Chapter 326 Beautiful Lady, the Candidates for the Co-consort

Ning Xueyan was wearing a gorgeous palace costume, which was a light blue dress. She had a belt around her slender waist. There was a train that trailed along the ground, behind her dress. Her hair was studded with pearls. Her face was hidden behind a long, light blue veil. No one could catch a glimpse of her beautiful face.

However, no one could deny that she was a stunning beauty!

Ao Chenyi clasped her slender waist and more than half of her body was enveloped Ao Chenyi’s arms. From afar, the delicate young girl seemed to be very pliant. The man beside her was handsome and cold. His cold face seemed as if it was carved from stone. With his cold and piercing eyes, he looked more like the legendary Asura King.

He had a handsome yet malevolent look, and appeared cold and ruthless.

This time, they were at the Third Prince’s courtyard again. When they arrived halfway at the yard, they switched to Ao Chenyi’s luxurious carriage.

Ning Xueyan did not expect that there were not only male guests here today, but also four female guests, all holding high statuses She even knew two of them.

They were Commandery Princess Muling and Commandery Princess Xianyun, as well as two noble ladies who seemed to hold high statuses.

There were only eight or nine people in total. It was a small banquet.

“Uncle, you’re late. You should drink three cups of wine.” Ao Mingyu stepped forward with a smile.

Ao Chenyi sat down in the front seat. His eyes slid past Ao Mingyu’s face to those already seated. They were Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Min Wen Xueran, Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li Ao Xian, Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Chen Ao Yun, Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Ying Ao Qing, Commandery Princess Muling, Commandery Princess Xianyun, Commandery Princess Mingya, and County Princess Yuanyun.

“I should be punished.” Ao Chenyi gave a slight smile. He reached out his hand and took the wine from Ao Mingyu’s hand. It seemed that he would drink it in one gulp.

“Your Highness.” A pair of soft snow-white hands held his hands. From the deliberately sweet voice, one could tell that she was a seductive woman. She was dressed more garishly than the other princesses. Her head was adorned with numerous pearl and jade ornaments, which weighed heavily on her neck. When she passed by earlier, she gave off a strong and unpleasant fragrance, even when she was still a distance away.

Even a libertine like the Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, showed his disdain.

At a glance, one could tell that such a woman must be from a humble family. Once she gained power, she was afraid that others would not know how she was favored. She could not wait to wear her pearls and jade. It was a waste of her good looks.

Although there were not many good-looking people in this world, it was not difficult to find a few, especially the noblemen who grew up in the royal family. There were many beautiful women, even exceedingly beautiful ones. Therefore, this seductive woman, even if she was beautiful, was nothing but a plaything.

Ao Mingyu was also slightly surprised. When they met last time, Ao Chenyi’s favorite concubine had not been so arrogant. How could she be so arrogant now? Did Ao Chenyi spoil her like this? Based on Ao Chenyi’s cold temper, no one could believe that he would pamper a humble concubine so much.

“My beloved concubine, what’s the matter?” Ao Chenyi was slightly surprised. He lowered his head and asked softly.

“Prince Yi, this wine smells good. I also want to drink it.” Regardless of the sarcasm and disdainful eyes around her, Ning Xueyan tried her best to pretend to be the favorite concubine. Whatever reason Ao Chenyi had for bringing her here today, she clearly knew that she was now only a low-status concubine.

When she saw the colorful clothes Ao Chenyi had prepared for her, she knew that she would have to act like a coquette, who looked down her nose at everybody. For example, if no one dared to speak out, she would not feel guilty at all, when she started to stir up trouble.

A concubine of humble status dared to speak in front of everyone. It was a provocation to the others. If it were not for Ao Chenyi, Ning Xueyan believed that she would have been thrown out of the courtyard.

“Well, drink it if you want!” Ao Chenyi did not seem to think that it was rude for a concubine to talk like this. Moreover, the wine was given by the Third Prince. As a concubine, she did not have the right to drink it. However, he gave it to Ning Xueyan.

Ao Mingyu clenched his hands so tightly that the blue veins on his hands stood out. As a trace of coldness flashed through his eyes, he thought that he would topple Ao Chenyi one day. He and his father hoped to do that. Ao Chenyi’s power was a deterrent for them to act rashly. But now it was different. Ao Chenyi was about to get married.

A gentle smile appeared on his face, as if he did not care at all.

Ning Xueyan turned around slightly and lifted up part of her veil. Everyone could only see the corner of her mouth. She drank a glass of wine in one gulp.

“Uncle, my father has roughly settled your selection of concubines. I believe that soon I will be able to drink at your wedding banquet.” Ao Mingyu said with a smile as if there was no humble concubine drinking his wine. He looked at Commandery Princess Xianyun’s face with a meaningful look. Commandery Princess Xianyun blushed and lowered her head.

Ning Xueyan was keenly aware of this, but what surprised her most was that another noble lady also lowered her head shyly.

Ning Xueyan rolled her shimmery eyes under the veil. Seeing Ao Mingyu’s playful look, she suddenly understood something. She pulled at Ao Chenyi’s clothes and acted coquettishly. She said in a low and affectedly sweet voice, “Prince Yi, are you going to get married?”

