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without choice, Yan Gen was obliged to follow him to the Empress palace. Though he has a feeling they're not heading to the said destination. As much as he wants to voice out his thoughts, he has never been in the Empress' palace. How can he say that they're going in the wrong way? What good it is to offend him? Right now, he's the most powerful man in the palace...

They've walked quite a while, wondering why the man didn't ride a sedan instead so he can also ride a sedan. His legs feel tired, he wants to scream at him for torturing him this way when he clearly knows he just give birth and yet he made him walk in a long distance. Of course, he also didn't dare scream at him. Merely muttering curses under his breath.

At long last, Zhu Deming stopped walking when they reached an isolated garden. No halls or pavilions in sight, just tall trees, flowers, and grass all around. Yan Gen is sure that the place is still inside the palace though. They couldn't left the palace in just 15 minutes walk knowing how big the palace is, it is equivalent to a city or perhaps even bigger than that, and they didn't passed through any gates or undergrounds either.

Zhu Deming stopped for a moment before slowly walking near a pond. Of course, Yan Gen wasn't that much of a fool to follow him over there. Who knows? He might have a sudden urge to push him in the pond.

Yan Gen looked around and found a stone table surrounded with four round stone chairs, he didn't hesitate to sit on one of the stone chairs, feeling really tired from their walk. He stretched his legs, looking back at Zhu Deming who has his back turned against him.

"My fifth brother will come too late" that made Yan Gen's brows arch. Zhu Deming faced him and was quite surprised to find the impudent woman sitting already without asking for his permission when he is still standing. He pursed his lips and continued "Taking side at this critical moment is a must, being neutral doesn't mean you'll be safe. Don't forget, you're tied to the imperial family"

Yan Gen has a feeling that he's implying him to take his side as Zhu Mingli will come too late. Does that mean the Emperor is already dead yet they're trying to hide it until all things are prepared for Zhu Deming's ascension? The thought of it frighten Yan Gen. What will happen to him--no, what will happend to them if Zhu Deming truly claimed the throne?

If it was in the past, Yan Gen wouldn't be frightened much right now, all it take was for him to turn his back against Zhu Mingli. However, he already has a child, he became a mother. It wouldn't be as easy as before.

Straightening his posture, he shot Zhu Deming a look "Whether this consort takes side or not, it will always be the same, blood will be spilled. As his highness had said, I'm tied to the Imperial Family. What matters is who will win the throne in the end?"

At this juncture, Zhu Deming let out a mocking laugh. "Are you saying that Zhu Mingli has a chance against me?" You'll never know. Yan Gen only smiled in reply. Letting him know his thoughts by his mere action, neither confident nor diffident.

If Zhu Deming wins the throne, of course he'll remove whatever threatens his dragon throne. On the other hand, if Mingli claims the throne, Zhu Deming wouldn't let him go easily, he will put fight as much as possible until he gains what he wants. He has the loyalty of more than 300,000 soldiers in the West, they were serving him for years. They will only listen to him and will go against an imperial decree if he commands them.

"Wei Yuu is working under me" he suddenly blurted out, it made Yan Gen lose his composure. "You see... all you need to do is take my side, you can serve as my spy to Mingli. Once I claim the dragon throne, granted, the Wei clan will go back to its usual aristocratic stand"

The last thing Yan Gen will do is to trust a villain's words. Besides, he doesn't have a heart to betray Zhu Mingli. He was, after all, the one who helped the Weis when they were under a butcher's knife, they wouldn't see the light of the day today if it was not for him. He risked his life for them and Yan Gen wouldn't pay him a betrayal for his sacrifices. Moreover, they had a child already.

"My husband is my family now" his response made the other party furrowed his brows.

In any case, Wei Yuu is already working under him, he wouldn't dare lay a hand on the Wei clan but he may not let them retain their noble standing and that's fine with Yan Gen. The Wei clan is full of old devils and foxes, it's better for them not to return to their usual evil doings. As long as they're alive and well, everything is fine.

"If there is nothing else, this one will return to Empress Dowager's hall. They must be looking for me by now, it's getting late. May you also have a safe return your highness" After bowing to him, Yan Gen couldn't wait to get out of his presence.

Not long after he took a few steps, he felt a large rough hand wrapped around his thin wrist, stopping him from taking another step. Yan Gen's red lips formed into a thin line, looking back at Zhu Deming who seems reluctant to let him go.

"I don't understand..." he whispered, his deep dark eyes bore into him, a mixed of confusion and anger. There's a look of reluctance in his expression. Now Yan Gen is sweating profusely, he can't predict what Zhu Deming will do.

"Your highness, let her go, she's just a woman" the scholar from before spoke with more confidence now, determined to stop his master's reckless action. Yan Gen wanted to get angry at his statement, what does he mean by saying that she's just a woman. Women are treasure!

Nevertheless, the scholar's words made Zhu Deming snapped out of whatever spell he's under and immediately let him go, as if he got scalded.

Yan Gen quickly walked out of the scene without throwing him another glance, afraid that he will stopped him from leaving for the second time.

When he reached the Empress Dowager's hall, only then did he let out the breath he's holding.