Xiao Hui Jin

"Your Highness, My Lady, this way!" Fu Cheng guided the Prince and Yi Guan at the back of the mansion.

"What is happening?" Yi Guan's heart beats fast then she added, "Where's Yin Tian?"

Yin Tian was running away with the other maids when the assassins attacked.

"Guan'er, please stay here." The Prince said.

Yi Guan was back off when he called her 'Guan'er'.

"You...what did you just call me?"

The Prince didn't respond instead face Fu Cheng.

"Fu Cheng, take her in safe place. I'll take care of these." Yi Guan protested when the Prince said that.

"No! I have to get Yin Tian!" Yi Guan supposed to run back to the yard but the Prince quickly held her left arm.

"Guan'er, It's dangerous out there. I'll go get Yin Tian. For now, you need to go to safer place." Their eyes interlock for the second time already. The Prince meant what he just said.

Yi Guan was speechless on the Prince's words and the only word that came out from her mouth is,

"Alright."

Fu Cheng handed a sword to the Prince.

"My Lady, this way." Fu Cheng said.

The Prince is still holding Yi Guan's arms and Yi Guan couldn't take her eyes off the Prince yet.

Fu Cheng looked at the Prince and then he nodded. The Prince loosen his grip on Yi Guan's arm and was ready to go back to the yard but before he could take a step, Yi Guan hold his wrist. The Prince was startled a bit by her action.

"Be careful." Yi Guan said.

The Prince then responded, "I will." Then he run back to the yard.

Fu Cheng sent Yi Guan near the mountain. But few assassins were still able to follow them.

"My Lady, stay behind me." Fu Cheng ordered and Yi Guan followed him.

"Okay. Just be careful, Fu Cheng." Yi Guan is worried on Fu Cheng since he's alone fighting those assassins. And then she thought of the Prince.

'Will he be fine?'. Yi Guan wanted to do something to help them but she don't know what to do.

Fu Cheng is still fighting the assassins and then he shouted, "My Lady, run!"

After hearing that, Yi Guan ran as fast as she can. She just ran but then she have reach a dead end, which is a cliff.

'A cliff. What do I do?' Yi Guan said on her thoughts.

"There she is!" Two assassins run towards her.

Yi Guan was frightened as she took a step backwards. One more step, and she'll fall.

"Kyyaaaaaaa!" The assassins almost reach her.

'Maybe this will be the end of my life.' Yi Guan then closes her eyes. She is ready to die.

A loud falling thud was heard after she closes her eyes.

'Huh? Why am I not hit?' She opens her eyes slowly to see the Prince in front of her who just killed the two assassins.

"Your Highness!" She is saved by the Prince again.

The Prince help her away from the cliff.

"Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine." Yi Guan notice the Prince's left arm bleeding.

"You're hurt!"

"It's nothing." The Prince held her hand and then said, "Everything's alright. Let's go home."

"My Lady!" Yin Tian shouted from afar with Fu Cheng running together towards them.

"Your Highness!" Fu Cheng called his master too.

"My Lady, are you okay? Are you hurt?!" For a day of being assassinated two times, Yin Tian is really worried for her lady.

"I'm fine, Yin Tian." Yi Guan hugged her to calm her down.

"It's good that you're fine, My Lady." Yin Tian was crying as Yi Guan hugged her tight.

"Fu Cheng, report to the Emperor that we have find out who's the mastermind behind this assassination." The Prince said and not even minding his arm bleeding.

"Your Highness, you know who is behind this?" Fu Cheng had no idea where the assassin's came from.

"Liang state." The Prince's state had a war with Liang state three years ago. Many lives were taken during the war. It even ended up flooding with blood. And of course, the victory goes to the Prince.

Fu Cheng was quite surprised hearing after hearing that.

"Liang state? Could it be they tried to assassinate you for their revenge?"

"You're right. I have been following them investigating this this past few days and I found out that they wanted to kill me for revenge on what happen to their state." The Prince then look at Yi Guan.

"So this explains why the Royal Guards are here." Yi Guan was even more surprised. 'So the Prince planned this wedding to be held today for this? Now I understand.' Yi Guan is very wit to analyzed what's going on.

