The Dragon's Flower

XH 125

By the time Madam Ping stepped into the room where Duan XiYing has escorted them into, Xiao Hua had made up her mind to pretend she did not know what Ping Shui and her husband were doing earlier.

Xiao Hua stood up and curtsied. "Greetings to Madam Ping." 

"Greetings to Sister Xiao Hua," Ping Shui returned the greeting politely. "Greetings to the Eighth Prince."

"Greetings, Madam Ping Shui." The Eighth Prince smiled but did not stand up to greet her as an attempt to show that his position was higher than hers.

If Ping Shui was surprised at how normal the Eighth Prince was, it was not revealed on her face. On the other hand, Xiao Hua cursed herself for not questioning the Eighth Prince more when he voiced his desire to follow her in visiting Ping Shui for the sake of questioning her arts of...seduction.

A person with the mental age of a child would have some difficulty in holding a normal conversation, much less asking about adult content! Her logical mind was curbed by her guilt of hurting the Eighth Prince!

Unless...the Eighth Prince does not mind Ping Shui knowing about him being normal because she was on their side? Xiao Hua sneaked a glance at Duan XiYing, who immediately caught her eyes and gave her a brief nod.

It was pretty scary how Duan XiYing and herself could exchange messages with just a look after knowing each other for less than four months. She also knows that if Duan XiYing did not stop them from doing anything, that also means the Third Prince would more or less allow it, or in a better case scenario, not be overly angry about it.

"I apologize for interrupting your rest." It took Xiao Hua a great effort to maintain normality on her expression when she said that. "Sister Tian Chi is currently busy so I offered to deliver your medicine on her behalf."

"Thank you for your kindness." Ping Shui smiled as she took a seat, which allowed Xiao Hua to return back to her seat. "I was told to remain on the bed until I'm well, but it's rather tiring with nothing to do. Please, come and talk to me whenever you are free."

Nothing to do? I bet your husband would disagree with you.

"I will be happy to visit whenever I can," Xiao Hua promised with a wide smile that was almost painful. "How are your injuries? Sister Tian Chi had not said much about your injuries but she confirmed that she had healed them all."

Oh, that was not true, as Xiao Hua had managed to squeeze information out from Tian Zi that Ping Shui was tortured for information personally by the heroine, Liu Chu Chu. The list of injuries on Ping Shui shocked Xiao Hua and she was disturbed at how cruel the heroine was.

From the novel, Le XiaoTing knew how far the heroine would go just to protect herself and her new family, even if she would need to stain her hands with blood and condemn her soul to hell.

To Liu Chu Chu, she never regretted killing others to protect her loved ones.

Le XiaoTing truly admired her strong determination, even if she could not stomach most of her unnecessary cruelty.

Just like this incident where the unfortunate general was made to look as if he had purposely failed the task. It was cruel for Liu Chu Chu to kidnap Ping Shui to interrogate her just because of her husband's failure in his task.  Xiao Hua honestly thought that in this case, Liu Chu Chu should have interrogated and whipped General Tang instead! His mistakes should be carried by himself, not his innocent wife!

Ping Shui nodded, her eyes filled with warmth as she caresses her stomach protectively. "Tian Chi had indeed healed most of my injuries and now I only need to rest."

"Perhaps Madam Ping Shui is expecting a child?" Xiao Hua asked, immediately recognizing the gesture.

"You are right. Is it that obvious?" Ping Shui asked, glowing like an expecting mother that was happy about her child.

"It's a guess," Xiao Hua lied. Ping Shui might find it weird if she says 'I saw you rubbing your stomach like a momma bear'. "May I ask how far along you are?"

"Not at all. I'm only two months and fortunately, my child is strong."

Xiao Hua's face darkened. Indeed, it was fortunate that the child was strong, or else the torture would have caused Ping Shui to miscarriage!

Le XiaoTing had never entertained the idea of hating the hero and heroine, but after she took the identity of Xiao Hua, she only disliked them and wished to stay far away from them. But now, she could not help but hate them.

