The regional commander arrived in Shannanxi after some days with about a hundred soldiers behind him, after all, the emperor does not intend in making the regional commander drag him to the capital with respect, as he marched through the streets with his soldiers everyone dispersed to the side of the street, allowing them a smooth passage.

They whispered and murmured to each other, wondering what had caused the valiant regional commander to come to Shannanxi which has always been peaceful, although they don't know what he looks like seeing his horse and his armour, they quickly recognised him.

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"Governor, Governor!" a servant boy in the governor's manor called out as he ran towards the governor's study where the governor, Wei Xianlu and Ruo Rufei were discussing over tea, he ran into the study, panting.

"How bold of you!" the governor scolded seeing the door flung open while the other two were startled, the servant boy fell on his knees and bowed his head in apology then the governor straightened his poise.

"What is it?"

"T-The regional commander, he is headed this way," he announced with urgency evident in his voice, suggesting that he is already close to the manor or he has already reached the manor.

"The regional commander....are you seeing things, why will the regional commander be here?" the governor queried with a look of disbelief but Wei Xianlu had an alarmed look on his face that Ruo Rufei noticed at the mention of the regional commander.

{Why does he seem to be scared of the regional commander?}

"I am very sure he is the one, he is coming towards the manor with about a hundred soldiers," he insisted, trying to catch his breath, the aura of hostility surrounding the regional commander while he walked through the street assured them that he is definitely not here for a friendly visit.

"The only one who can bring that many soldiers to Shannanxi must be the regional commander but what...?"

"Excuse me, governor, I must take my leave," Wei Xianlu jerked out of his seat with a deep frown and look of urgency, he quickly exited the study before they could ask any question, the governor was speechless seeing him leave so quickly but he and his granddaughter quickly understood that the regional commander's visit must have something to do with him.

They rushed out of the study to welcome him without further ado with the intention of distracting him to give Wei Xianlu time to leave the manor with his belongings before the regional commander arrives.

As they reached the gate, the regional commander has just arrived in front of the gate with his soldiers.

"Regional commander," the grandfather and granddaughter duo greeted with their head bowed but he merely passed through them, ignoring their greeting, the prime minister is his enemy so he won't miss the chance of he and his son getting punished by the emperor.

"This..." the governor quickly rushed in after him, the regional commander stopped in the middle of his courtyard then he looked around, he raised his hand, signalling the soldiers to search the manor thoroughly.

He turned to the grandfather and granddaughter duo.

"Where is the prime minister's son, Wei Xianlu?" he questioned, the seriousness in his tone assured them of how serious the situation is, they glanced at each other before turning back to him.

"Isn't he still at the border, how can the prime minister's son be in my humble manor?" he smiled faintly although his intention was to reassure the regional commander, he failed to do so.

"How bold of you!" he thundered, unsheathing his sword and aiming it at the old man's neck, they were startled seeing the shiny blade, with the sun reflected on it, making the sight of it blinding.

The governor raised his hands in submission while Ruo Rufei bowed her head.

"Please ease your anger," she pleaded on behalf of her grandfather whose neck might be slit at any time but he didn't even spare her a glance, he moved the sword closer to his neck, once the sharp side came in contact with his neck, it made a slight cut on his neck, causing blood to seep out.

She widened her eyes seeing the blood on his neck.

"You dare harbour a criminal wanted by the emperor, by the emperor's will, I am to kill anyone who stands in my way and you, governor, you are doing just that,"

"Regional commander..." he muttered, he was just planning on getting on the prime minister's good side but no one dares to stand on the prime minister's side publicly or that would mean making the emperor your enemy.

"I will ask for the last time, where is he?" the threatening gaze in his eyes terrified them.

"He must have left through the back door," Ruo Rufei confesses quickly, she would rather give him out than protect a man who has to run away from someone who is mightier than him, if so, then he is useless to her.

"Rufei..." her grandfather cautioned.

"Lead the way," he ordered, then he placed the sword back in the sheath.

Wei Xianlu quickly took the opportunity to return to the guest room where he had been lodging while using the chance to investigate the whereabouts of the criminals who managed to get out of the spirit forest unscathed since they are his last resort to getting into the forest unharmed.

Leaving his military badge is the same as confessing to his crime but just when he was about to leave, the soldiers had surrounded the manor so he had no choice but to hide and wait for the opportunity to leave through the back door he saw while on a tour around the manor.

As soon as the soldier were out of his way to search another place, he jumped the roofs and managed to get to the back door in time but just as he was about to leave....

"Wei Xianlu," he heard a very masculine and coarse voice call his name, he took another step to escape but the regional commander unsheathed his sword and flung it in his direction, Wei Xianlu quickly craned his back backwards with his hands widespread while the regional commander slid to his front and grabbed the sword, then he placed it on his neck.

He widened his eyes seeing how bold the regional commander is, he could have killed him if he wasn't agile enough, that alone was enough to tell him that he came here with the backing of the emperor.

"You were called back to the capital but you came to Shannaxi before meeting with the emperor, disobeying the emperor's decree is the same as committing treason, what are your intentions?"

"You should watch your choice of words, you are defaming this young master," he retorted but the regional commander sheathed his sword then signalled his soldiers to tie him up with a rope but Wei Xianlu moved away.

"If the emperor wants me then I will go on my own, I don't need to be tied up,"

"You do not deserve that honour," the regional commander responded.

"Regional commander!" he thundered angrily, hearing him talk down on him before the people present.

"You will regret this,"

The regional commander scoffed and ordered the soldiers to tie him up again.

"Let's go," he ordered.

The grandfather and granddaughter stood still as they watched him being pulled away by the soldiers despite his status, the sight made Rufei strengthen her resolve to marry someone who no one dares to touch, someone who can give her the ultimate power and bring her to the position where she never needs to bow before anyone.

- - - - - - - - -

"Madam!" one of the entertainers rushed towards her room but she didn't dare enter without permission irrespective of how important the report is, she knocked on the door until she received permission to enter.

As usual, upon entering, she met the girls massaging her just like they always do while she lied on the bed on her side with her elbow on the bed and her hand holding up her head with her eyes closed.

"What is it?"

The girls turned to her, including Hua Mexiang who just sat on a stool fanning her.

"The regional commander is headed this way," she announces, she opened her eyes but not in shock, she was expecting the emperor to send someone and if he is to send anyone reliable, it will surely be the regional commander but if he is coming this way then...

"Madam..." Meixiang muttered.

"Dress me," she ordered, while Mexiang held her hand to help her up the bed.

"When he arrives, inform him that I will be down soon, he must not come up here," she instructed, the girl bowed her head then she left the room.

The regional commander knowing how much the emperor values the owner of Ruyi pavilion entered the pavilion with only two soldiers behind him who were holding Wei Xianlu, all to show her how much value the emperor attaches to her.

"Regional commander," the girl who had just reported to Madam Ju along with some other girls greeted him before he could fully enter the pavilion.