“I just told the truth. That is. All it is not a feeling; it is a fact.” She informs me.

  “I didn’t realize you lost so much during this time.” confused look comes across my face

  “Yes, I did. It will be ok. It is my burden to bury, and I already made peace with it,” she says, snarky.

  “I will make it up to you. After all, you are going to be my crown princess.” I remind her.

  She could do nothing but smile, which in return makes me rex, knowing she understands what is going on. As we finished eating, I summoned us to the emperor’s court.

  “Don’t worry, it’s just appointing you in front of the officials, which is all.” Reassuring her. Out

  Looking at her, I feel a rush coming over me. I get the woman that I want as my official wife. She will be the crown princess. Feeling an overwhelming wince of joy. We started heading for court.

  As they entered the court, some officials had somber expressions, while others were mad. Fens father was furious his daughter was being repced. We approached the emperor and bow. My father’s eunuch calls the court to attention so he could read the orders.

  Everyone kneeled as the orders were being read. I can see the look of worry come over her face. I want to reach out and reassure that she will be ok. Knowing I can’t do that because they frowned it upon in court.

  She accepted the orders; the formalities are over with we are walking out, and her dad is waiting on us. Seeing she is still looking upset, this should be the happiest day of her life. She was just promoted to be the official wife, being relieved that getting the right woman for the job, the one woman I love the most, is the principal wife.

  Full of concern in her eyes, I feel the strong desire to hug her, knowing I can’t. Her dad was waiting for us at the entryway of the pace. We approach her dad.

  Seeing the stress lift off his shoulders from the trial now, the drama has ended.

  “Congratutions.” My father-in-w says with a wince of joy.

  “Are you ok? Is everything ok at home?” Na asks with concern.

  “Everything is wonderful. I am sad about what you had to go through. I wish you didn’t have to go through all of that.” Her father says.

  “I am OK,” she says.

  “Your mom is coming in a few days.” He reminds her.

  “I must take my leave. I have things to do in my pace. Next time dad come for tea.” She tells him.

  As she got into her sedan, “I am sorry for failing you. I didn’t protect her well.” Feeling remorse.

  “You are the only one person you tried your best to protect her.” He reminds me.

  “I know, but I shouldn’t of been so damn busy I couldn’t take care of her.” I say with remorse.

  “We can only do so much to protect our women.” He reminds me.

  “I couldn’t be around because of the investigations. Someone is trying to overthrow my father.” Letting him know.

  “I had heard some rumors about that, not about you investigating it, but rumors someone is trying to build an army to go against him.” He says.

  “What have you heard?” I ask.

  Knowing he was not involved, I already looked to see if he was involved.

  “That certain people, this isn’t the pce to talk.” He reminds me.

  “Do you have time to come visit with me at my pace?” I ask.

  “Not today. I have things going on at my manor.” He says.

  We parted ways. I headed to my pace to finish up some work before I head to Na’s for dinner. This is a good start over for us, seeing that we fell apart.

  Walking down the lonely walkway of the paces, my mind was wondering how much death this pce has seen. This walkway has an eerie feeling to it. Enough to give anyone the chills as they walk through it. As a child, I hated coming through this area, seeing shadows sometimes.

  Walking through the tall blood red walls. Trying to stay distracted and not on my thoughts of what I saw as a small child. Taking a deep breath, I realized I was at my pace. Running into Shuming waiting for me with some news on the case.

  “I went to the lotus house and found out that most of the corruption is in Mingyueba. It is the prefect and his followers.” Shuming says.

  “We need to find a reason to go investigate there. Any other leads?” I ask.

  “No, this was the only leads that I got so far.” He says.

  “We better get ready. Na is preparing dinner for,” I remind him.

  We headed over to Na’s pace and I hate the feeling I get from passing by the crown princess’s old pace. I can’t help but be angry at all the things she did for my consorts. Not holding back any longer, grabbing her around her waist, I hear.

  “Please don’t touch me. My husband is very jealous.”

  “You do?” I couldn’t help but py along.

  “Yes, I do. He is a very jealous man.”

  I spin her around just to kiss her. “I could never tire of kissing you.”

  “Are you ready to eat?” leaving her stunned.

  “Yes, of course.”

  As we sat down to eat, I can’t help but to look at her.

  “I am gd you are my crown princess. The first time I saw your jade eyes, my heart skipped a beat. I knew I had to have you.” As I look into her eyes.

  “I felt the same way when I saw you in your purple robes. I didn’t think you felt that, when our eyes met, I was hoping you would pick me. Now I believe in love at first sight.” She replies.

  Not being able to keep my eyes off of her for the entire dinner. She has me mesmerized. I can’t believe how much I love her.

  “What do you want to do?” she asks.

  “It is up to you.”

  “I would like to read, if that is, ok?”

  “It is fine with me.”

  Going into the study, I was just gd that I got time with her tonight, thinking that she didn’t want to see me anymore. This helps my heart stay calm and peaceful. Sitting down on the pillows to read, she really has made this pce comfortable to stay at.

  “I want to try something new.” Being nervous about asking

  “What is it you want to try?”

  “I want to read a book for you, if you don’t mind.”

  Looking for a book for us to read, wow she has a lot of books to choose from. I found a book to settle ongoing to her pile of pillows. She id in my arms, feeling that she is safe in my arms. Watching her eyes drifting off to sleep, you can tell she let all her worries fall. The more I read, the more she drifts.

  She opens her eyes slightly. “Fall asleep if you want to.” Informing her.

  “I don’t want to because that is one less minute without you.”

  “I am not going anywhere at all, so don’t worry.”

  She drifts completely asleep in my arms. The best feeling on this earth. How I missed falling asleep next to her. As the sun comes through the window of the study. Listening to the hustle and bustle of her pace, looking at her eyes as she slowly opens them.

  “You need to get ready to go. We have to go inspect the army today. The day after you mom leaves, we must go inspect the northern army. The nearest camp that we are going to is two hours away.”

  “That is fine. Can I please ride my horse?” With excitement in her eyes.

  I overhear her say to Cao, “Get my riding clothes ready.”

  As I was making way to her pace to get dressed, I can see the smiles across both of their faces. Sneaking out to meet Shuming to gather the horses. We headed to the stables.

  “Did things work out between you two st night?” Shuming Inquisition.

  “Yes, we just slept nothing more than that.” Letting him know.

  “We need to head to the camp to inspect, plus there might be some news on our case.” I say.

  “Something will come to a head.” He says

  reaching the stables, we told the staff to saddle up two horses, Shuming looking confused.

  “Don’t you want to ride with Cao?” I ask

  “Yes, but I didn’t think it would be appropriate.” He says.

  “You have my permission to do so.” I say

  The horses, when ready, we mounted them and headed back to the pace. We arrive and all that time we were away getting ready to take them out. They were not even ready yet. We waited five minutes before they showed up. They looked so confused on why the two horses.

  “What? No horses for us,” Na says, surprised.

  Starting our journey to the camp. She sure has a complete smile on her face. She’s in a rexed state of mind.

  “Cao and Na, can you please stay put?” I ask.