No one should dare to bully you

The ride on the way to the palace is peaceful.

Yi Guan fell asleep after thirty minutes of ride. It will actually take an hour to go to the palace and Yi Guan keeps yawning so she decided to take a nap.

Hui Jin on the other hand, sitting beside Yi Guan, is fully awake and being alert in case if something would happen.

As Yi Guan is sleeping, her head keeps falling down so Hui Jin rest her head on his shoulder.

After another thirty minutes, they have arrived at the palace.

"My Lady, we're here." Hui Jin wakes her up as Yi Guan rob her eyes. She's really sleepy and besides, it's already late.

Yi Guan notice she was actually leaning on his shoulder so she quickly sits up straight.

"I'm sorry I fell asleep." Yi Guan apologize and she's blushing.

'My head is heavy. His shoulder might be hurt.' Yi Guan looked at Hui Jin and then to his shoulder.

Hui Jin finds her cute and he replied,

"It's okay. Your head is not heavy."

She quickly looked away and said to herself, 'Of course you know what I was thinking.'

They get off the carriage and enter the Imperial Court.

The Emperor was patiently waiting for them so once they've entered the palace, the Emperor was feeling excited to see his son and his daughter-in-law.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Hui Jin and Yi Guan bowed as they greet the Emperor.

"Aya, please rise!" The Emperor made them rise while there's a glimpse of smile on his face.

"Father, may I ask why do you want to see me and my wife?" Hui Jin speak.

"Son, Fu Cheng have already reported to me everything. Of course I wanted to give you a reward on accomplishing your duty. Not just you, but also to your wife."

Yi Guan was confused. She had not done anything to help Hui Jin on his mission, so she said,

"Your Majesty, I, Xiao Yi Guan, hasn't done anything to help my husband on his duty. He deserve all of the credits."

"Eh? Who says you didn't help him? What about the marriage being bait?"

'What? So the Emperor knew about the bait too?' Yi Guan was quite confused so she turned to Hui Jin a little bit.

'He's hiding something from me.' She thought.

Hui Jin knows that Yi Guan is confused. So he speak,

"Father, my wife didn't know about my plan. It was my mistake. I even put her in danger twice." Hui Jin took the risk to say that to his father. He know he will be punish on hiding something from his wife and even put her in danger.

"What? Son, it's not right to hide something to your wife. Look what I've done to your mother. I am always telling her the truth that's why she trust me." The Emperor is not please what his son have done.

'So this is the true personality of the Emperor. He acted fierce from the surface, but has an attitude of a good father to his son inside him that someone barely knows.' Yi Guan felt ease but there is still a glimpse of guilt building up inside her. That is, the truth behind her true identity that only Hui Jin knew.

Hui Jin knew his father enough that he would even keep up the conversation.

"That is because mother spoiled you. Right, father?" Hui Jin couldn't help but chuckled a bit by his words.

"You brat! Of course your mother loves me that's why I'm spoiled." Luckily all the guards stayed outside. Or else they'll hear their Emperor is childish in front of his son.

Yi Guan couldn't help but laugh on the Emperor's childish behavior.

'All the rumors about the Imperial family are totally lies.' Yi Guan thinks she's lucky to meet such a kind family.

'I wonder if the rest of the Princes have the same attitude as their father.' Yi Guan chuckled imagining how lovely the Imperial family would be if they are together.

A moment of silence has been made. After several thoughts, Yi Guan decided to speak the truth.

"Your Majesty, I have something to confess."

"Alright, what is it about?" The Emperor came back to his senses.

Hui Jin look at Yi Guan in her eyes saying, 'Don't be scared, I'm here.'

Yi Guan took a deep breath before she continue.

"Your Majesty, for what I am going to say right now, has nothing to do with the Prince."

The Emperor is curious so he said, "What is it?"

"I am not the second lady of Duke Xu." Yi Guan kneeled down as she lowered her head.

The Emperor was surprise on Yi Guan's confession.

"I accepted this marriage because my sister refuses to marry the 2nd Prince. The other reason is that, I wanted to protect my mother from my 2nd mother."

Hui Jin remained silent. He should be protection this woman but instead, he submitted her to the Emperor.

The Emperor felt anger hearing Yi Guan's confession.

"How dare the second lady refuses the order from the Emperor?!"

Yi Guan and Hui Jin felt in silence.

"From now on, you will be the First Lady of the 2nd Prince!" The Emperor stands up from his seat and drag his feet towards Yi Guan.

Hui Jin was confuse on his father's anger.

The Emperor reached where Yi Guan was kneeling and help her stand up.

"Guan'er, my daughter-in-law." Yi Guan was startled by his action and was even more confuse when he called her 'daughter-in-law'.

Hui Jin now understand his father's intention. He don't intend to scare Yi Guan but instead, accepted her as his daughter-in-law. This is what Hui Jin talks about that his father is a wise Emperor that no one would ever compare. A very considerate Emperor of Nanjing.

"Your Majesty, what do you mean?" Yi Guan is still confuse after hearing the Emperor's words.

"Silly kid. From now on, call me 'father'." The Emperor hold both of her hands and smiled at her.

Yi Guan's eyes become teary but she was holding it back. She thought she's going to be beheaded because of her identity.

But never did they both knew, the Emperor have investigated Yi Guan's identity secretly. He knew the reason behind her accepting the marriage. And he knew he made the right decision to make the second lady refused the marriage and let Yi Guan do it instead. Because the Emperor saw it in his own eyes. That Yi Guan is not the same as the other ladies among the royal families. That Yi Guan has a rare potential to be part of the Imperial family. The moment the Emperor lay his eyes on Yi Guan, he saw the bright future of her being the First Lady of his good son which is, the 2nd Prince.

From his position of being the Emperor of Nanjing, he chose a wise decision in every aspect on his life.

"So you've investigated her before you've granted my marriage?" Hui Jin was surprised by his father's cleverness.

"You're right. And I didn't make a mistake on my decision." Yi Guan felt her heart being warmed by the Emperor.

"I may look fierce in your eyes, but I care for both the future of my children and my country." The Emperor then went back to his throne.

Yi Guan couldn't speak. She had underestimated the Emperor. Even Hui Jin is pleased on his father's ability. But nevertheless, both Hui Jin and Yi Guan are happy.

"I am not here sitting on the throne for nothing. Remember that always." The Emperor, for the mean time, felt warm by just looking at his daughter-in-law.

"Thank you, father." Hui Jin bowed down. He never felt this happy in spite of being a Prince.

"Your Majesty, thank you for accepting me as your daughter-in-law." Yi Guan also bowed down and thank the Emperor. She felt relieve on her heart even if this was her first meeting with the Emperor.

"Guan'er, I told you to call me 'father'."

Yi Guan hesitated a bit but then she response,

"Yes, father."

The Emperor felt happiness after hearing those words.

"Since it's late for you to go back to your mansion, I prepared a room for you two to spend your night here for the mean time. You can go now and take a good rest."

Hui Jin and Yi Guan bid their farewell to the Emperor as some guards escorted them on the way to their room.

Some maids arranged some clothes for them as the Emperor ordered.

Yi Guan changed into her night dress first and eventually went to bed. She didn't wait for Hui Jin for he was still changing.

After changing his clothes, he went towards the sleeping Yi Guan.

He examine her beautiful face before he closes his eyes.

But he opened it after several seconds and then he said to his self, 'I'm lucky I married you within this lifetime. From now on, no one would dare to bully you. Or else, I'll cut their throat for hurting you.'

He then closes his eyes and went to sleep.