The Throne Hall in Da Huiâs imperial palace was dead silent in the afternoon. So silent that the sound of a needle could be heard falling onto the ground.
A middle-aged man, wearing a luxurious dragon, robe sat upright on the highest throne in the room. His eyes gazed at the entrance to the hall. No one could see the immeasurable gleam at the bottom of his eyes.
âYour Majesty, all the officials have left the imperial palace.â An imperial servant came to the hall and reported.
âYour Majesty, all the gates are closed.â A long moment later, another servant came, reporting.
Ok, (you all) retire.â The man sitting on the golden throne waved his hand to dismiss the servants after a moment of staying quiet.
âYour MajestyâŠâ
âI said, leave!â The man raised his voice. The two imperial servants kneeling on the ground exchanged looks before bowing and excusing themselves.
âIf you are here, why donât you show yourself? Do you need we to welcome you personally?â The man looked at the main entrance to the hall. His cold voice broke the deadly silence in the Throne Hall.
âCanât believe youâre still so rude after twenty-four years we havenât met!â As soon as the man said that, a middle-aged couple wearing luxurious clothes slowly entered the hall.
âTo the kind of despicable people that donât keep their words like you, itâs already an honor that we agreed to send all of my people out of the imperial palace and meet you.â The man sitting on the throne was the Emperor of Da Hui. In this moment, facing the married couple that leisurely  browsed Da Huiâs imperial palace as if it were their own house, he couldnât suppress his anger.\n
âTch tch⊠all I did was send a lettering requesting for some of your time. Donât act like it's the end of Da Hui!â The man walked into the hall, holding the womanâs hand. He chose a chair and pulled the woman to sit with him.
âSay it! What is it this time?â Da Huiâs Emperor did not want to waste any time with the man and asked in a straightforward manner.
âNothing. I just want to visit you, the people you rule, who are living well, and your loyal subordinatesâŠâ
âGet to the point!â The Da Huiâs Emperor cut off the manâs nonsense. âWe still remember. Twenty-four years ago, Da Hui and Blood Union signed a treaty. The Blood Union are not allowed to send armed men to Da Hui Empire. Youâve violated the original agreement.â
âRight,â the old man frankly replied. âThe Blood Union didnât send any soldiers to Da Hui. I didnât violate the treaty.â
âTwelve-Blood-Knights!â Da Huiâs Emperor said through his gritted teeth, stressing the words. Blood Unionâs twelve Blood Knights only listened to the emperor. Without the Blood Unionâs Emperorâs order, how could they infiltrate to Da Hui without premeditated intentions?!
âOh, I also want to ask you about that! Last year, my Twelve Blood Knights disappeared into thin air. I donât know where they had gone. I heard that Da Hui found them. Well, on the occasion of your birthday, I come to join the party and take them back.â The man smiled, lifted his head to look at the man who was about to explode on the throne. He explained with a sincere voice that couldnât be sincerer.
âYou⊠YouâŠâ Da Huiâs Emperor was so angry he wanted to vomit blood. He pointed at the man who acted as if everything he had done in his life was all right and just. However, his words and his actions all showed he was an evil-doer.
âWhat? Did I receive wrong information? The Twelve Blood Knights werenât in Dai Huiâs territory? Then, thatâs okay, too. My nation didnât violate the treaty as you had accused us.â The man didnât even want to look at the Emperor, who was about to erupt on his throne. He talked fast but calm.
âYouâŠâ Da Huiâs Emperor tried hard to suppress his anger. He retreated his shaking index finger, trying to calm his heart: He had known that extremely malicious man for thirty years, and he had never defeated him in any official war. However, he did have one counterâŠ
âHowâs your Civet Crown Prince?â\nIndeed, this question could become the strongest weapon in the history that had stabbed the other directly in his heart.
âLi Wen Xiu!â
Tch, tch, what did the mess look like when the demonic dragon flies over? Like this! Da Huiâs Emperor, Li Wen Xiu scoffed as he watched his Throne Hall being wreaked havoc as if a storm had just come by. Unexpectedly, after twenty-four years they hadnât met, the hundred-year humiliation of Blood Unionâs royal family was still a bleeding wound in that manâs heart.
