Yes, I Do(n't)

Chapter 36: Temporary freedom

Empress Mu Jianrui looks at her beloved niece with a smile on her lips. This niece of hers seems to be quite calm despite knowing that her idiotic son is adamant in annulling their engagement. Not only that, the Third Prince has suddenly returned back together with his Ce’fei, Madam Bai Jiaozha and his concubine, Madam Hei Weixiao.

She then glances at Noble Consort Baili Xin Ai and then at Second Princess Nangong Heshan feeling slightly envious. That prince has grown up just fine unlike hers. He even gracefully accepted his engagement to the Second Miss from the Xiao family without any qualms despite the young miss looking like an adorable 'dumpling'. He accepted her and look beyond her appearance from the very beginning. If only her own son can accept her niece and look beyond what can only be seen from the surface… Both the Emperor and she knew that Shen Baiyu is an exceptionally beautiful young lady, but that girl stubbornly insisted for them not to disclose that fact to her son. Now, it has come to this.

She then looks at the envoy from the Kingdom of Beitang, both Crown Prince Beitang Moran and her son's beloved, Second Princess Beitang Xing are sitting next to each other with their officials seated behind them. Is it just her imagination? But, why does she have a feeling that the Crown Prince is staring at her niece? That infamous cruel prince even displays a gentle smile as he continues to stare at her niece. As her niece is wearing a veil, she cannot guess what her niece is currently thinking.

(Picture available on w*****d)

"This emperor do hope that Crown Prince Beitang is having a great time while he is staying in our Kingdom." Emperor Nangong Zhuguan said with a warm smile on his face.

Crown Prince Beitang Moran stands up and gives a bow of respect towards him, "Your Majesty, this prince indeed has a wonderful time during my stay here. I even met a few individuals worthy to be this prince's good friends."

"I am glad that you are having a great time here, Crown Prince Beitang. Your younger sister is indeed a lovely girl... Isn't that right fourth imperial brother?" Second Prince Nangong Zhixiang said with a smirk on his face.

"The arrival of Zhongda Wangfei, Princess Hong Meigui!!!"

(Picture available on w*****d)

A beautiful figure walks gracefully towards the throne before she gives a curtsy at the imperial couple, "This daughter-in-law greets imperial father, imperial mother and concubine mothers. Do forgive Meigui for arriving late."

First Princess Nangong Rouran then says, "Meigui, I thought that you will not attend the banquet. Now that you did, I am so glad that you are here."

"Rouran... Someone did not tell me that he will be attending this banquet. I guess he had forgotten all about it. But I am here now. Congratulation to the Fourth Prince for his victorious return!"

Princess Hong Meigui said with a sincere smile on her face, but she then looks at Second Princess Beitang Xing before she walks to her designated seat which is next to her husband. Both of his ce’fei and concubine have to make way for her as they move to the back table.

Shen Baiyu watches how Third Prince Nangong Zhixiang suddenly seems to be much tenser after the arrival of his wife. Interesting... As if noticing that someone is looking at her, Princess Hong Meigui looks up and stares back at her. She gently nods her head and lifts her cup of tea to the newly arrived. This person is definitely interesting to get to know too.

Emperor Nangong Zhuguan suddenly stares at his subjects with a serious expression on his face, "As you all have known by now that this banquet has been made to welcome back my fourth son. And, he specifically asked that he will be allowed to take Second Princess Beitang to be his future crown princess."

By now, everyone is clamouring in their seats because they know that Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun has long been betrothed to the Eldest Miss Shen from the main branch. If he intends to take Second Princess Beitang as his future crown princess, that will only mean that Eldest Miss Shen will be relegated to become a concubine.

Empress Mu Jianrui then continues, "He intends to annul his engagement with Eldest Miss Shen because of this. This is something major and will involve the relationship between the Kingdoms of Nangong and Beitang. As, it will also affect one of the most prominent family in our Kingdom, the Shen. I have to ask this from the engaged couple. Yingjun... Baiyu... Do come forward."

Both of them calmly stands up from their seats and come forward before stopping in front of the imperial couple. Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun kneels down on both knees in front of his parents while Shen Baiyu calmly continues to stand after giving her curtsy.

"My son. Is this what you truly want?" Emperor Nangong Zhuguan asked his fourth son.

Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun answers, "Yes, Royal father. This is what I have wanted. Please grant my wish."

Empress Mu Jianrui then asks, "Baiyu... My child. Are you sure that you are willing to no longer be engaged with Yingjun? Please think carefully..."

