Wei young froze in shock. Murong li and Zhi Ming....in the same room...together.

"Lies" Zhang Jing said in disgust, her mouth had lost it's taste after hearing what Liu Wei had just said.

Liu Wei looked at them and chuckled.

"Didn't you notice that Zhi Ming wore a frown today? It's because Murong li wasn't present for the ceremony....your highness, you missed your chance, come to think of it.....you never stood a chance" he said and left them there as he laughed his way out.

Wei young's hand clenched into a tight fist, that Murong li...why would he take someone she had an eye on....and Zhi Ming....why would he want another man instead of a true woman like herself.

"Wei young don't listen to him, from what I've heard Zhi Ming has a wife"

"WHAT?"

Zhang Jing bit her bottom lip, obviously her saying Zhi Ming had a wife didn't help the situation. Wei young walked towards her slowly.

"What did you say?"

"Uh....the lady Zhi Ming came with....is his....wife"

Wei young chuckled in a humorless manner, her hands rested on her waist as she thought of a way to catch Zhi Ming's attention but now the biy already has a wife...

"I see....tomorrow I shall go to Yang Wu palace and see this wife for myself" she said and left Zhang Jing there.

Zhang Jing sighed.

"Is this Zhi Ming even worth the trouble though?"

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

The ride back home was silent, General Qing wanted to ask Murong li what he saw back then but seeing the slight frown on the prince's face makes him wonder if it is related to Zhi Ming.

"Your highness....are you okay?"

Murong li looked at him, he still doesn't know what to feel about what he saw, should he be angry? If yes then why? Why would he be mad to someone who isn't officially his but on the other hand....

"General Qing...have you ever experienced love?" The question took Qing by surprise, he blushed for a moment.

"Yes....back at my home town"

"Are you still together?"

Qing chuckled, his eyes glistened with tears for a moment.

"Your highness...sometimes we experience things we didn't wish to experience...my first love is one of those things....let's say we went our separate ways after a tough battle."

"I see....was the person a male?"

It was silent, the only sound coming form the horse as it galloped towards the Yaoguang palace.

"......yes"

Murong li nodded, he could tell that the general didn't want to go in full detail about it, hopefully the general has healed from his previous relationship.

"Your highness...you avoided my question"

Murong li chuckled and pulled out his flute from his robe sleeve, he placed the flute on his lips.

"General Qing....Zhi Ming came with a woman to that coronation"

And with that the melody of tranquility started, General Qing sighed....this was going to be a long journey to love it seems.

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

"Ming Ming, look what I have" Li Min said smiling.

Zhi Ming sighed and turned to face her, his face darkened when he saw what was in her hands, wild viburnum flowers.

"Those are not for you! How dare you pick those" he said in anger shocking Li Min and the gaurds nearby.

"Ming Ming....are they sacred?" She asked nervously, Zhi Ming snatched the flowers from her.

"They are for Ah li, don't you ever think of going to that place again"

Li Min frowned, this Ah li again?

"Ah li this and Ah li that, what about me? I am your wife!"

"You will never be my wife, who would even want to marry you? I guess no one since you were sold to me for one piece of blue jade"

Smack.

His cheek tingled, he unconsciously crushed the white flower in his hand in anger.

Li min on the other hand was furious, the things Zhi Ming just said....they were true but....she doesn't want to believe them.

"You may be a Prince but you have to accept that you're stuck with me, like it or not i will bare your children and make your father happy"

"Listen to yourself, listen here, Ah li can also give me children so i suggest you pack your things to and leave and if i come back and find you here....I'll drag you out myself"

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

Liu Wei sighed as he sat on his throne, after returning from the Wu Yue sect, he changed into his royal robes, he even wore his eyepatch accessory.

The doors opened and Zhao Zhing came in and dropped to his knees before him.

"Your majesty, the army is sick, all of them"

Liu Wei frowned, just last night he was with the army as they ate a huge feast.

"What did the doctor say?"

"He said it's chickenpox, your majesty, we are left in a vulnerable state"

"We are masters of  cultivation, who would even dare to challenge us, listen, go to the hill and search for the golden core healer, I have a feeling that he will heal them by morning"

Zhao Zhing nodded and bowed.

"Your majesty is wise"

Liu Wei watched him leave, then he frowned after the door closed. Where did they catch this disease from...could it be...Yaoguang?

"It can't be....Yaoguang wouldn't want a war with us when they are about to face  Wu Yue."

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

Wei young sat on her new throne, she watched the councilmen who were bowing infront of her.

"My dear councilmen i have an announcement to make"

"As you wish my queen"

She looked at the gaurd standing next to her and nodded. Ge left the room and moments later Zhang Jing came inside the throne room.

"This is Zhang Jing...she will be my advisor from now forth"

The councilmen bowed.

"May your wish be fulfilled"

The two ladies smiled at each other, Wei young was happy to see things coming along.

Her face turned serious making everyone nervous.

"Now about Yaoguang...."

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

Murong li poured white wine on his father's grave, he sighed and burned paper for him as well.

General Qing stood behind him as a guard. Since the conversation the two had on the way back, Qing had not said a word, not because he was sad, but because he revisited something he wished he didnt.

"Father it's me....i hope you're still looking over Yaoguang....also my coronation is in two days..."

Murong li sighed and stood up, his pink robe stained with dirt.

"Let's go back home"

"Mn...as you wish"

The two walked back in silence, Murong li's mood had lifted a bit after visiting his father's grave, however thinking about Zhi Ming made him frown again.

"Watch out!"

Before he could react Murong li found himself falling after missing a step, his eyes widened in shock.

With quickness, Qing pulled him by the waist and the two fell down, Murong li on top of the general, they both blushed.

"Ah li?"

Murong li gasped.

"Zhi Ming?"