Heavenly Flowers Palace

Xing wanted to go to Heavenly Flowers Palace and meet Lady Shaoyao as it had been a long time since she had seen her. As expected her father wanted to join her too. For some reason these days her father seems too worried about her and so Xing didn't refuse him.

Xing forcefully dragged her brother with her too as she wanted him to be accustomed to women as she had seen many nobles use trained women to get what they want from others by tempting them. Xing wanted to teach Rijun how to handle different types of women as it would be more useful for him in the future beacause as a person close to the Emperor he would be exposed to such situations often.

Xing already made preparations for her father and brother to enter in an inconspicuous way inside the Peony Courtyard since her father as the Prime Minister cannot be accused of visiting a brothel in his official visit to a province.

The three of them were welcomed by Lady Shaoyao and was taken to the guest hall where tea and refreshments were served. AoTian and Rijun saw the grandeur of that place and only then they realised why Xing was not that impressed by everything in their Manor or even in the Palace. This place is no lesser, no, it was even more exquisite than the Imperial Palace.

Xing sat beside Lady Shaoyao and wondered why she was staring at her like that, " Big sis! Why are you staring?", Xing asked eating the sweets in front of her.

Lady Shaoyao gave a pleased smile, "Xiao Táng, you've become much more prettier!", she rubbed her head.

"Really, Big sis?", Xing asked with her hands on her cheeks and her eyes wide and shiney. Lady Shaoyao could see the blush in her cheeks. That silver-haired boy! He really brought out the woman in her! She looks more feminine now! Lady Shaoyao was happy.

"Xiao Táng... About that Shihong..", Lady Shaoyao was feeling a bit reluctant to start.

"I know how this place works, big sis. Also I have finished what I wanted to do with Lord Chu. So it doesn't matter anymore. And I will take care of my business in the East by myself too. So I will end my business dealings with the Heavenly Flowers Palace from today onwards. You can return all the documents and accounts of mine back. But the money from my shares in here, use it for the back quarters as always. I don't want that money", Xing spoke with conviction.

Till now she had let the Heavenly Flowers Palace handle everything for her in the East and she was paying them heftily too. But since they had accepted her enemy, she'll cut off her business relationship with them. It would be their loss as her business was legal and requires less effort yet paid more . Now that she knows who Shengli is, he could handle her business as she is too lazy to handle everything and she hated to deal with numbers more than anything. AoTian and Rijun looked at her with surprise while Lady Shaoyao smiled like she had already expected this,

"Xiao Táng, I told them you'll decide like this. But they didn't listen. Whatever! I had already settled your accounts and other details. Check it out later. But still, you could fight for your place, you know? Sometimes when you decide to retreat others may consider it as cowardice ", Lady Shaoyao spoke concerned. If she decides to take her business out of the Heavenly Flowers Palace, won't Shihong think he had succeeded in throwing her out of the place that she had been treated as an Emperor?

" I'm not retreating, I'm removing myself from the place that thinks they can support my enemy and they will realise the repercussions soon. And my place is not here", Xing spoke firmly.

Her place is beside her prince and who cares if she wins or loses in other things? Even if she loses all her wealth right now she doesn't care as long as she has Shengli. She'd rather live with him in a shack than live without him in a palace.

And the reason she held on to Lord Chu's properties this long was to avenge for her mother. If she knew her mother would die before the final step, she'd have skinned him alive in front of her mother that day itself. And now that Shihong is behind her tail for some reason.

This is all a bother! Why can't I have a normal life with girl friends around me and verbally fighting with other women? Why isn't my worry about what dress to wear or which dish to cook? And that weird illness too! Even now my heart is beating weirdly thinking of him! I think I might die with my heart being like this! Just five days and I feel like I am drowning! Sigh! That Prince of mine! What might he be doing now? Xing's expression changed with each thought she had which was noted by Lady Shaoyao.

Lady Shaoyao sighed, when has this girl ever cared about what others may think?

Just then a commotion broke out there with the women screaming. Xing knew if it is not for her, it should be for.... SEIREN!!!

Xing's mood changed and she walked to Rijun and pulled him up, "Brother! Come with me! I'll show you how to live like an Emperor"

Rijun was shocked, scared and surprised by his sister's words, "I already know", he replied even though he didn't know what she meant. But knowing her, it won't be anything a gentleman would do. That he was sure of.

"That one?", Xing sneered, "That one is no Emperor. He lives like a monk. Now come on", she dragged him along with her and went out of the Peony courtyard to see Seiren there and rthe screaming intensified. She just waved her hands and asked them to be quiet but that didn't help much. But Xing was used to it anyway!

