Yes, I Do(n't)

Chapter 13: The young misses of Shen and Xiao

After being at the restaurant for more than an hour, they decided to send Xiao Ke Ai back to her manor which by now on a verge of collapsing due to the disappearance of the only daughter of Prime Minister Xiao. His sons are busy inquiring the whereabouts of his daughter to each maidservant, servants and guards in the manor, but no one knows as she has been missing together with her personal maidservant and a guard.

When the maidservant in question comes back, she cries uncontrollably in front of her masters and mistresses because the second miss has been separated from her and nowhere to be found. The guard stands there with his head bowed while he kneels on the ground. Concubine Hua Meili has fainted while being supported by a worried looking Concubine Feng Wen. First madam Jing looks calm, but both of her hands are clenching hard on the hems of her sleeves. Concubine Li Meigui is crying non-stop while Concubine Zhao Qingrou intends to instruct her personal maidservant to report the matters to Captain Shen Yili who is responsible for the security of the imperial city.

During the commotion in the manor, a soft and sweet voice then asks, "What's wrong? Why is everyone acting this way? Did something happen?"

All eyes are immediately watching towards the direction of the familiar voice. There she was. Standing adorably in front of the door gate of the manor with a group of people with her. These people are watching each and everyone in the manor with an amused expression on their faces.

Only one figure calmly stands there with a veiled hat covering her head. There is an aura of nobility comes out of her slim body while the handsome man standing next to her looking straight the master of the house with a smile on his face.

Bai Zhishi, the newly appointed Imperial Tutor respectfully says, "Greetings, Prime Minister Xiao and madames. Greetings, Deputy Prime Minister Xiao. Greetings, third and fourth young masters."

Upon seeing a familiar face, Prime Minister Xiao then says, "Greetings, Imperial Tutor Bai. These individuals are?"

Crown Prince Beitang Moran introduces himself, "This young one's name is Moran."

Both the prime minister and his oldest son look at each other as they recognized that name but decided to keep their comments to themselves. The Imperial Tutor smiles a knowing smile too but continues to stand in silence.

The stunning young lady with a veiled hat than calmly introduces herself in a soft yet clear voice while doing a graceful curtsy, "Greetings, Prime Minister Xiao. Greetings, madames. Greetings, Deputy Prime Minister Xiao. Greetings, young masters. This young lady is the eldest miss Shen. This is my younger sister, third miss Shen. And, this is my personal maidservant, Moli."

Prime Minister Xiao stared at her. Never in his life that he ever thought that the reclusive and timid eldest miss Shen is standing within his manor. Other than General Shen Jilie being his third son's master, both families are rarely socializing with each other especially the general and him. She was said to be one with ghastly appearance and this had caused the crown prince wants to annul their engagement. Seeing her standing in front of him even with a veiled hat covering her head, she exudes calm yet dignified aura.

Looking at the man standing next to her, he assumed that he is the infamous and valiant Crown Prince Beitang Moran. He seems to be quite interested in this eldest miss Shen. Is this a good thing? Or, a disaster in the making? After all, she is still officially engaged to Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun who is still in a rather unstable relationship with this neighbouring prince even with his intention to make the neighbouring princess his rightful crown princess.

Seeing that her mother is in the protective arms of Concubine Feng Wen, Xiao Ke Ai runs towards her mother, "Mother! What's wrong?"

Hearing her daughter's voice, Concubine Hua Meili slowly opens her eyes, "Ke Ai!!! My daughter! Where have you been? We are so worried!"

"I just got lost but met the young misses Shen, young master Bai and gentleman Moran. We talk over brunch before they decided to send me home. I've met a bunch of good and honest people today. Eldest miss Shen even rescued me from the taunting of the young misses from the Lu, Ye and Zhao families. She is so good in reprimanding and made those girls ran with a terrified expression on their faces. Zhao Nucai even wailed in front of the curious crowd!"

Concubine Zhao Qingrao look at her stepdaughter and asks, "Zhao Nucai? That shu born daughter from the Zhao branch family? How dare she taunted the young miss of Xiao family?!?!?"

"Fifth mother, she did just taunt me. She even dares to taunt eldest miss Shen. Those 3 said that we are not worthy to be engaged with the princes of the kingdom due to our appearances."

Hearing his beloved daughter words made the expression of Prime Minister Xiao darken. He then looks at the young misses of the Shen family with their companions, "Eldest miss Shen and third miss Shen, this old man thanking you both for helping this daughter of mine."

Shen Lianhua smiles at him and says, "I am not the one who had helped the second miss Xiao. My older sister did all the talking and crushed those indolent girls."

Without waiting for any words from the master of the house, Shen Baiyu calmly walks towards the waiting hall with Crown Prince Beitang Moran following closely behind. Once she arrived at her intended destination, she calmly sits on one of the side chairs. Shen Lianhua looks at Bai Zhishi before looking at Prime Minister Xiao with a slight blush on her cheeks. Her older sister acted as if this Xiao manor is her own courtyard.

Even the mistresses of the Xiao family look at her with a puzzled expression on each of their faces, but Prime Minister Xiao just smile before he too sits on the bench located in the middle front of the waiting hall. This eldest miss Shen is indeed not as rumoured by others. That attitude of hers reminds him of her valiant father whom even dared to act indolently even in front of the emperor. Like father, like daughter. Seems like she is not a gentle young lady, unlike her late mother.

Concubine Hua Meili slightly curtsied before the eldest miss Shen before the latter stands up to stop her from doing so by holding onto both of her arms, "Concubine Hua, there is no need for an elder to curtsy before a young one. This is against Heaven. I helped the second miss because I personally find that she is quite adorable to look at. Just like a 'dumpling'..."

