would have a strong reaction against Xiao Jun whenever they had argumentation, Xiao Tianyao couldn't do that toward Qianru, she was like a sister for him and she was the only person who closed to him after his brother.Xiao Tianyao and Qianru walked toward his courtyard, where Luna stayed, while talking about trivial thing, Qianru didn't ask Xiao Tianyao about his discord with Xiao Jun, she also didn't bring up the topic about Luna as a mind controller or the fact she was a daughter of Modama.Qianru didn't want to talk about those things.Fortunately, when they arrived at Xiao Tianyao's courtyard Luna was there, she was sitting on the bench while enjoying the wind that blew past her hair and fluttered her dress.She was very different person from the woman that Qianru had met months ago, when she was pretending to fall asleep while Qianru looked after her.Luna looked calmer and less hostile than before, there was something in her, which was telling, she was a happy person now.Qianru also noticed the slight bump on her stomach and subconsciously touched her own, if her baby was still there, they would be friend with each other as they only a few months apart.This realization hurt Qianru as she tried to suppress it.All this time, she had been avoiding to think about this topic, though the sadness of losing her baby would leak every time she was alone, but she tried to not fall too deep into depression."Luna, I think you have met with Qianru before." Xiao Tianyao walked toward Luna and introduced Qianru casually. "She comes to see you."Luna looked at Qianru and gave a faint smile that Qianru reciprocated the same, both of them still remembered the last time they met, after all that wasn't a pleasant event to remember."Thank you for your visit." Luna said politely, her relax expression changed into the serious one as if Qianru would attack her anytime."There is something that I need to do, I will leave both of you here." Xiao Tianyao said as he walked back toward his study room, leaving both women in awkward situation.Qianru took a seat beside Luna and tried to initiate the conversation. "So, how many months you are in now?" She looked at Luna's stomach."The baby will five month next week." Luna said as she caressed her stomach and her gaze softened. It must be a great feeling to be an expectant mother.Qianru looked Luna with envy."I am sorry for your lost." Luna stated her condolences all of sudden, her voice was sincere when she said that."How do you know?" Qianru was squinted her eyes, felt uncomfortable because Luna knew about it.She could understand if it was the Emperor as he had spies everywhere, but Luna"Don't worry." Luna reassured Qianru. "I don't try to use my ability, after all I can't do it now, it will take so much effort for me to do that, but I am still able to feel your grief." She explained, trying not to scare her."It's alright." Qianru replied with downcast eyes, recently that answer became her favorite as she often said it."You are not alright Princess Xiao." Luna spoke in low voice. "And moreover, Tianyao also knew about this."Qianru first reaction was surprised, but then she chuckled. "I think this matter is a secret, I don't know that many people had known about this.""It must be hard on you." Luna looked at Qianru with soft eyes. "But everything will past.""I know" Qianru looked down at her fingers, didn't feel like she wanted to continue the conversation. Luna felt her reluctant as well."I am in Tianyao's side." Luna suddenly blurted out."What?" Qianru abruptly raised her head."You don't have to worry, I am in Tianyao's side." She repeated her words. "He is the father of my child, there is no way I want to harm him." A beautiful smiled grazed her lips when she mentioned Xiao Tianyao's name."Your ability is creepy." Qianru knitted her brows, but Luna only chuckled upon her complaint. "I think you will be a good mother.""Thank you and you also." Luna saw the pain crossed Qianru's eyes and reached out to grab her hand. "Don't lost hope, everything is possible.""I don't know" Qianru shook her head, but didn't mind with Luna's supportive gesture. "I don't even know that I want to try again.""Princess Xiao, you just need time to heal your wound, but don't quit the fight." Luna squeezed Qianru's hand in encouragement.The initial meeting was to assure Qianru that Luna had changed for good, but it turned out as Qianru confided in her."I was looking for you everywhere." There was a cried that startled both women in their melancholic atmosphere. "Why did you leave me alone?!"Qianru raised her head as she was growing familiar with Bai Yuyan's voice."Oh, you have done with the check?" Qianru asked innocently, she sighed in regret. "I forgot to tell you that Tianyou's mansion really not that kind with outsider.""I am not an outsider! I will be his sister in law!" Bai Yuyan was livid.Her statement surprised Luna as she looked at Qianru questioningly, but the later had her eyes on Bai Yuyan as she replied. "But, you are not now." She stated the fact.Bai Yuyan had never been success to disturb Qianru's calm demeanor, no matter what she did or what she said, Qianru would response to all of those calmly and that almost drove her insane.Bai Yuyan shifted her eyes on Luna. "Oh, so this is the last survivor of the palace maid of Xinghe Kingdom?" She crossed her arms arrogantly, if she couldn't shake Qianru's patience to vent her