Here I am with the new chapter. I know it always takes longer to update, but I don't have much time during the week. I hope you will understand. :) 

Let's get straight into the new chapter <3  

Wei Ying's POV

While I felt embarrassed about my dreams just seconds ago, that was long forgotten as now I was feeling irritated. Enraged even. How could Wen Qing show up here? What did she want? She never came to me in all these three years. She never apologized nor tried to explain herself. Not that there was something she could explain except for being a husband-stealing woman.

"What does she want?" I growled and Wen Ning shook his head.

"I don't know. Shall I send her away?" He asked me and I thought for a moment before getting up.

"Actually, no. I think it is about damn time I have a word with her. For the last three years, I felt like walking on eggplants, scared I might run into her and Lan Huan. Seeing them from afar is one thing, standing in front of them is something else. Where is she?"

"Outside the palace. I didn't allow her inside."

"Let her come in. I don't want to make a scene while everyone is watching us."

"Yes, your highness."

Wen Ning left and I paced around in the room. I didn't know what to say to Wen Qing. I wanted to tell her my opinion but I was scared of what others might think of me. She was the mother of the future emperor after all.

'Stop being scared, Wei Ying. You have every right to tell her your opinion. So what if you hurt her feelings? So what others will point their fingers at you and talk behind your back? They are doing it already anyway!'

Wen Ning came back. "She is now in the meeting room."

I nodded. "Are you okay?"

"I don't see why I shouldn't be fine. She is in the wrong. I guess on her mind is only his highness the crown prince and her son. She never came to visit me, never came to apologize after stealing someone else's husband away. I don't have a sister like that." He answered with a frown. "I am fine, your highness."

He was lying. He wanted to think like this but at the end of the day, they are still siblings. Wen Ning is disappointed in his sister, he felt betrayed and hurt and probably won't be able to forgive her. Just like I couldn't hate Lan Huan, Wen Ning couldn't hate his sister. That was what love was about.

"Do you want to wait here?" I asked him and he shook his head with a frown.

"I will accompany you, your highness."

I nodded and took a deep breath. "Then let's go."

Wen Qing was sitting on a chair and was playing with her fingers. It was obvious that she was nervous and that told me that she knew about her deeds.

"What do you want?" I asked her, not wasting time on a proper greeting.

Yet, she stood up and bowed to me. I ignored her and sat down on a seat farthest away from her with Wen Ning standing next to me. Wen Qing tried to make eye contact with her brother but the latter ignored her. He didn't feel well meeting her and because I felt the same I wanted to end this quickly.

"What do you want?" I asked again, this time more impatiently.

"You highness, I am here to ask you for two favors. I know!" She emphasized the last two words. "I know that I have no right for that but-"

"If you know that then leave! I don't want to spend time with my husband's concubine. This is ridiculous and it's irritating me." I told her. I knew she wasn't just a simple concubine. A concubine giving birth to a child got the title of an imperial noble concubine but I didn't care for her title. A concubine was and will stay a concubine.

She bit her lips and looked at me pleadingly. "I love him, your highness. I know that I shouldn't but I can't control for whom I am falling."

"Did I say something? Did anyone say that it's wrong to fall in love with the crown prince? No one did. It's normal, be it here or in the mortal realm. There are so many women out there who have a crush on Lan Huan and I don't mind. How could someone not have a crush on him? But jumping on my husband the moment you get a chance is different." I said and saw guilt in her eyes.

"I will repeat what I said to Lan Huan already. He can sleep with anyone he wants, he can take in as many women as he wants, and he can have as many children as he wants for as long as he does it once I am not around. Why is it so difficult to wait until I, a mortal, am gone? My time is limited, yours is not. Couldn't you wait to seduce Lan Huan until I was gone?"

"Believe me, your highness, I didn't seduce him!" She pleaded and I chuckled.

"While I can't attest to that, I can confirm that you at least didn't succeed in seducing him. Seeing how Lan Huan is not even noticing your presence tells me that you have no place in his heart. Albeit I find this quite abnormal as you gave him what he wanted, it still pleases me."

"I was asked for a favor. I was asked by the emperor if I was okay with trying to give his highness an heir. I know that everyone was just waiting for him to have one. And I wanted to decline. I really did."

"Then why didn't you!? Was it that difficult to decline!? You ruined a marriage of 16 years! You destroyed everything that Lan Huan and I had. Didn't you say the emperor asked you for a favor? Doesn't that mean he didn't force you but asked you!? Why didn't you decline, Wen Qing!?" I yelled at her and she fell to her knees, bowing to me.

"I don't know!" She cried out. "All I knew was that I loved him and that I wanted him to be happy. I was-"

"Selfish? Greedy? What were you!?"

"Yes...." She sobbed. "I was greedy. I wanted him. I wanted his highness since I met him 19 years ago but I knew I couldn't have him. I was fine with just seeing him now and then. I was happy for you two. I was happy to see both of you so in love. But when his majesty asked me for this favor... I wanted to decline! I really did! But... without knowing I agreed."

