"WHO SAID SO! JING AI LE, DON'T YOU DARE TO PUT WORDS INTO MY MOUTH!"

With the sudden appearance of Qi Yuan, Ai Le ran and hug him in her arms.

"Qi Yuan! Why did you come here! Are you here to see me?" Ai Le anticipated his answer.

Pushing her off roughly from his body, he head towards Jae-in to observe if any injuries has been inflicted on her.

"Are you alright?!" Qi Yuan asked worriedly.

"Yes, I am fine. What is the matter that you are here for?" Jae-in asked.

"I heard from my men that you followed Ai Le to Yuan Ding Lou and I was afraid that this little troublemaker will endanger your safety."

"Eh eh eh, I am not someone who is that destructive okay!" Ai Le fumed in disagreement at the side.

"You? Not Destructive? Please!! Then can you kindly remind me who was the one who damaged the private room of this Yuan Ding Lou just because I was having lunch with one of the sisters of Xiang Hua Lou?"

"Who was the one who set the room on fire because I stayed overnight at one of the sister's room?"

"Who was the one who made Lady Yuan ill by pushing her into the lake because someone was jealous over the fact that I help her to put the hairpin in her hair that dropped on the floor?"

"I ... That time ... " Ai Le tried to clarify herself but was cut off by Qi Yuan.

"Ai Le, I shall not mention the past and your unruly actions. But, I will not stand if you ever inflict any kind of danger to my friend and I will not forgive you if you did so." Qi Yuan firmly stand in between of Jae-in and Ai Le.

Observing the glow that Ai Le once had disappear, Jae-in knew that she is very hurt.

"Qi Yuan, you misunderstood Ai Le sister. She was kind to introduce this delicious restaurant and also we became friends. You shouldn't scold her for things she did not do."

"Is it so?" Qi Yuan look at Jae-in.

"Yes, I am not lying. And, I think you should apologise to Ai Le sister because it is not a good feeling to be misunderstood by someone whom they hold dearly."

Awkwardly, Qi Yuan is aware that he needs to apologise but the words doesn't come out. Looking away from Ai Le, Qi Yuan briefly said his 'sorry'.

"Since the misunderstanding has been cleared, I shall bring Jae-in back. You ... you should go home early since it is not safe for a lady to be out for too long." He awkwardly scratch the back of his neck.

With just a little concern from Qi Yuan, the once depressed eyes shine brightly again as though once again, she affirmed that Qi Yuan does care for her.

"Alright! Sister Jae-in I shall head back home and Qi Yuan, I will come find you again!"

Making her way to the door, before she leave, she look back to Qi Yuan.

"I knew that you still care for me, Muah!" Ai Le give a flying kiss to Qi Yuan before escaping the room, knowing the Qi Yuan will scold her for this indecent action.

"Hey you! Stand there!" Qi Yuan shouted.

Jae-in laughed at their interaction, once more reminiscing the memories of the past, the moments of being wrongly accused by Xuan Di and the unforgettable feeling of grievance.

As the two ascend into the carriage, Jae-in look at Qi Yuan.

"Qi Yuan, why do you treat Ai Le so badly? This is not like you."

"What do you mean it is not me? You have no idea how a devil she is and she is always the one hindering me. She cause me more trouble and inconvenience with all the things that she does."

"But, you should have been honest towards her and properly handle the feelings she hold for you in a right manner, instead of escaping and treating her badly."

"You do not understand, she is really one of a kind. She is the kind of roach that doesn't die after being killed so many times. She will never give up on marrying me and I am not the kind to follow the predestined road. Who says that she is engaged to me via the royal decree means I need to follow suit?"

"Then, do you have anyone in your heart?"

"No?" Qi Yuan look at Jae-in blankly.

Jae-in stopped the conversation and turn to look out of the window, only time will prove her words and thoughts right.

'He will definitely regret letting go of a gem.'

*

*

*

"To inform my master, we received a special request months ago and I feel that there is a need to let you know of this matter."

"What is it?"

The dimly lit room in an enclosed place, no window to let the moonlight shine in, yet it is very spacious with shelves of books and scrolls of documents, showing the purpose of this room is a working station.

With dull looking grey walls of the underground cave, there is a male figure who sat at his black painted marble chair, practising his calligraphy skills.

"We received a special request of a saving mission and not assassination. This request is from the noble young master of Huo Military house, Huo Jae-su."

The man stopped his brushes and look up to his subject.

"Jae-su? Why did he approach our assassination association?"

"I think our association has grown in reputation with high credibility in our skills, probably that's why he reach out to us."

"Then who he intend to save?"

"His sister, Huo Jae-in."

"WHAT?! Jae-in? Why?"

"It seems like he requested our 'Red Death' association to provide assistance in liaising and provide information with the widely spreaded underground connection we establish to get Empress Jae-in escape the palace. However, this was a request received 4 months ago.

I think Jae-Su young master did not know that Lady Jae-in has escaped the palace herself. So, what should we do to inform him?"

"Since it has been 4 months ago, why did I not hear of this?"

