Yes, I Do(n't)

Chapter 38: Meeting of the comrades

When both of them arrived at the beautiful imperial garden, they stand next to each other in front of the pond. Both of them have dismissed their maidservants so that they can have a private chat together. After all, it has been years since they last met one another.

"Leader never did I thought that I will be meeting you here as a fellow transmigrator." Princess Hong Meigui said with a smile on her face.

"Same. You seem to blend in just fine here, Dahlia." Shen Baiyu said as she gently lifts her veil only to reveal her face which is covered by a silver-mask and a face veil on the lower part of her face.

"I've heard rumours that the Eldest Miss Shen is one without a beauty. Rubbish. If it is indeed true, her family would not let her be engaged to that man."

Princess Hong Meigui touches Shen Baiyu's skin ever so gently, "Such a fair and smooth skin indeed. We are so lucky to be transmigrated into a younger body with a not so bad looking face..."

"Still as vain as ever... How's life?" Shen Baiyu asked.

Princess Hong Meigui then says, "Life is good. I am quite well respected as Zhongda Wangfei and as a reputable physician in this Kingdom."

"That so-called husband of yours intends to make me one of his concubines... Aren't you jealous?" Shen Baiyu asked as she slowly sat on the stone bench near the pond.

Princess Hong Meigui laughs and says, "Why do you think that I suddenly showed up here without his knowledge?"

"To give him a heart attack?" Shen Baiyu said nonchalantly.

"I wish but that man is as strong as an ox now..."

"Dahlia, isn't he supposed to be a sickly prince? Why does he look so healthy now?" Shen Baiyu looks at her with a raised eyebrow.

Princess Hong Meigui answers, "I healed him. He just had chronic asthma only. We've made a deal, his health with my freedom. A win-win situation for both of us."

"You're indeed my beloved comrade after all. Calculatingly brilliant!" Shen Baiyu said.

Princess Hong Meigui then says, "When it comes to being a calculative b***h, you've graduated in honours."

"Definitely. Dahlia, we should rely on each other from these days onwards. We can visit each other whenever we have free time."

A rustling sounds then suddenly can be heard coming towards them. With a natural instinct of a killer, they both immediately hide behind a fake mountain. Shen Baiyu peaks from behind the fake mountain to see who it was, and she saw Xiao Ke Ai being dragged by Second Prince Nangong Heshan.

She whispers to Princess Hong Meigui, "That girl is a new friend of mine. She is very adorable isn't it..."

"True. Just like a dumpling." Princess Hong Mogui whispered back before both of them concentrated on the couple.

"Your Royal Highness... You're hurting me." Xue Ke Ai said as she limpidly stared at her handsome fiancé.

"Ke Ai. What are you doing? Why are you looking thinner? Have you been eating well? I heard that you are staying at the Shen Residence now. Why?"

Princess Hong Meigui and Shen Baiyu look at each other with a knowing smile on each of their faces. Somebody is jealous. Obviously so.

"Your Royal Highness, I am accompanying older sister Baiyu these days to make it easier for me to train with her. I am quite well. There is no need to worry."

Second Princess Nangong Heshan gently caresses her cheek and says, "Ke Ai... I love you the way you are. There is no need for you to lose weight or anything."

"But... I wanted to do this for myself. My current body weight restricted me from doing a lot of things. That is why I wanted to train with older sister Baiyu. It will not only let me lose my weight, but I will also become stronger as well. I can protect you by then!"

Hearing her 'dumpling' words made Shen Baiyu smile and thought, "Ke Ai, that prince of yours is obviously a wolf in a sheep's clothing. He will be able to protect himself just fine... It is you that I worried about. Can you protect yourself against him?"

Princess Hong Meigui too smiles as she listens to the loving pair conversation. The Second Miss Xiao is indeed a lucky one to be engaged with the overly dedicated Second Prince. These two will indeed be a happy couple unlike the Third Prince and this original body owner. She looks at Shen Baiyu who suddenly gave her a sign for both of them to leave the couple. Silently, both of them exited the imperial garden and walk towards where their maidservants are waiting. It is time for them to return to the banquet. When they arrived, both of them return to their own respective seats.

