Chapter 71: I Like the Gift the Princess Sent
Yao Guang’s expression darkened slightly.
The massive, emerald-green Night-Luminescent Pearl was exceptionally conspicuous in Wutong Hall. One look at its quality revealed it was no ordinary item. Even in daylight, one could see the luster radiating from it—clear and bright. It was like the beating heart of a young maiden, moist and crystalline.
“Why didn’t the Princess come personally?”
Yao Guang’s casual remark sounded like a complaint, yet also like a flirtatious sulk.
Yin Xin didn’t know how to respond. She could only blush, lower her head, and speak timidly.
“The Princess has other matters to attend to, so she instructed this servant to deliver the item first.”
A flash of disappointment crossed the depths of Yao Guang’s eyes. “Is that so?”
“Then… please trouble yourself to thank the Princess for me upon your return,” Yao Guang specifically instructed. “And tell the Princess that I am free tomorrow and would like to invite her to Wutong Hall for a private meal.”
Standing aside, He Zhao glanced at Yao Guang in surprise upon hearing this request.
Did the Young Master take the wrong medicine?
Doesn’t he usually prefer quiet and hate being disturbed? Why would he suddenly want to invite Princess Xuanyue for a meal? Was he possessed by a ghost?
Yin Xin nodded. She wasn’t surprised by Yao Guang’s request because Consort Lang and Consort Yu had made the exact same request after receiving their pearls.
Thus, she wasn’t surprised at all. Instead, she felt that the Consorts were all people who knew how to repay kindness. No wonder the Princess had chosen gifts for them. She would have done the same.
“Very well. This servant will convey Consort Yao’s words exactly to the Princess upon returning,” Yin Xin said with a faint smile.
After leaving Wutong Hall, Yin Xin returned and informed Li Xuanyue that several Consorts had invited her to dinner.
“Princess, this servant thinks you could use this opportunity to bond properly with the five Consorts,” Yin Xin suggested sincerely.
Currently, heirs were of the utmost importance in the Phoenix Clan.
Li Xuanyue had been of age for a hundred years. In all this time, she hadn’t produced a single heir of her own. Logically, this was dangerous. But with the Phoenix Sovereign, Li Feng, shielding her, it hadn’t been an issue.
Now that there was an opportunity, she needed to ensure her five Consorts conceived heirs quickly. This was the only way to suppress Li Qinghe.
Otherwise, once Jun Mo’s child was born, the eyes of the Phoenix Clan elders would immediately fixate on that child, leading them to disregard Li Xuanyue, the Grand Princess.
Li Xuanyue’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “Do you think I don’t want to?”
“Forget it, you wouldn’t understand even if I explained.”
Li Xuanyue didn’t want to unburden her troubles to Yin Xin.
Ultimately, if her five Consorts were not bound by their clans, they would certainly leave her. The only reason they hadn’t left immediately was that they had weighed the pros and cons and chosen to stay.
She wouldn’t make things difficult for them. As long as they didn’t stab her in the back or help Li Qinghe against her, she would naturally protect them during their time in the Phoenix Clan.
Conversely! If they did, she would have no choice but to send them to hell along with Li Qinghe.
“Go notify the five Consorts later. Tell them I have agreed to their request,” Li Xuanyue said after a few seconds of hesitation. “But I won’t go to their places for the meal. Have them come to me at noon tomorrow for a gathering.”
Since her rebirth, she had never sat down properly to share a meal with her five Consorts. Since they all had the intention to invite her, it was better to have them all come to her. It would save her from running around, and it avoided the risk of being accused of unfairness.
Joy flashed in Yin Xin’s eyes. She also felt Li Xuanyue’s arrangement was the most appropriate and reasonable. She quickly responded, “Yes, Princess. This servant will go notify the Consorts immediately.”
Although the Consorts were slightly surprised when they received the news, they nodded in agreement.
The next day, as noon approached, the men arrived in twos and threes at the Peach Blossom Garden, the location Li Xuanyue had designated.
At this time, the peach blossoms had not yet withered. When the wind blew, the flowers drifted down like goose-feather snow—dreamy and beautiful. The five Consorts, dressed in brocade robes, stood beneath the trees. Each had their own unique charm. Their stunningly handsome faces carried three parts laziness, three parts free-spiritedness, and four parts unrestrained elegance.
When Li Xuanyue arrived, they were already seated. Seeing her approach, the Consorts slowly stood up.
“Greetings, Princess.”
Led by Jun He, the five of them bowed with hands clasped.
Li Xuanyue seemed a bit unaccustomed to such a scene. She stiffened slightly, then waved her hand casually, clearly having no desire for strict rules.
“Sit down, all of you,” she said indifferently. “Today, it is just us. You don’t need to be so formal.”
Usually, these Consorts were extremely restrained and polite due to the Phoenix Clan’s rules. Since this was a private gathering, Li Xuanyue hoped they would show the true personalities they displayed within the Hundred Clans, rather than wearing these masks of courtly etiquette.
Jun He exchanged glances with the others, and they sat down. Looking closely, one could see their expressions were indeed a few degrees more relaxed than before.
Seeing them seated, Yin Xin quickly ordered the maids to serve tea.
High-quality green tea sat in white porcelain cups, crystal clear and fragrant. The scent alone was refreshing to the heart.
Li Xuanyue took a sip from the cup before her, then slowly let her gaze fall on the five men, one by one.
“I called you here today to tell you that Yin Xin conveyed your gratitude to me yesterday,” she began slowly. “Unfortunately, I don’t have that much time, nor do I wish to run to each of your palaces one by one. I feared that in the end, people with ill intentions would claim I was distributing my favor unevenly. So, I came up with a compromise.”
“That is to invite you all to this Peach Blossom Garden. I hope you all enjoy the meal today.”
The Consorts all harbored strange thoughts, drinking their tea silently without responding.
Before long, the maids brought out the delicious dishes prepared by the imperial kitchen and placed them on the table. In addition, a pot of wine and a cup were placed in front of each person.
As sunlight filtered through the clouds, the white wine pots seemed to glow, looking like translucent white jade.
“Let’s begin,” Li Xuanyue urged Jun He and the others, picking up her chopsticks. “Eat while the food is hot and the weather is fine. If it gets cold, the flavor will be ruined.”
“Princess, the Night-Luminescent Pearl you sent yesterday… I truly liked it.”
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