The poor Zhao Li Xin didn't know he was being slandered by his own wife. Lory used Zhao Li Xin to make herself look stupid and pitiful, and the two maids completely lowered their guards around her. They opened up and blabbered like broken dams. Lory listened to them with great enthusiasm as the two lowly maids had a lot to say.

Lory returned to her courtyard with bouncing steps as what she had achieved was not bad for a day's job. She plopped on the small bed while Girsha emerged from her chest, in his usual white orbs transformation, and landed on the bedside.

​​

[So many problems…we have only scratched the surface] Girsha sneered with excitement.

[Hmm…] Lory hummed. She suspected a giant association like this would have a lot of secrets and trouble within but she never knew it would be so much. It was true about bigger closets holding more skeletons. This society was more messed up than the Jiang Wei Kingdom.

"Let's kill them all!" Zhao Li Xin suddenly barged into the room.

Lory raised the top half of her body and tilted her head with a big smile as she greeted her grumpy husband, "Welcome back, darling!"

Zhao Li Xin continued pouting. He took long strides to the bed and gently pushed Lory to one side as the bed was too small.

Lory turned to accommodate him and Girsha flew to the table. Lory used her arm to hold her head while the other patted Zhao Li Xin's chest. "What's wrong? Are they making it hard for you?"

"They keep talking to me…" Zhao Li Xin let out a long breath and complained with annoyance.

When people thought he was the weak Sixth Prince, everyone ignored him and only talk about him behind his back – something he didn't care about. The Emperor, his supposed mother, and brother mocked him and degraded him but it was still not a problem. He had grown numb from the beatings. However, he couldn't stand it when people forced him to interact with them.

Zhao Li Xin was not a people's person. He thought interacting with most people in the world was nothing but a hassle. It was unnecessary to get involved with them unless they were giving him some kind of benefit. The only person he was attached to was Lory. It was hard for him to get close to others even when he needed to pretend.

Lory didn't know whether to laugh or feel sorry for him. She placed her head on his chest and wrapped her hands around his waist. She comfortable rubbed her cheek on his chest to comfort him, "You have worked hard."

The negative feelings within Zhao Li Xin dissipated gradually and his mood lifted when Lory held him. Zhao Li Xin stroked her head and inhaled her faint scent, "And what were you doing today? Don't say you quietly stayed in the room."

"I washed clothes…" Lory chuckled at his words.

"What clothes?" He asked in confusion.

"Did you know the Xie and Chen families do not get along?" Lory asked instead.

"That's to be expected," Zhao Li Xin was not surprised.

"And… Do you know Chen Hua Yin is very talented and the Xie family feel threatened by him?" Lory placed her chin on Zhao Li Xin's chest and stared at Zhao Li Xin with excitement.

"That… I didn't know. How do you know this?" Zhao Li Xin was stunned. His spy never passed this information to him.

"I met a couple of maids from the Chen family… and boy… do they like to talk," Lory grinned widely as she thought of her achievement. She then rolled her eyes and continued, "There is this guy, Xie Hua Ling who has a close relationship with Chen Yi Suan and they were supposed to be officially engaged once Chen Yi Suan turned fifteen. However, the Xie family has started to eye Nan Yu Qi and are now trying to arrange an engagement between Xie Hua Ling and Nan Yu Qi."

"Oh…" Zhao Li Xin's interest was piqued as an idea dawned on him.

"The Chen must be upset with this…" Zhao Li Xin murmured.

"They are furious," Lory raised her brows in agreement. "Chen Hu Yin is now taking sides with Xie Xian Zi to take down Xie Hua Ling. I don't know how the Nan family and Xie Hua Ling's faction will react to this news."

Lory leaned back and used Zhao Li Xin's arm as a pillow. She rubbed her wrist and her appearance returned to normal. It took a while for her to notice Zhao Li Xin had remained quiet as she talked.

"Hey! What are you thinking?" She nudged Zhao Li Xin waist to capture his attention.

Zhao Li Xin shifted his glance to her and saw a beautiful pale face staring back at him. Lory's purple eyes sparkled like gemstones in sunlight. He could never get bored of looking into her eyes. He turned his body to the side and pulled her close until there was no space between them. Although Zhao Li Xin still wore his disguise, it didn't change her heart from beating rapidly whenever he stared at her. Her cheeks felt hot at his gaze.

"What?" Lory became meek under his gaze.

"The Mo family… I wonder how they are involved in this situation?" Zhao Li Xin smiled fondly at her. He sounded indulgent but his words alluded to something dreadful.

"You think the Mo family are involved with this?" Lory's big eyes widened like a surprised cat. Zhao Li Xin thought his Princess looked so adorable.

"It would be weird if the Mo family didn't have some kind of involvement in this situation," Zhao Li Xin said softly as he caressed Lory's plump lips with his thumb. His actions were contradicted the dire situation inside the Sacred Mountain Peak. If the three powerful families at the pillar of the Sacred Mountain Peak fought with each other, no one may know who would emerge the winner. But the end would certainly not be good for the society.

"By the way… how did you make the two maids talk to you, a stranger? They should know not to share their master's secret with anyone?" Zhao Li Xin was baffled by this.

"Oh, that…" Lory giggled softly. The sweet sound tickles his heart and he suddenly had the urge to kiss her, but Lory's next words surprised him. There was a sweet smile on her face as she said, "Because I'm a stupid and ugly waste. They think I am harmless."

Zhao Li Xin frowned as he couldn't relate their thought with his Princess. The cunning goddess before him was not stupid and ugly. If Lory was considered ugly, then there would be no beautiful woman in the world.

"They also feel bad for me since my husband bullies me," Lory pretended to be sad as she pouted her lips.

"Your husband? Is that supposed to be me?" Zhao Li Xin narrowed his eyes at the thought.

Lory nodded before she sighed deeply. She wanted to tease him further, "They also pity me as my husband will throw me away sooner or later…"

He knew Lory was joking but nonetheless he became silent for a second. He soon realized his Princess slandered him to gain their pity and make them talk. He didn't know there was such a method but it annoyed him either way. His stare turned dangerous, "You made them think I am going to throw you away?"

Lory felt the danger as she nervously replied, "Yes…"

"You made them think I bully you?" His stare deepened.

"Hehe… yeah," Her heart was beating like a drum as Zhao Li Xin's face got closer.

"So you used me?"

"Kinda…" She averted her gaze.

"For what you said, I think I have to bully you for real…" Zhao Li Xin's shapeshifter spell choose the moment to wear off. His face was back to his heaven-defying face. Lory's heart stopped for a second at the sight before her.

"The spell is… Mmm!" Lory's words were cut off by Zhao Li Xin's kiss. She almost lost it but somehow got the energy to pull her face away from him. "No, our relationship is supposed to be bad… No one would believe my story again if they are to hear us!"

Lory made it seem like Zhao Li Xin treated her like a maid and they were not sharing a bed. The assumption was good for her story and for Zhao Li Xin's reputation. No one would take him seriously if they knew he indulged a woman like her. They thought a man who fell deeply in love would not grow. They respected a man with a big ambition. A man who wanted to reach the top. It took Lory a day to understand what was valued in such a society. It was one of the reasons she lied.

"You right, we can't make any sound…" Zhao Li Xin nodded with understanding and Lory was surprised she could easily reason with him on the matter. She also slightly felt sad about it but it all flew out of the window when Zhao Li Xin gently raised her chin. He looked solemn as he said, "Don't worry… I will do it slowly…"

"..."