AoTian looked at Lady Shaoyao perplexed and she just smiled and sent a couple of guards to watch over them.

"Teach my brother how to deal with women", Xing told Seiren that made Rijun shudder.

"Whaaaat...?", Rijun screamed.

But he was ignored as those two were discussing with themselves.

"Aren't you better than me, Lord Táng ?", Seiren asked rather annoyed. Is she joking with me?

"I have my ways, you have yours. Do you think my ways would suit him?", she pointed at Rijun who looked at her confused.

' I was telling these flowers to stop trying too hard because you are here! '

'Didn't know imperfections are perfect until I saw your alluring dishevelled hair!'

' Protect your lips well, dear! The bees may mistake it for a supple flower filled with honey and come to take a sip!'

These were some of the words she spoke before that made women forget their mission to seduce her and ended up being seduced as Seiren recalled it. He then looked at Rijun who looked like a goat in a butcher's stall. Surely Rijun cannot speak such words in the next three lives even to save his life. Not only such words and the way you speak and the actions that accompany such words are to be perfected too which comes naturally for her and not anyone can do it. But he cannot do anything for free.

"So what will you pay me if I teach your brother?", Seiren asked.

"What do you want?", Xing asked.

"I want to win against you", he replied immediately. This was his one true goal in this life.

"Haven't you already? In the fight to teach my brother, you have won...my sweet friend! ", Xing spoke smoothly and calmly with a little disappointment and a lot of sincerity in her voice, patting his shoulders making Seiren grin in content. I have finally won!

Rijun whose cries were ignored, was flabbergasted. When was there a fight to teach him and when did Seiren win? Wasn't she asking for help? Did Seiren just agreed to help me for nothing? So isn't this basically her win? Wow! This sister of mine! But what would they do to me? Should I call for father? And wait! Did he know I am her brother?

"You know she is my sister?", Rijun asked Seiren.

"Duh! I've seen her as both and I am not blind. Also when did Huang AoTian became too altruistic to make outsiders stay in his Manor?", he snorted.

Rijun was impressed, "Is Zhong Huojin really your brother?", he asked.

" Yes, same mother and father. But I was lucky I inherited my mother's look and my father's brain and he inherited my father's looks and my mother's brain", he chuckled proudly.

As they were talking a maid came rushing and before she entered the Peony Courtyard, saw Xing and immediately knelt before her and began to sob and beg to save her her mistress who is in labour and the physician had deemed this as a complicated childbirth.

Lady Shaoyao who heard the commotion came out to see followed by AoTian.

"When Xiao Táng is here, these people forget that I am the Madame of this institution!", She said in a complaining tone but AoTian noticed the trace of pride in her face too. But why is that maid begging Mingxia to help in childbirth?

Lady Shaoyao tried to send the maid away but Xing decided to help her.

" Take care of my brother. I'll join you later", Xing told Seiren who was in high spirits as he had 'won' against her and left with the maid.

"Like you'll return after entering the back quarters", Seiren mumbled and asked the confused Rijun to follow him and took him to the courtesan quarters. Only half way through there did he realise that he had agreed to teach her brother for free and he felt like screaming. I will surely win against you, cheating idiot!

During lunch, AoTian decided to ask Lady Shaoyao about the things his brother told about Heavenly Flowers Palace.

"Do demons really own this place?" he asked.

"Yes, Fox clan", Lady Shaoyao sighed. "Fitting place for them actually. If not for the fact that most of them were murdered some years back, there'll be more of them inside this place too".

" But Mingxia..", AoTian wanted to know how his daughter is connected to this place.

Lady Shaoyao took a deep breath, "I'll speak to you honestly since you are her father. I was made the Madame of this institution just because Xiao Táng was close with me. The crown prince of the fox clan is said to be overly protective of Xiao Táng as far as I have heard and no one can see their royalties. This was not the first time Shihong asked for joining this place but he was refused blatantly previously. I don't know what changed in these past month but their stance had changed. May be... ", she hesitated.

" What..? ", AoTian asked worried, " If you know something, please tell me", he almost begged making Lady Shaoyao tell him more.

"It's my hunch but everything changed after she stayed here with that silver-haired boy and may be the crown prince of the fox clan found his plans failing and got mad at her. But it is my hunch, nothing is sure", she spoke hesitantly.

"Mingxia stayed here with Shengli?", AoTian asked with a tinge of anger and hatred.

Lady Shaoyao then explained the situation back then and AoTian felt more puzzled. How many things about her am I ignorant of? And everytime she was in trouble, it was him who was with her and helped her directly or indirectly. I should thank him right?