Tears fell down her cheeks but I couldn't care less. No matter what she would say, I couldn't forgive her. I knew that the fault wasn't just with her but with Lan Huan as well. Especially Lan Huan as he gave in to everything.

"I knew my time with him was limited and I was fine with that. As long as I could give him what he wished for the most, I was fine with that. Your Highness, he stopped touching me the moment I got pregnant."

"Are you showing off right now? Are you happy? Are you happy that you took my happiness?" I asked in disbelief and she shook her head.

"No! I just want to tell you that he did all this to please his majesty! Not because he doesn't love you. As you already said, he doesn't love me. After I got pregnant he never touched me again. He doesn't even look at me because all he did was please his majesty. All he wanted from me was a child, nothing more."

I massaged my temples because I was getting a light headache. "What do you want from me, Wen Qing? If you want to show off and make me jealous, forget it. It won't happen because I stopped caring what he does." This was half a lie because it would still hurt a lot seeing him with her but she didn't need to know that.

"I came .... I came here to ask you for two favors."

"Whatever it is, I won't help you."

"Please...." She pleaded and looked at me with begging eyes. "At least listen to them. Please...."

It was irritating me how desperate she sounded and it irritated me even more that I felt bad for her. I had no reason to feel like that because she took away everything from me. Yet, I couldn't control these damn feelings.

My headache was getting stronger so I just gave in to get rid of her. "Tell me then..." I said weakly.

"Please forgive his highness. He loves you more than anything. He made a mistake in pleasing his majesty and he hates himself for agreeing to him. But he loves you! He loves you to death!"

I snorted. "I don't care for the reason, Wen Qing! He betrayed me and broke my heart. I won't forgive him, no, I can't. Never."

"He already said he won't stop trying to get you back. Why can't you see his love for you, why can't you see his despair?"

I frowned. "How do you know what he said to me?" I asked and she looked at the ground without saying anything.

"Did he send you here? Do ask me to forgive him?" I asked in disbelief.

"No, he didn't! He doesn't know that I am here. Please, your highness. Please forgive him."

"No!" I hissed and glared at her. "I already told you I can't. Now stop mentioning this uselessness and tell me the other reason for your visit. Thanks to you I have a headache and need rest." Wen Qing looked disappointed to hear my answer but she didn't say anything.

Suddenly she bowed again and stayed in this position. I frowned but just waited.

"Please.... don't take away my son." Without seeing her face I knew she was crying.

"What?" I asked confused.

"I know I don't have any rights. I am but a simple concubine but please... don't take away my son. I know he is the heir and I know that it's not my task to raise him as I was just used to giving birth to him but please don't take him away from me. I beg you. He is my flesh and blood. Please ...." I didn't quite understand what she was saying but I wanted to hurt her. I couldn't hurt her as she hurt me but seeing her like this, albeit I felt bad, I kind of felt pleased as well.

I got up and turned to leave. "Didn't you say you knew what awaits you if you agreed to the emperor's request?" I asked her and walked away. I heard her sobbing in despair. I wasn't evil and as I was scared she might become a second Lan Huan and start kneeling in front of my palace every day, I turned to her one last time.

"I am not you, Wen Qing. Don't try to pull me down on your level. Now leave before I will call for the guards. Don't ever come back. No one wants you here." With that, I left but instead of going back to my bedroom, I decided to leave my palace and go out for a walk.

 "Where are we going, your highness?" Wen Ning asked after we walked for a long time.

"I don't know. I have a headache so it doesn't matter where we go as long as it goes away."

"I am sorry...." He mumbled and I turned to him in confusion.

"Sorry for what?"

"Wen Qing, she-"

"Forget it. I don't even want to think about her. Can you believe it? She said so much today yet she didn't really apologize for what she did three years ago. She didn't even apologize once. Instead, she comes to show off and asks me to take back what she used. Your sister is really one of a kind."

Wen Ning looked at the ground and didn't say anything. I turned to him. "I hope you won't give yourself the fault for things your sister did. You are not responsible at all. Yes, I rescued her after you but you didn't ask me to do it. I did so myself because she was your sister and you loved her and didn't want to be separated from her. I am not at fault as well. The both of us did nothing wrong so stop apologizing, will you?"

"..." Wen Ning looked up at me and nodded slowly. "Yes, your highness."

"Good!" I smiled at him.

"But, your highness..." I raised my brows waiting for him to finish speaking. "Weren't you avoiding prince Wang Ji? Why are we here then? Or ... are you going to talk to him again?"

I widened my eyes and quickly looked around. He was right. Wang Ji's palace was right in front of me. Once again I walked here without even knowing.

"Let's go quickly," I told him and was about to turn around when I spotted Wang Ji coming out of his palace. He looked quite tired making me worried.

"Is he sick?" I asked no one in particular.

"I heard that he has a hard time getting any sleep. More I don't know."

'He too?' I thought worriedly but then was reminded of something and frowned. "Of course, he can't sleep if he dates women during the night. Instead of dating, he should sleep."

"Do you want to go to him and tell him that?" Wen Ning asked innocently and I looked at him in shock.

