Unfairness, Lord Wang Will You Marry Me

Prince Nolan and Serena Feng had completely different ideas, but that hardly mattered. What mattered was that they had already left the palace, free to go wherever they wished...

"We can travel and sightsee along the way, then head to Skyvault Palace Sect," Prince Nolan suggested, offering a compromise both could accept.

Well, the decision was really Prince Nolan's; Serena's opinion had been completely ignored.

"Weren't you worried Little Dumpling would be bullied by William Wang Jinling at Skyvault Palace Sect? Weren't you going to stand up for him?" Serena shot Nolan a look of utter disdain—this man was all talk, no action.

"I've already sent Little Dumpling a letter. Don't worry," Prince Nolan patted Serena's back. "I won't let anyone bully our son."

"What good is writing to Little Dumpling?" Serena retorted. The one doing the bullying was William Wang Jinling—shouldn't you be warning him instead?

"Of course it's useful." Prince Nolan's lips curled into a wicked smile. "I told Little Dumpling that however long he spends washing William's clothes, he'll have to wash ten times that amount for us when he gets back to the palace."

As his biological parents, they certainly deserved more 'service' than William Wang Jinling, the adoptive father.

Serena couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Little Dumpling is going to cry his eyes out." Poor kid. Still, Serena had to admit, Nolan's tactic worked far better than any threat.

With that demand hanging over him, Little Dumpling would definitely try his best to persuade William Wang Jinling to let him off the hook.

"If he doesn't want to be pitiful, he needs to make William Wang Jinling yield first. If he can't even manage that, he's not fit to be emperor." Prince Nolan snorted arrogantly.

William Wang Jinling wanted to bully his son? Dream on.

"Did you give Little Dumpling any tips?" Serena asked, barely suppressing her laughter.

She couldn't believe Prince Nolan would let William Wang Jinling off so easily.

"Ahem... I did," Prince Nolan replied, his ears turning a faint shade of red—though you'd have to look closely to notice.

"What kind of tips?" Serena nestled in Prince Nolan's arms, curiosity all over her face.

The carriage ride was dull, and Prince Nolan wasn't stingy—he told Serena everything. "I told Little Dumpling he could give William Wang Jinling's worn clothes to the Skyvault Palace Sect maids and have them make new ones. William has plenty of fabric, after all."

"And?" Serena didn't believe for a second that Nolan only gave him one trick.

"Send the clothes down the mountain, let Spring distribute them to noble ladies everywhere, and tell them these are garments worn by the Grand Heir himself—for their private collection." Prince Nolan was sure plenty of ladies would pay handsomely for such treasures.

William Wang Jinling might be middle-aged, but he still hadn't married. Over the years, his elegance and charisma had only grown, making him even more popular than before.

Not only unmarried girls, but even married women privately talk about William Wang Jinling.

These past few years, William rarely appears in public, but whenever he does, the streets are packed with women, sachets and flowers covering every inch. Some are so bold they block his carriage and shout, "Lord Wang, will you marry me?"

"Lord Wang, I don't ask to share your life, only for one spring night with you."

...

Scenes like these happen countless times.

Truth be told, ever since Serena Feng became Empress, the status of women across the Nine Provinces Realm has soared. Their courage has grown too—back in the old days, no matter how much they admired William, no one would dare shout about wanting a spring night with him in public.

The most infuriating part? If this happened to anyone else, the Pure-Stream Scholars and Great Scholars would condemn it as moral decay, a disgrace to virtue. But when it happens to William, they all praise it as refined romance, a tale worthy of the history books...

A beautiful tale?

Prince Nolan hears this and immediately his face darkens.

So, William Wang Jinling attracting countless women is a 'beautiful tale,' but I, Eastlyn's Ninth Prince, who takes only one wife and refuses a harem, am not?

Not only is it not a beautiful tale, the court historians and censors even accuse me of being seduced by beauty!

Prince Nolan feels like killing someone!

Did he ever steal someone else's wife, or skip morning court for good?

He only skips morning court occasionally! Why do those damned officials say he's neglecting the state for love? When has he ever let the realm down?

Sigh... all these grievances, really not fit to share with outsiders. Every time he thinks of it, Prince Nolan feels his old ailments might relapse!

Of course, besides teaching Little Dumpling to sell William's worn clothes to those noble ladies who've always coveted them, Nolan also taught him to sketch nude portraits of William...

Once those portraits hit the market, William's popularity among the noblewomen will surely soar. The sketches will become the most coveted treasures in their boudoirs.

Will it work?

That's not for Prince Nolan to decide. It all depends on Little Dumpling's initiative—and as for that...

Ahem...

The moment Little Dumpling receives the letter, he beams, folds it up, dusts imaginary lint off his clothes, and strides elegantly toward William's room.

The first thing he says upon entering: "Adoptive Father, do you want me to give your clothes to those lonely ladies and madams in their boudoirs, or should I sketch your bathing form for them to admire?"

Father's suggestion is absolutely brilliant. Just thinking about it makes him feel loved!

"How could you have such thoughts, Little Dumpling?" William isn't fazed at all, half reclining on the low couch, eyes never leaving his book.

Seeing William unfazed, Little Dumpling drops his smile: "Not fun at all. Adoptive Father, why aren't you worried?"

"I trust you," William says, putting down his book and sitting up.

He really does trust that Little Dumpling wouldn't dare.

"Adoptive Father, with you saying that, the pressure's huge. I've already decided—I'm giving your clothes away." Little Dumpling makes it clear: he really doesn't want to keep washing clothes.

Washing clothes for his adoptive father is pure torture.

Not clean enough? Wash again!

Wrinkled? Wash again!

Torn in the wash? No problem—just wash two more tomorrow. After a few times, you get used to it.

"What now? Already tired of it? Don't want to show filial piety to your adoptive father?" William carefully folds his book and puts it somewhere Little Dumpling can't mess it up.

He's a book lover; Little Dumpling is the complete opposite...

"Of course not, Adoptive Father, you have to trust me," Little Dumpling quickly promises, then shifts the topic: "But..."

"But what?" William knows Little Dumpling's got another trick up his sleeve.

This child has honestly been suffering these past few days. For him to hold out until now before speaking up, it's no small feat...

"It's just... Father said that when I return to the palace, I have to wash his clothes too—and ten times more!" Little Dumpling finishes and stares at William, silent...

He doesn't believe William will still make him do laundry.

His adoptive father and Prince Nolan have battled for years—there's no way William will let Nolan get the upper hand.