"Lieutenant Yun, are you ready?" Ye An called from inside her chambers.

"I'm ready whenever you are, Your Imperial Majesty." Xi Chen said from the corridor just outside the emperor's private chambers, his arms crossed with his back against the door frame.

"Come in, I need your advice on something." Ye An requested which was immediately granted by Xi Chen who opened the door and entered.

Ye An rushed to change once she returned from the banquet. She was wearing a slave outfit this time. Xi Chen often wondered where the emperor obtained all of these clothes from.

"Lieutenant Yun, do you think I should put some dirt on my face? You know, to make it more realistic." Ye An didn't even turn around to face Xi Chen and only briefly looked at him through the reflection on the full-length mirror in front of her before fidgeting with her clothes again.

"Your Imperial Majesty.. The Northerners would probably either be at the inn or the tavern near the inn. Considering that the night is still quite young, I think they're more likely to be at the tavern and I don't think slaves dine in taverns."

Ye An sighed. "You're right. I just get bored of the scholar's outfit sometimes. I guess I'll just use this outfit another time. Give me a few more minutes to get dressed."

"Of course, Your Imperial Majesty." Xi Chen replied as he bowed and left the room.

In no time, Ye An was dressed in her signature black scholar's outfit, complete with the rattan hat that had a sheet of black organza cascading down its brim.

When she came out of her chambers, Xi Chen was the only person who was waiting for her outside. She had ordered the servants away earlier when they were on the way back to the East Palace.

"Your Imperial Majesty, we'll be going out through the back door on the Northern Wing this time. The one between the archery range and the stables." Xi Chen started when he saw the emperor. Even though the emperor had proven to be an agile wall climber, Xi Chen thought that it was better if the emperor did not risk breaking his neck just for a few hours out of the palace. Hence, he took it upon himself to make some arrangements with a few trusted palace guards so that they could leave and subsequently re-enter the palace compounds more safely.

"Oh? Alright, sure." Ye An replied, thinking that it would make her life easier. Noticing that the lieutenant had a black outfit on tonight, Ye An added. "Lieutenant Yun, I didn't realize that you have a black outfit on as well. We match." Ye An smiled.

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. I learned my lesson." Xi Chen returned the emperor's smile.

"But you look better in white." Ye An shrugged before walking towards the direction of the Northern Wing.

Xi Chen was momentarily stunned by the sudden remark. Was it a compliment? His ears were steadily getting redder at the thought. Xi Chen shook his head to clear his thoughts before following behind the emperor and leaving the palace together.

It took them about fifteen minutes until they were nearing the inn.

"Your Imperial Majesty, why don't you use the proper procedures to leave the palace? At least you'll have a palanquin carrying you and won't need to walk." Xi Chen inquired as they were walking to the inn.

"Why? I like walking. Helps me take in things that wouldn't be noticed if I had traveled on a palanquin." Ye An replied nonchalantly.

From the periphery of her vision, Ye An noticed that the lieutenant was looking at her knowingly.

Ye An let out a huff. "Fine, and I don't want my comings and goings reaching the Empress Mother's ears. Hold on, is that Minister Sze?"

Xi Chen turned away from the emperor to face the front. Indeed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs was a few steps in front of them, ready to enter the tavern that was located beside the inn where the Northerners and the soldiers from the northern border were staying at.

"Yes, I believe so." Xi Chen replied.

"Let's meet up with him." Ye An patted Xi Chen's arm before quickening her stride, leaving him behind.

"Minister Sze!" Ye An called out as she caught up with Sze Chang.

"Oh dear!" Sze Chang jumped when his name was called and was about to curse at the person who called out to him. He turned and squinted at the suspicious person with black organza covering him.

Recognizing the young lieutenant who came from behind this suspicious person and was now standing next to him, Sze Chang was frozen in shock when he managed to put two and two together. "Your Imperial Majesty!"

"Shh.. I'm trying to blend in." Ye An lifted her index finger up to her lips urgently and said in a hushed voice.

