Xue Liang was dressed beautifully as a consort should be as she hated the look. Empress Xue Ya visited her, but they were not on good terms. Prince Ye Ping never touched her as she was glad he didn't. She was with child, her belly was about three months old now, she had been restless but trying her best to eat well and sleep well.

"So you traded yourself to save your father. Hmm, that was a stupid thing to do." Xue Ya said, having Xue Liang laugh. "What's so funny?"

"Father said the same thing." She said, Xue Ya left knowing she didn't want to hear anything about their parents. Xue Liang hid her pregnancy well. She didn't want them harming her child. They were luckily only humans as felines can catch on the scent well and the symptoms.

Soon Emperor Ye Ling showed up, he smiled looking at her as she greeted him. "Liang greets his highness."

_____

Meanwhile, Liu Gang and his army had settled near the Ming Kingdom. They had arrived within the month earlier than expected. Taking the route that was given to them by Xue Liang. They stayed within the forest but surrounded the Ming Palace.

"Gang? How are we going with the plan?" Peng Lim asked.

"We'll go in first. You and I will go in and see the palace. We need to be sure that Liang isn't in danger or locked up." Liu Gang said hoping his wife and child were safe. Peng Lim and him nodded as he kept his army hidden. Some were already shifted into their felines feeling excitement about the war.

Liu Gang and Peng Lim entered the Ming Palace. They looked around and followed the scent. Xue Liang has been to a few of the places in the Ming Palace. Following the scent, leading them both outside to the Ming Garden.

_____

"No need. Let us stroll around the garden shall we." They walked around the Ming Garden as she saw no point in him trying to gain her trust. She only wanted to end everything as she knew he was trying to gain information about the Qiliang Kingdom. "Xue Liang, why are you remaining quiet?" He asked her as she walked along.

"There's nothing for us to talk about. I'm just here because I traded myself for my father and Qiliang." She told him. She wasn't as easy going as her sister nor would she want the position of empress next to the emperor who had killed his own father and his own people. She would never love anyone that was not Liu Gang. She would only love one person and that was him.

"Wise and smart talk I see. No wonder you both are sisters." He was amused by how both sisters were almost alike. He then tried to kiss her as she turned around picking up flowers to get away from him. He had seen her move her head away. "Do you love flowers?" He then asked her as she looked at him. It had angered him that she would avoid his advances.

_____

They saw Ye Ping walking with Xue Liang. Liu Gang nearly rushed out when he noticed Ye Ping tried to kiss his beloved wife. Peng Lim had held him back from giving away their cover.

"Yes, Gang used to take me out and watch all the flowers in the forest grow and blossom." She remembered the times that Liu Gang would take her out for a run and see the flowers bloom at the right time and day. Emperor Ye Ping was a little angered when she mentioned her 'old' husband which he still thought was dead.

_____

"Why mention a dead man now?" Ye Ping asked her. She looked to him letting him know that she would never allow herself to be used by the likes of him. Liu Gang growled hearing Ye Ling calling him a 'dead man'.

"I will only love Liu Gang. He is the only man I will love in every lifetime I am born with." Xue Liang said to him. Ye Ping's mouth curved up to her words which had him knowing that she had completely shut herself away from everyone. Along with knowing that he was no one to her. Liu Gang could sense the sadness coming off his wife.

"Will you not share that love with me?" Ye Ping asked her. Liu Gang felt anger rising because Ye Ping was trying to get at his wife.

Xue Liang gave Ye Ping a look of disgust. She can easily see how he had his eyes filled with trickery.

"No, I will only love once." Xue Liang said to him. He held her hand as she shook from his sudden movement on her. He looked at her as she looked back.

Both gave eyes as a prey on prey. Which one would attack first? She kept her gaze on him seeing which one would move first. Liu Gang had to be held back again as Peng Lim was struggling to keep his friend out of it.

"Hmph, you're much more of a challenge then your sister. This is why you caught my interest. I will be hoping to see more." He released her hand as he walked off angrily.

"Will you end the war with the Qiliang Kingdom!?" She yelled at him as he stopped and smirked, turning to see her.

"Just because I have you doesn't mean that I will stop the war. I will be hoping to have you seated beside me at the battlefield." Ye Ping said leaving. Xue Liang sighs, rubbing her small three month belly. Liu Gang could easily see her, knowing that she was of course with his second child.

"Mother's little baby needs to be strong as she also needs to be strong for you. Mother is trying to keep the war out but even the war may not even end." Xue Liang said sobbing lightly, feeling her heart shatter. The maids taking her back to her bedchamber left to be locked up in the highest building.

Liu Gang looked to Peng Lim. "I'm going to get my wife back. You go and tell the army to be prepared." He said to him, Peng Lim nodded. Liu Gang followed his wife who was led to a bedchamber in the highest place in the palace.