Growing Up: Playdate Gone Wrong

Zhonglei became a resident of Princess Royal Residence as children live with their mothers in a harem residence, and she was legal wife. Naturally, adoption fell on her first. As he is Beiyue's blood sister through father, he will get education and clothing befitting 'a resident of the royal palace'.

But in regards to martial arts training and cultivation, that was still his grandfather and father's responsibility.

That was fair.

Raising Summoners are EXPENSIVE. Why? Dang near everyone goes to Auction House to purchase Spirit Beasts instead of hunting and taming outside in the forests themselves. The millions of gold gained by the auctioneers when Spirit Beasts are sold, goes to pay the Mercenaries who work as Tamers for Bujia Family.

But as far as they can go, only Rank 12 beasts.

You gotta be richer than a duke to afford them taming a stronger beast for auction sale. That was reality only the Royals know.

And behind the scenes, the Royal Family hires the Bujia to tame high-level beasts for Princes Jing and Zhanye.

'Yue'er, are you going to change beasts?' Princess Royal asked her.

'No mother.' said Beiyue. 'Black Fox is growing stronger alongside me. No need.'

'Eh? Let me check...call him out.' Beiyue called her Black Fox out and Princess Royal determined its level and she was stunned.

She can't believe it. Black Fox is rising in rank and rose this fast! How?!

Rank 12 before, now exceeds double that, due to Benefits?! With Black Wolf now Rank 28 in strength! Even with mutual benefit between summoner and partner, cultivation can't rise this fast! With a level like this, Beiyue will cultivate more! A bouncing effect of benefits indeed! She'll be an 8-star if she keeps this up!

...it makes sense why she wants to learn skills and body training more than sitting still to cultivate...

She didn't even need supplements. Dongling does. And Dongling must catch up.

And without Xiao Yun, more money is available now for Yuancheng, Zhongqi, Zhonglei and Rou who were active since young.

Even Ling can now cultivate past Foundation and that says something!

Senior Xiao took to doing more jobs before returning to Seclusion for future expenses.

Fang and Qin were happy that their kids have more supplements instead of all family expenses going to Xiao Yun.

The two women resented Xue as considering how valuable Summoners are, naturally father-in-law and their husband will do all means for Yun's rise for their family to rise! Thus Xue got so arrogant!

Their fortune was Xue biting off more than she can chew. They don't condone Xiao Yun's murder, but her death was karma to the woman for her condescending arrogance. Their kids and the girl's own brother feels nothing after the initial shock. Why should they?

They were raised at home behind the walls of their home, simply aware they have half-siblings through their father's other wives and that's it. Hardly knew the others.

'So Yue'er, you'll be an 8-star in no time flat if you keep this up.' said Huiwen. 'But for political sake, slow down a little, alright? People will ask me questions I cannot answer.' she said. 'Herbs and supplements excuse can only go so far. If our finances are investigated, what you've accomplished far exceeds our annual income.' she said feebly. 'Help mother out.' Beiyue sweatdropped.

She knows full well the costs of herbs and pills needed for a Summoner to rise, even if her mother gets discounts from Prince Xiaoyao.

For her fast rise, people say Princess Royal splurged on her daughter when in reality, she splurges on Dongling to catch up with her as personal handmaiden aside, she is also aide and bodyguard, OK?

'Er...OK mother...' well, she really has to slow down. This year at least! 'I'll take a break on cultivating and I'll focus on body and skill till next payday.'

'Thanks. Well, while I still have no missions, I'll focus on your skills and magic.'

Huiwen sighed.

Her daughter's rise is stupidly quick.

One year since gaining Black Fox she rose to 2-star Master.

Another year, 4-star Master. Weeks before Xiao Yun's death and Xue Lin's execution. She just turned nine when Lunar Year passed by as everyone gets a year older on that day, no matter when in the year you were born.

Really, slow down sweetie, you'll make everyone's efforts a joke, it's bound to ruffle feathers! Politics is annoying!

xxx

Beiyue was learning Summoning Techniques to match her rank as well as Nanyi's style of Hand-to-Hand and Swordsmanship. But in regards to magic, that's where she went unique.

