18

Aria had called upon his husband's inner court the following day after he's arrival.

Surely this shock the whole entire court, they were happy when Aria left, some rejoiced his accident while some were sad at his ill fate.

"So he's truly back huh?" One male concubine whispered underneath his breath as they were seated in the morning hall. A hall Kathy had had built for her husband's birthday, now currently used by Aria for holding his morning court in there.Aria had strict rules about who could enter the Golden palace and who couldn't, so it was no surprise that he's morning court wasn't and will never be held in the Golden palace's Ruby hall.

It's not made of rubies it just a name for the beautiful ruby glass windows that adorn the four walls of the hall.

"Yes irrelevant concubine. I have returned." Aria said as he walked through the doors of the hall.He's response caused all the attention to be directed to him, everyone except the ten main wives shocked to see him. They were used to surprises from Aria that their shock faces went numb. They knew Aria was a fierce man, that's why they weren't surprised to see him back here, the man could practically take on the rulers of other countries with no problem."Greetings your highness!" The ten wives said in unison as they stood from their chairs to bow at the empress."May you live long!" The twenty new concubines said immediately after the ten wives.Aria saw that two people were missing which, one not being a surprise to him though, whilst the other, he wasn't so sure."Eunice I see nineteen of the new concubines, where's the twentieth?" Aria asked as he stood Infront of his throne looking at the concubines."I had her punished your highness." Eunice said as she stood next to Aria whilst said empress took a seat on his throne."Ok. I won't ask since I'll be dismissing them." He said and this caused the new concubines to whisper among themselves."Yes you peasants heard right. I'll be dismissing the new harem arrival effective immediately tomorrow unless any of you want to stay. Although if you do want to stay, you'll have to go through an interview which I'll be the interviewer." Aria said looking across the hall to see if any of the new concubines had objections."On another note, I see imperial Palace Wife Lee is getting her bundle of joy soon." Aria commented upon seeing his best friend."Yes your highness, I'm due next month

And the doctor said it was a baby boy." Imperial Palace Wife Lee said as she stood up from her chair with Alex's help obviously.

"Leeana I told you to drop formalities since you're pregnant." Aria said in caution."I could never your highness.""Whatever makes you sleep at night then.""So where is Imperial concubine Rose?" Aria asked after Imperial Palace Wife Lee bowed her head and sat down."She's being herself your highness." Royal noble lady Sofia said as she elegantly fanned herself with her foldable fan."Oh. I see . Anyway I have returned, that much you can see, but I return with good news.Eunice please note my following decreeThe Imperial Concubine Rose of the Wonder Palace has been gracious enough to have given birth to the next heir of the kingdom, as such she will be given the rank of Royal Consort and shall be awarded the Ruby Palace to reside in and be given twenty million in her account. She shall not receive any further gifts because of her absence in my morning court." Aria said calmly making the new concubines gasp at the contents of his decree.If rumor was heard right they knew that Aria and Rose were love rivals and for the empress to graciously give his love rival a promotion rather than demoting them was beyond their understanding."Ok all that gasping is irritating me. I'll give you five seconds or choose your fate. Five four three two one . What is it are you staying in the palace or are you leaving by tomorrow?" Aria asked the new concubines."Where is who going?" Tyler said entering the hall making the concubines' heads turn towards him. As usual the ten wives now nine because of Rose's absence were not interested in looking at the emperor. "Tyler darling, don't you have state affairs to deal with. Rose is not here so why are you here?" Aria asked the emperor who was elegantly walking towards where Aria was seated."I'm here to see my beloved wife, is that a problem?" The said emperor leaning all his face into Aria's personal facial space.

This act and words caught the undivided attention of the nine wives, a rare sight indeed, the wives not Tyler and Aria.

The nine wives never thought Tyler would talk to sweetly with his empress, sure they were supposed to be cordial since one didn't love the other, but Tyler wasn't the cordial type when it came to Aria so they were surprised at how he was talking to the empress.What could they have expected though, this was the same emperor who has been in his wife's country for the past two months caring for him. Maybe they bonded there who knows."The new arrivals your majesty. I plan on dismissing the new concubines I left as a parting gift. I mean they were a farewell gift, but given that I'm here now doesn't it make the gift seem useless." Aria said as if the gift he's addressing aren't actual, real life breathing human beings who were listening to him insult them in front of them."Didn't you say I should enjoy them yesterday?" Tyler asked with a smirk which yet again shocked the nine wives.Who is this man and what has he done to our spiteful husband."Weren't you the who defended his bed yesterday and who lays in it?' Aria retorted and the new concubines gasped at this."And I remember correctly telling you to stay out of my morning court, my love." Aria continued."Come on Ria, I just wanted to see you, is that hard to believe." Tyler practically whined and this shook the nine wives and killed the new concubines."Get out now or you're not getting the deed to my army." Aria threatened lowly."Ok, ok . I'll be back later tonight though." The emperor winked and Aria's stomach turned, a mixture of his morning sickness and nausea from looking at Tyler winking."Should I kill him?" Eunice asked into Aria's ear as soon as the emperor left."What? No the fxck!?" He said."I'm just kidding your highness." The Head Maid said laughing a little.Aria's eyes travelled to Imperial Palace Wife Lee and the woman signed with her hands.What happened between you two over the past two months?" Nothing. He's being shallow as always. Remember he's a bootlicker, I offered to give him military support." Aria signed a reply."Oh.. so your dumbass caved into his toxic ass again?" Imperial Palace Wife 

Lee signed a question.

" I'm pregnant again. And the only reason I'm here is to ensure that he doesn't abuse my military personnel and so that I could protect you, Alex , your baby and him too. Shitty as he is, he's still the father of my children." Aria signed a reply again. Imperial Palace Wife Lee gasped at the news of Aria being pregnant. And of course she got eyes on her for the sound, especially given that's she's pregnant. A pregnant woman is not one to gasp, if she does , it's either a kick or her water broke."I'm fine, I'm fine , just a little kick." She said to eliminate any distressful thoughts in the minds of her onlookers."So that's what you meant about good news. ""Yeah. And my return also don't forget, but I'll give you a detailed explanation when we're in private." Aria replied and the imperial Palace Wife nodded her head in agreement."Well it was good to see you all. You are all dismissed and remember new arrivals either stay or go but keep in mind that I'll be waiting to interview your low rank noble lives." Aria said waving his hand to dismiss the harem."Well? What are you waiting for?" Aria asked as he saw the concubines and wives still sat on their chairs. "Thank you your highness." Imperial Palace Wife Lee said as she stood up and dismissed the imperial harem on Aria's behalf."Speak." Imperial Palace Wife Lee said as soon as the hall was clear of any gossiping people.Aria proceeded to tell her everything from how he lost his other baby and how he came about the decision to come back even though he had struggled so much worse here, both physically and emotionally."So you didn't come back because of love?" Imperial Palace Wife Lee asked looking like a person gossiping. Because indeed she was gossiping."No darling. I'm not here for love anymore." Aria said in a fake posh accent.The two continued to catch up and talk like the best friends they are occasionally giggling and laughing at the topics they discussed.