The little maid gave Liu Rumei another hug, then whispered a few words in her ear. Liu Rumei's face instantly turned red with embarrassment. Then the little maid turned and left.
After watching her walk away, Liu Rumei turned to look at Chen Xiaobei, her face slightly shy. "Husband, why didn't you ask her to stay? I think it would have been appropriate to invite the little maid for a meal since she came."
"Rumei, if she wanted to eat here, Grandpa Fang's words would have been useless. She doesn't want to eat here, so there's no point in keeping her," Chen Xiaobei said.
After hearing Chen Xiaobei's words, Liu Rumei pondered for a moment and immediately understood. She nodded gently.
"Husband is right. Perhaps Old Master Fang also didn't want her to stay."
"Alright, let's not worry about her. Come with me to meet Liu Tie and the others," Chen Xiaobei called to Liu Rumei.
Liu Rumei nodded and followed Chen Xiaobei out to meet Liu Tie and the others.
Upon seeing Liu Rumei, everyone was naturally overjoyed. There were greetings, some crying, some laughing, and the scene was lively.
Just then, a commotion was heard from the entrance, followed by screams. Two guards were sent flying inwards, falling to the ground.
The sudden screams broke the atmosphere. Everyone looked up to see the Lotus Cult Leader and Shen Ziyan rushing in angrily, with Jiang Shangpiao following behind them.
Seeing them return, Chen Xiaobei hurried forward to greet them. But before he could speak, the Lotus Cult Leader suddenly raised her hand and slapped Chen Xiaobei across the face.
The slap stunned Chen Xiaobei. Liu Rumei, who was about to step forward to pay her respects, was also taken aback. The Lotus Cult Leader was about to strike again but was held back tightly by Shen Ziyan beside her. Seeing this, Liu Rumei also reacted and pulled Chen Xiaobei back a large step.
Chen Xiaobei felt a burning sensation on his face. He was fortunate to have dodged slightly, otherwise, the slap would have knocked out his teeth.
Cupping his swollen red face, Chen Xiaobei suppressed his anger and said to the Lotus Cult Leader, "Senior Sister, what is going on? Why did you hit me as soon as we met?"
The Lotus Cult Leader pointed at Chen Xiaobei and said sternly, "You scoundrel, you're going to marry the Princess..."
The words stunned Chen Xiaobei. So it was about this.
Shen Ziyan also chimed in, "Chen Xiaobei, you really did the wrong thing here. Huang Ying is, in a way, the Princess's martial aunt. How could you do something like this..."
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei was utterly speechless.
He bowed respectfully to the two of them again with clasped fists.
"My two Senior Sisters. I truly have unspeakable hardships. It was Prince Regent himself who pushed for this in the first place. I..."
The Lotus Cult Leader pointed at Chen Xiaobei. "You're pushing the blame onto the deceased Prince Regent. You are truly detestable."
Chen Xiaobei helplessly spread his hands. He looked at Liu Tie and Liu Ce, who were following behind him. "Senior Sister, these two have been in the capital all along. You can ask them if you don't believe me."
At this moment, a commotion arose from the entrance, followed by a loud shout, "Her Royal Highness the Princess has arrived."
Liu Tie, Liu Ce, Liu Rumei, and the others present all knelt down. Only Chen Xiaobei, Shen Ziyan, and the Lotus Cult Leader remained standing. The Lotus Cult Leader was the Princess's master and could thus forgo kneeling. Chen Xiaobei was the Princess's man, and therefore also did not need to kneel.
Princess Zhaoning hurried in and immediately saw the Lotus Cult Leader. She stepped forward and bowed slightly, "Disciple greets Master, and martial aunt."
The Lotus Cult Leader nodded slightly. "Greetings, Your Royal Highness the Princess!"
Before she finished speaking, Princess Zhaoning saw Chen Xiaobei.
Seeing Princess Zhaoning look at him, Chen Xiaobei quickly bowed with clasped fists, "Greetings, Your Royal Highness the Princess!"
After all, he had not yet married the Princess. Although he didn't need to kowtow, he still had to show some respect. But as he clasped his fists, his injured face was revealed.
Upon seeing Chen Xiaobei like this, Princess Zhaoning became somewhat angry.
Princess Zhaoning pointed at Chen Xiaobei's face. "Husband, what... what happened? What's wrong with your face?"
Chen Xiaobei was at a loss for how to answer.
At this moment, the Lotus Cult Leader was quite forthright and directly admitted it.
"I did it."
Princess Zhaoning looked at her master with surprise, then pointed at Chen Xiaobei, as if to ask why she had hit him.
"I hit this unrighteous, shameless creature who has the audacity to dream of marrying a swan when he's a toad!" the Lotus Cult Leader said hatefully.
Hearing this, Princess Zhaoning was dumbfounded. She stared at her master again, then at Shen Ziyan, as if to confirm.
Shen Ziyan nodded. "Yes, Your Royal Highness the Princess. Firstly, Huang Ying is your martial aunt. Secondly, Chen Xiaobei has already married several wives. How can he take you as another?"
Upon hearing this, Princess Zhaoning fell silent.
Fortunately, she soon responded. She took a few steps forward, took Chen Xiaobei's arm, and with her other hand, linked Liu Rumei's arm. "Master, martial aunt, don't you think the three of us are quite good together?"
"Your Royal Highness, you are about to assume control of state affairs and rule the world. How can you..." the Lotus Cult Leader said, her words trailing off.
Chen Xiaobei understood. The Lotus Cult Leader was genuinely concerned for her disciple. Honestly, if the Princess were to truly take over state affairs, then he would be like an empress.
Could the Lotus Cult Leader have other intentions?
Indeed, the Lotus Cult Leader continued, "According to our dynasty's laws, since a man can take multiple consorts, you, as the Emperor, can naturally find multiple men. But Chen Xiaobei is already married, doesn't that create chaos?"
So that's how it was. Chen Xiaobei secretly sighed. Indeed, in this era, it seemed normal for men to marry multiple wives, but there had never been a phenomenon of women taking multiple husbands. The Lotus Cult Leader's words, however, made Chen Xiaobei recall the empress of a past dynasty who also had many male companions. Could he be reduced to the Princess's "medicinal dregs"?
Upon hearing the Lotus Cult Leader's words, Princess Zhaoning's face turned red with shame.
She bowed to the Lotus Cult Leader. "Master, what kind of talk is this? It's so embarrassing. How could I do such a thing? My father has already decreed marriage between me and Chen Xiaobei. I will certainly be faithful to him."
The Lotus Cult Leader looked at her disciple and sighed. "Alas, you. Think about it, why can men have three wives and four concubines, but we women cannot do the same?"
Everyone present was dumbfounded by these words. Even Chen Xiaobei was speechless. In fact, this situation had occurred in ancient primitive societies, during matriarchal times, when women held supreme power. But with the development of the times, hadn't things changed?
However, it had to be said that the Lotus Cult Leader's thinking was indeed very advanced and aligned with some modern ideas. Chen Xiaobei even felt an urge to ask her if she, like him, was also a transmigrator.
Princess Zhaoning's face was serious as she replied to the Lotus Cult Leader, "Master, I agreed to this marriage myself."