The Princess And The Lord

People cheered for the winner on the stage. She was a woman dressed in white robes with delicate pink flower embroidery on her skirt. The woman smiled confidently when her opponent unconsciously fell on the floor. The man was badly beaten by the girl in the white dress as his body was cover with bruises and red scars.

Lory didn't think much of Zhao Li Xin's abrupt question as she knew he could be weird at times. She leaned towards Zhao Li Xin, "Who is that girl?"

"She is Ying Xuan Xie from the Ying clan…" He quickly glanced at the woman on the stage. He didn't think there was anything special about her yet the information he received said she was as beautiful as a fairy, delicate as a flower and pure as snow. Who the HECK made up that story? The only pure person he could think of was his little savior!!

The truth was Ying Xuan Xie lived up to her reputation. Her beauty was at par with Lao Min Na's. However, it was also true that beauty was in the eyes of the beholder. In Zhao Li Xin's eyes, Ying Xuan Xie beauty was 'Meh…'

Lory, on the other hand, was stunned by the girl's beauty. The assessment for beauty in this world and hers wasn't very different. The difference was people in her world were more open-minded as they appreciated all kinds of beauty, while people in this world were petty and small-minded especially to those who didn't look like them.

Lory saw the girl in white give the Fifth Prince an affectionate gaze while the prince smiled back at the girl gently. Lory repeatedly tugged Zhao Li Xin's sleeve as she had an urge to gossip. She wiggled her pinky finger and raised her eyebrows, "Hey… hey… The woman and the Fifth Prince… Are…?"

Zhao Li Xin frowned as he had never seen anyone make such gestures but he understood what she meant. He nodded slightly, "She's the Fifth Prince's consort candidate."

"Oh… How old is the Fifth Prince…?" She continued to gossip. There were no idols in this world so the next best thing for gossip was the royal family's life.

Zhao Li Xin took a moment to remember his brother's age, "Hmm… I think he is almost twenty-five."

"Isn't that so…so old for a bachelor?"

"He's not really a bachelor. He has a few concubines and a daughter in his household…" Zhao Li Xin clarified.

"I forgot about that..." Lory thought someone needed to smack the back of her head. How could she forget that most men, especially noblemen in this world could have sexual intercourse from the age of thirteen? Many families encouraged this practice and it was normal to have concubines once they turned seventeen. The official wife position, however, was left to a woman with good background and reputation. Zhao Li Xin was the exception. Lory actually thought Zhao Li Xin was the oddball in this world.

"Why don't you have concubines?" Lory couldn't resist asking something that was always at the tip of her tongue. Although Zhao Li Xin was considered a useless prince, he was still a prince. He couldn't fail to find a beautiful daughter from a lower-class official or a common beautiful girl to be with him. However, he didn't take any girls in his manor. It was like he couldn't stand him as even his maids were mostly old maids.

Zhao Li Xin felt uncomfortable with the way Lory asked the question. He didn't look at her as he answered, "Women are a hassle..."

Lory frowned. There was another question she had always wanted to ask. However, she was always scared to utter it as she feared he would be angered. She bit her lip and braced herself, "Do you... even like women… at all?"

Zhao Li Xin felt like he had been struck by lightning. He stared at Lory as an inexplicable feeling rose within him, "This lord likes women and will only marry a woman. However, this lord doesn't like ordinary women. Not any woman would do for this lord!!"

The explanation was long and passionate. Lory could only nod her head, "O…okay…"

"Do you understand?" Zhao Li Xin wanted to make sure.

"Crystal!" She affirmed.

The moment everyone was waiting for was soon upon them. The fight between Lao Fei Yan and Lao Min Na. It was no secret that the relationship between the sisters had soured with time and one of the main reasons for this was the lecherous Crown Prince.

The two beautiful girls standing on the stage was a scene to behold. It was a pity that the sisters aimed to destroy each other. Lao Fei Yan stared at Lao Min Na with a demeaning look while Lao Min Na sneered at Lao Fei Yan.

The air around them tensed as people stopped cheering. They couldn't wait to see how the girls would fight each other.

