Zhao Li Xin looked for Lory the moment he left the space in his spatial ring, but she was not in her room. He inquired from a servant who informed him the First Princess was awake and Luo Ri Yi was with her. Zhao Li Xin took long strides to reach her. He could hear them talk and laugh from a distance. The sounds gave him a sense of comfort as it meant she was safe and sound.
He entered the room without knocking and startled Ming Yue Yin who accidentally dropped her dumpling back on the plate. Lory smiled widely when she saw him and exclaimed, "You here!"
?
Lory's warm welcome softened the air around him. Zhao Li Xin took a seat beside Lory and gently stroked her head. His heart had been restless since he learned a little about her background. He knew he loved her in the past but those words couldn't even fully describe his current feeling towards her. His heart ached when he thought of the hardship she had undergone in the past. He was still unsure of the exact details but he could surmise from Huo Long's words that it was very bad.
"What's wrong?" Lory could tell he was acting differently.
"Nothing…" Zhao Li Xin smiled faintly.
Lory smiled back at him and didn't ask farther as she could tell he didn't want to talk about it.
Ming Yue Yin's eyes shifted between Lory and Zhao Li Xin who ignored her as they were wrapped in their own pink bubble. Ming Yue Yin was used to seeing concubines curry favor with the Emperor, but they always looked calculative and fake. She was never moved by them and only watched them like they were performing a play.
Zhao Li Xin and Lory's interaction, however, was filled with pink bubbles and hearts. They looked so much in love. She had to hold herself from shrieking with excitement.
Lory felt the stare and turned to see Ming Yue Ying staring at them with weird eyes. Lory introduced them awkwardly, "Oh, this is Ming Yue Yin…She just woke up a few hours ago."
"Hm…" Zhao Li Xin only spared Ming Yue Yin a glance and grunted. He was unbothered by her as he poured himself warm tea.
'Aunty, you now remember me… and uncle, why are you looking so mean? So scary…'
Ming Yue Yin rose from her seat and cupped her hand elegantly, "This one is Ming Yue Yin. Thank you for helping me and for your generous hospitality, Lord Long Ming."
"Don't mention it. It was my fiancée's wish anyway…" Zhao Li Xin casually responded as he slowly sipped Lory's flower tea. It was too sweet for him but he didn't mind if he was drinking with her.
Zhao Li Xin's attitude showed the reason he decided to help her. He only did it because Lory wanted it. Ming Yue Yin didn't feel offended when he heard this as he was glad to know Long Ming treated Lory well. She had seen Lory's hard and dreadful life was in her dreams. This made her admiration and respect Lory more. She also hoped she could have half of Lory's perseverance, as she believed it could make her go through everything she had to face.
In Ming Yue Yin's opinion, a woman like Lory deserves the world. She wished someone would love and pamper her like a Queen and Zhao Li Xin seemed like the one person who could do it. Her grin widened from ear to ear. She bowed politely and without hesitation, "I understand. I'm grateful to you both!"
Zhao Li Xin didn't have a bad opinion on Ming Yue Yin as her eyes seemed genuine and she cared about Luo Ri Yi. Lory was relieved to see Zhao Li Xin didn't have a bad impression on Ming Yue Yin as she was aware of his strong rejection towards others, especially women. She thought it was a good sign when he looked at Ming Yue Yin with a flat look and without disdain.
"You have bad cultivation…" Zhao Li Xin said unexpectedly.
Ming Yue Yin almost fell off her chair in shock when she heard him. She was at the Grandmaster Level at the core stage. No one in her Kingdom had reached her level at her age. Ming Yue Yin felt wronged but she did not refute his words. She could only purse her lips.
Zhao Li Xin ignored her unhappy face because he either did not care or he didn't realize he had hurt her feelings. "Your level is false and your foundation is weak. Tell me, how many pills and elixirs have you used?"
"I…." Ming Yue Ying's eyes bulged. She was afraid to tell him she used pills every time she wanted a breakthrough, and drunk elixirs to strengthen her body. Everyone said it was normal and everyone did it so she never questioned it.
Zhao Li Xin stared at her like she's an idiot, "What you are doing is like building a castle with sands. It looks good from the outside but weak on the inside. You would lose badly if you are to fight someone with a solid foundation, even someone with a Knight Level cultivation."
Ming Yue Ying gaped. Was it really that bad? However, she knew this 'uncle' won't lie to her. She wondered if this was another scheme from the Emperor. Everyone thought he pampered her when he gave many pills and elixirs without any regard, but the truth was he was weakening her slowly.
Tears rolled down her eyes. She was angry and mostly embarrassed at how stupid she had been. Everyone inside the palace led her by the nose. Did her cultivation master know about this too? Was he cooperated with the Emperor to lead her astray?
