Yes, I Do(n't)

Chapter 4: Crown Prince Beitang Moran

Shen Baiyu walks calmly back to the waiting hall to look for her stepmother, Concubine Li Xiyin, together with her rather clingy younger half-sister, Shen Lianhua. Upon seeing that both of her daughters are entering the waiting hall, Concubine Li Xiyin smiles, "Baiyu... Lianhua... It will be lunnch time soon. We should eat together once your father and older brother have returned. Where is Rouran?"

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Shen Lianhua sits next to her mother and replies, "Sister-in-law is still talking to His Royal Highness. Mother, can you believe that he intends to take older sister as his concubine?"

"What?!?!?! How could the di daughter of the Shen family become a concubine?!?!?! I will not allow that to happen! I've promised older sister not to slight Baiyu regarding her marriage!"

Concubine Li Xiyin slams her hand on the wooden bench. Her personal maidservant, Bing Mama, is somewhat shocked by this sudden fierce unprecedented act by her usually calm mistress. She immediately instructed Moli to serves tea to each of the mistresses. Seeing that the maidservants whom are serving them are those trustworthy enough, Shen Baiyu gently lift her veil.

It has been a while since Bing Mama has seen the eldest miss, she has to say that this eldest miss is one of the top beauties in the kingdom but due to her timid and reserves nature, she rarely goes out from her courtyard.

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The late first madame, Mu Shuiling, was also one of the top beauties in the past but her beauty is not as breathtaking as her older sister, Empress Mu Jianrui, or as Concubine Li Xiyin. For their master, General Shen Jilie, to be able to marry two of the top beauties at the same time is something that has been the talk of the kingdom then. At first, everyone thought that by having two beauties in the same family will resulted in catastrophe with lots of schemings and cat fights but the main wife, First Madame Mu, had been quite a calm and gentle woman making Concubine Li Xiyin whom first is somewhat bitter of not being the main wife but only a mere concubine feeling quite justified as she has never been slighted by the main wife in any way. First Madame Mu has made that the general spent times with his women on alternate days. When Concubine Li Xiyin is the first one pregnant with the general's first born, First Madame Mu has been nothing but happy. When the first born is a boy, the main wife personally organized a banquet to welcome the heir of the Shen family.

By then, First Madame Mu has already been quite sick. 3 years later, she passed away after she had given birth to the eldest miss. Concubine Li Xiyin immediately stepped up to be a dedicated mother to the newborn and treated her as if she is her own. No women are willing to take care of their husbands' child with another woman, but this eldest miss has been born with such a breathtaking appearance that made everyone melts upon seeing her. But she too is borne with a weak body just like her late mother which makes the whole family pampers her and allow her to do whatever she wants.

Even the servants are quite taken by this beautiful yet timid eldest miss who always treated the servants kindly. Those who have seen the eldest miss are mesmerized by her beauty, but they are even more taken by her gentle manner. But they do secretly wish that she is a bit bolder and more persuasive for her rights. When the outsiders are talking badly about their eldest miss, they held their heads up high because they know that their eldest miss is one of the top tier beauty in the kingdom just like the younger miss. What makes them happier is that how loving each of the Shen family members can be with each other.

Though the late madame was the true love of the general, he treated his concubine lovingly too as this has been personally asked by his late wife. Due to this fact too, he never takes another concubine ever again. With his son being married with a child. He is content with his life with a slight bump on the road, his eldest daughter who has just been publicly embarrassed by the crown prince of the kingdom which means there will be a low chance of her getting married into any family since none wanted to offend the crown prince of the kingdom.

The guards standing in front of main door gate immediately gives their respect upon seeing their master and young master has just arrived and dismounted their horses, "Greetings, master! Greetings, young master!"

Both nods their heads before entering the manor but stops in their tracks upon seeing Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun is having a heated conversation with First Princess Nangong Rouran.

"Father-in-law... Husband... Welcome back. Mother-in-law, eldest miss and younger miss are all at the waiting hall waiting for both of you."

