Xiu Ying and his father are walking around the courtyard with linked arms. Considering the father and son rarely had time together, Jing Yi and other servants let both of them have their time alone.

Xiu Ying has been asking and talking non-stop but not once his mouth mentioned the emperor. Watching his son talk with his big eyes, showing his excitement, Li Shizen feels content.

The father and son are too immersed in their conversation. They didn't notice that two important figures were approaching them.

Wu Zhang Wei asked the servant not to announce his arrival. He wants to surprise them with his presence and if he is lucky, he could eavesdrop on what they're talking about.

'Let me see....what else are you going to complain to your father...' thought Wu Zhang Wei.

Huang Fei Hong, who knew his friend's intention, can only shake his head. 'Is he really an emperor?'

When Wu Zhang Wei and Huang Fei Hong arrived, Xiu Ying and Li Shizen are standing in front of the fish pond. Xiu Ying is whining to his father, saying that it is such a waste for a big fish pond placed there but there is no fish in it. It is full of weed only.

With his back facing the courtyard entrance, Xiu Ying didn't notice the two figures coming towards them.

Wu Zhang Wei halts his steps when he sees a slim figure in plain white robes talking to Li Shizen. He can only see one side of that person's face. 'Who....is that....'

Slowly he walks in order to have a full view of the other person's face.

Li Shizen's eyes bulged when he saw the emperor and the Great General came to this isolated palace. He strutted forward and hid Xiu Ying behind him.

"Your Majesty" Li Shizen greets.

Hearing the words 'your majesty' from his father's mouth, Xiu Ying quickly turned around and did the same as his father, bowing his head.

Li Shizen raises his head, "Your Majesty, wh- what is the reason for your majesty visit in this place?"

Feeling a little bit annoyed when the other person is totally hidden behind Li Shizen, Wu Zhang Wei snorted, "What? Zhen is not allowed to come here? Does this place belong to you?"

"No- not like that Your Majesty. Forgive this servant for being rude."

Zhang Wei huffs.

Wu Zhang Wei standing straight in front of Li Shizen, staying still, silent and once in a while stealing a glance at the person behind the prime minister.

Noticing the emperor's act, Li Shizen slowly moves aside and pulls Xiu Ying to stand beside him.

"Li Xiu Ying greets Your Majesty." Xiu Ying bows again.

Both Wu Zhang Wei and Huang Fei Hong fell speechless.

'WHAT ?? Li Xiu Ying? No way.....there's no way this beautiful guy is Li Xiu Ying....'

Both of them look at each other and they have the same thought.

Plain white robes, fair skin, small pink lips, sharp eyebrows, hair loosely tight at the end, no makeup. And the most important thing is......he is beautiful.

Too beautiful.

Wu Zhang Wei rarely meets old Li Xiu Ying. Only someone who is close to him, like Li Shizen or Jing Yi could recognize when Xiu Ying wears no makeup.

Silent filled the courtyard. Only sounds of water fountains and birds are heard.

Since no one speaks up, Xiu Ying breaks the silence, "Pardon for Chen rudeness Your Majesty. May this lowly concubine know the reason for this visit? Did this concubine do anything wrong?"

Wu Zhang Wei's eyes widened. 'He is too calm. He is not acting like before. He's no longer clingy. He has changed...? Ha! Maybe this is his new tactic. Trying to play push and pull with me. Do you think if you pretend to no longer care about this emperor, this emperor will come and look for you? Not a chance! I won't fall for your tricks.'

"No. Concubine Li didn't do anything wrong. Zhen came here just to meet Prime Minister Li. Zhen has something to talk with him." Wu Zhang Wei replied coldly.

"Oh if it's like that, Chen won't impose on Your Majesty and my father. Chen will take my leave."

Xiu Ying turns around, "Father, Xiu Ying go inside first. Please take care of yourself and mother. Xiu Ying will come and visit later."

Li Shizen smiles and gently caresses Xiu Ying's back of the head. Xiu Ying turns back, bows to Wu Zhang Wei and Huang Fei Hong then walks out of the courtyard, without turning back, heading to his room.

Feels like a gush of cold wind just passed when Xiu Ying walked past Wu Zhang Wei. Even Fei Hong noticed that his childhood friend was standing stiff.

'First time being rejected, huh?' Fei Hong smirks.

.....

Inside a room in the main palace

Huang Fei Hong tries so hard to control his laugh when he sees the majestic emperor's gloomy face after being ignored by a mere concubine.

"Ehemm... Hmm.. Your majesty, it seems like Concubine Li- I mean BEAUTIFUL Concubine Li is no longer interested in your majesty. I bet your majesty must feel delighted, am I right?" Fei Hong cupped his mouth, holding his laugh.

Wu Zhang Wei squints his eyes. "Wait... Are you sure that's Concubine Li?"

"Didn't you hear when he introduced himself before? He is Li Xiu Ying. And if he's not, for sure Prime Minister Li will know at a glance."

"But it doesn't make any sense! In just a few days, he's totally changed. It's like he became another person. And he even looks... different." Zhang Wei mumbles the last part.