"Umm.. Alright." To Sze Chang, the emperor's attire made him look even more suspicious. But he preferred to have his head attached to his body so he didn't comment about it.

Oblivious to Sze Chang's inner turmoil, Ye An asked, "You mentioned that your residence is nearby?"

"Yes, I'm just here to get some food before heading back to my residence."

"I see. Didn't get to eat much during the banquet?" Ye An asked in concern.

"Not really, Chieftain Burat was really interested in all of the performances and I was telling him about them the entire time. So I didn't really have time to eat." Sze Chang replied sheepishly.

Ye An nodded. "Thank you for your hard work, Minister Sze."

"It's nothing, Your Imperial Majesty." Sze Chang waved a hand humbly.

"It's getting chilly out here. Let us head in." Xi Chen suddenly intercepted.

"Y-yes sure." Sze Chang was a bit taken aback. He thought that the emperor and lieutenant were just passing by and didn't know that they would actually be joining him for supper.

They entered the tavern together and were greeted by the rambunctious cheer of the Northerners who already occupied most of the considerably large tavern. The three of them found a quiet spot at the corner of the room and settled down.

"Sorry for the noise, gentlemen. We couldn't seem to communicate with them to keep their voices down." The middle-aged lady owner of the tavern stopped by to apologize.

"It's fine. Let them have their fun." Ye An smiled gently at the lady.

The lady returned the smile gratefully and asked. "What would you have today?"

"Bring us your best dishes and tea." Ye An ordered.

"Alright. They'll be out in no time."

When the lady left with their order, Ye An screened the tavern with her eyes and found Chieftain Burat on the opposite side of the room in no time. He was a large man in his fifties. Under the dim lanterns at the square earlier, the chieftain gave out an air of intimidation with the shadows cutting at his face. Contrasted to how he had looked like a few hours ago, Chieftain Burat's facial features were currently of a benign grandfather as he quietly watched his rowdy companions under the warm lanterns of the tavern.

Ye An turned to Sze Chang. "About Chieftain Burat's present earlier. What do you think of it?"

Sze Chang was still flabbergasted at the fact that he was sitting at the same table as the emperor and would be having a meal in his company that he answered half a beat later. "I think it was probably unintentional."

The lady owner came back with their food and tea. She left after laying out all the dishes and filling up their teacups.

Sze Chang continued. "In fact, sheepskin is one of the most valuable items they have in the North. It means that you have been presented with something that was made of what they consider as a precious material."

"Hmm.. Thank goodness I didn't overreact then." Ye An said absentmindedly as she turned to look at Chieftain Burat again while sipping her tea. Ye An's gag reflex instantly worked into overdrive after that sip which made her look at her tea in disgust.

"What IS this??" Ye An asked, momentarily forgetting to lower the pitch of her voice.

Sze Chang rushed to reply to the emperor, looking somewhat embarrassed. "My apologies, Your Imperial Majesty. I forgot to inform you that this place is notorious for serving bad food and teas. The only thing they are good at is making liquor."

Now that she slowly took in the scene in the tavern, Ye An realized that the other customers only had liquor on their table. Not a plate of food or a cup of tea in sight.

"And you're here for supper? When their food is bad?" Ye An asked Sze Chang incredulously.

"It's late and I don't want to wake the cook back in my residence. He's already well into his sixties. So I figured that I would just quickly grab something from here." Sze Chang answered abashedly.

"Well. If there's a next time, let me or Lieutenant Yun know. We'll make sure to feed you before sending you back."

"Thank you in advance, Your Imperial Majesty. Lieutenant Yun." Sze Chang nodded his thanks at the both of them.

Even though it was probably the worst food that he had tasted in his entire life, Sze Chang managed to finish all of it since the last proper meal that he had was hours ago and he was famished. Sze Chang excused himself to relieve himself at the outhouse after his meal.

Ye An paid for the meal and exited the tavern with Xi Chen.

"Well, that was thankfully pretty uneventful. I don't see anything weird with them. Do you, Lieutenant Yun?" Ye An asked Xi Chen while they waited for Sze Chang by the tavern door.

