"Huangfu(1), please have this herbal tea made by Tan Tan." Qiao Tan pushed the cup towards Zhu Zhen, her lips tilted to form a seductive smile that could bring any man on their knees.

Zhu Zhen smiled at her and drank the tea in small sips.

"Zhen'er looks so tired these days." the empress dowager sat beside pointed, her gaze worriedly rested over the big eyebags around her son's eyes. "This war and all duties are really very difficult for Zhen'er. How many times aijia(2) has to request Zhen'er to marry? Zhen'er needs heirs to carry some responsibilities out of your shoulder."

"Mother" Zhu Zhen sighed, kissing her knuckles to show respect, "Don't worry for Chen(this son). Chen is just busy preparing for the war."

The empress dowager's expression turned into pained one at the mention of war, "Aijia understands. But being a mother, aijia will always be worried. If you had a heir-"

"Nucai(this servant) would dare to infere, huangshang(your majesty). Our spy from the Gu city sent some important messages. "

The emperor furrowed his eyebrows at Xian Xu and stood up. The Gu city is the area he put some spies to spy on the first prince.

"Okay, bring him to my chamber. Mother, Tan'er, Zhen will see you later."

Princess Qiao Tan stood up to pay respect and bowed,

"Tan Tan looks forward to meet Huangfu."

Her sweet smile slowly fading with the sharp glint in her eyes as she stared at leaving shadow of the emperor.

"Taihou(3), Tan Tan dares to ask permission to leave now." she bowed before the empress dowager. The empress dowager smiled with affection to her niece,

"Of course, of course, my dear Qu Tan. Aijia hopes Zhen'er brings you as consort here as soon as possible. Aijia is getting old to maintain the duties now."

Qu Tan smiled sweetly at her and turned to leave. When she reached out of the dowager's hearing zone, she whispered to her maid

"Go and try to hear what's happening in emperor's chamber. I need every details!"

..............

The first prince had managed to build quite a strong army in the Gu city. Zhu Zhen was shaking at the news of some crucial royal members' betrayal.

Really, his decision of not having an heir was biting in his ass now. Sighing, he pushed his had at his chair, his head throbbing with all the worries and his lack of sleep was not helping it.

One week! It had been one week of sleepless nights he spent. What could he do? Whenever he closed his eyes, a small feminine face would appear out of nowhere to twist his heart painfully. Not to mention the ache he felt in his body to touch those soft curves, to feel the warmth he loved so much.

His body craved her with its every cell and sleeping seemed so impossible in that lonely bed without her.

"Get all the courtiers and advisors in the palace!" he bellowed to guards, a sudden meeting was urgent at that point. War is the only solution of this catastrophe.

.........

"Place tight security around all the states! Not a single fly should pass without a tight scrutiny.", Song Jian barked his orders at the guards.

All the courtiers tensed and worried placed their war plans to the emperor. Zhu Zhen was quiet but the cold aura that he excluded was enough to make everyone know the intensity of the rage brewing inside him.

"No traitors will be shown mercy! Their entire generation would be hanged and tortured to death!" Song Jian barked again.

After the meeting ended, everyone left except Song Jian who worriedly gauzed the distant expression of the emperor.

"Huangshang (your highness) seems to be in pain. Just order nucai what he can do to lessen your pain."

Zhu Zhen smiled bitterly.

"Making Zhen's pain go away, Zhen does not believe you are the one who can do it."

Song Jian's heart ached for his friend of so many years. He never saw Zhu Zhen care for anything and when he cared, life treated her so mercilessly.

"Why can't Huangshang forget her? There are so many women who would lay themselves at huang's feet."

Zhu Zhen's gaze flashed with pain as he shook his head at his friend.

"Zhen can take many women, Zhen knows. But what do I do with this fool heart that only seeks her, my friend? What do I do?"