Right before the gathering, Lory rummaged her drawer to choose which dress should she wear, she doesn't want something too conspicuous but she doesn't want something too modest either, she doesn't want to embarrassed Zhao Li Xin by dressing too simple but she doesn't want to overdressed either and accidentally offend The Empress.

Lory just having a bath and wear thin robes, the dress lay on the table and on the bed, she pinches her chin while contemplating how she presents herself, she wonders if she should call Ming Yue Yin right now.

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Suddenly the door opens and Zhao Li Xin enters the room with a dazzling smile that can lit up the room "Why your room is so messy?" although he complains, but there's no dissatisfaction in his voice.

Lory blushed again when he approaches her, his dark robes sway as he moves slowly toward her, his dark long hair fall like a waterfall on his shoulder, her heart beating rapidly as he walks closer.

"You're blushing" he chuckles while caressing her cheek gently.

She averts her gaze from her "I don't know what to wear" Lory grumble with a low voice.

Zhao Li Xin smiles faintly he take look all her dress she chooses but what came to his mind that is been a while since he bought her a new dress and this dress seems a little bit outdated too, of course, Lory would disagree because she hasn't worn all the dress he given to her.

"This one is good" He took the soft peach dress with white gauze with delicate blue lily flower embroidery "You can wear this....it suits your gentle demeanor"

Lory nods her head although she confuses what is 'gentle demeanor' he talking about "I wear this than…" she took the dress and go behind the screen to change her clothes.

Zhao Li Xn eyes following her, his gaze gradually becomes dark when he sees her silhouette behind the screen, he can see her dark figure taking off her clothes one by one, he took a deep breath with a great force he looks away from the alluring scene in front of him. Lory who doesn't realizes anything got out from the screen in calm expression.

"Do I look good" she twirls in front of him and the dress sway with her.

Zhao Li Xin smiles when he sees her worried face, he doesn't know why she's put too much importance on this gathering, Zhao Li Xin only worries for her safety other then that nothing really matters for him. Zhao Li Xin walks towards her than he bends his waist, he circles his arms around her waist, the masculine smell of agar woods mix with pines hit her nose, her calm heart pounding again, she bit her lower lips out of nervousness or maybe she holds her urged not to pounce him right here, right now.

It's funny even after this long her heart always race when he got close, turn out Zhao Li Xin help her to tide a belt around her waist, Zhao Li Xin lift his head and their face stays on the same level "Your heart is so loud?" he teased.

Lory pursed her lips "Who fault is that?"

"I hope is me…." he said with a seductive voice.

Their face only inches from each other she can smell the alcohol and mint from his breath perhaps because he drinks too much but she can't tell him to reduce his drinking when he never drunk even once.

Lory can't stop imagining his firm body behind the lavish dark robes and her face become redder, it's so funny when he is the one who smelled like alcohol but she was the one who looks drunk.

"Why you acted so shy?" his face is so close and his lips slightly graze her lips.

Her heart almost jumps from her chest, her reflex is taking a step backward but he holds her waist blocking her way to move farther, Lory screams in her head why her Lord acted like this since when he became so proficient in seducing a woman is someone 'upgrade' her fiancée?

"Are you still embarrassed because what happened at that time?" he seductively smiles.

"No, I'm not!" she denied strongly.

Zhao Li Xin chuckles, Lory is not one who good with the lie that is the fact he knew from the first time they've met. He took her hand and place her in front of the dressing table then he brushes her hair carefully.

"I don't know what are you embarrassed about? I'm the one is naked"

Lory knew he was teasing her, she can see his amused expression from the mirror reflection "Is your fault, who told you to be naked in broad daylight?"

"I have changed my robes if I can change my robes in my room where else I should change my robes than?" Zhao Li Xin looks dejected as if lory has wronged him.

Lory realizes that day was all her fault, she should not barge to his room without permission "I know is my fault…I'm sorry"

He hides the smirk on his face while his hands busy making small braided on her hair "Well, I'm an 'eye for an eye' type of person so if you really sorry you should compensate me as much…" he combines the small braided into one then put a small flower hairpiece with blue gems and silver chain tassels.

"What do you mean?" Lory tilted her head confusedly

Zhao Li Xin deviously smiles "Because you had seen me naked is only fair if I see you without clothes too" he whispers on her ears, she can feel his soft lips touch her earlobes, her reflex is cover her ears and move away from him, she almost falls from the chair if only he didn't catch her.

"Careful, you will fall" he calmly said while holding her shoulder from behind.

"Li Xin, don't make jokes like that" she is so flustered even her ears are red. She's wondering why today the flirt is coming in full force?

"I'm not joking," he said nonchalantly "But I'm not forcing you to show it to me today, I can wait" he patted her head dotingly.

'Wait for me to get naked?'

Zhao Li Xin stop teasing her because the time is approaching, if he could he would rather provoked Liu yan kingdom then let her enter the tiger den, he knew the royal family intention the moment he met Qian Mu Ting, is clear as day that Qian Mu Ting was sent to make a connection with him obviously is a personal connection, he doesn't understand why people still shove their daughter yo his face after he shows so clearly that he is uninterested with other women then his fiancée, are they stupid or stubborn? Maybe they are both.

"Be careful at the gathering, a lot of dangerous women would be their so you must pay more attention to you're surrounding" he lift her up than put her on his laps, the whole day she keeps blushing she wonders if her face color would return to normal after this.

"Don't worry, I keep everything on my spatial ring, weapon, ointment, poison antidote, bandaged and more…" he shows the small jade ring on her ring finger, although the necklace could nullify poison however some poison is very toxic the necklace might not strong enough or fast enough to heal her, at that time her enemy could take advantages of her.

"That's good, but remember to stay with Ming Yue Yin all the time I want to send you more female bodyguard to protect you but the Empress makes rules everyone can only bring one personal maid, that witch definitely up to something" His voice turned cold and sharp there's a blood lust hides in a glint of his eyes but it disappeared the moment he feel he stare on his eyes.

"Don't get hurt, if you get hurt…..I don't know what would I do" he sighs than he rests his head on her chest.

Lory wrapped her hands around his neck "Don't worry, I wouldn't let them hurt me"