"Have you seen Duke Su?" She literally asked everyone in the garden. The guests look at her who were panting out of breath.

Xu Ling Ai have been looking for him everywhere but he was nowhere. She is worried if there is anything wrong with him.

Walking around until she ended up in the garden. The palace's garden were full of flowers and trees. Greens everywhere. But she is not in the position to enjoy the scenery.

It was Empress Yi's idea to celebrate her son wedding at the garden. At first, the emperor refused but eventually agreed.

She walked onto a higher bridge to be able to take a good look at the crowd. Everyone was there so it is a bit hard for her to find him.

Xu Ling Ai even tiptoeing to get a good look. She back off while gazing everywhere. Accidentally, she bumps into someone.

"Sorr.. Nah. I'm not sorry." When she saw who it was, she take back her apology.

Her stepsister Xu Jia Wen jeering at her up and down. She is wearing an expensive attire with countless of accessories.

"Won't you greet?" Xu Jia Wen sneer at her.

This bring Xu Ling Ai laughter. She really laugh until her eyes welled up with tears. She feel so giddy and ridiculous.

"Why did you make such a bad joke in the daylight stepsister?" The smiley expression of Xu Ling Ai instantly turn into a bitchy face.

Xu Ling Ai fold her hand while arrogantly staring at her stepsister. They are now have the same position as the duke's princess consort.

"You're still the same rude and rough Xu Ling Ai. Seems like being a princess consort did not suit you. A country bumpkin will always be an idior." Xu Jia Wen drip her sentence with so much softness and sophistication.

"At least I did not feign innocence like you. Pretending to be kind and perfect. I can see right through you and it tells that you're a witch." Xu Ling Ai whisper only for Xu Jia Wen to listen.

Xu Jia Wen's clenched her hands tightly. She gritted her teeth. She finally achieve her long desire dream but here she is couldn't even beat Xu Ling Ai.

"Jia Wen what are you doing here?" Another hand hold Xu Jia Wen's clenching hands.

Xu Ling Ai look at Empress Yi's shameless face. She look so innocent that everyone would get bewitched by her pure eyes.

'How could someone be so cruel? Poisoning human? Evil!' Xu Ling Ai feel so frustrated not being able to let out her madness.

"Your Majesty. I am just talking to my sister." Xu Jia Wen turn cool when she finally had her back up.

From the guests point of view, they look like a family talking happily to each other. No one knows that a fiery pit were waiting to explode.

"Go greet guests with Jun Yi. I will handle your sister." Empress Yi persuade Xu Jia Wen.

While Xu Ling Ai look lazily at the two witches. Xu Jia Wen left leaving the two of them. She was about to leave also but Empress Yi stopped her.

"Xu Ling Ai. Are you done being a parasite leeching off my imperial family?"

"Of course I'm not done yet. I will not stop until I bite you off." Xu Ling Ai mimicking a sound of tiger.

"Anyway Empress Yi, no secret can be kept forever. You'll never know what's lurking around you." She added with teasing tone. Xu Ling Ai was referring to the Empress Yi's secret.

"You!" Empress Yi raise her hand to slap Xu Ling Ai but she stop in mid air because everyone was watching her action.

"Your Majesty this lady will take her leave first. I need to find my dearest husband." She curtsy.

All of a sudden, Empress Yi grab tightly both of Xu Ling Ai's hand and direct it to her chest.

Xu Ling Ai's instantly get alert when her hands being pulled to the empress direction.

They are on a bridge and down there is a freaking lake. Xu Ling Ai instantly knew what is the empress trying to do.

'She is trying to frame me!'

The empress was trying to make a scene where Xu Ling Ai push her and then she gets punished for doing that to the empress.

But she didn't know that Xu Ling Ai were quick witted more than anyone else.

Once empress Yi pulled Xu Ling Ai hands, Xu Ling Ai stubbornly put weight on herself and back off to the side of the bridge.

"W-what are you trying to do?" Empress Yi panicking when Xu Ling Ai keep backing off to the bridge side.

"Trap you? Yes I am." Xu Ling Ai bravely responded.

With Empress Yi near her, Xu Ling Ai pretend to stumble because of her push and fell straight into the lake. She will save herself from the evil woman's trap even though it will cost her life.

Everyone gasps when they saw the familiar peach attire fell into the river.