Huang Huiwen knows...other foreign techniques. Beiyue whose spirit beast is a Black Fox, has her Spirit Weapon manifest as retractable and shapeshifting clawed gauntlets, and hidden blades appearing in her shoes at will. Adjusting length, sharpness, size and curve was no issue. Her Black Fox is cunning but loyal to her daughter and she learns dirty tricks and killing maneuvers from her summon using their claws. She swore she is trained as an assassin...

To Dongling who was a Warrior, she was a lot stricter in body training and skills training. And Huiwen felt she figured the girls' quick rise...

She overheard Beiyue tell her fox to take Dongling to Floating Light Forest to cultivate faster!

Then again, qi in civilization is so thin...with so many cultivators in one place, is it a wonder that everyone is reliant on supplements just to progress faster? The forests have thicker qi supply at the expense of danger!

By the time Dongling is twelve years old, she would be a step into Silver Class at the rate she's going. Dongling specializes in the sword, other than hand-to-hand. That she trains with weighted swords.

And as her daughter grows older, she was becoming more and more fairy-like in beauty, but she wasn't sure if that was because of cosmetic pills, even if it did play a part...her daughter...is something else, entirely. That she gives much of it to Dongling who is becoming her own beauty as well. Cosmetics should always be started young after all...as early as six, if one has the money.

To know who's absurdly wealthy, one has to look at someone's son and daughter.

Then again...its her victory, for Beiyue is no Xiao, and it shows.

xxx

Its known in the palace that after Huang Beiyue is now a 4-star, she would focus on skills training after lessons to earn her certifications come twelve years old. Earning one's Ranking Certification is difficult, even for those with a single star to their name.

She can't just rise in qi forever and call it a day.

Well, makes sense. She can cultivate again when she's gotten her certifications.

'Princess, where are we going?' Dongling inquired as Princess Royal ordered them all to dress up into formal wear. Dongling in her formal maid clothes and hairstyle and Beiyue in her best dress, which was a pretty yellow-orange ombre-ing into orange. Her long hair half-done into loopy updos on the sides of her head, adorned with little red flowers. Zhonglei wore clothes befitting a royal ward, that earned him jealousy from Zhongqi. That he, the second son, had more stylish clothes than he, the family heir! So Yuancheng also consoled his other son, but they also have to watch their statuses. Stuff in high-end boutiques are sold by status. And their family is way beneath such luxury, so Zhongqi can only hold back his chagrin.

'To visit a young friend.' said Huiwen. 'I will introduce you to Prince Qi, Feng Lianyi. He is also under my watch since the war with Beiyao ended. He is of the same age as Zhanye.' she said. 'I encouraged play dates to foster friendly relations between our nations, until he is twelve years old. Zhanye started getting to know him under my watch, and later, Yingye as she is two years older than Beiyue. Now it's Beiyue's turn to meet him. Befriending a future king, can go a long way. Especially for Zhanye. Two future Kings, must have good ties together as we raise Prince Qi with the mind of righteousness, and give him a strong will and strong heart so he won't be a puppet to scheming court officials trying to exploit his situation when his term ends. He's only with us till he's sixteen in winter.'

With Black Fox's teleporting abilities, having gone to the Hostage Mansion beforehand with Huiwen, they can warp there secretly.

The cousins were already there. Because Jing is too old, he wasn't present. He was, when Lianyi was six. But Jing was five years older. So his visits were short-term due to Lingyang schoolwork, as a Summoner. So Zhanye, Yingye and Zhaoxi are there.

Reality was, Beiyue only has a year-and-half of knowing the guy. He is eleven this year. Next Summer, he would go to Lingyang College.

And Prince Lianyi, was an otherworldly beauty even at a young age.

His face is so delicate that one will stop breathing, the moon-like white clothes he clearly favors make his fair complexion even more radiant. His sword-like eyebrows arched delicately on his brow, and the light purple eyes show deepness. Beneath his high, straight nose, is a pair of pink, thin lips.

But to the cousins and foreign prince who hasn't seen Beiyue since she was seven years old, they saw a beauty surpassing her mother who once held the title 'Fairy of Nanyi'.

And her strength, was no joke for one who just turned nine. She really was a 4-star Summoner.

They have heard how paranoid she was since she was young learning her mother was always in the front lines that she pushed herself so to be where she is now.

