Yellow Rose: Jealousy UNEDITED.

A couple of knocks sounded the quiet room filled with papers shuffling. The king quickly woke up from his nap. He held his head and slowly sat up.

Since he's no stranger, Chen helped himself and open the door.

He bowed gracefully. "Your highness."

Though tired, the king quickly ushered him in. "Hurry! I'll raise your remuneration! My head is dying. "

He acts so spoiled with Chen around. Yifei thought and chuckled.

"Good Afternoon, your majesty" She paid her respects.

"Oh! Good, You're here as well! Come sit down! I haven't seen some comfortable faces for so long!" The king smiled radiantly.

"..."

After Chen made sure Yifei was comfortable, he finally paid attention to the king. "From what I observed, they aren't doing anything out of the ordinary, but I can tell they are taking small steps so we don't notice."

"You're getting straight into business, what about your wife? Wouldn't she be bored? Tell me about your travels?" The king smiled.

"She is fine. She can help brief this through as her findings were more fruitful than mine."

With Yifei's intelligence and is from a foreign place, it can provide some useful information. Chen had quickly got permission from the king for her to help.

By the Northwest border, there was nothing too special happening, but Chen stationed Alec to monitor just in case. People who travel up and down from the country's border are always thoroughly examined. When Yifei talked to the civilians in the area was a different story. It seems like there are different views about the capital and boycotts happening. Some even began to support the other country due to the complaints of serious hunger steadily increasing. These past couple of years, crops aren't doing too well in that area and the increase in the prices of food is getting people angry. Merchants from the Northwest are also stealing business from the locals.

As for other parts of the country, there isn't much besides taxation disagreements.

Overall, it's a bad situation that's slowly forming.

After listening to their summary, the king just closed his eyes and leaned back.

Seeing his condition, Chen just sipped his tea.

"I'll handle it, you don't have to worry." He firmly voiced after the dead silence.

"It'll be fine." Yifei tuned in. "Afterall, public opinion can be swayed. As for the hunger situation, we can find always find a way and test it out. For now, we need to find out what their next step is. If multiple problems keep happening all at once it won't be too good. It might be what they are after."

Chen looked at his wife with a proud face.

"You're right." the king chuckled. He hasn't heard such positivity in a while. "You chose the right one Chen!" He laughed again.

"You can rest for a few days. Your health is important. I'll take over."

"Are you shy?" the King teased.

Chen pulled Yifei up. "Let's hurry and have that lunch gathering so I can leave."

"What's the rush? Listening to those people talk about their assets is boring. Let's stay here a little longer! I wanna hear what you guys have been up to, enough to ignore me for a year!"

Looking at them more clearly, Chen had cut his hair. With this simple change, it brightened up his image, no longer a gloomy, intimidating man he was a year ago. As for Yifei, her side bangs grew out. Her dark hair that flashed a hint of blue flowed down past her shoulders, down to her waist like water. This simple detail completed her graceful image of a water Lily.

The king felt the air around his study was more relaxing and fresh. He was no longer stressed and heavy.

__________________

After a bit of chattering, a door opened quickly.

A woman shouted towards the room. "Chen!"

"You should be taking care of your health too!" Yifei lectured. "Working doesn't give you an excuse to neglect your health. Right? Your majesty?"

"He needs that information more than me." Chen protested.

"Ha..haaha..haha actually I think it's the perfect time for lunch right now." The king nervously interrupted.

Nobody heard her entrance. They were busy with their intense conversation.

The king quickly glanced to his right to avoid the couple's argument.

"Anemone." Surprised, He uttered as he looked at the figure by the door.

Everyone's attention finally shifted towards the door.

Chen and Yifei stood up and bowed. "Your highness."

The king coughed. "W-We were about to go to the gathering. Come let's go together!"

"What were you guys talking about? I wanted to talk to Chen! We can stall for a bit more time right?" Anne insisted.

"Actually, it was just government affairs. We should head out now." Chen held Yifei's waist.

Anne looked at Yifei. She actually stood at the door and peeked inside for a while now. It was difficult to have the knights let her through. How can they not let her be involved?

They have been just talking about Chen's traveling, not about any other important matters!

Yifei looked at Chen and then at Anne. "We can talk on our way there. You don't have to worry. It's just about our honeymoon and if Chen is trying hard enough on his husband duties. Nothing too serious to talk for long."

"..."

Everyone looked at Yifei, but she just gave a proud smile.

Chen lifted his hand and coughed lightly as he blushed crazily.

"This is a little personal, dear." He whispered.

"What? Isn't it natural between husband and wife? I believe a man's energy is not to be taken lightly, Right Anne?" Yifei confidently spoke.

"Let's hurry we can't let them wait for long!" The king nervously laughed as he held onto Anne's shoulders.

"Hmph!" Anne frowned and turned to walk out the door with him.

Yifei looked up at Chen, who was still blushing on the side. Feeling she had won something big, she smiled and lead him out of the office by the hand.

__________

In the dining hall, different conversations were held all at once; however, the king, Anne, Chen, and Yifei were silent.

This always gives the nobles a chance to see how the state of the country is going.

"Sir Chen. Forgive me for giving my congratulations on your marriage. It's been a while since you've been back in the capital. It was quite a long vacation you had." A man inquired. This man was in his mid-twenties. Despite looking lanky and short, he belongs to one of the four powerful families in the country.

"No need. It was just a small wedding for us to keep as a memory. We traveled to make up for it not being too grand." Chen looked up at the duke from his plate. "I didn't stay for too long in the South, maybe I should take a small trip down there sometime. I'm sure my wife would love the fabric there. Right, dear?"

"Hmm? Fabric? I don't remember anything clothing that caught my eye, but the food there was wonderful!" Yifei innocently smiled.

Chen chuckled. "Then we must go back for the food."

"Maybe you haven't ventured too deep in the South, my lady." The man's mouth twitched. "The South is a well-known fashion district. I'll quickly send some of our best to your home, you don't have to trouble your way there."

"I'm sure it's no big deal. After all, we love seeing new things. How about we visit your territory next week?"

"N-no no that's too soon sir! I need some more time to prepare, after all, you are an honorary guest!" The man panicked.

Chen didn't reply and smirked. "Dear, have some of this. It's delicious."

Chen was too lazy to care about this man and focused on Yifei. People who do shady deeds will eventually be found.