Just because they were strong, that does not mean they could trample people that were weaker than them even in the name of protecting their loved ones.

"Congratulations on the good news and may your child be as strong as General Tang and as intelligent as Madam Ping," Xiao Hua gave her genuine well wishes.

The Eighth Prince choked on his tea and fortunately for Xiao Hua, Ping Shui just laughed behind her sleeves, not at all offended by Xiao Hua's well-meant wishes. She could see Xiao Hua was not being malicious, but rather brutally honest on her belief that her husband may be strong but Ping Shui was the smart one between the couple.

"Thank you, I sincerely hope so too."

After that, the two ladies exchanged polite questions until the Eighth Prince got bored. In his original world, he had suffered these kinds of ordeal more than he wanted and but that does not mean he learned patience from it.

"Madam Ping, why do you marry General Tang? Is it because of love that you marry him? Is it also because of love he chooses to side with the third brother?" The Eighth Prince shoots out questions in the middle of the ladies' conversation.

Xiao Hua nearly bit her tongue from the sudden interruption. What's more, the Eighth Prince's questions were rather intruding of privacy!

But for the Eighth Prince, he had already viewed Ping Shui as an ally, which was after he had confirmed with the Third Prince beforehand. To him, it would be best to keep things honest and open among allies, but not to the extent of exposing all of his secrets.

Letting Ping Shui know that he was mentally sane was a good move to reassure her and her husband that their side was not weak and unreliable. It would also show that he, the Eighth Prince, trusted them by revealing his secret that could get him killed. This knowledge was also served as a reward for Ping Shui after withstanding the torture that symbolizes her firm standing in the Third Prince's camp.

It seems that Madam Ping came to that conclusion too for her previous polite smile towards the Eighth Prince turned sincere.

"To answer the Eighth prince's question, Ping Shui is the only one left to continue the Ping bloodline, and if I married into the Second Prince's line, the Ping line will end."

Grand Tutor Ping Pong only has two sons. Both were successful in their own careers but both died young. His eldest son gave him a filial daughter in law and an intelligent granddaughter but his youngest son died before he gets to enjoy the marriage life.

Ping Shui smiled, rather wickedly if someone asked Xiao Hua's opinion. "General Tang is a good husband and someone that I've admired for years. Grandfather and the Third Prince had discussed the matter and permitted me to choose General Tang once they were assured that the Tang line would not end once General Tang was married into Ping household. Choosing General Tang as my husband benefited the Ping family and the Third Prince."

Grand Tutor Ping Pong knew that a man from a respectable family would never agree to marry into the Ping household, so once he heard about the plan to rope General Tang in, he did not think twice but jump on the ship.

And their plan bared fruit. (b ᵔ▽ᵔ)b

Ping Shui married a man she admired and now loved. Grand Tutor Ping no longer worried about having the Ping line ends with Ping Shui. The Third Prince had gotten General Tang to be on his side after the latest incident.

The Second Prince lost his most loyal and strong soldier due to his suspicions and distrust.

Xiao Hua silently sighed in pity for General Tang. Every side had gotten benefit from the marriage between him and Ping Shui, yet he seems to lose the most in this arrangement.

"How is General Tang fairing?" Xiao Hua asked, unable to conceal worry from her voice.

Ping Shui's eyes showed a hint of sadness before it was replaced with a determination of a wife would for her husband. "I will take care of him and stay by his side forever."

Her Lord husband had acted as if that incident did not hurt him and spend all his time taking care of her. He had yet to dwell on the matter but Ping Shui swears she will be with him when the pain finally caught up.

"If there is anything I can do, do not hesitate to tell me," Xiao Hua offered earnestly. 

Hi everyone!

This is the last preview chapter for Volume 4 (Orange Bliss), with the remaining 10 chapters removed. I'm doing so to keep myself out of trouble with the publishing sites >.<

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