Chapter 11

"We can have lunch here," Zheng Wei Jian suggested as he watched Li Xiu Ying reading. Li Xiu Ying looked up with a large grin when she heard food mentioned, she nodded her head in agreement. Her large adorable grin made Zheng Wei Jian smile in return. He called in a servant to tell the kitchen to make a meal for two and to bring candied fruit.

Hearing candied fruit Li Xiu Ying's eyes had stars in her eyes as she excitedly stared at Zhen Wei Jian. When he saw her starlit eyes he knew he made the right choice. "Yes we have candied fruit," he said with a husky laugh making her turn scarlet. She turned her head back to the book trying to hide her face making him laugh louder. Big Two heard this and was stunned, his Master had never laughed at anything after he took the throne.

Li Xiu Ying looked back up at the laughing Zheng Wei Jian and smiled thinking, "This might not be so bad." She stood up and looked down at him, "May you take me on a walk before the food arrives?" He was shocked, she wanted to go on a walk with him?

Zheng Wei Jian stood up and naturally held out his hand and said, "This way." She placed her hand in his and followed him to the pond. He walked to the edge of the pond holding her hand scaring Big Two even more. When has his Master touched anyone besides his mother?

"Do you have Koi fish in your pond," she asked curiously.

He looked down at the girl beside him feeling a sense of pride that she was still holding his hand, "Yes there is fish in this pond. If you want, the servants can build you a pond like this nest to your courtyard." She looked back up to him not expecting that he would have someone build something because she asked about it.

"I think I would rather come here to gaze at the fish," she said after looking longingly at the pond. He saw the longing in her eyes and thought for a moment.

"There are extra rooms in my courtyard, if you want to move closer to the fish pond," he suggested. He watched as her eyes got passionate about the pond again. Her bright gaze made him think that he did something right again.

She looked between the pond and Zheng Wei Jian silently as she thought, "The benefit is: fish pond, food, we can fall in love, and of course, food." Li Xiu Ying kept repeating this to herself until she opened her mouth to reply, "I would love that." She stared into his eyes waiting for him to say something about how fast she replied.

Zheng Wei Jian pulled her into a walk back to his study, "The food should have arrived about now." She followed him hand in hand, smiling. "After lunch," he continued, "I can show you where you would be staying, but then I will need to leave you and go to afternoon court."

Li Xiu Ying smiled all the way back to his study thinking about food that she would eat. When they got back to his study, she saw the entire table filled with delicious food. There was roasted duck, rice, spare ribs, dumplings, and of course candied fruit. Her face showed her desire to eat, so he walked her over to the table and took the initiative to make her bowl.

Forgetting he was the Emperor she said with complete joy and enjoyment, "Jian, look at all this meat and dumplings! Oh, I am in the land of meat!" Zheng Wei Jian's face contained intimacy that was never seen with another person. He continued to fill her bowl as they ate.

After they finished their food, Li Xiu Ying picked up the bowl of candied fruit and naturally reached her hand out to grab Zheng Xiu Jian's hand. He grabbed both her hand and the bowl of candied fruit to make it easier for her to eat. As they walked hand in hand she would reach over and grab some candied fruit and plop it into her and Zheng Wei Jian's mouths. He naturally didn't refuse the fruit.

He walked her to the room closest to his and pointed, "This will be your room, and your Contractual Spirits will be taking the three rooms to your left." Zheng Wei Jian led her into her room, "My room will be beside yours, if you don't mind." They walked around the room and then back out, he then led her to his room. "This is where I stay, if you need anything from here all you have to do is take it." He made sure to show his room to her pointing items that she might need for the investigation, "And here is the map that we have made of ours and neighboring kingdoms. I saw leave you and go to afternoon court."

She let go of his hand and ran it over the map, "I shall return to my courtyard and get my things and move them. Thank you for letting me stay here." She then grabbed the bowl of remaining candied fruits and walked away.

Zheng Wei Jian smiled and whispered, "I wonder how we will get along, while she lives here."