"No!" I shook my head. "W-why would I? It's his business. But he shouldn't complain about getting any sleep if he keeps doing that. Let's go." I turned around and left with Wen Ning ignoring the sudden tingle in my back.

"Are you ready, your highness?" Wen Ning asked me three days later.

"Do I have a choice?"

"Of course, your highness!" Wen Ning looked a little offended. "You don't need to attend the banquet if you don't want to. No one will take offense."

I chuckled. "I wish it were like that." I shook my head and turned to Wen Ning. "I would love to take a distance from the banquet but I am after all the first consort. It's my duty and I promised I wouldn't neglect it. Moreover, it's the emperor's birthday today."

Like every year there would be a huge banquet to celebrate his birthday. Many people from the heavenly realm as well as from the other realms would come. Kings and queens, princes and princesses, consorts, ministers, and many others.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Wen Ning took a look. "Your highness, the crown prince is here to pick you up."

I sighed. This was the hardest part.

Despite everyone knowing about what happened between me and Lan Huan, I still needed to pretend I was okay and fulfill my duties as Lan Huan's first consort. There were a lot of rumors about the two of us and the latest, most irritating one was about me and Lan Huan being back together as if nothing happened. The rumors said that I was wise and had a soft heart, forgiving Lan Huan'a little mistake. Which was, of course not true.

I took a deep breath and left my quarters. Lan Huan stood in front of it waiting for me.

"Wei Ying..." His eyes sparkled as he looked me up and down. "You look so beautiful." He complimented me and reached out his arm for me to take.

"We are far away from the banquet so there is no need for us to be this close yet," I told him and passed him. Lan Huan smiled sadly and walked after me. Wen Ning followed us at a distance.

It was quiet during our walk toward the courtroom. I could feel his eyes on me but ignored them. Once we heard the music, Lan Huan approached me, took my arm, and linked it with his.

"How long do I have to stay?" I asked him and he stroked my hand as his eyes found mine.

"I won't force you to stay longer than necessary. If you don't want to be here, we can go."

"I won't neglect my duty, Lan Huan, nor should you. Not that you ever thought about it anyway." I said and broke the eye contact.

"Wei Ying." He held me back before we could enter. He took my hands in his and lead them to his lips, kissing them softly. "If you feel uncomfortable, you can leave anytime. Like I said I won't force you to stay. But if you leave, I will come with you. Being there without you has no meaning."

"Stop overreacting, Lan Huan." I frowned and tried to take back my hands.

"I am not." He said and let go once he saw I felt uncomfortable. "I love you, Wei Ying. I want only the best for you."

I snorted. "Since when?"

He looked at me in pain. "Wei Ying, please...."

"If you want the best for me, stop trying to fix something that can't be fixed. That between us is over. After three years you should finally accept it. You make it only harder for me if you keep behaving like this."

He wanted to say something but I stopped him. "I get it. You love me and I believe you. But like I said, your love is not big enough for you to go against your father. But it doesn't matter to me anymore. What over is over, Lan Huan. Now let's go."

Lan Huan took my hand again and kissed it before linking our arms. We entered the courtroom with everyone looking at us. I held my head high as we walked towards our seats. But I didn't make eye contact with anyone until I sat down.

Soon the attention was on the emperor who entered the room after us giving me the chance to look around. I saw all of them at least a few times so I couldn't say I didn't know them. While the emperor accepted greetings and gifts I looked around a little more. I tried to ignore the soft strokes of Lan Huan's finger on my hand which was difficult. At least until my eyes met those of someone else. Someone made it possible that the air in the room was getting quite hot and I started to sweat a little.

It's been a while since I met Wang Ji head one. Well, if you didn't count those dreams.

Wang Ji's eyes caught mine and I wasn't able to look away. He looked very attractive and stylish today. He was wearing light blue garments which sparkled under the light. His long silk-like hair was shining as well and on his head was his crown making him look majestic.

But what took away my breath was the way he looked at me. His golden eyes were looking into my brown ones with such a power that I literally felt the sweat on my back. His lips were slightly parted and it reminded me of those dreams. If I were in such a dream right now it wouldn't take long before his red lips would be claiming mine.

I wanted to look away but that was not possible. What was even more shocking was his aura. It was pure red. Not an angry kind of red but something else. Something I have only seen once before which was three years ago in Wang Ji's garden after I woke up from my first dream with Wang Ji.

It felt like his aura was screaming at me, trying to pull me towards him. As if his aura wanted to devour mine. I opened my mouth to take in some air.

Our eye contact and the power within it were only broken when the emperor cleared his voice and said he would like to make an announcement.

My heart beat like crazy after this moment with Wang Ji and I tried my best to calm down while listening to the emperor's voice. And I couldn't believe what that man was saying!

To be continued....

What is that damn emperor up to now!? Can't he just descend the throne and leave for good!? Is that too much to ask for!?

Anyway, as for the next chapter... what is this scent I smell? It is a very strong and manly smell... damn, I can't wait ^^

I hope you liked the new chapter. Feel free to leave a vote and a comment or two <3 <3