Empress Mu Jianrui smile when she sees her niece and says, "Baiyu... Crown Prince Beitang said earlier that he has surprise gifts for you."

Shen Baiyu looks at him and asks, "Ooohhh... Gifts? What kind of gifts?"

He answers, "Eldest Miss Shen, this prince has prepared 20 maidens for you to be your personal maidservants."

Seeing his smile made her smile too but no one is able to see this underneath her impenetrable veil, "Baiyu thanks His Royal Highness."

"This prince will also give the manor that he is currently living to Eldest Miss Shen to be used to her liking." Crown Prince Beitang Moran said as he continued to stare at her with a wide smile on his face.

Underneath her veil, she is able to see how the other young misses including the princesses are now staring at him with sparkles on each of their eyes. She smiles an evil smile and charmingly answers, "Your Royal Highness, Baiyu really appreciates your kind intention. That manor is yours but I will make sure that the manor will be well maintained while you're not staying there. After all, Her Royal Highness will need a place to stay for the time being to enable her to prepare for the upcoming wedding."

Crown Prince Beitang Moran smiles and nods in agreement, "If that is what you want, this prince will gladly follow. Imperial sister, you will continue to stay there and can only meet with your future husband with the company of your nanny and maidservants. Under no circumstances, you will be allowed to meet him on your own. My team of shadow guards will keep an eye on you and will directly report to me if there is anything amiss."

"Your Royal Highness, you are being too protective with Her Royal Highness but understandable. One more thing..." Shen Baiyu said as her finger continue to play with the rim of her teacup.

"Yes? Just say the word and it shall be done." Crown Prince Beitang Moran said.

"Don't smile in front of others but me."

Her clear and unambiguous words made others to stop their conversations and stare at Crown Prince Beitang Moran. He is a God of War after all... Can he tolerate how Shen Baiyu treated him so far? This Eldest Miss Shen clearly poking a hornets' nest. Even her family members are looking at her with worries in their eyes.

"Baiyu... Are you being jealous? If so, this prince is so happy. No worries. You will be the only one for me. If one day I ever break this promise, you can kill me there and then."

Shen Baiyu stares at him when something inside her heart suddenly burst. She only intended to tease him but who knows that this will happen? This man is pushing her out from her comfort zone little by little.

"Your Royal Highness, I am just jesting. Your life is your own. Do not simply let others have the power to dictate what is yours. Your meaning is loud and clear. I will be by your side as long as I am able too."

Princess Hong Meigui is staring at Shen Baiyu with a gentle smile on her lips. The Leader has finally met her match. This neighbouring Crown Prince is quite interesting. He is a cold and cruel man but when it comes to Shen Baiyu, an immense warmth emitting out from him.

"Love... Nice to be seen from afar." Princess Hong Meigui lazily said as she stared at Shen Baiyu with a knowing smile on her lips.

The Third Prince is watching his wife and thought that she has indeed changed. He is no longer a priority in her eyes ever since she decided to move out to another residence. What has she been doing since then? He never really even bothered to check on her. Should he start now? He then looks down at his clenching hand. Why should he suddenly have a change of heart now? Was it because she has saved his life? Or, was it because she has now changed?

Sensing that someone is staring at him, he looks up to see that his wife is watching at him with a smirk on her face before she looks away to look at the opposite table where the Shens are. Despite her veiled hat, he can feel how Eldest Miss Shen is thoroughly assessing him. For the first time in his life, he felt that his life is hanging on thread despite being sick almost his entire life. Why? Because the neighbouring Crown Prince is giving him a deadly glare. A chuckle can be heard coming from his wife while Eldest Miss Shen is now concentrating on her teacup.

One person is now suddenly regretting his decision. He can feel that this decision will be his biggest regret of all time for years and years to come.