But what is this thing about the crown prince of the fox clan? He had read in books how Gods and demons alike fall for human women and take them to their world. Did Mingxia fall in that fox prince's eyes? She do have the beauty. Sigh! Why do I feel like Shengli would be a better choice as each day passes and as I know more about her?

Just then a maid came and informed that the woman in labour had delivered a healthy baby boy with the help of Lord Táng. Lady Shaoyao then advised the maid to make Lord Táng have lunch or else everyone there will be punished. The maid acknowledged it and left.

Lady Shaoyao then explained AoTian about the back quarters. Back quarters is actually the place where people who cannot serve stay. Those who are too young and too old or sick and also many orphans left by the gates of the Heavenly Flowers Palace. Lady Shaoyao told AoTian that ever since Xiao Táng knew most of those orphans were left by the 'Lone Wolf', she gave all her shares to the back quarters and those children and even the women there are sponsored by her. Also she paid for their education and most of them were hired by her to take care of her properties in the East.

"For the people here she is like a fruit bearing tree and so they always look out for her well being so that they can be benefited too. It is for the same reason she is here without fearing that Shihong. Heavenly Flowers Palace is not the management alone", Lady Shaoyao said surprising AoTian. So his brother knew it too and that's why he wasn't worried too.

AoTian was then brought to the neighbouring 'Clear Breeze Courtyard', that was built for Xing's stay but she rarely uses it. AoTian stepped in to see that exquisitely built place filled with expensive and simple furnishings and decorations. The entire place had high quality Mahogany furnishings and gold decorations but was minimalistic and cozy. Even the curtains were fine white silk with gold embroidery. AoTian remembered his brother saying Li ChengNuo collecting lot of gold. So it really is for her?

"She does love gold", Lady Shaoyao said laughing., "You can take a bath if you wish. Your daughter has built the best bath here. Gold and baths are her only desires, apart from 'her Prince', that is ", Lady Shaoyao arranged some servants to serve him and left.

AoTian was curious as to how that bath was and got gobsmacked. It was a big floor level bathtub that looked like white jade. It was the expensive white marble from the Sky kingdom that he had previously seen in the Emperor's courtyard and it was said to be the only one in this Empire. But there it is, right in front of his eyes and not only that it had a tiger head and wolf head facing each other with little golden peaches hanging on their side and the sides of the tub were beautifully carved with various flowers and encrusted with rubies and emeralds, sapphires and pearls.

Wow! How amazing! I belong to the richest family in the kingdom, yet this is the first time I am seeing such expensive bath!

AoTian pulled the peach near the tiger head and soon warm water poured from the mouth of the tiger. So that's what this is for! AoTian got more curious and pulled the peach near the wolf head and cold water poured from it's mouth. When he pulled again, it stopped. AoTian was intrigued! He knew her daughter does not like to be disturbed during bath and so she came up with this system to have the servants serve her without getting disturbed?

He definitely have to build her one like this back in his Manor too! Judging by the way she lives here, isn't her way of life lower in his Manor? That cannot be accepted!

AoTian took a long bath with the bathsalts and precious oils and essense that were lined up around the bath. He felt refreshed and didn't knew how much time passed but when he came out it was already evening.

AoTian got dressed and that's when he heard a commotion outside. There were several women lined up outside and were discussing something and they were panicked.

"I heard that they have made someone called Shihong who is a scum as a patron here"

"No way! But I heard Lord Táng will not come here anymore"

"I heard that Shihong killed a courtesan who refused to serve him in another brothel. Why is he allowed here? I thought this place had rules! "

"Rules are nothing in front of money. This place is no exception"

" I heard, Lord Táng helped with Camomile on her delivery. As usual it was a boy. But he seemed to be sad"

"Yes, I heard he mentioned never coming here because he wasn't welcomed here anymore"

"Wait! Is it because of that Shihong guy? They cannot let Lord Táng away to let that scum in now, can they?"

" Seems like both are connected isn't it?"

"Even so, Lord Táng said he will still support the back quarters and won't abandon us", the maid who came to ask for help before said.

"As always! Lord Táng is the bigger man! How can the management do this to him?"

"Yes! They are being unfair. Let's talk to the madame!"

"Yes! If they don't listen, I'm not willing to work here anymore. I have enough to leave this place", Lady Lily who was one of the top courtesan spoke as she was walking elegantly towards them while supported by her maid. Everyone gave way to her and the guards had already formed a perimeter around the Peony Courtyard.

"Yes! Yes! Let's stop working! They cannot put our safety to risk to make money for them!", many of them agreed and soon the entire place became crowded and dangerous.

AoTian felt scared as both of his children were out in this tense situation and worried for their safety and went to meet Lady Shaoyao.