âXue LiâŠâ  The woman sitting next to him had tears all over her face. She hugged the man who had just got himself together after his wrath. âLi⊠Donât think too much⊠didnât you say that we found a clue, right?â
The man shuddered awake at her words. He retrieved his evil aura, lifting his head to look at Li Wen Xiu who was sitting on the throne and watching them as if he was enjoying some comedy. Shortly, his eyes resumed their calmness.
âItâs our honor that we could amuse you!â That man, no, Emperor Xue Li of Blood Union sneered. He didnât feel ashamed of his destructive vandalizing act at all.
âMuch thanks!â Â Li Wen Xiu felt much better when he could strike the other back.
âThen we can sit and talk nicely about the reason why we are visiting, alright?â Xue Li arched his brow.
âAlright,â Li Wen Xiu sighed begrudgingly. What else could he do then? Blood Union was several times stronger than Da Hui. Twenty-four years ago, they had met each other by chance. While he was still a prince, he helped Xue Li find his wife who had ran away in anger. In return, he got a written promise stating that the Blood Union would never invade Da Hui. That promise had helped him secure his Crown Prince position and become the Emperor after the former Emperor passed away.
However, that written promise could be kept only up to twenty-four years. The twelve Blood Knights of Blood Union had sneaked into Da Hui. Although the problem had been resolved, they had become a thorn in his eyes. The twelve Blood Knights represented the power of Blood Unionâs royal family. Until now, the twelve Blood Nights had never failed a single mission. However, this time, they were buried in Da Huiâs territory. It was easy to guess that Xue Li would come sooner or later.
However, he hadnât expected that Xue Li would arrive that fast. Right at his fiftieth birthday when he was about to choose an effective assistant, Xue Li came. He (XL) sent him a letter informing him of his arrival and requesting all irrelevant personals out of the palace for a secret meeting. The letter indicated that Xue Li would come to find him to solve the debt of his twelve Blood Knights.\n\nâOkay,â Su Shuilian agreed. She missed their home, too. Although Fan Hua Town wasnât as brustling as Feng Cheng, although their two-acre house wasnât as big as the Lotus Courtyard they got in Prince Mansion, although their daily life back there wasnât really convenient like the life in the imperial city, although this place was also her home â her parentsâ house, but she⊠still missed home.
Su Shuilian gently pushed the special, small crib, which Feng Cai Yun had ordered the craftsman to make, with both hands. Her eyes were filled with her childrenâs images. When she turned her head around, she saw her dear husband placing his head on her neck, and he refused to move away. She smiled.
âWhy are you laughing?â Although Lin Si Yao had buried his head into the side of her neck, he could feel all of her emotions. He asked her, his voice a little husky.
âNothing,â she smiled at him. There was no way she would say romantic words like she was very satisfied with her current life. She would feel too embarrassed to do so.
âReally?â He smiled and didnât expose her. She was really innocent, and all of her mood could be seen on her small face. It was the reason why he didnât want to let her face life alone. Only the simple, peaceful life in Fan Hua Town was the most suitable place for her to live.
Prince Jingâs mansion? Ha, even if she were the daughter of the main wife, the first legitimate Young Lady, so what? Who could ensure that the other concubines and their children in Prince Jingâs mansion would behave and follow the rule?
They had just stayed one night and Liang Xuan Jingâs concubines had brought their daughters to disturb Shuilian. Regardless of their intentions, Shuilian already had a headache when they âpassed byâ her Lotus Courtyard, let alone the cunning, malicious ones.
âAh right, A Yao, Iâve finished your robe for your audience on the eighth. Try it on to see if it fits you or not.â Â Su Shuilian turned around and came back with an azul colored, double lapel robe. Â She had started preparing his outfit as she knew he had to visit the palace.
âSo fast?â Lin Si Yao smiled, receiving the robe from her. It had only been ten days since they were informed to head to the imperial palace to meet the Emperor, including four and a half days they had spent traveling. However, he had never underestimated his little wife. Especially in terms of sewing, her talent and ability were incredible.
âYou should wear proper clothing when you see the Emperor.â Â Su Shuilian smiled, gently nudged him. âPut it on. If it doesnât fit, Iâll fix it immediately. If she didnât assure that A Yao got a proper gown, her mother would make the biggest tailor shop in the imperial city bring all of their high-quality robes for him to choose.
âYou made it,â Of course it fits. Lin Si Yao said but still obediently put the gown on. Only this way, would it assure her.