Compared to them who always have their parents at home, family complete and safe in the palace with them, how can they compare? Royal Aunt who was their strongest force, was always in the front lines! And their father has a low opinion of her husband who she was forced to saddle with by their grandmother when she was worth more than he is! And that decision, nearly cost them the war with Dongli!

If not for her strength, they'd be slaves by now! So yes, their grandmother's decisions were not forgiven that in regards to his children and niece's welfare, he rendered the Grandqueen and Empress powerless and he wants his children to decide their futures fairly for both themselves and politics involved, instead of catering to whims like weak puppets. And he made his royal sister answer to him instead, forbidden to listen to their mother and his empress for her own good, as look where that got her.

The kids felt history was there...

And so...

Beiyue wasn't sure how to even begin, as she played up being cute and childish befitting her age and a sheltered princess. But a princess who is too alert of her surroundings!

And something wrong on first day already at that, that she used shadows to ensnare someone spying on them.

'Yue!' Huiwen squeaked as Beiyue dragged the spy out.

'...he is someone from the palace back home, but none of my young master's supporters and retinue...' Hu Wendi shook. The fact that people from home are spying on them is shocking! How safe is he and his young master?!

'Let's deal with this man.' Huiwen decided darkly. 'Kids, let out your partners for extra safety while we get our answers.'

'Yes mom/Royal Aunt.' Zhanye and Beiyue answered her as they let their spirit beasts out as the adults dragged away the captured man who was even gagged by shadows, unable to close his mouth.

'Mom, if he has hidden poison in mouth check first!' Beiyue called out to the two annoyed adults dragging the spy away. 'Dead don't talk so I kept his mouth open!'

'Yes dear!' came a just-as-playful answer but a sinister undertone promising pain to the spy.

The other royals paled. How does she know of such a thing?!

'Y-you sure made double-sure...' Yingye squeaked out.

'Well if his highness got killed in our home and never found, Beiyao will use that as excuse to wage war on us by pinning his murder on us while keeping their own noses clean.' Beiyue shrugged. 'Nasty politics.'

'That makes sense all of a sudden.' said Lianyi wryly while his eyes brimmed with stormy feelings as he never knew he was spied on till now... 'But how did you find him when even Princess Royal can't feel him which speaks highly of his stealth?'

'Black Fox's domain is darkness. His darkness is totally nasty at Prince Qi even if he employs mystery magics known to man enough to hide from mom, as long as you have malice, he'd sniff you out.' Beiyue grinned cheerfully. Human darkness aside, Black Fox can control shadows, darkness magic and is stronger at night.

'That would have been a great ability to have.' said Zhanye wryly with an armfold. 'For us royals, having a real friend and absolutely trustworthy retainers is worth more than one's own kingdom.'

'Bitter truth there...'

Zhonglei felt he was glad he wasn't a bad person or he'd be dead long ago. Royal sister actually has such insurance on herself?!

Minutes later...Princess Royal took Lianyi aside and informed him of what they gleaned, after ordering Dongling to make snacks as its quite the interesting noontime break...that none of the Nanyi Royals knows what's going on. Well, its politics and danger aimed at their royal guest that only he had the right to know...

Beiyue's first day with Lianyi ended up sober, but Lianyi was forever grateful to Beiyue.

'Crown Princes have miserable lives.' said Zhanye during snack time. 'How many poisons are sent my way or Yingye's way to get to me?'

'Politics made me political hostage thinking I'll have a miserable life here till I died of assassination.' said Lianyi dryly. 'I thought so at first too, but I actually have a safer childhood here than I have in my home country. Living here was a dream but I'll have to wake up soon.'

'They have a rather morbid talk over there!' said Third Prince Zhaoxi, fanning himself as he is in another table with the princesses and one royal ward.

'Well, Zhanye and Prince Qi indeed hit it off as best buddies for who has the crappier life as Crown Princes.' said Beiyue dryly.

'Well, that was why my mother took me out of the running. Background aside. I'm fine with being a County Prince.' said Zhaoxi airily.

His mother was from a Merchant Family. In the days of Harem Building, wealthy women with beauty, are sent to the palace. His mother has no political standing whatsoever and knows to play things safe while making a lot of gains without crossing people off. Thus as one of the Nine Imperial Concubines, she has a better life than most who tried fighting for the throne for their sons!