General Shen Jilie look at the crown prince and says, "Your highness, I believe that you are where to meet my older daughter right... Is everything loud and clear now?"

Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun look at the infamous general and respectfully answers, "This prince has met with the elder miss and fully understood her meanings. This prince will excuse himself now as there are matters to be settled with the Kingdom of Beitang envoy."

Captain Shen Yili then says, "Indeed. We do understand that the crown prince is working hard to ensure that the peace between the kingdoms be secured. Please be careful on your back, your highness."

Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun is staring at him before abruptly turns to leave the manor. First Princess Nangong Rouran is watching him with annoyance in her eyes. Captain Shen Yili smiles gently upon seeing his annoyed wife, he holds onto her hand and pulls her to walk together with him.

"Calm yourself down, wife. He is still your royal brother and the future emperor of this kingdom."

"He is a fool. How dare he treated sister-in-law like that?!?!?! I hope that she will find someone whom will love and pamper her for her whole life."

General Shen Jilie looks at his daughter-in-law proudly, she is indeed loyal to the Shen family. His son is lucky to have her as a wife. All three of them walk towards the waiting hall and once they arrived, they saw how Shen Baiyu is laughing merrily with Concubine Li Xiyin and Shen Lianhua. He noticed that his oldest daughter has drastically change since her near-death experience, he just let her be after seeing how calm and collected she is even with the glaring fact that the crown prince intends to annul their engagement. What even more shocking is that she even boldly demanded that she is to be compensated due to her 'trouble'. He is so proud as she is indeed his daughter, her boldness is inherited from him.

Seeing that the men of the house is back with Moli carrying the Shen Xianghua right behind them made the other maidservants immediately goes into the kitchen to serve lunch in the dining hall. The whole family then walk together to the dining hall. General Shen Jilie is walking together with Concubine Li Xiyin and behind them are Captain Shen Yili with First Princess Nangong Rouran. Slightly behind the young couple is Moli carrying Shen Xianghua. The beautiful sisters are walking together with Shen Lianhua is talking non-stop while Shen Baiyu just smiles listening to her.

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As the day is getting colder, the cook has prepared a hot pot for them. Shen Baiyu puts her arms on the table with one hand gracefully touches her hair. Her family members are looking at her because this is the first time, she has joined them for lunch. In the past, she declined to join them and prefer to eat in her own courtyard, alone. This is a wonderful surprise for them including the servants too.

Meanwhile, in another manor within the imperial city, a handsome man is staring at the man whom has requested to meet him. He stared at the said man without a smile on his face.

"Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun... Why are you here? If you want to meet my younger sister, I have to respectfully ask you to leave the premises."

Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun smiles as he looks at his former nemesis, Crown Prince Beitang Moran and says, "I am here to meet you, Moran. Do you have to treat me this way?"

Crown Prince Beitang Moran glared at him and says, "You intend to annul your engagement so that you will marry my sister but have you ever thought what the society will think about your soon-to-be ex-fiancée? She will be scorned for the rest of her life. I have heard she nearly dies because of your stupid deed. Leave now. We will only meet during the welcoming banquet."

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Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun left that place together with his royal guard with a scowl on his face.

"How dare he stops me from meeting with Xing Er! Damn it! He is just as annoying as the Shen eldest miss! Bastards!"

"Your highness, calm yourself down... The empress is watching you around the clock and with the slightest mistake, she will force you to marry your fiancée."

"As if I want to marry that ugly b***h!"

Unbeknownst to them both, Crown Prince Beitang Moran is looking down at them from the roof top of the manor with a smirk on his face. He then skillfully uses his qi gong from one rooftop to another and only stops once he has reached his destination.

He descended to the ground, it is a small garden with blooming daffodils everywhere. He smiles before he hides behind a tree and waits for that person to come. He is curious about her... He is even more curious when he heard her sudden changes in attitude too. Is it possible for someone to suddenly changed that much? His younger sister insisted that she is ugly, but he highly doubts that because his spies told him that her family and servants are obviously unbothered about the vicious rumours circulated in the kingdom.