Phoenix in the Moonlight

The day after, they signed the contract. Li Jie is all praise for how smart Xin was and that her conditions were stellar. Wang Yifeng supposed she was. She was also sinful and the coveted one. He couldn't wait to be with her again. Last night he had called on the tailor and ordered him to measure her and make her clothing that would suit her new status. She was the Qinwang's woman, after all.

She didn't stay though. She said that she had to take care of her niece and nephew and left.

Wang Yifeng wanted routine. He wanted to have her all night, going to bed, waking up beside her and her being there whenever she needed him.

He had thought out a plan already. When he went back to the capital, he would keep her in a separate house, during the week he would live with her and on the weekends go to his wangfu for family dinner. He would probably have to lie a lot about why he wouldn't come back home, but he sure as hell wasn't going to bring her to his wangfu as a consort.

He didn't know why, but he didn't want to taint this relationship with Xin by bringing her into unnecessary family politics.

Li Jie envied him for a few minutes before he decided to buy a house for Qing Yuan.

Wang Yifeng smiled as Xin signed the paper and asked Li Jie to do the same. There it was, their names on paper, in black and white.

"You may never leave me," he said, drawing her close to his body. Six months, he had given her six months to decide if she would leave, if she did, she would go with nothing, or when he left, she could keep it all.

He nuzzled her cheek despite the groan from his friend.

"Let's celebrate," he said. Li Jie chuckled. Qing Yuan accompanied them to drinks and they went their way at the end of the night.

"Young Master, I wish to cook dinner for you," she offered when they reached the house. His eyes warmed. Dinner? He didn't have much space in his stomach, but he was dying to taste her food.

Didn't they say that the way into a man's heart was his stomach?

He snapped out of the thought. There would be no hearts involved. He accompanied her to the kitchen and watched as she busied herself inside, leaving the servants bewildered. He glared at those that slipped and almost addressed him as prince and the servants quickly understood that it was better not to stay in front of the couple and incur qinwang's wrath.

She didn't accompany him in eating, simply settling to sit across from him and watching him eat his fill.

"I need some time to take care of things at my old home." He was pleased. She already considered his humble place her home. That was good.

"Do you need any help?" he asked, sitting straight. "I will send some servants over."

She shook her head. "There is not much apart from a few clothes, toys, and cleaning."

"Then you shall be provided with a carriage for transportation." She raised her eyes, shocked.

"Young Master, that is not appropriate." The eunuch, who was standing on the side felt the same way.

"I don't care about propriety. I wish to buy you a carriage." End of discussion.

He ate a hearty meal and wondered how she learned to cook so well. It was truly a blessing that he had stumbled across her.

That night he was unable to sleep in his bed. Anticipation bloomed in him as he imagined sharing his bed with her. He went to his study and found himself sleeping in the makeshift bed there.

He slept well, waking up rested and refreshed to the smell of tea. It was routine and he liked it. He walked over to the main study and found the eunuch kneeling.

"Rise," he commanded.

The eunuch lifted his head and then stood up.

Wang Yifeng prided himself over reading people and he had known his eunuch since young. He looked upset.

"Tell me," he asked. "You may speak freely. "

"There is news from the capital," the eunuch hesitates. "The consort..."

"What of her?" he raised his brow.

"The consort is very used to having everything given to her." He paused and carefully looked at the prince.

"Has she settled in since I came here?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Yes, she has settled in according to reports, but the servant girls she brought along have been causing trouble with the old momo. The servants of the wangfu are… dissatisfied with the treatment. They feel like wangye has sent them to slave away under the new consort."

"Has she taken over any of the household responsibilities?" The eunuch shook his head.

"Don't fret. I will write her a letter." It was his duty to act like he cared for Jia Lixue. "Is there anything else?" he asked. The eunuch shook his head.

For now, Wang Yifeng would read. He could write the letter later on.