anger, then Luna would do.Bai Yuyan didn't know Luna real identity as the only thing that she heard was the rumor inside the palace about a woman that Xiao Tianyao had brought from Xinghe Kingdom, after all, Xiao Tianyao lost his position in military because of this woman.The romance story and how other people envied how lucky Luna was, had spread through all the corner of the palace. People only knew Luna as a servant in the Xinghe Kingdom, thus that was what Bai Yuyan also knew because there was no way Xiao Zi would say something very confidential to her.Luna raised her eyebrows as her lips curled into smile. "And you are?" Luna drawled her question lazily."You don't need to know me, all you have to remember is, my status is higher than you." Bai Yuyan was so livid because of the check that those guards ran on her and was so agitated by Qianru callousness, so there was nothing that she cared except find someone to let out her anger."I don't know who you are, but I am still the mistress in this mansion, so you don't have anything good to say, I will be very glad if you leave us alone, your present is not welcomed." Luna said sternly as she glared at Bai Yuyan."She is a concubine who is bestowed by the Emperor for Jun." Qianru generously explained."A concubine?" Luna scoffed. "I don't know if that position is existed in this country."A mistress?" Bai Yuyan didn't want to back down easily. "You are not even married Prince Xiao Tianyao yet." She blurted out disdainfully."Yes, I am not." Luna suddenly stood up gracefully and this startled Bai Yuyan, though the distance between them quite far, but the hostility that emanated from Luna's eyes was enough to make her took a step back. "But, what Tianyao did for me is enough to see how much he valued me."Luna's word wasn't completely wrong, although their relationship recently had been better and Xiao Tianyao often show his sincere affection toward her, but at the time Xiao Tianyao stepped down from his position in the military was the time when he was still under Luna's control.However, Bai Yuyan didn't know about this and she didn't need to know.In the other hand, Bai Yuyan clenched her fist agitatedly, she wanted to talk back at Luna, but couldn't find a chance to bring her down."The Emperor also said he chose Miss Bai for a purpose." Qianru crossed her legs leisurely while looking at Bai Yuyan who had been spitting fire from her eyes."What purpose?" Luna played along with Qianru as she knew her intention."Her purpose is to give an heir for Jun." Qianru feigned a sad expression that disgusted Bai Yuyan, in her eyes, both Qianru and Luna was making a fun of her.The position that she proud of before, when it was spoke by Qianru and Luna, it turned out to be an unpleasant status that lower than a servant. Bai Yuyan couldn't help but felt embarrassed.How both of them could play with their words in such a way until it could change people point of view in such a calm manner?"Oh," Luna covered her mouth as her perfect brows locked together. "Such a poor thing.""Poor thing?" Bai Yuyan's voice raised a few octaves as she glared at Luna and Qianru. "The real poor thing is her." She pointed her slender finger at Qianru. "Who couldn't give a birth to her own husband!"Bai Yuyan's words were really set Qianru off, she stood up and was about to slap Bai Yuyan for saying such thing.Her behavior couldn't be tolerable anymore.Bai Yuyan had been making a fuss since the first time she arrived at Xiao Jun's mansion and threw sarcastic words every now and then, however Qianru could still bear with her childish attitude and mostly ignored her.But, her words earlier was really improper words to say and it really hit Qianru hard. Bai Yuyan hit the sore spot that Qianru couldn't tolerable anymore.Qianru clenched her fist as she stomped forward, but before she could reach Bai Yuyan, a harsh slapping sound was heard as Bai Yuyan fell to the ground.It wasn't only Bai Yuyan who was in shock, but also Qianru, she never thought that Luna would slap Bai Yuyan instead.Silent fell in the yard, even the two guards, who were always guarding Luna, were caught out of guard. They had never thought Luna could be so fierce.In the other hand, Bai Yuyan's eyes opened wide, her lips trembled as the pain stung her cheeks and her face turned red.Standing tall, Luna stared down at Bai Yuyan. Her eyes, somehow, were so dreadful until the other person could feel chill ran down from her spine."Guard!" Luna shouted, her voice was so powerful that the two guards immediately came into her view. "Throw this girl out of the mansion!"Without waiting, the two guard immediately grabbed Bai Yuyan's each arm and dragged her out of Luna's line of sight.Qianru, who witnessed the event before her eyes, was amazed. Seemingly Luna had really secured the position of mistress of the household to be able to give an order like that."You don't have to do that." Qianru walked toward Luna after those guards brought Bai Yuyan, who was screaming and kicking, away.Luna glanced at Qianru. "Don't say that you pity her.""Pity her?" Qianru asked with a mocking laugh. "I have been waiting to do that for days and you did it instead of me.""A 'thank you' will be sufficient." Luna smiled as she caressed her stomach.Qianru looked at the woman in front of her. "Maybe we can be a friend." She said softly."I am looking forward into it." Luna replied with smile on her face.
