"To my Imperial Majesty, it has been months since the disappearance of Empress Jae due to the unexpected kidnap. Till now, the status of her life and death has yet to be confirmed, furthermore the Woman's Imperial Palace cannot be left alone with no one being in-charge. Therefore, your humble subject would like to suggest your Imperial Majesty to pick one of the consort to take-over the roles and responsibilities of Empress Jae temporarily." Prime Minister Zhen said.

Currently, the morning assembly with all subjects is taking place at the main hall with Xuan Di sitting in his throne, wearing his morning official outfit. After listening to Prime Minister Zhen's proposal, the mood suddenly drop to zero.

"I have never knew that my own family affairs will affect the governing of this country."

"My Imperial Majesty! Your humble subject knows his wrong, however, it is crucial to maintain peace and order in both general governing and internal palace ruling. With Empress Jae disappearance, we as your loyal subjects cannot help but to feel worried for your Imperial Majesty."

"Oh. How so?"

"A day without an Empress at her throne, eventually the peace and order within the Woman's Imperial Palace will be disrupted and that will affect the birth of future heirs to lead the Xuan Kingdom!"

"Hmph, I am still young and energetic, very much alive to control the ruling of Xuan Kingdom. I am not in a hurry to produce any heirs at the moment. Prime Minister Zhen, your worries and concern is well received and being acknowledged. Anymore updates on governing affairs? If not, you are dismissed."

With that being said, Xuan Di stood up and left the main hall, retreating back into his head quarters with Eunuch Gao following behind. Several officials bow and shake their head as they knew that Prime Minister Zhen took the wrong step in the chess.

Stretching his body in a T-position, the palace servants quickly undress the heavy official gown and replace his clothings to a comfortable light green robe. Heading to the study chambers, he sat down onto his chair heavily.

"Ha. These bunch of old folks that does not know their limits and dare to reach their hands to the internal palace." Xuan Di scoffed at their actions.

"But my imperial Majesty, ever since you dismiss shadow knight one and two from their mission to find Empress Jae, your lowly servant is afraid that .." Eunuch Gao express his worries while pouring tea into the cup.

"The reason why I dismiss them from searching for her is because I know where exactly she is at."

"Oh! Where is Empress Jae right now?"

Xuan Di did not answer Eunuch Gao's question and remain silent. He continue reading through the scrolls of submitted documents from the different officials in-charged of different areas of expertise.

Throughout these few months, Xuan Di drown himself into the hectic work that he aimed to complete so to continue his plan. With hardwork, everything will be paid off and so does Xuan Di.

With complete control over the authority of an Emperor and the power struggles of the officials in governing, everything is going according to plan. Ever since he took over the throne, it was never an easy path to gather his own power and supporters, cleaning the black dirt that stains the white paper he intend to draw on.

"Eunuch Gao, in 2 months time, prepare a trip to Kai Kingdom. It has been awhile since we visit our old friend."

"Yes your Imperial Majesty."

"Oh right, any updates from Xuan border?"

"Your lowly servant received news that everything at the border is well taken care of by General Huo and now, Huo young master is being trained to take over the 3rd-in-command position."

"Hm. Did they receive any unexpected guest?"

Eunuch Gao look at Xuan Di with a questioning look.

"Not that I heard of."

[Noble Lady Zhen Palace]

With the transition of the seasons from winter to spring, the weather seems suitable for Noble Lady Zhen, Zhen Wei Xuan, to head out to her courtyard for a short painting session. Concentrating on the level of strength used on the brush to paint the perfect stroke that she desire, it is known to all serving palace servant to remain as quiet as possible.

"My Noble Lady! Bad News!" A palace servant that serve Noble Lady Zhen disrupted the unspoken rule in the courtyard.

"What is the matter." Noble Lady Zhen continue her drawing and was not affected by this disruption.

"I heard that this morning assembly, Prime Minister Zhen request his Imperial Majesty to choose one of the consort to take over Empress Jae's role and temporarily be in-charge in the matters of Women's Imperial Palace! I think he is aiming to make you to be that person!"

"Oh.. Is that so."

Noble Lady Zhen's calm and composed face once again show her position she intend to hold in this Women's Imperial Palace.

"Yes! And his Imperial Majesty curtly cut him off and warn him not to interfere with the internal affairs!"

"Ha. What's is new? This is the typical route that my dear father will choose to walk on."

"But, my Noble Lady, aren't you happy that you could be one of the possible candidates to be the Empress if Empress Jae does not return back safety?"

Noble Lady Zhen stop her hand and slowly kept the brush she was holding at the side of the table. Wiping her hands and head back to her inner quarters without answering the question, but if you pay attention, you could hear her response.

"I never wanted to be here in the first place."

*

*

*

It has been 2 weeks since they reached Kai Kingdom, with a free tour guide, Jae-in enjoy her trip here with Yu-ji. But there is a rising problem for Jae-in that is, where should she go next?

As her plans have been achieved, she manage to escape from the palace, she left Xuan Di living a life of her own. Going to places that she never been before, eating delicious food that is different from her hometown and the palace. She really enjoy everything that she is experiencing.

However, this cannot go on forever. She eventually will need to settle down. Although she is unsure whether Xuan Di will be able to let her go, judging the reaction in the cave, she does not want to live a life like a fugitive.