"Can you help her?" Lory tugged Zhao Li Xin's sleeve as she felt bad for Ming Yue Ying. She pleaded with Zhao Li Xin who could help Ming Yue Ying, Zhao Li Xin doesn't mind helping Ming Yue Ying but of course with some advantages for him. Zhao Li Xin was no saint. He was shrewd and a black belly when dealing with others.
"Mong Yi, summon Jin Hao here," Zhao Li Xin said with a flat tone.
"Yes, Milord!" Mong Yi emerged from behind the door cupped his fist respectfully and disappeared.
He left Lory with only one question, 'How long had he been there?'
Ming Yue Yin, on the other hand, didn't seem bothered by Mong Yi's presence. This made Lory realize she still needed to adjust more to this world's custom.
"Don't worry… Have you eaten yet?" Zhao Li Xin's eyes turned back to Lory. His eyes were filled with gentleness. There was so much difference when he talked to Ming Yue Yin. It was perplexing for Ming Yue Yin but it also made her happy. Although a part of her wished her 'uncle' could also treat her nicely. It seemed her aunt's position was above her uncle's so she needed to hold onto her aunt's thigh tightly for better treatment.
Most women self-proclaimed themselves as Zhao Li Xin's lover but he never knew some weird woman had proclaimed herself as his niece.
"I ate a lot of dumplings with this brat," Lory pointed at Ming Yue Yin rudely with her chopsticks.
Ming Yue Yin would have been furious if someone else pointed at her with chopsticks, but she was not offended the slightest when Lory did it. She loved it when Lory was casual with her. She lifted her chopsticks and continued her meal without a word.
Zhao Li Xin ordered a servant to prepare red bean soup for Lory and Lory asked the servant to also bring another bowl for the brat whose eyes glinted when she heard it was red bean soup. Ming Yue Yin smiled brightly. Although her uncle was cold to her, it was okay since her aunty was so nice.
Both were eating happily with Zhao Li Xin drinking his wine quietly when Jin Hao arrived. Jin Hao softly knocked on the door and entered. He was surprised to see the Princess who had slept for months was now awake and eating with vigor like she was a glutton.
"Master Jin," Lory greeted Jin Hao with a polite smile.
"Milord, Young Miss, First Princess…" Jin Hao bowed politely at them. His white silky hair flowed behind his back and his refined demeanor was unchanged. He smiled at Ming Yue Yin who somehow felt a shiver go down her spine. She could tell the man was not simple. She preferred her scary uncle.
"Jin Hao, check her condition," Zhao Li Xin ordered coolly.
Jin Hao had to use proper etiquette since Ming Yue Yin was a Princess. He placed a clean handkerchief on her wrist before he could check her pulse. Lory was amazed at his elegance as he checked someone else as he was not very courteous with her. Lory assumed it was because she was not a Princess, yet the real reason was Zhao Li Xin's threatening glare whenever he checked her condition. Zhao Li Xin always made Jin Hao nervous and rained him with questions he needed to answer well. This made Jin Hao forget proper etiquette and he even forgot to breathe at times when he dealt with Lory.
Jin Hao lifted his hand from Ming Yue Yin's wrist and said elegantly, "Your condition…is a wreck."
'Ah, it hurts!'
Ming Yue Yin's mouth twitched. Jin Hao's insensitive words did not match his dashing appearance. All the men in Zhao Li Xin's place seemed to be too blunt.
"…Strangely it has not ruined your body. Your cultivation is the only messed up thing. It's weird…" Jin Hao contemplated.
Ming Yue Yin's eyes lit up as she glanced at Lory with excitement, "It's because of the Gift. isn't it, aunty?"
"Who's aunty, what Gift?" Jin Hao muttered.
Lory who had finished her bowl of soup propped her chin lazily and replied, "Perhaps."
"Are you adopting a niece, young miss?" Jin Hao asked with the same politeness.
"More like she is adopting me…" Lory sighed and complained, "I don't want to have a niece who is almost the same age as me… It is so weird…"
"What so weird about it? It's normal in royal families. Some people even have uncles and aunts who are younger than them," Ming Yue Yin said. It was normal as there were so many young concubines in the imperial harem.
Lory squinted, "That's…disturbing…but suit yourself," Lory gave up and shrugged with tiredness. The brat was not the listening type.
Ming Yue Yin's smile bloomed like a flower. She bowed courteously and said, "Aunty, uncle!"
Zhao Li Xin had no problem with someone calling him uncle if Lory was the aunt as it only solidified their relationship. He could not also complain about it since his little savior liked the weird Princess.
A sudden and weird change happened before Jin Hao. He was stunned for a moment but did not say anything as Zhao Li Xin did not seem to be against the idea. He courteously bowed at Zhao Li Xin and Luo Ri Yi, "Congratulations…"
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The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel