"Grandfather, aren't you undermining your own manor," Ruo Rufei interjected from afar while she walked towards her grandfather who had just entered the manor with delicate and brittle steps filled with elegance.

The old man's lips curved into a fatherly smile, seeing his lovely granddaughter walking towards him, he had known all along that the prime minister's son had come to see his daughter but he just pretended not to know.

​​

Her lips slowly curved into a wide smile as she got to her grandfather, she linked her arm with his.

" Grandfather, it has been a while now since I saw you, granddaughter really missed you," she said in a lovely manner, making her grandfather realize how much he has missed this granddaughter of his.

"Grandfather missed you too, I have been busy with handling political affairs in the capital so grandfather couldn't spend more time with you, I hope you haven't suffered during my absence," her grandfather responded, patting her hand, her smile widened at the doting actions of her grandfather, the both of them seemed lost in their own world, leaving the prime minister's son still spaced out with his eyes fixed on Ruo Rufei, he had seen her when the governor visited the prime minister's manor for the new year's festival banquet a few years ago and he had taken a liking to her right there and then but he was still stupefied to see how big she has grown and how beautiful she is now.

The peonies shaped hair dresses dangling and surrounding her cascading hair made her side view seem even more beautiful

"It seems like governor really dotes in his granddaughter that even her presence makes me seem very insignificant," Wei Xianlu1 interjected to gain their attention, although he would love to watch her side view all day, he still doesn't like that he hasn't caught her attention yet.

"Ah...this old man is really forgetful, I was too happy to see my granddaughter again that I forgot your presence in the manor, I hope young master Wei will not be too displeased.

"You don't need...."

"Why, is it wrong for my grandfather to converse with his granddaughter after a tedious journey or is it that this noble young master deems himself too important," Ruo Rufei interjected again, Xixi shook her head in helplessness, indeed, her young mistress arrogance cannot be helped.

"Fei Fei," her grandfather scolded gently

"Grandfather,"

"Don't speak in such a rude manner, this is Ruo Rufei my granddaughter, Fei Fei this is...."

"You need not to the introduction for me, I will do it myself," Wei Xianlu interjected then turned to Rufei.

"I am Wei Xianlu, the son of the prime minister, I have heard of how beautiful and intelligent the granddaughter of the governor is and seeing it for myself today, I must admit that the tales are quite true," Wei Xianlu stated with an amused look in his eyes which didn't escape Rufei's notice.

"I appreciate your praise but young master Wei has overpraised me," Rufei responded, meaning the opposite, she made sure to smile elegantly with her pink glossy lips curved into a delicate smile.

"I don't agree with you but it seems like I have discovered something else apart from the things I said earlier," he paused to wait for her to ask what he meant but she didn't so he had no choice but to speak.

"It seems like miss Rufei also like to interject people when they speak, if this gets out, it might greatly affect your reputation,"

"Please don't mind my granddaughter's behaviour today, she is not usually like this, Fei Fei quickly apologise to young master Wei" her grandfather ordered with a scolding look on his face but she didn't seem like she was going to do as he said, judging from the smile on her face, she raised her gaze to look at him straight in his eyes.

"If young master Wei thinks my behaviour is not befitting for a well-refined young lady then I deeply apologize, perhaps it is because my grandfather has been away for long so I forgot my manners," she paused for a while to study the look on his face, seeing that he seemed pleased that she fears and respects him, her smile suddenly turned into a smirk.

"But young master Wei, when my grandfather came into the manor, We were having our grandfather and granddaughter reunion but young master Wei just had to rudely interrupt us, that is also an act of disrespect, even if you are a general and your father is the powerful prime minister, don't you think my grandfather who is older than you deserves your respect, if this gets out, I fear your reputation might also be ruined," she stated boldly, her grandfather buried his face in his palm in helplessness, there is really nothing he can do to change this attitude of his granddaughter.

