"I warned you…I definitely warned you not to underestimate her, I underestimated him and that is the reason why I am in this situation now…," she kneeled on one knee then she lifted his chin with one of her metal claws.

His bloodied lips started quivering, he has learnt to observe over the years and at this point, he knows she is very well capable of killing him mercilessly.

​​

"Master…" his eyes pleaded on his behalf, she traced her metal claws from his jaw to his neck, creating a long thin cut then she placed her hand on top of his head and imposing pressure on the top of his head using her Qi as red aura flowed out of her hand.

He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist to endure the pain it brought him, but she is too powerful, few seconds more and he will be dead.

He clenched his fist tighter and bent his head backwards, screaming in agony.

"I told you…no failure, if you can't even handle this then in the future, you will only serve as a burden to me," she removed her hand, flinging him towards another direction in the room, his back crashed through the wall, he spat out blood again…clutching his chest.

He inhaled deeply and started coughing.

She stood up then she turned to him, she raised the metal claw stained with his blood to her lips then she licked it while he watched her before returning to her throne seat.

"The only reason why I will spare your life is only because you are no match for him," she said as she spread her dress and took her seat on the throne seat, she placed her arm on her arm rest and supported her head with her hand.

"Since I can't get him back this time, it will be hard to get him again…" she turned to him again…watching him rub his neck.

"Get out!" she roared.

He quickly gathered his strength and hurried out of the room.

- - - - - - -

The emperor paced around his study chamber while rubbing his hands in uneasiness, he couldn't help but feel that something must have gone wrong with the plan.

He turned to the door immediately he heard the creaking sound.

"Your majesty," the head eunuch called as he entered the room with his hand lowered and his horsetail whisk in between his hands.

"Have you heard any news?" the emperor inquired as soon as he saw him with a troubled expression on his face.

"Your majesty…that…that,"

"Won't you hurry and speak!" the emperor shouted, unwilling to remain patient with his dawdling act.

"I am afraid the second young mistress of the flame sect…got to the flame sect…safely and she is already on her way back to the wind sect," the eunuch answered, nervously.

"What! How could that be, I sent some of the best soldiers, how can she return alive, what of the soldiers…what happened to them?" the disbelief and unwillingness to believe was evident in his expression.

The eunuch raised his head slightly, upon seeing the emperor's expression, he lowered his head again and sighed.

"Won't you answer?" the emperor demanded almost in rage, the eunuch quickly fell to his knees with a sorry expression.

"The soldiers that were disguised as the prime minister's private soldiers are all dead," the eunuch answered with a crying voice, the emperor moved backwards in disbelief and rage.

He waved his hands around, destroying everything his hands hit, the vases all fell to the ground and shattered.

"Please ease your anger!" the eunuch pleaded.

"How is that possible, I lost the chance to drive a wedge between both parties!" he moved to his desk and swiped everything on it to the ground.

"Your majesty…the plan hasn't failed, as long as the flame sect is aware that the prime minister people were the ones who tried to kill their second young mistress" the eunuch chimed in, hoping it would save the situation to prevent another bloodshed.

"That's right…" he turned to the eunuch who is still on his knees.

"Send someone to spy on the prime minister, I need to know all his movement," he walked to his seat and sat on it, heaving a sigh of relief.

"There is something else, Your majesty,"

"What is it?"

"Madam Ju of Ruyi pavilion sent you a letter," he informed

"Madam Ju…"

"She is the owner of Ruyi pavilion who treated you when you were poisoned two years ago, you even gave her the emperor's tally," the eunuch went on to describe.

The emperor's face brightened immediately he remembered the woman the head eunuch is referring to, he remembered how similar the woman was to his deceased consort when she first entered the palace and he even tried to make her stay in the palace but she humbly declined, because of the interest he had in her, he decided to let her be.

"Bring it here,". The head eunuch walked up to his study desk then he brought out the letter from his sleeve then he handed it to the emperor with both hands, the emperor took it from him then he opened it and started reading the content.

The head eunuch raised his head to observe his expression, but he could see that the emperor seemed both angry and pleased to see the content of the letter.

"Good of you Wei Xianlu…you even dared to disrespect my tally," he curled up his lips and clenched his fist.

"Wei Xianlu…your majesty commanded Wei Xianlu to return to the capital, he should still be at the border if he hasn't returned yet," the eunuch remarked thinking that is what made the emperor angry.

"He is in Shannanxi, he even dared to leave the border without entering the palace first, Madam Ju wrote in her letter that he barged into the pavilion and demanded to see some criminals,"

"Criminals…they must have something important to do with him, his intentions are unknown" the head eunuch remarked.

"Give my order to the regional commander, he should send some soldiers to arrest Wei Xianlu and bring him to the capital without the prime minister's knowledge," the emperor ordered scrunching his lips then he smirked just by the thought of seeing the prime minister plead for his son's life.

"But your majesty, why…?"

"Do you think the prime minister will just sit and watch his son get arrested, if he leaves Shannanxi before the regional commander gets there then there won't be any proof of him defying my command and disrespecting the emperor's tally," he held his head high with confidence, he had already deemed it in his heart to reward Madam Ju.

"Yes, your majesty," he turned around to leave.

"Wait…tell the regional commander to send my order to Madam Ju, she must move to the capital either as my person in the palace or she moves her pavilion to the capital, remember…it is an order not a request," he had almost forgotten about her but now that he remembers, she has brought his dead consort to his mind once again.

"Yes, your majesty," he turned around to take his leave.

"How is the investigation on the whereabouts of the fourth prince?"

The head eunuch turned back again.

"There is still no news of his whereabouts," the eunuch informed with his head lowered.

"Useless!" he thundered, slamming the table while the head eunuch quickly took his leave.

- - - - - - -

"Your Majesty, the prime minister is here," the head attendant announced, the empress quickly stood up from her seat.

"Let him in," she enthusiastically responded, she folded her hands over each other and placed them on her navel as she waited for her father to enter, the prime minister entered the room but the deep frown and reluctance to enter was very obvious.

"Father…" she called as he was now standing in front of her.

"Your majesty, I do not think you should still refer to this old man as your father anymore," the prime minister coldly responded, she lowered her head and gestured towards the seat opposite her for him to take his seat, he flapped the end of his robe then he took his seat.

"I wonder why your majesty has summoned me?" the prime minister inquired.

"Father, I wish for us to repair our relationship, after all, we are a family," she answered with remorse in her voice, but the prime minister started laughing.

"Father…"

"If the emperor hears this, he will think you are about to betray him next, I do not have the qualification to be your majesty's family anymore," he cleared his throat then he hastily stood up from his seat and headed towards the door.

"Father!" she shouted then she hurried to his front.

She stood in front of him with a very pained expression on her face, the prime minister could see that she must have been lonely, but it is her own retribution for betraying her own father for a man who does not love her, according to him.

She dropped to her knees, tightly clutching her dress, the prime minister was taken aback, she has not bothered with him or her brother for years, but she actually kneeled in front of him.