'Should I go back to the borders to reunite with brother and father?'

'What if Xuan Di use them as hostage to force me back? No .. I can't let this happen..'

Being fully awake when she is supposed to be sleeping in her bed in the Ke Zhan that they check-in for the night, Jae-in remove the blanket and head to the nearest window, opening them to admire the beauty of the bright moon up in the sky.

'How will Qi Yuan react if he knows that I was the Empress of Xuan? Will he start to behave accordance to the status of my nobility? Or will he feel hurt and betrayed because I hid the truth?'

'Will he stop being my friend?'

At the same time, Yu-ji slip out to take a bath at the common bath area after her Missy retreat to bed. Refreshing herself up with clean water to wash her sweaty body, using a comb, she even out the knots in her long wet hair while wearing a new set of clothing.

Carrying her clothes, she walk to the direction of their room, however at the corners of turn, she collide into someone with her forehead clash into the sturdy chest of a man.

"I am so sorry!" Yu-ji fell onto the ground with stars spinning around her head while she use one of her hand to rub against the area that starts to swell.

Actually, Yu-ji can choose not to apologise, after all it is not entirely her fault, but she did. Thinking that the other party might also apologise for their own mistake as well, however silence was what she got.

Looking up to the person who she bang into, the remaining remorse she felt disappeared instantly.

"Why can't you be more careful?" Qing Feng question her while looking down at this small petite looking woman, who has small droplets of tears gathered at the side of her eyes, trying not to spill out.

Fuming with anger, Yu-ji stood up immediately and point directly at Qing Feng's face.

"You! It is not my fault that you suddenly appear and I apologise because it is part of mannerism. I can't believe you don't even feel sorry for banging into me and I am the one being injured right now!"

"Then probably you shouldn't walk too fast, so if this situation were to happen again, the impact of pain you receive will not be too big." Qing Feng advice her with a straight face.

Seeing that he has no intention to apologise, Yu-ji squat down to collect the clothes that flew off.

"Yes, you are right. You are always right and I am always wrong. Then, scram off." Knocking hard into the arms of Qing Feng as she purposely squeeze through him.

Qing Feng stare at the small cute little figure that slowly disappear at the end of the corridor, then look down into his chest, using one of his hand to press on the area that Yu-ji bang into.

*

*

*

"Qi Yuan, where are we heading next?" Jae-in asked Qi Yuan inside the carriage that he bought, with Yu-ji sitting beside her while Qing Feng sitting on the outside, riding the carriage.

"Since you have visited all the local interest areas in Kai Kingdom, it's time to let you visit the Capital of Kai, where my home reside!" Qi Yuan happily smile at Jae-in, couldn't wait to reveal his identity and his true face.

"Oh that's great! But, will this be inconvenient to your family?"

"No worries, my household is big enough to let my good friend stay comfortably!"

"Thank you so much Qi Yuan." Jae-in smile with gratitude, recalling the number of times he saved her.

But, a part of her is curious about Qi Yuan's identity, if she was being honest, he doesn't have the looks of a very attractive man. He have common features that if he did not stumble into her private hotspring, she will never pay attention to this very existence of his.

Despite a common face, he have a knowledge of a noble son, a skilful knight that is not common to see for a normal noble family. But, who is she to judge him as she herself is holding a big secret that she is unsure of how he will be able to accept it.

After a long ride via the carriage, Qing Feng call out Qi Yuan to inform him that they have reached.

Qi Yuan head out of the carriage first, followed by Jae-in and he offered his hands to hold her as she steadily alight the steps down. Once Jae-in reach the ground, her eyes was shocked by the impressive entrance of Qi Yuan's manor.

Four imperial guards standing at each side, with doors being painted in white unlike the usual brown wooden doors. It is made of marble white with golden lion knobs and intricate carvings at the top of the walls.

This definitely exceeded Jae-in anticipated house of Qi Yuan, she expected a typical household of a 4th ranked noble official. As she took the time to absorb the beauty, Qing Feng went ahead to drop off the carriage at the nearby stable and instructed the servants to take care of it.

"So, welcome to Qi Fu. Please follow me in." Qi Yuan politely guide Jae-in towards the door with the guards greeting him as though he is a son from an Imperial family.

With many questions and suspicion, Jae-in follow his lead and decided to remind herself to confront him once and for all, in hope to use this chance to reveal her identity as well.

"QI YUAN!" A high pitched voice scream from the back.

Within seconds, Qi Yuan was engulfed into a tight hug from the front by a lady, whose whole body weight rested onto the muscular body of his with her legs clinging onto this back, like a koala hugging a tree.

As Qi Yuan used his muscle to shoulder this lady's weight, he momentarily forget to push her away.

"Qi Yuan, you are finally back! Do you have any idea how much I miss you? I almost became as thin as a stick ever since you left." This mysterious lady continue to hug him tightly while using her left cheeks to rub against his cheeks.

Such intimate actions yet done so casually, it shows the kind of relationship they have.

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[A/N]

Phew! This is a long ass chapter... Alright! This time I have updated with 4 chapters at one go, so it's time for me to continue building up the rest of the characters that yet to appear :D