Cao Peizhi hoped that everything could be resolved sooner so that he could ask Lin Ning's parents for their blessing; he could not even imagine a life without her now. "I know, but if you say things like that, then it will be harder for me to resist since you are my woman, the woman that I love." Cao Peizhi had pressed his head against hers again as a sign of wishing to stay together like this forever.

"Idiot, you know that I love you as well. I will not push you away, so... don't resist." Lin Ning didn't know what he had in mind when he said he could not resist. Cao Peizhi wrapped his single arm around her waist, lightly pressing her bottom, which startled her. "Peizhi?!" She exclaimed with a questioning tone to his action.

"You said not to resist. I want you again like that day." Whispering the last sentence, he could see her face turning red. 'She is just too cute.' He released a sigh while removing his hand from her bottom to keep his arm around her tiny figure, laying his head against her shoulder to think about how cute she was.

'He is becoming more like a spoiled child.' Lin Ning felt embarrassed by his words, but she could not help when he leaned against her like a child. 'You say those words and then act like a child. Too cute.' Hugging him, she wanted to spend more time with him. "O-Okay, just don't overdo it."

Cao Peizhi was surprised by her response; he lifted his head to look at her once more. He somehow sensed her acting shy and nervous but honest. "Okay." Laying a kiss on her temple again, he hoped for the day to end sooner.

'You both forgot about me again.' Mei Mei whined lightly while sitting in between them.

***

Xia Ling thought about running for it and taking her chances when Shi Men hugged her close to him. "How could you be so cruel?" He didn't want to let her go.

Xia Ling was confused while trying to push him away. "L-Let me go."

"You never told me your name when we were in that forest. You didn't even let me know if you were a boy or a girl that time." Shi Men had been saved by a young teenager when they were left to survive in the forest. He didn't know that Xia Ling was the person who saved him since he assumed that his savior was a 'he' throughout this time.

"We were only trying to survive. We were young as well." Xia Ling didn't want any misunderstanding or confusion.

"We are grown up now. We should know what feelings we have, and my feeling for you is love. I know that... that day was unexpected, but you've been the person I've been looking for. Are you not willing to try and get to know me better?" Shi Men scrunched his eyebrows with worry that Xia Ling would reject him.

"I... I still need more time." Xia Ling felt uncertain still, but there was a ping in her heart while listening to him.

"I will give you all the time that you need. Just don't run or push me away." Shi Men didn't want to let their hug end.

***

"What kind of nonsense is this?!" The Zhao Empress stared down at the two lifeless corpses in front of her. They were the two generals she had sent over to monitor and keep an eye on Crown Prince. 'Is he trying to rebel now?' The empress had lost her daughter, and she still had to get rid of the Crown Prince to let her son take over the throne. "Send them away to their families." The empress held her head; she had known that the Ma people were trying to take back their people when they were in her hands. "I need to make good use of those Ma people now." Ordering a bird to send her message to the Ma Emperor and have his people do her dirty work. 'That Crown Prince keeps escaping every time.' Thinking more, she then thought about the person who was the Crown Prince's closest comrade and best friend. 'That military strategist. I have to get rid of him. I can't believe that I was about to let my daughter marry that man. He is probably the one who killed my daughter as well.' Everything thought that went through the empress's mind only made her more angry and desperate to take action against Cao Peizhi.

"Mother, you should not be getting angry. It isn't healthy for you to get angry when you are going to be a grandmother soon" entered into the empress's bed-chamber, overhearing everything.

"Qiang, what are you doing? You should be resting at this time." The empress went over to her daughter-in-law, who carried her son's first child.

"I heard that you weren't feeling too well after something happened. I do not wish for my child's grandmother to get ill before they arrive." Qian Qiang told her.

"Hm, you are always so considerate of me. I am glad that I chose you to be my daughter-in-law and my son's princess consort. He should be spending more time with you now that you are carrying his first child, but instead, he has gone off somewhere again without telling anyone a single thing. None of his concubines could get pregnant, and now that you are pregnant, then we want to be sure that the mother is healthy along with the child." The empress had the both of them sit down while drinking some herbal tea to soothe them.

"I am delighted that mother says that. I am thrilled to carry 's child. He is a busy prince, so I will understand if he isn't around all the time."

"It is good that you understand. Being an empress is a stressful job, and when it involves your child, you would have to take action. Many women can come and go in the palace, so you will have to be sure to let go of such feelings like 'love' since it does not truly last." The empress warned her about trying to use her selfishness for her feelings.

"I understand." Qian Qiang just went along with it, but her mind kept the same feelings. 'I'm sorry, mother. But I can't let any other women take what is mine.'

***

Lin Ning remained at the border for almost a month and spent most of the time with Cao Peizhi and Mei Mei, but he would have to leave soon after since they were planning to save the Ma people and get their Emperor to help Yi Changpu get the throne. 'I wonder just how long this is going to take.'

"Grrr!!!" Mei Mei could be heard growling in a particular direction.

"Mei Mei, is something wrong?" Lin Ning had been quietly working on her stitching when she heard Mei Mei growling.

"Damn it! I was just taking a nap, and now I am here in a strange world where people are trying to kill me."

Hearing a young voice speak out, she turned to attention where Mei Mei had been growling. "Who is there?" Getting up, Mei Mei remained in front of Lin Ning protectively. Lin Ning went up to where the voice was, opening her eyes to see only a grey color within the body in front of her. 'Hm, they aren't from here. Confused and lost is what I can sense from them. They are just like me. From the modern time.'