'Only nobles and royals who want that hot potato called a throne are fighting for it, while running on a thorn-laden road barefoot. Besides, if you have the throne, and then what? How good are you at running a country? Dealing with scheming black-bellied officials acting on their greed? Maintaining a Neutral Stance and Balance of Power? I'm having my hands full with inheriting my maternal grandpa's businesses and Rival Merchants trying to scam me! That alone made me understand I'm unfit to be Emperor.'

That actually made Yingye feel better as that's one less rival for her brother. The Jing Faction is vicious enough as it is and ironic enough, Jing didn't want the throne either and fine with dumping it on Zhanye!

The problem, is the Anguo Clan, his maternal relatives.

'Beiyue, are you aware you're engaged?' Yingye sprung this question up and the fact Beiyue choked into her tea said it all.

'I'm what?! To who?!'

Yingye was stunned to blankness. Everyone in the palace knows and she doesn't...?

'...royal aunt didn't tell you...?'

'Bloody hell, if I knew I wouldn't be this shocked!' Beiyue sputtered, totally caught off-guard. 'Y'know who?'

'It's to Anguo-gongzi, Xue Che, Jing's cousin.' said Yingye. 'He's eight years older than you like Jing. Apparently Royal Aunt and Noble Consort are sworn sisters back in l wartime. Best friends. If one of us has a son and daughter, they're engaged. If same gender, sworn siblings.' if Beiyue married into the Anguo Gong clan and become Anguo-furen, they have royal backing power through her and Royal Aunt to put Jing on the throne. Master Stroke there, borne of years of investment and Yingye didn't like it. That, Yingye realized, so she stirred the hornet's nest. It helps that her younger cousin really didn't know. This is to set her against her arrangement and do all she can to free herself!

Zhaoxi knows what Yingye's up to and he inwardly groaned.

'There's such a thing?! Moooom! Am I gonna marry an adult man while I'm twelve effing years old? Is child marriage a thing and nobody told me shit?!' yup, Beiyue has gotten hysterical now...to the point she swore, that got the other tables worried due to raised voice outburst.

Needless to say, Huiwen had to deal with a shocked and upset daughter.

Apparently, Beiyue believes in marrying for love and loathed the idea of engagements. Especially if said fiancee is an adult while she is a child and that idea made her want to PUKE!

But any royal knows that what she wanted is a mere dream that'll never come true. Because marriages are economic matters. Parents want their daughters to marry up within their statuses so they know they are at least, financially-taken care of and have the chance to have better lives than her own parents. Age also, doesn't matter even if its sucky as she put it.

But things aren't...that simple. Especially if you butt heads with other daughter-in-laws! Once you marry into such a setting, you must fight! Getting outwitted will make your life miserable in your new home if you're stupid!

Even commoners are engaged, only meeting on their wedding day and apparently, she hasn't gotten that far in Social Studies yet, being in Year 5 of schoolwork so she definitely, didn't know...they all had to tell her that!

'Sigh, we'll have to go home first kids.' said Huiwen with a sad smile as her daughter was still sniffling, upset that her choice was taken by laws itself. 'Looks like this part of social studies has to come a bit early.'

'...we understand.' said Lianyi was a sympathetic smile as Huiwen vanished with her child and wards through shadows. '...oh boy...I guess she read fantasy novels as a hobby, but our lives aren't so easy.' he commented.

'Yes, that we have to act. Find a hidden gem within mud and score approval.' said Zhanye. 'That's the only way out and its a race against time. That's the advantage we have over nobles and commoners.'

At home, Huiwen took out books, and personally taught her daughter how marriage works in society. That daughters always have no choice.

'Even I didn't, when I have someone I truly loved with my heart.' said Huiwen with a nostalgically-sad look on her face. 'It was when I truly cursed being born a royal. So I engaged you to my best friend's son. I have known that boy long before I gave birth to you, so it'll definitely be alright.'

'That remains to be seen!' Beiyue harrumphed, eyes still puffy from her crying. 'Kids change over time! That kid you know is long dead in Lingyang College so I'll ask Black Fox to investigate for me! I want real information, not fake lies put up in public! If he's a jerk behind closed doors, I'll end him myself!'

'Dear!'