"Second sister, I would consider our past relationship and let you off as long as you choose to retreat from the competition," Lao Fei Yan smiled arrogantly. She didn't think her sister could defeat her with her current power.

"Sister, thank you for your benevolence but I'm afraid I can't accept your offer," Lao Min Na scoffed.

Lao Fei Yan sneered "Don't dream of defeating me, sister. I bet you think you can have the Crown Prince once you defeat me."

Zhao Mu Fan felt his heart flutter when he heard this. Nothing satisfied a man's ego than to see two beautiful women fighting for his affection. Zhao Yi Chen's face darkened as he really wanted to rip off Zhao Mu Fan's smug face.

However, Lao Min Na giggled, "Oh my! Sister, you can keep that man. This younger sister lost interest in him a long time ago."

Her words shocked everyone while Zhao Mu Fan turned red from shame. People wanted to laugh but they couldn't dare infuriate the Crown Prince openly. They covered their mouths and look down instead. However, Zhao Mu Fan and Lao Fei Yan could still see the people's ridicule. Lao Fei Yan clenched her fist in anger and glared at Lao Min Na furiously. 

"Don't say I didn't warn you!"

"I won't," Lao Min Na casually responded.

The two girls jumped to attack at the same time and two fists collided in the air. Their strength was almost the same as they were pushed back from the other's force. However, Lao Min Na managed to balance herself first as she pushed her leg and struck at Lao Fei Yan with her palm. Lao Fei Yan barely dodged as Lao Min Na's palm missed her chest but grazed her shoulder, hurting her.

Although Lao Fei Yan was hurt, she twisted her waist and hit Lao Min Na's stomach with enough force to push her back a few steps. Seeing they were at par in strength they each gathered their Qi changing the air around them.

Everyone was shocked to discover Lao Min Na's Qi was at Master Level. Lao Fei Yan gritted her teeth as she couldn't believe she and the trash had the same cultivation level. It took Lao Fei Yan nine years of cultivation to reach her lever yet Lao Min Na had achieved this in three years. Did this mean Lao Min Na was more talented? How could Lao Fei Yan accept this?

Lao Fei Yan changed her strategy and attacked Lao Min Na with killing intent. She couldn't allow the woman to live any longer. Lao Min Na saw her intention and felt elated as it gave her a reason to kill Lao Fei Yan too. The fight became fiercer as they both drew out their swords. The sound of steel collided and echoed in the air.

Lory watched the intense fight as she covered herself with the fur clock as she felt chilly and her gaze turned somber. Zhao Li Xin didn't know what suddenly changed her mood. He was about to ask when Lory said quietly, "It is sad, isn't it?"

"What's wrong?" Zhao Li Xin was puzzled.

"They are both sisters..." She said. Her eyes remained glued to the stages.

He understood what she meant, "Sometimes… It's inevitable…"

"I know. I just feel sad for them…" Lory sighed deeply.

Zhao Li Xin patted her hands gently. How could she feel sorry for the sisters, especially Lao Min Na who beat her black and blue a few months earlier? He didn't understand why she still had the heart to feel sorry for Lao Min Na. Zhao Li Xin worried about Lory but his heart also warmed at the same time.

Lao Min Na managed to overcome Lao Fei Yan after a while. Lao Fei Yan swung her swords and tore Lao Fei Yan's collar at the critical moment. The tear exposed part of Lao Fei Yan's shoulder but Lao Min Na quickly covered her shoulder using the scarf on her neck. Everything happened in three seconds but the time was enough to make Lory freeze.

Zhao Li Xin felt her hand became ice cold. Lory's eyes bulged widely and her mouth opened slightly. Her heartbeat at a hundred miles a second as her body trembled profusely.

"Ri Yi, what's happening to you?" Zhao Li Xin held her chin with an anxious face. There was something terribly wrong with her.

Lory's eyes remind blank like she was in the trance. She whispered, "I… That can't be..."

Lory's eyes turned back to the stage where Lao Min Na hit Lao Fei Yan with a loud bang! 

"No way... It's impossible…."She murmured to herself.