"Oh, this is such a bother," Mingyu complained as she worked on her master’s dance costume.
A senior maid who worked with her on the costume quickly reprimanded her, "Mingyu, do not complain! This is your job, so do it properly!"
Mingyu looked up at her senior and huffed.
"Sister Qing, you misunderstood me. I am not complaining about the job. I am complaining about the fact that His Majesty himself has to perform for the night!"
After hearing Mingyu’s words, Qingyun could not help but sigh as well.
"Well, His Majesty has no choice. The other palace masters can send their children or nephews or nieces to perform. Unfortunately, our master has yet to be blessed with a family."
The two maids exchanged glances and sighed.
"Mingyu, do you think that the treatment is working?" Qingyun asked.
Mingyu shook her head.
"I don’t know, Sister Qing. His Majesty’s body is still as slender and delicate as usual. If one compares him to other alphas, for example, Prince Zhang Fengxi from Longjing Palace..."
Both maids sighed in unison.
Other than Jiang Muchen, Zhang Fengxi was the other alpha who often made his appearance at Fuxi Palace. Jiang Muchen had the typical alpha stature, but Zhang Fengxi looked like he was sculpted out of the finest marble by the most capable artisan in the heavenly realm.
"I don’t want to say it out loud, but they do look good together," Mingyu mumbled.
"I heard Prince Zhang Fengxi is marrying Prince Liu Wenyuan, the Ethereal Beauty of the year."
Mingyu snorted.
"What Ethereal Beauty? His Majesty is a hundred times more beautiful than him!"
Qingyun gave Mingyu’s upper arm a light slap.
"Ssssh. His Majesty is not going to be happy when he hears you."
Mingyu pouted. Xie Jianyu was the only omega in the entire world who disliked being called beautiful.
"But you are right," Qingyun said with a dreamy voice. "They do look good together. Mingyu, do you still remember the day when we thought that His Majesty was drowning?"
"How could I forget?" Mingyu quickly replied.
It was a glorious day for all of them.
Zhang Fengxi, the dashing prince, barged into the bathroom, pulled the naked Xie Jianyu out of the bathtub, and carried him like a bride into the bedroom.
Alone the memory was enough to make heat climb up the maids’ cheeks.
"Uh. Ahem, we need to continue working," Mingyu said.
Qingyun too cleared her throat.
"You are right. We need to finish this robe before tomorrow."
The two maids worked until late into the night, but they were unable to finish it.
After working earnestly the next day from morning to afternoon, they were finally done with the costume.
"Your Majesty!!! Look, we finished the costume!!"
With bright eyes and full of giggles, the two maids ran into Xie Jianyu’s private chamber to find him.
Xie Jianyu was standing in the middle of the room in his inner robe while Xie Jianshen worked on him.
When the two maids looked at Xie Jianshen, they quickly bowed.
"Greetings to Shuiran Palace Mistress."
"Is the robe ready? Let me take a look."
Mingyu and Qingyun hung the robe for Xie Jianshen and Xie Jianyu to see.
The bright red silk robe was embroidered with golden threads at the lapels and hems. They complement the Fuxi Palace sigil that was embroidered across the robe.
"Hm."
Xie Jianshen’s hands brushed against the meticulous embroidery and he hummed in approval.
"Very good. Bring me the hair accessories that I selected for this occasion."
"Yes, Palace Mistress."
Xie Jianyu too approached the robe and ran his hands across the smooth fabric.
"Isn’t this too ostentatious? I am performing a sword dance, not a spring dance."
Xie Jianshen laughed.
"Even a swordsman deserves to look good during the Winter Solstice celebration. I will secure the layers with pins to make sure that they don’t flap around you too much."
"Thank you, Big Brother."
Xie Jianshen and Xie Jianyu brought a group of maids and servants from Fuxi Palace with them to join the banquet.
Xie Jianyu only spent three hours preparing for the sword dance performance, but his brother and maids spent almost three days planning his costume.
It took them another three hours to put everything on Xie Jianyu.
Meanwhile, the time for his performance drew nearer and they were not done with his armor yet.
When Xie Jianshen was about to work on Xie Jianyu’s hair, a servant from Shuiran Palace came in.
"Your Highness, the Palace Master is asking for Your Highness’ presence."
"Tell him that I am busy," Xie Jianshen answered curtly without looking at the servant.
The poor servant shook in distress.
"But... but His Highness..."
He looked so pitiful that Xie Jianyu could not help but feel sorry for him.
"Brother, I am fine," he said. "I can take care of myself, please go back."
Xie Jianshen heaved a sigh.
"Not unless you have eyes behind your back. Mingyu, I will be back soon. Can you start with the hair?"
Mingyu who was working on Xie Jianyu’s boots immediately rose to her feet.
"I can! Oh, but where are the hair accessories?" the maid asked dumbly after Xie Jianshen left.
"I think we left the box in the carriage," Xie Jianyu said. "Go and take the box together, the two of you."
"Yes!"
The accessory box was too heavy for one female beta to hoist, so it was a good excuse to send both maids outside. Xie Jianyu needed a moment of peace. Too many people wandered around him these few days.
Xie Jianyu rubbed the tense spots on his shoulders to loosen them up.
He never liked dressing up. The robe was so heavy with so many accessories that hung from his neck, waist, and arms. If he was not careful, he might trip over one of the thin golden chains that dragged from the bottom part of his outer robe.
"Excuse me."
Xie Jianyu raised his eyes when he heard the voice. The newcomer’s figure was reflected in the silver mirror in front of him.
It was none other than Liu Wenyuan. He was dressed in Wuyang Palace’s grey and blue official robe, with a silver headpiece sitting elegantly on top of his head.
"Your Majesty, it’s your turn soon, but your hair is not yet done. May I offer some assistance?"