Everyone in the hall is watching in full concentration to listen to what will her answer be.

A peal of soft and melodious laughter can be heard coming from the elegant figure standing next to the still kneeling Crown Prince, "Imperial uncle. Imperial aunt. Baiyu accepted His Royal Highness's decision wholeheartedly. For a relationship to work out, there should be give and take from both parties. But this humble subject is definitely not willing to give and take if she is to be married to His Royal Highness. Please grant the annulment immediately."

Both Emperor Nangong and Empress Mu look at each other and thought that this is inevitable after all as both are adamant in annulling the engagement.

"With a heavy heart, I will allow the annulment of engagement in between my fourth son and Eldest Miss Shen. Is there anything else that either of you wanted to say?" Emperor Nangong said.

"Imperial uncle... Baiyu wanted to say something insignificant to His Royal Highness."

"Allowed."

She gracefully turns her body to face the kneeling Crown Prince, "His Royal Highness, congratulation on being a 'free' man once more. Just a kind reminder... About the promised compensation..."

Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun immediately stands up and look at the veiled lady standing in front of him, "Eldest Miss Shen, this prince will not go back against what has been promised."

"Really? Seems like you have gone back from what is meant to be a promise over and over again."

A chuckle can be heard coming from Princess Hong Meigui. Third Prince Nangong Zhixiang stares at his wife who is currently tried her best not to laugh out loud. Seems like she is having fun.

Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun snorts in disgust and claps his hands. 3 large boxes then being brought out by 6 guards. After the boxes have been put down on the floor, Shen Baiyu gracefully walks towards the boxes and instructed each of it to be opened by one of the guards. She gently touches on the gold ingots inside of each box with her fair and slender fingers before she instructs the same guard to close down the lid of each box.

"Imperial uncle, please order for someone to send these boxes back to the Shen Residence as soon as possible. Pretty please..."

Emperor Nangong then laughs, "Baiyu, it will be a huge loss on our part, but I guess this is fate. Don't worry, the boxes will be sent by my imperial guards and Heshan will be the one to oversees this."

"Wonderful. Imperial uncle, you're the best!" Shen Baiyu said. She then turns her back and walks back towards where she comes from.

"I have to say that the Eldest Miss Shen is quite interesting. Too bad that we will never have the chance to be in-laws."

Shen Baiyu then looks at Princess Hong Meigui and thought that the other party is indeed not a simple person. A schemer can detect their own kind. She wonders that if this person is a transmigrator too?

"Your Royal Highness, we can always be friends. To be, or not to be ..."

"That is the question." Princess Hong Meigui answered with a wide smile on her face.

Both Shen Baiyu and Princess Hong Meigui then laughs before Shen Baiyu says, "I have found you, Dahlia."

Princess Hong Meigui then stares at her, "How did you know?"

Shen Baiyu did not answer but instead, she uses sign language to answer her question, "I am your supposed training partner, Dahlia. Imagine the shock when my partner who is an expert in martial arts and a qualified doctor showed up as someone speaking in an ancient way with zero knowledge in martial arts and fainted on the first sight of blood."

Princess Hong Meigui giggles and answers in sign language, "Is she the original owner of my body?"

"No. She said that she used to be an empress, Empress Da Li Hua."

Princess Hong Meigui loudly says, "f**k!"

Everyone turns their head to look at her and wonder whether they heard it wrong because they never heard that word before. Shen Baiyu on the other hand softly laughs. Third Prince Nangong Zhixiang saw how both his wife and the Eldest Miss Shen are using weird hand movements as if they are communicating with each other. This wife of him has changed a lot. She is no longer infatuated with him as she has been in the past.

Crown Prince Beitang Moran still stares at his beloved with a proud smile on his lips. His beloved is indeed amazing. He should reward her with another kiss. Unbeknownst to him, Shen Baiyu is staring at him too and thought that he is definitely up to no good when she sees his somewhat evil smile.

"The arrival of Head Eunuch Youmei from the Kingdom of Beitang!!!"

Everyone turns their heads to look at the unexpected arrival of the trusted eunuch of Emperor Beitang Yi who is also known to be an expert in martial arts. Why is he here? What is his intention of being here? Second Princess Beitang Xing is definitely surprised upon seeing her father's trusted eunuch. On the other hand, Crown Prince Beitang Moran is smiling from ear to ear to a point that Shen Baiyu wanted to smack his head. This Moran is definitely planning something. She has a bad feeling about this.