When Lory got out of the building she surprised people swarm outside the place, their eyes filled with anticipation when they saw Lory and her entourage, perhaps they waiting for great commotion or something, then suddenly a familiar lack carriage stop in front of her, the coachman turns out to be Mong Ki, another shadow guard raised the curtain for her and Lory see someone is inside the carriage.

Once Lory climbs on the carriage immediately drove away leaving Yang Xi Ying and Ming Yue Yin behind. Yang Xi Ying didn't have time to ask because another carriage come and the coachman is wearing Jiu Yun uniform, it seems some of the Jiu Yun sect members already arrived at Gui Hong continent than from the inside of the carriage Li Mo Zhen shift the curtain and stretch his hand to help Yang Xi Ying to enter.

​​

Yang Xi Ying face beamed with joy, she held his hand and ascend swiftly, she feel delighted when her husband picks her up.

"You here!" Yang Xi Ying happily said.

"En, nothing happened with you right?" Li Mo Zhen was anxious when he heard about the incident at the tea house so he came in hurry, thankfully the other Hei Shen shadow guard informs his people that everything was under control, and the two King's palace was also present so he was certain that nothing would happen with his wife.

"Not even the slightest…" Yang Xi Ying grinned mischievously.

Li Mo Zhen shakes his head and chuckles, his wife become more naughty every day since she mingles with Lory and Ming Yue Yin, but he didn't hate it, he likes her more when she becomes more honest and cheerful rather than quiet and reserved, and lately, they become more intimated than ever before not just as a husband and wife but also as a friend, he never thought that marriage could feel this way.

Ming Yue Yin saw the two carriages has left, she laments to herself is not good to be the 'single dog, not long after her carriage come.

Lory looks ahead of her, Zhao Li Xin leans on the pillow lazily but his eyes bored over her and his refined jawline tightened, Lory knows he is not in a good mood, but dam* he looks so handsome!

"We didn't have much time to meet each other but every time we met you always look at me with scowled" she make a long face.

Zhao Li Xin let out a long sigh, he circles his hand on her waist then gently pulls her close and make her sit on his lap then softly raked his finger through her hair "I just can't stop worry about you…" she quietly said.

"I know…" Lory poked the space between his eyebrows "I just hope you stop frowning when you see me, I might think you don't love me anymore"

He took her hands away from his face and chuckle "Impossible, and this is not the face of someone who stops loving you…"

"Really, then what kinda face you will make?" she asks jokingly.

"Tsk, don't bother, is not like you will see it anyway…." He reprimands her sternly but his voice is too sweet and gentle, it's sound more like flirtation and Lory blushed heavily, even until now she still not immuned by his seduction, everyone said that Zhao Li Xin is in the palm of her hand that she can make him do anything for her, however at the same time she also under his charmed. She knew Zhao Li Xin could make her do anything he doesn't even have to say anything just stared at her with those dark eyes, and his wish will be her command.

It was scary knowing other people have that kinda influence to herself so it's better to keep this secret inside her heart, and she will keep this secret from Zhao Li Xin for as long as she could.

"I hurt sanguan Li Ye today and also the Princes…did I ruined your plan?" she lower her head like a naughty child who confesses her mistake.

"You worry about that?"

"Obviously, I know your plan is still in progress, but because of me you might have to adjust your plan again" Lory worry how her action today will disrupt Zhao Li Xin plan, they still didn't know why Sanguan Jin sheng murder the Qin family and they still don't know where Sanguan Jin Sheng hide the old ancient map and lastly who was poisoned, Zhao Li Xin?

"Silly girl, your husband is not that incapable...trust me, I got this" he caresses her cheek gently.

"So I'm not ruined your plan…?"

Zhao Li Xin guffawed, he pulls her face close then he kissed her softly, the lingering tasted make her body electrify, he smiles at her then say: "You ruined my plan the moment you came to my life…."

______________________________________

Ming Yue Yin ends up as the first person who reaches Tie shan manor, annoyingly the couples continue with their date without her, she feel sad but no tears come out, This is the life of a single woman, should she follow the old Zhang advice and marry someone….uugh, but she hated that idea.

When she enters the manor the housekeeper suddenly approaches her then bow his head courteously "Your majesty, if you don't mind master Yuan Shao is here, and he would like to meet you"

She scrunched up her face, however, she knew she can't avoid him any longer "Where is he?"

"answer your majesty, master Yuan is at the main garden with miss Yuan," said the housekeeper.

"Lead me there" she let out a long exhales.

The housekeeper make a polite hand gesture to follow him "Please follow me, your majesty"

At the main garden, Yuan Xue prop her chin with both her hands and glared at her brother "What is your relationship with that sanguan Li Ye?" she questions him in upset.

"Nothing!" he answers without hesitation.

"So why Empress Ming angry with you, please tell me you are not cheating on her" she huffed in anger.

Yuan Shao creased his eyebrow with contempt look "Of course not, it just a misunderstanding!"

Yuan Xue An still not sure, although she believes her brother is a good man but so is her father, and look what happened? She doesn't want another tragedy to happen in her family especially to Ming Yue Yin.

"I hope you're not lying to me" she gives him a warning look.

Yuan Shao rolls his eyes exasperatedly, his sister becomes more feisty since she joined the Hei Shen sect, which is a good thing but could she have more faith to her only brother? he feel vexed but he got nowhere to vent his anger, while his sister still looking at him with suspicious looks.

"I'm not lying!" he assures her again.

"You better be, Empress Ming is my idol also Miss Luo and Miss Yang is my friend if you hurt empress ming I will have no face in front of them" she reprimands Yuan Shao sternly.

"...."

A minute later the housekeeper comes with Ming Yue Yin and the Su sisters. Yuan Shao stare at her without a blink, it's only a few weeks but he just realizes how much he missed her, there's a sense of loss and joy when he sees her again. Ming Yue Yin's expression reminds the same, she didn't look angry neither she looks happy.

"Her majesty" he stood from his chair and bow at her.

"Raise," she said in a monotone voice then waves her hand "Leave us"

Yuan Xue An gives a meaningful gaze at Yuan Shao before she left with the housekeeper and the Su sister. The two of them left alone they sit across from each other under the pavilion, the air turns awkward none of them speak. Yuan Shao feel anxious it's like something very precious slip through his fingers.

"There's nothing between me and sanguan Li Ye, it was not as it looks like" he finally breaks the silence.

Ming Yue Yin nods "I believe you…." She calmly said but her voice sounds distant.

he feel a pang in his heart but he still able to control his expression "Then why are you avoiding me?"

Ming Yue Yin takes a deep breath "Is not you, is me…..this – whatever happened between us…I never thoroughly think about it"

"Are you scared I will take advantaged of you, do you think I will take your position as a Ruler of the nation?" he said with a hurt expression.

She shook her head weakly "No, not my position…it was my freedom I'm worried about, my freedom to control my own life, if we got married you will naturally become the emperor and my position as an empress inevitably step down as a second ruler" she looks at him with a bitter expression "I have seen how empress live their life, she can become the mother of the nation, even though her position is above everyone in the palace but in the change the fact she only becomes one of the women at the emperor harem"

He was stunned not only because of her words but he also remembers what Lory told him before, turn out Lory's warning is right about Ming Yue Yin concerned.

"You know I'm not interested to have more than one wife after what happened with my mother"

"I know but you should realize what you want is not always what you get, along the way there probably occurred a situation where you finally breaks from other people's pressure.... just like your Father…."