"None, they seemed alright. Just a bunch of men who are a little overjoyed by the liquor they're consuming." Xi Chen commented simply.

"Yes. Nothing out of the ordinary." Ye An replied.

Xi Chen nodded in agreement as Sze Chang came running out of the tavern huffing. "Your Imperial Majesty, did you pay for the meal? You shouldn't have!"

"It's no big deal, Minister Sze. I drank some tea as well." Ye An replied graciously.

"Your Imperial Majesty, you only took a sip. And even with that sip, you spat everything out."

Ye An challenged Sze Chang sternly with only her eyes which made Sze Chang apologize meekly. "My apologies, Your Imperial Majesty."

Ye An's eyes softened as she smiled kindly at Sze Chang. "Don't worry about it, Minister Sze. Just think of it as payment for your hard work earlier."

"Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty."

"Alright, I'll be heading back now." Ye An announced.

"Let me escort you back, Your Imperial Majesty." Xi Chen turned to face the emperor.

"Minister Sze, could you excuse us for a moment?" Ye An asked politely, sensing that this conversation with the lieutenant was going to drag on.

"Yes, of course." Sze Chang answered good-naturedly before walking to the other side of the tavern, allowing the emperor and the lieutenant some privacy.

Once it was just the both of them, Ye An positioned herself so that she was directly in front of the lieutenant and planted her feet there. "Lieutenant Yun, I'm not sure what Governess Hsu told you. But I don't need you to babysit me. I'm perfectly capable of returning to the palace myself as I have done hundreds of times before you came."

"Yes, I understand, Your Imperial Majesty. But that was before. Now, I'm here. I'm not trying to babysit you. But since I'm here, use me. Use me to ensure your own security and protection."

"Xi Chen! What are you doing out here?" What seemed to be a stranger's arm hooked over Xi Chen's shoulders with familiarity. "Who's this maiden you're having a lover's quarrel with?"

Ah Lin's loud voice resonated throughout the empty street. Sze Chang who was on the other side of the tavern was horrified at this scene.

"Ah Lin!" Xi Chen nearly threw the man over his shoulders before recognizing him. Ye An looked at Xi Chen questioningly.

"Ah Lin, this is His Imperial Majesty the Emperor. Your Imperial Majesty, this is Captain Zhang."

Ah Lin blinked his eyes once. Then, twice. Before taking his arms off Xi Chen and coming to a kneel in front of Ye An hurriedly. "Please forgive my crudeness, Your Imperial Majesty."

"There's nothing to be forgiven. Please stand up." Ye An smiled at Ah Lin as he stood up. "It's nice to finally meet you, Captain Zhang. Can I call you Ah Lin as well?"

"Of course, of course! You can call me whatever you like, Your Imperial Majesty. If you want to call me poop, I would answer to it!"

"Ah Lin!"

"It's fine, Lieutenant Yun." Ye An laughed while Ah Lin gave Xi Chen a smug look.

"Alright, I'll leave you two to it." Ye An told them as she turned away to return to the Imperial Palace.

"Your Imperial Majesty, wait. Shouldn't we escort you back?" Ah Lin asked. For once, Xi Chen was grateful that Ah Lin was here. He always had a way with words that would make people follow what he wanted them to do.

"It's alright, Ah Lin. I wouldn't want to impose." Ye An said in a courteous tone one would use when speaking to someone they just met for the first time.

"It's no problem, Your Imperial Majesty. Based on how I could hear those people in the tavern even when we're outside, it would be better to come back later when most of them leave. Anyway, who's that weird guy who has been standing there staring at us this whole time? He doesn't look too well."

"Oh, that's Minister Sze. Minister Sze, come over!"

"Hello Minister Sze, I'm Captain Zhang but you can just call me Ah Lin like everyone else. We're escorting His Imperial Majesty back to the Imperial Palace. Will you be joining us?" Ah Lin held a hand out for a handshake.

After a moment's hesitation, Sze Chang finally took Ah Lin's extended hand and shook it. "Yes, sure. And you can call me Chang." 

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