"Yes, I also purposely leaked the information for them to find out that we are getting married to lure them here and in order to catch them." The Prince had his own way on fighting against the enemy.

"How did you know they are Royal Guards?" Fu Cheng ask.

"While I was walking in the aisle, I took a quick glance on them and I saw a Royal Guard Badge hanging on their belts." Yi Guan explains how she knew they weren't just normal guards.

"Alright. Since this case is being handled already, let's get back to the mansion." The Prince took the chance to go back.

While walking, the Prince is in the front and Yi Guan by his side. Fu Cheng and Yin Tian stayed behind them. Yi Guan then spoke, "Your Highness, you saved me twice. Thank you."

The Prince stop from walking and face Yi Guan.

But before he spoke, he gave a sign to Fu Cheng that he wanted to talk to her privately. Fu Cheng understand and grab Yin Tian to walk away so that they could give the two some space.

"Guan'er, I'm sorry for putting you in danger. I am not just a Prince. I also have a duty of being the General of the Royal Guards. If you find me dangerous, I can grant your wish to stay away from me." The Prince is been rumored to be ruthless, yet his real personality is different.

"You called me 'Guan'er'. I never thought that the ruthless Prince they have talking about is completely the opposite. Your Highness, our marriage is granted by the Emperor. We can't disagree the edict. And also, I am doing this for my mother." Yi Guan is also guilty when she remembered she is not the second lady of their family. So she added,

"I also wanted to tell you that I am not the second lady of Xu. I am only the third lady. My sister didn't want to marry you because of the rumors about you, so she pass the marriage to me. I don't want my mother belittled by my second mother and her daughters, that's why I accepted it." Yi Guan knew that she will be punished by accepting the edict even if the marriage wasn't for her.

"I know." The only word the Prince said.

"You...what do you mean you knew?" Yi Guan is really confused of the Prince's response.

"I know you are not the second lady. And I know that you accept the marriage to protect your mother."

Yi Guan doesn't know what to say. She is speechless.

"The hairpin you're wearing, is the reason why I knew you are not the second lady." The Prince remove the hairpin from Yi Guan's head.

"This hairpin belongs to the late Empress Dowager two decades ago and was passed to her daughter who was the last Empress 10 years ago. Then this hairpin was passed to your father who gave a great contribution to the country. This symbolizes that you are the third lady who is going to inherit this hairpin. And you are also the third lady of the Xu family, that's why your father gave it to you." The Prince have his way on finding the identity of a person.

"My father gave it to me yet I thought this is just the same as the normal hairpins." Yi Guan was feeling more guilty that she didn't even knew the value of the hairpin.

"Guan'er, I need to ask you a question." The Prince ask in serious tone.

"Go ahead." Yi Guan feel nervous without a reason.

"Do you still want to become my lady?"

Yi Guan honestly wanted to for her mother. But there is this feeling the she feels right now. A strange feeling which she knew the Prince is related to. So she answer,

"I do, Your Highness." Yi Guan look in the eyes of the Prince. She is still wondering what the Prince look like.

The Prince grinned and said, "Alright, My Lady." And then he reach his hand to the back of his head and remove his mask.

"Also, you don't have to call me 'Your Highness'. Call me by my name." This is the first time Yi Guan saw the face of the 2nd Prince.

Being rumored that the Prince has a big mark on his face is totally a big lie. The Prince has the fairest face among the nobles that Yi Guan has met. It's like he didn't went to a war for he looks gentle. Some may think he is a girl because of his pale skin, shining brown eyes, pointed nose and light reddish lips. Yi Guan couldn't find any words to say.

"What? Is there something wrong with my face?" The Prince ask Yi Guan still grinning.

'Who would have thought the 2nd Prince is a beautiful man.' Yi Guan realize that the Prince is asking her.

"No...nothing...uhm...". Yi Guan avoided her eyes on the Prince.

"Guan'er, call me by my name."

"I....I still don't know your name, Your Highness." She lowered her head in embarrassment.

'How can I not know my husband's name? What a shame on you Yi Guan!'. Yi Guan thought.

He chuckled a bit.

"I....". Before he continue his sentence, he put his finger on Yi Guan's chin and lift her face.

"...am Xiao Hui Jin."