"He's beautiful, right?" Fei Hong smirks.

"........"

"Just admit it that you think he is beautiful. Even more beautiful than other consorts. Seems like, what my men said is true."

"........"

Looking at his dazing friend, Fei Hong sighs. "I think maybe he changed due to the poisoning. Maybe he values his life more and he won't pester you anymore. In that way, other consorts will not harm him again."

Wu Zhang Wei abruptly turns his head towards Fei Hong. 'Yeah... Maybe that's right... But I thought he was so brave, after being threatened once, he already admitted defeat? Hmph!'

"Well, I think it is good news for you. You won't have to worry about him and he also won't disturb your life. That's what you want right?" Fei Hong stares at Wu Zhang Wei when he said this.

"Ye- yeah... I guess..so.. "

'Seems like someone is swayed after seeing the beautiful guy... ' Huang Fei Hong shakes his head and sighs.

......

Meanwhile, in a room at Zhongcui Palace

Li Xiu Ying sitting by the window, staring outside.

'That's the emperor huh? Well... I do admit he is handsome. To be honest, extremely good-looking. No wonder this body owner is madly in love with him. It is such a waste to have a handsome face but God forgot to include emotion and heart in him.'

"Young master? Are you alright?" Jing Yi's voice makes Xiu Ying flinches.

"Yes. Yes. I'm alright. Don't worry."

"Young master... Do you feel sad because... Your majesty didn't come and visit you? Even just now, he came with an excuse to meet the Master."

Xiu Ying's mouth opens to say something but the words are stuck inside. 'Why did he bring up that guy? And he thinks I'm sad just because he didn't visit me? I'd feel happier if he let me go.'

"No. I'm not sad because of him. I'm just thinking of going home. I want to visit my mom. It's been a while since I saw her."

Jing Yi's eyes gleamed. "Then let's go home! Tomorrow, let's ask permission from His Majesty to stay at Master's house for a few days. I'm sure His Majesty won't mind."

Xiu Ying nods. "Hmn. Tomorrow I'll meet His Majesty and ask permission from him."

......

A servant came inside the study room for the emperor, "Your Majesty, Concubine Li wished to meet you. He said he has something important to discuss."

Wu Zhang Wei's hand who is writing a manuscript turns stiff hearing the name mentioned.

"Hmn. Let him in."

Li Xiu Ying quickly bows, greeting the emperor as soon as he stepped into the room.

"Raise up. What do you want to discuss with Zhen?" Wu Zhang Wei puts down the brush, leans back and stares at the slender figure in front of him.

Without raising his head, Xiu Ying said, "Your Majesty, this concubine wants to ask permission from your majesty."

"What permission?"

"Your majesty, several days ago, Prime Minister Li informed that Chen's mother is sick. Please allow Chen to go back home and visit family members. It's been a while since this concubine met them. Hope your majesty can allow Chen to stay there for a week or two."

From the first step inside the room until now, Xiu Ying keeps on staring at the floor, with no eye contact with the emperor.

Meanwhile, Wu Zhang Wei never removes his eyes from staring at the young guy in front of him. In his view, Xiu Ying is too calm to be true. He looks like a renowned scholar that only lets out eloquent speech from his mouth.

Feeling the heated stare, Xiu Ying is getting anxious, playing with his fingers. 'He'll allow me right? He'll be happier if I'm away from this place....right?'

Minutes have passed, Wu Zhang Wei speaks up, "Fine. Zhen allows it." Xiu Ying releases a heave of sigh but the next words of the emperor shocked him.

"Do you need Zhen to go with you? The last time Zhen met Madam Feng was months ago, during New Year's banquet. So...."

"No, it's okay Your Majesty!" Xiu Ying slightly raises his voice.

Wu Zhang Wei fell speechless.

"It's- it's okay. Chen can go back alone. Chen will not disturb your majesty and take away your majesty's precious time. It's just a home visit. Not that important. Thank you for asking Your Majesty but Chen will be fine alone."

"......." Wu Zhang Wei's mouth is like a fish in the water, half-opened then half-closed. He didn't know what to say.

"That's all Chen would like to discuss. Chen won't take more of Your Majesty's times. Chen will take a leave." Xiu Ying bows then turn to leave the study room.

It takes a few minutes for Wu Zhang Wei to snap back to reality. A reality that a lowly concubine just rejected his offer to accompany him to his family's house.

"Ha. Ha...ha..." Wu Zhang Wei awkwardly laughs.

"He said....it's okay? Does he prefer to go back alone? Without me...? Ha!" Wu Zhang Wei mumbles to himself.

"Alright, Li Xiu Ying. Let's see...how long will you play this game and how long you can pretend to reject me like this. I bet less than a month you'll come and beg for my attention again."

Clueless that he just made a certain someone's mood turn dark, Xiu Ying walks back to his room happily.

"Jing Yi. His Majesty has granted his permission. Let's pack our stuff. We'll head out tomorrow, early in the morning."

"Alright, young master."