Ming Yue Yin chooses to separate from Lory when she found an armament shop, Lory doesn't interest because she lives with the armament master and Zhao Li Xin has a room filled with high craft weapon so why bother to looking around. While they walk together lory got tired of having other women jealous stare so she bought a demon red half mask and put on Zhao Li Xin's face The half mask hide half his face but still show his lips and his chin, hopefully, it would dispel half his charm too.

Just to be fair Lory also put on a cat mask, its the same half mask so is not hinder her from eating a snack. With her pink hanfu and white cat mask, Lory gain a lot of attention herself, the mask only increased her mysterious aura, just like a cat she runs from one stall to another finally she buy the rainbow candy, turns out its a Tanghulu but with colorful berry fruit 'talk about marketing' ​​

Lory finds a bench near the river than she eating the rainbow candy while staring at the lantern that flows on the river, Zhao Li Xin than take a seat beside her, Lory chomps the candy than she looks at Zhao Li Xin "That man is dangerous" she finally said.

"Yang Qiong Yan?" he assumed she talk about that sly man.

"Yes" she averts her gaze back to the river "He's not someone who will fight with you face to face, he would scheme, hiding and waiting for fo the right moment to stab you on the back" Lory lick the candy again.

"I know, he is an opportunist and schemer I believe he already plans something as we speak," Zhao Li Xin said calmly he crosses his legs to another while his hands clasped on his knee.

"Yeah, I think so too, I have a feeling he would worry for Yuan Shao's relationship with you, we must tell Yuan Shao to avoid coming to the manor for a few days," said Lory again.

"I believe Lao Min Na is the one who make Yang Qiang Yong persuade Yuan Shao but I don't know why she interested with him?" Zhao Li Xin eyebrows gradually furrow, he investigated Yuan Shao for several days although he has good merits and achievement he didn't find anything that make him….special. from all of the talented men in the Liu Yan Kingdom, why Lao Min Na choose him?

"Thankfully Yuan Shao refused Yang Qiong Yan offer, for whatever reason, Lao Min Na plan is foil" Lory chomp the last candy she had "It's a good thing we're not against each other, I hated it if I have to fight with a good man like Yuan Shao" she sighs.

"But I don't think she would give up easily" Zhao Li Xin tugs lory hair behind her ear "Someone like her will do all necessarily mean to get what she wants"

"Even with force?" Lory becomes uneasy.

"Hm.." he nods his head.

Lory pondering for a while then she raised her head "The only thing that can influence him is his sister, do you think Lao Min Na would hurt Yuan Xue An" she gasped by her own words.

"I believe she would take advantage of Yuan Shao's sister," said Zhao Li Xin.

Lory take a long deep breath "And we still have problem with Sacred Mountain Peak"

"Don't worry, I will take care of everything" he feel guilty to drag Lory to his problem, he wants to give her a comfortable life but also his enemy never lets him in peace.

Lory chuckles "I'm not worried, I just like t be careful" she sees the guilt in Zhao Li Xin eyes and she feel bad for him "Don't worry about me, to be honest, this feels familiar to me so don't look at me like that" she caresses her strong jawline gently.

"Really?" he can be sure if Lory says the truth or just wants to comfort him.

"My Kingdom is one the most powerful kingdom in the world, how do you think we maintain our peace" she raised her eyebrows playfully "Like my father always said 'if you want peace, prepare for war'" she smiled mischievously. They're's no peace for Lucient only next mission and another war.

"I will never let you go to war" he softly said.

Lory smiles solemnly "That's not something you can decide" she press there forehead together "Like you can't decide if I would jump from the cliff or not"

He squints his eyes "I will try my best!" he swore wholeheartedly.

Lory giggles listening to his vowed, "I know you will…"

_________________________

Meanwhile, Ming Yue Yin just got out of the weapon shop she bought a lot of small knives and hide it under her skirt, just like her aunty said, their's no such thing about too much weapon. She surprised when she found Yuan Shao lean on the door frame waiting for her.

"Why are you here?" she' suddenly startled.

"Why can't I be here?" she retorted.

"I thought you with Yang Wei Lan and the others?" She doesn't feel anything wrong if he comes with Yang Qiong Yan, she knew there are certain obligations for nobles people to follow whether they like it or not.

"Why I want to waste my time with them" she returned the question again.

'It's going nowhere isn't it?' she rolls her eyes tiredly.

"I want to watch opera, you want to come?" Ming Yue Yin walks without waiting for him.

"I promised to accompany you did I?" he promptly follows her from behind.

"Come with you're own risk" she answers nonchalantly without looking back at him.

The night is getting late in certain building Ming Yue Yin and Yuan Shao watch the opera from the second floor, the opera tells the story about the tragedy of Er Shuang who is a trap between the fight of two brothers how the lady tore apart between the love of the two brother, it supposed to be a tragic story but Ming Yue Yin ruined the atmosphere by laughing too much.

The audience wants to chide her but then they saw the mighty General sit next to her, no one dares to give Ming Yue Yin another glace, they can only grumble to themselves.

"Is it very funny for you?" Yuan Shao sees her laughing until she cries but he doesn't understand which part of the story is funny, well it is quite pathetic if someone asked him but he doesn't see the humor in the story.

Ming Yue Yin wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes "It's funny, the brother hated each other but still, they share the woman together and that woman playing the victim when the truth is she increased the hostility between the brothers, at the end, the two brothers are death living her alone with a lot of money and big manor, this is not tragedy this is a triumph story for the woman!" she clapped her hand excitedly when the actors bow to the audience after they finish there act.

Yuan Shao frown, if she says it like that it does sound like a triumph for the woman protagonist.

The two of them walk out from the opera house building, Some of the stalls already closed but the lantern that hanging from above still lit up brightly so Ming Yue Yin doesn't feel the urged to return to the manor, she wants to enjoy this freedom because soon or later she should come home and become empress ming again.

"Can I asked you something personal?" Ming Yue Yin suddenly breaks the silence.

Sure" he replied casually.

Ming Yue Yin hesitated slightly but she braces herself "Will you ever reconcile with your father?" she sees Yuan Shao face become stiffed than she said again "I know your father makes mistakes, a grave mistake even but…. I think he hurt too, well I just wondering, if you don't want to answer that's okay too, I'm just asked as a friend"

Yuan Shao's mouth slightly curved "Are you worry about me?"

"I'm worried about Xue An" she twitches her nose.

He chuckles softly, whatever reason he just glad she thinks about him even just a little "The truth is I don't know" he answers earnestly then he clasped his hand behind his back "I think we used to this condition and after a few years we become estranged to each other" he smiles bitterly.

"Its too bad…" she muttered "I don't have a father so I don't have anyone to blamed for all the bad things happened to me but you still have your father….it just advice from an orphan, don't wait until you have no parents anymore" she smiles warmly.

Yuan Shao sighs "I'll think about it" he peek a glance at Ming Yue Yin side figure, no one dares to ask about this to him, not even his sister, this Empress look tough from the outside but very gentle in the inside she is the opposite of every people he knows, the night is cold and windy but his hear engulf with warmth.

"Yue Yin, thank you…" he suddenly said with a gentle voice.

She blushed slightly "Buy me the flower dumpling and we're even"

Yuan Shao burst to laugh "Deal!"