"Master ... I guess your lowly subjects thought that this is an ordinary mission. I only manage to know of this mission because I was going through the missions in-progress to check the status of our association."

"Hmm ... Next time if there is anything related to Jae-in, report immediately. Also, this is a chance to gain a favor from Huo Military house. Instruct the men to inform Jae-su young master of the updates on Jae-in and let him know that she is currently in Kai Kingdom."

"Yes master."

*

*

*

[Kai Imperial Palace]

"Your Imperial son greets my Imperial father, 10,000 years and eternally." Qi Yuan greets his father.

"Be at ease, you this stupid boy, left the Kai Kingdom without any notes and you made me a fool of myself by dispatching the army to search for you high and low! How do you want to be punished!" Emperor Kai faked an angry tone to this favorite son of his that doesn't take him seriously.

"Please don't ! Please don't! Your precious son has come from a long trip back home and it is already a blessing that I am safe and sound. You do not want to lose your son so easily right?" Qi Yuan acted vulnerably knowing that his father is joking.

"Hmph, and you still have the cheek to know that it is a long trip. Tell father, why did you even travel to Xuan Kingdom?"

"Because I am bored. What else can I be there for?"

Looking at this son of his, always not putting in effort to learn the ways of governing and politics, despite his unspeakable talent, it seems like he wants to waste it and not use it.

"You... Sigh, have been scolding you for years, punished you for years and tried so many ways to teach you but you never once listen. Forget it, eventually you regret."

"What's there for me to regret? After all, we got Brother Qi Zheng to lead the country and I shall be the laid back prince." Qi Yuan shamelessly bragged his intention.

"YOU!"

Emperor Kai shouted with anger, though it is not that he is really angry, rather more on disappointment.

"Your Imperial Majesty, his Imperial crown prince has arrived." The announcement of Qi Zheng interrupted the father-son conversation.

Prep himself properly in the throne, Emperor Kai wave his hand to let him enter the hall.

"Your Imperial son greets my Imperial father, 10,000 years and eternally." Qi Zheng greet his father.

"Be at ease, my son what brings you here?" Emperor Kai look at his son and using a side eye to observe his unruly favorite son.

"Your Imperial son heard that Qi Yuan brother has return back to Kai Kingdom, therefore made a special trip to the palace to see him." Qi Zheng answered.

"En, that is very nice of you and it is pleasant to see such heart-warming brother love." Emperor Kai nod in satisfaction.

"Brother Qi Zheng, much thanks to your effort of coming all the way to the palace just to see your unruly little brother." Qi Yuan scoff.

"Being an elder brother, this is nothing worthy for thanks and it is in me to be concern of my dear little brother."

"Oh really? Then that's great! You have no idea how scared I was when I faced an unexpected assassination in Capital of Xuan." Qi Yuan innocently revealed this ordeal he faced.

"WHAT? AN ASSASSINATION? WHO DID THAT?" Emperor Kai raised his voice with murderous aura emitted from him with the thought of someone hurting his favorite son.

"To my Imperial father, it was during the trip to Capital of Xuan, just when I reach there on the first night, I was suddenly hunted by a group of black men and got stabbed at my abdomen. Luckily, my life is blessed with fortunes and I manage to escape, which allowed me to make a good friend! Oh next time, let me introduce my friend to you!"

"Hmm... sure next time shall be it. Then, are you still hurt? Do you want the Imperial doctors to tend to your injuries?"

"Father! It has been months, the wound naturally healed by itself! Also, Qing Feng revenged for me by exterminating the assassination guild on the night when we left Capital of Xuan. Your unruly son will never swallow any kind of injustices." Qi Yuan proudly shared.

The knuckles of Qi Zheng tighten under his sleeves while maintaining his neutral face.

"Right Brother Qi Zheng?" Qi Yuan playfully asked.

Noticing that the attention is now on him, he replied carefully.

"Qi Yuan brother, life is blessed with all fortunes and it is a good news that you are not severely injured. Maybe it is good to be careful next time."

"What you said is true, maybe next time I shall make a personal army to guard my safety so that there will not be any chance of future assassination. After all, I am a coward who value life. Right Brother Qi Zheng?"

"Of course."

Qi Zheng gritted his teeth to show the hidden anger.

Being dismissed out of the hall, the two brother left with together standing side by side. With Emperor Kai out of the picture, Qi Zheng and Qi Yuan reveal their true faces.

"Say Brother Qi Zheng, are you disappointed? Disappointed that lowly low-skilled assassins that you hired to kill me did not complete their mission?"

"What do you mean?" Qi Zheng faked an ignorance.

"What I mean doesn't matter, I just want to inform Brother Qi Zheng that I am no enemy of yours, if you continue to step in the boundaries that I set for you, don't complain if things were to ever happen without your permission."

_______________________________________

[A/N]

Hello guys! Just want to clarify the sequence of addressing to let you know who is the older sister or younger sister.

Sister XXX : If the word 'sister' placed in front, means the person is addressed as an older sister.

XXX sister: If the word 'sister' placed behind, means the person is addressed as a younger sister.

(Vice-versa for brother)