'Li Zhao where are you?'

Xu Ling Ai was probably an inch from fell into the cold lake when the person she has been looking for suddenly appear out of nowhere.

Li Zhao use his martial arts flew to grab Xu Ling Ai. Her hair had literally touch the cold water but Li Zhao grab and pull her up on time.

The people started ran towards the lake to witness the incident. Li Zhi Ming also rush towards the scene. He was too shock by Xu Ling Ai falling down.

Landing on the ground balanced, he check then gaze at her state up and down. No emotion were display but we could guess he is somehow worry.

"Xu Ling Ai are you fine?" Li Zhi Ming worriedly asked while checking Xu Ling Ai.

"What happen?" Li Jun Yi question. The newly bride and groom also came. Xu Jia Wen on his side feeling annoyed by Xu Ling Ai's presence again.

All of the spectators stood there speechless. Three princes actually came to ask about her condition.

And they completely ignore their own imperial mother up on the bridge. How much power does Xu Ling Ai hold? They wonder.

"Xu Ling Ai are you alright?" Empress Yi rushed towards Xu Ling Ai's side and pretend to be worry.

Empress Yi was about to touch Xu Ling Ai's hands but Li Zhao suddenly pulled her behind of him.

He saw everything that happen. Earlier, he still got something to do with his imperial father so they arrive late the garden.

Li Zhao saw Xu Ling Ai and the empress talking. He thought they were only going to talk but when Xu Ling Ai fell he was too shock that he moved to save her.

"Your Highness I'm fine." Xu Ling Ai finally said something after the incident.

"But this lord is not fine with it."

Li Zhao hold Xu Ling Ai's hand and dragged her away from the event. He did not even ask permission from the emperor.

Inside The Carriage

"Your Highness I got something bad to tell you." Xu Ling Ai hesitantly started.

She don't know what he is mad about. But she could feel the anger aura around him.

"You did that on purpose."

"What? But how did you know?!" Xu Ling Ai were surprised by his statement.

Now she completely realize that she will not be able to fool him no matter what. Even her oscar acting skills couldn't cheat him.

"What have you been thinking?" He flatly question.

"Empress Yi was going to trap me and of course I can't take the bait so I did that." She explained not wanting him to get misunderstand again.

"This is not important. What I'm going to tell you is more..." Xu Ling Ai try shake him off about the falling things.

"Not important? Why can't you take your own life seriously?" Li Zhao suddenly raised his voice. The tone were visible with a glint of worry.

"I know you will save me. That's why I did that." What she is saying was the truth, she completely utterly trust him.

"Don't do it again. This lord will not take it lightly about this matter."

This sentences gave her butterflies again. Her cheeks turn scarlet red. She was trying so hard to ignore that feeling but now it seems like it is impossible.

'He is just worry that you might embarrass him. Nothing else!' Xu Ling Ai remind herself not to get any hope.

"Let's put it aside cause I really got something important to tell you." The atmosphere turn serious in a matter of seconds.

Xu Ling Ai scoot closer to Li Zhao. She don't want anyone to eavesdrop what she is about to say. She asked him to lower his ear to her level.

"It was Empress Yi who produced Goldsilkworm and developed the Human Vampire Poison." Xu Ling Ai whisper to his ear.

"How did you know?" It's Li Zhao turn to suddenly get alert by what she said.

"I overheard her talking to someone's named Poison Master Hu." She explained.

"Are you sure it was Poison Master Hu?" Again Li Zhao were shocked by the revelation. And Xu Ling Ai nodded confidently.

Master Hu is the legendary talented physician in Han. However, one day he began to change his path as a poison master.

He was accuse for a crime in producing an illegal poison that wasn't supposed to exist in the country. Poison Hu Master were punished with a death punishment fourteen years ago.

"How did he still alive?" Li Zhao muttered but it did not escape Xu Ling Ai ears. He is now sure that it was Empress Yi who poison him.

"Who?" She question curiously.

Li Zhao turned to Xu Ling Ai and asked her questions. She was too shocked by action. His face were very serious despite wearing a masks.

"Have you tell anyone about this?"

"No."

"Act like you know nothing." Li Zhao stated as he is worried about her safety. She nodded vigorously.

P.S.

Serious question. Do you guys have any pet?

VOTE and COMMENT if you like this chapter!

Thanks! 💖- R