When Prime Minister Xiao heard her words, he laughs boisterously and not even offended by it. Even the madames are smiling as they look at this interesting young miss. In truth, in their family, Xiao Ke Ai has been lovingly called as 'dumpling' by her brothers. For this eldest miss Shen to calmly says it without malicious tone in her word is quite refreshing.

"Prime Minister Xiao, in the next few days, there might be a representative from each of the family. Accept their visits but do not forgive them unless each of them gives 1,000 gold coins each as compensation for their daughters' mistakes. I have demanded them to pay that many monies as a lesson for anyone not to slight second miss Xiao and I."

Prime Minister Xiao and his older son are looking at each other. Never did they thought that the infamous so-called timid miss is quite cunning and calculating. She blatantly demanded the misses from the 3 families to pay compensation to both. 1,000 gold coins each for both Xiao Ke Ai and Shen Baiyu means that each family must pay 2,000 gold coins. Thought the amount is not much but to earn that much of monies means a few years worth of salaries for mere officials and the Lu, Ye and the branch Zhao are only mere officials in the royal court. Their daughter indeed has offended someone they should not have offended in the first place, eldest miss Shen. His daughter would never come up with such a 'slap in the face' kind of plan. This eldest miss Shen is indeed one of a kind.

"Indeed... This old man will personally make sure that they will pay for the said amount. I will personally report the matters to his royal highness too."

Shen Baiyu did not say anything, but Xiao Ke Ai then says, "Father, I believe the damage has been done. As everyone has seen their shameful acts and eldest miss Shen personally reminded the crowd to spread every single word that have been said."

"As everyone can see by now, the power of one's mouth is never to be underestimated with. His royal highness has an inkling in this matter. Concubine Zhao, this young one has inadvertently involved your paternal family as well and for that, I seek your forgiveness."

"There is to be forgiven, eldest miss Shen. That branch family of mine has been separated from the main family for years now. They are absolute strangers."

Concubine Feng smiles and further adds, "That families have always been too proud of their so-called top-tier beautiful daughters all these years. Too bad that they are brainless idiots as well."

The other madames nod their heads in agreement. Each of them personally will contact their own respective family too so that the patriarch of each family will give a report on these 3 families for their conduct. That daughter of theirs ought to be banned from ever attending any social gathering in the kingdom for good.

Bai Zhishi too says, "I will also let my father knows about this too."

Crown Prince Beitang Moran smiles sweetly and says, "Indeed... They ought to be given a harsh lesson on propriety."

All five madames smile widely and Prime Minister Xiao can only pray that the unlucky families will be alright because each of them will pay dearly for their daughters' foolishness. With the combination of the Shen, Xiao, Jing, Hua, Li, Feng, Zhao and Bai in the royal court, no families can topple their influence. Each and every one of them is holding a significant post in the royal court and that 3 families are holding mere officials. Looking at the rather easygoing in appearance Crown Prince Beitang Moran, he has a premonition that he too will personally request for the families to be punished. His feelings towards eldest miss Shen is so obvious.

"There is another reason why I am here..."

Shen Baiyu then turns her head to look at the second miss Xiao, "This eldest miss wanted the second miss to join her on physical daily training."

Xiao Ke Ai claps her hand excitedly while her father, mothers and brothers look at eldest miss Shen with a puzzled expression on each of their faces.

Shen Lianhua realizes that the Xiao seems to not favour this suggestion from her older sister, "Prime Minister Xiao, as my older sister has been borne with a weak and sickly body, she decided to undergo an intensive physical daily training that will be monitored by my father and older brother. If needed be expert masters as well. As second miss Xiao has been mocked for her appearance, physical daily training will not only be good for her health, but she will be a much more confident young miss too. No one will be able to undermine her in the future too."

Crown Prince Beitang Moran look at the older man and says, "I concur with the eldest and third misses Shen. My younger sister has been trained rigorously under her master for years and an expert in martial arts. Third miss Shen is also an expert too. For a girl to be able to protect herself and/or others is something to be respected at by all."

Bai Zhishi smile when he heard those words coming from Crown Prince Beitang Moran, "Indeed. There is nothing to be frowned of for a female to be knowledgeable in martial arts."

Shen Baiyu then further adds, "True. And... As a bonus. With rigorous daily training, second miss Xiao here will be transformed into a lovely girl as well. As much as she is looking adorable as a 'dumpling', her features will be more exemplary once her baby fat is eliminated from her body. That I can guarantee of. She will be undergoing the royal training of a princess conduct under this young one too. After all, I have been taught how to act as a perfect princess for more than 10 years. That knowledge of mine no longer applicable for myself but will be highly beneficial for second miss Xiao. She is quite naive in nature, and that naivety of hers will be detrimental once she enters the imperial palace. And... Most importantly... Second miss Xiao really WANTED to join this young one. Isn't that right second miss Xiao?"

Xiao Ke Ai slyly smile as she slightly bows her head. Within seconds, sounds of crying can be heard coming from her, "Father... Please allow me to train with eldest miss Shen. Pretty please..."

She continues to cry a river before her family and the newcomers. Underneath her veil, Shen Baiyu smiles. Xiao Ke Ai is indeed a fast learner. Her brothers are now staring at eldest miss Shen and have to admit that this young miss is quite cunning, she knew that their sister is their father's ultimate weakness and she uses that to her advantage. Crown Prince Beitang Moran is still smiling but his eyes have a killing intent in it towards the young masters Xiao by now.

He softly coughs and that made the three young masters look at their sister instead. They know that that man is openly favouring eldest miss Shen even with the fact that she is still engaged with their crown prince. Such a daring personality they thought to themselves.