“What’s wrong? Uncle, don’t the people in your manor know about that?” Ao Mingyu looked surprised as if he could not believe it. He looked at Ning Xueyan and then turned to Ao Chenyi, who was sitting there, with a sulky face.

He used the term ‘the people in your manor’ to refer to Ning Xueyan. His tone was neither dismissive nor positive. In fact his tone was so admirable that people could not find fault with it.

“The decree has not been made yet, so it can’t be confirmed,” Ao Chenyi said indifferently. He reached out his hand and patted Ning Xueyan on her back.

“Yes, it’s my fault. Uncle, I’m sorry. I thought you had already arranged it. My father asked you to prepare for it. After all, you should marry a consort first. Then, you can marry a co-consort after a while, lest there be something lacking due to regard for precedence.”

Ao Mingyu said with a smile, as if he was planning for Ao Chenyi.

“That’s right, Prince Yi. I heard that there would be a decree soon after the Beauty Contest. The emperor has… prepared earlier… to attend your wedding banquet.”

It was Ao Xian who spoke. But then, Ao Chenyi gave him a sharp look. The Princely Heir of Commandery Prince Li, who was outwardly strong but inwardly weak, could not say anything more. His voice trailed off. In the end, he did not know if he heard it. Under the gaze from Ao Chenyi’s cold eyes, he stopped talking.

“Are you worried about my marriage?” Ao Chenyi raised his eyebrows, with a hint of hostility in his beautiful and enchanting eyes. Ao Xian, the least daring of all, could not say anything. He thought that Prince Yi would be pleased to talk about the marriage, but now he found that he did not look good when the subject was brought up.

He peeped at Commandery Princess Xianyun, who was an exceedingly beautiful lady. If it was not for the fact that she was born of the Empress Dowager’s parents’ home and had a noble status that ordinary people could not be matched with, she would have long been sought after. Such a beautiful, elegant and gentle beauty was in front of him. How could Prince Yi be so frozen-faced?

And the County Princess Yuanyun, who was the niece of Great Elder Princess’s husband, had long been famous for her talent. Her beauty was delicate but not pretentious.

The Great Elder Princess was the only sister of the late emperor. The Emperor’s son-in-law died in the battle, so when the former emperor took the throne, he was extremely respectful toward the Great Elder Princess. Commandery Princess Mingya was the legal daughter of the Great Elder Princess. Although the County Princess Yuanyun could not compare with Commandery Princess Mingya, she was still qualified to be Prince Yi’s co-consort.

With her status, she could be anyone’s principal wife, if not Prince Yi’s.

However, she was going to marry Prince Yi, who was superior to her.

Thinking of this, Ao Xian felt wronged for the beautiful lady. However, he only dared to complain in his heart. He had been unlucky in all that he did during the past few days. Thus, he did not dare to offend the bloodthirsty and cruel Prince Yi. Otherwise, he would not know how he would die. His grandmother repeatedly told him that he should never be the enemy of Prince Yi.

Ao Xian kept these words in mind all the time, so he did not say anything at this moment. He just waited to see what would happen next.

Although it was a private banquet of the royal family, its atmosphere was so weird. He was not smart, but he also felt that it was unusual. So, he decided to play dumb and stop talking.

“Uncle, I dare not. My father told me to ask you.” Ao Mingyu explained with a smile.

Ao Chenyi said indifferently, “Thank you for his kindness. I’ll ask him to grant my marriage after the Beauty Contest.” He picked up the wine glass next to him and took a sip. Then, he narrowed his eyes slightly, which gleamed coldly.

“My father has been preparing for it. I heard that he has already made an edict,” Ao Mingyu said with a gentle smile. Then, he turned his eyes from Ao Chenyi to Ning Xueyan, who was hidden behind a veil. He paused for a while as if he wanted to say something more.

“Cousin Prince Yi, who… who is she?” A clear voice filled with some dissatisfaction, asked.

Ning Xueyan raised her head and saw a bright face. It was the woman sitting next to Commandery Princess Xianyun. She did not know her, but she looked at her with hostility. There was another woman beside her. Although she looked delicate and beautiful, she too looked at Ning Xueyan with disdain.

Commandery Princess Xianyun looked calm and elegant, and no one could tell what she was thinking about. However, Commandery Princess Muling did not look at anyone. She picked up her cup and took a big sip. There was a sense of sadness on her calm face, which was different from the others.

Ao Chenyi’s cousin? She had a high status!

“Mingya, this is my favorite concubine.” It was rare for Ao Chenyi not to show his indifference. He looked up and smiled faintly at Mingya.

“Cousin, I want to exchange four beauties for this woman. I don’t know how you feel about this?” Commandery Princess Mingya was the daughter of the Great Elder Princess, who had raised Ao Chenyi for some time, so she was familiar with him. She pointed at Ning Xueyan and said rudely.

How interesting! Ning Xueyan, who was in Ao Chenyi’s arms, could not help but turn her head to look at this bold Commandery Princess Ming Ya. She had never seen anyone who dared to talk to Ao Chenyi in this way.