Xixi who was now worried about what Wei Xianlu would do after being disrespected was now fidgeting, she prayed in her mind that he would not decide to punish her young mistress.

Wei Xainlu immediately burst into a loud burst of laughter, earning a confused look from them except Rufei who knew from the way he had been looking at her that he will definitely tolerate her rudeness, knowing the type of women that men like him would fall for, a bold, beautiful and intelligent type.

"Miss Rufei is really eloquent, with just a few sentences you have made me realize my wrong," then he turned to the governor and slightly bowed his head.

"Governor, miss Rufei is right, my actions earlier were really disrespectful, I hope the old governor will not hold it against me," he apologised to the governor's surprise, Wei Xianlu has probably never had to apologize to anyone below his father's status, to have Wei Xianlu bow his head in front of him is indeed an honour, he glanced at his granddaughter with a smile and proud look on his face.

"Young master Wei need not be too formal," the governor replied then Wei Xianlu raised his head.

"In that case, I would like to request that miss Rufei takes me around Shannanxi to sightsee, I heard that there are many beautiful places worthy of praise in Shannanxi, I hope miss Rufei wouldn't reject my request,"

"How can I dare to refuse young master Wei, it is my honour to do so," she responded.

- - - - - - - - - -

In blossom pavilion.

Two servants rushed into the room, following Xiaodi and Xi Feng with a concerned look on their faces, they soon found the fourth prince on the floor clothed in only a single layer of a black robe and his robe loosened, exposing his broad chest and abs with his hair scattered on his shoulders.

Xi Feng quickly pulled him up, while Xiaodi held his hands tightly.

"Quick, get me a bowl of water and towel," Xi Feng ordered the servants seeing the cold sweat breaking out on his forehead and chest, the servants quickly rushed out of the room.

"Master, what is wrong?" Xiaodi asked with her eyes almost in tears.

"Hurry, we must prepare to find the fire element grass," the fourth prince ordered still struggling to endure the heart-wrenching pain.

"Fire element grass....what is master saying?" Xiaodi asked in confusion, then the servants arrived with the basin of water and towel.

"You may leave," Xi Feng ordered then they exited the room, he squeezed the towel in the water and used it to dab his forehead.

"I didn't expect that this month, my saint transformation and the bounce back attack from my shadow will coincide at the same time, I need to get the fire element grass to stop one otherwise....."

"Otherwise you will lose our consciousness and your spirit will be broken," Xiaodi completed.

"It is good that you understand, now prepare, we have to leave now," the fourth prince ordered and attempted to stand up but his legs failed him, causing him to fall back to the ground.

"Master!" they both exclaimed.

"Why don't you let us look for it and return to give it to you?"

"No, You need my power to uproot the fire element grass," the fourth prince insisted but he suddenly felt a heart-wrenching pain in the middle of his chest, he screamed aloud and tightened his fist to endure the pain, they looked to his chest only to find blue coloured veins with branches slowly emerging up his chest.

"Master!" they called in worry

"Don't mind it, Xiaodi quickly channel your internal energy to my body or I won't be able to go with you,". she quickly stood up and waved her hands before placing it on his back.

"Master, please hold on," Xi Feng whispered.

After some minuted, the blue veins on his chest slowly disappeared but not all, since a little line still remained on his chest then he made an effort to stand on his feet which succeeded.

He spread his arms instructing one of them to put on his robe for him since he is in a weak state, Xi Feng quickly arranged a black robe with gold tints for him to wear that he helped him put it on while Xiaodi combed his hair and held it up with a simple back hairpin with gold tints.

"I don't want anyone to recognise us this time, in case we do something unusual and we are seen, it will surely cause us trouble,"

"I understand master,"

They left the pavilion with their faces covered with a black hat with the cloth on it surrounding their faces but Xi Feng and Xiaodi were still worried that the attack might start again on the way since they have only witnessed his saint transformation and shadow attack once at a time.

Wei Xianlu: son of the prime minister