You should know your own status!

"There's another reason why I'm still wearing this mask."

Hui Jin stands up from the bed and walk over in his study table to get something.

Yi Guan walk towards Hui Jin.

"What is that?"

Hui Jin was holding a piece of paper.

"A letter was given to me after that war." Yi Guan stands beside him so that she can read what's written on the letter.

"My master did not actually died in saving his men. It was the opposite. His men risks their selves to rescue master. But their sacrifice were in vain. He was tortured badly when the enemy caught him. Master surrendered his army to Chongqing state to protect Nanjing and his people but not long after his army entered Chongqing, they were assassinated secretly."

"This letter was written by one of the survivors of the assassination." Hui Jin looks at Yi Guan seeing she was crying after hearing his past.

"And that survivor was his son. Zhen Ming is 3 years older that me and he was already sent to the army. He was devastated on his father's death that is why I made him as the current War General. We wanted justice for our people specially my master." Yi Guan hold the mask from Hui Jin's hand.

"You wanted to avenge your master's death." Hui Jin put down the letter on the table and turn to Yi Guan.

"You're right. But eight years have already past, we still had no clue on the origin of the assassins."

Yi Guan saw this side of him for the first time. Her heart was melted when she saw him crying.

"Then...are you still investigating this case until now?"

"My father stop me from investigating after three years have past from that war, but I don't want to. Zhen Ming and I were secretly investigating this case." Hui Jin looked at Yi Guan seriously.

"And now that I've told you our secret, I hope you could keep this secret for me."

Yi Guan looked at Hui Jin with reassuring eyes.

"Don't worry. I will keep this secret until you'll find the one who assassinated your master."

Hui Jin let out a smile from his face and said,

"Thank you."

They stare for several seconds as someone calls them from outside.

"Your Highness! My Lady! The meal is already ready."

Yi Guan and Hui Jin went out for meal.

.....

One month have past since they went to the Imperial court.

Hui Jin is back on track with his palace duties and even went to borders when some problem occurs.

Yi Guan were doing some household chores too and when she's bored, she would take for a walk together with Yin Tian. She would also look around on their mansion and also made some few arrangements of the interior designs to make it not boring.

While she was looking around, she have found something that made her keep away from boredom.

Painting.

She discovered some old paintings in an old chamber located in their home and since the paintings are already worn out, she decided to draw them in a new and clean canvas.

Hui Jin was observing her doing some painting and even bought her new brushes and more canvas so that she could paint as many as she wants.

Yi Guan finished over ten paintings in one week. She asked Hui Jin if she could sell them to make some small income by herself. He agreed anyway and ordered Fu Cheng to get someone who can sell her paintings on the city.

"My Lady, do you want to open your own gallery?" Hui Jin asked her while they were eating.

Yi Guan really wanted to open a gallery, but she's shy to ask Hui Jin for support.

"Can I?" She said in a lower tone.

Hui Jin smiled and called Fu Cheng.

"Your Highness, what can I do for you?"

"Find a place in the city for your Lady's gallery." Yi Guan was shocked on Hui Jin's words.

"I..." She couldn't find the words form her mouth.

Without any hesitation, Fu Cheng followed his master's order.

"Yes, Your Highness." He then went out to find some available places for Yi Guan.

"Thank you."

Hui Jin is happy to be with her. They weren't together for so long yet he could feel how sincere Yi Guan is to him. She made him feel that she needs to be protected no matter what.

"If there is anything you wanted to do, your husband is always here for you to give support."

Yi Guan is more thankful ever since she met him. She feels being secured when he is around. This is the first time she could feel warmth from a man she just met weeks ago.

After they finish their meal, Hui Jin spoke.

"It's been a month since you've been away from home. Do you want to visit your parents?"

Yi Guan was glad hearing those words. Of course she wanted to see her mother.

"Of course!"

Hui Jin smiled and held her hand.

"Then, we can visit them now."

"Really? Then, I'm going to change!"

She got excited so she went directly to their room to change her clothes.

Hui Jin just shake his head on her childish attitude.

In one month, Yi Guan is showing her true self. She is really kind, talented, and a caring person. She have gotten clever since she met Hui Jin.

Yi Guan finished dressing up after ten minutes.

When she reach the yard, she saw some big boxes carrying through the carriage.

"What are this boxes for?" She ask.

"I bought some gifts to your family since this will be your first time you got to go home after your wedding." Hui Jin actually prepared this two days ago. He wanted to give Yi Guan a surprise in visiting her parents.

"Why didn't you tell me? I should have been with you to but some gifts." Yi Guan was shy on Hui Jin's behavior.

"I wanted to give you a surprise, My Lady." Hui Jin smile at her that made her melt inside.

"Your Highness, My Lady, the carriage is ready." Fu Cheng said and lead them to the gate.

Hui Jin is riding his horse while Yi Guan and Yin Tian is inside the carriage.

The ride on the way to Xu residents will only take thirty minutes.

When they were almost there, someone reported to the Prince.

"Your Highness!" The carriage stop as the soldier kneel in front Hui Jin.

"Speak." Hui Jin replied.

"Your Highness, there's some soldiers in the City Wall that needs your help. I hope you could give us some of your time."

Hui Jin look back to the carriage as Yi Guan opened the window and said,

"Your Highness, I will see you there. They need you first."

Hui Jin don't want to let Yi Guan go home alone. But his people need him too.

"Alright, wait for me in your home." Hui Jin smiled behind his mask. Yes, he's still wearing his mask.

Yi Guan nodded her head as her response.

"Fu Cheng, stay here." Hui Jin ordered and then went away by his horse.

"Yes!" Fu Cheng lead them to the Xu residents.

When they arrived at Yi Guan's home, all the guards and maids kneeled down. Yi Guan get off the carriage as the people greeted her.

"Greetings, Lady Xiao!"

Master Xu, Madam Xu, 2nd mother with her daughters, and her mother are waiting in the front gate for their arrival. But not did they expect, only Yi Guan is present.

"Where's 2nd Prince?" Xu Zi ask without any respect as she looked around but never saw anybody except Yin Tian and Fu Cheng.

Fu Cheng's eyes widen due to her words. But Yi Guan stop her.

"Zi'er, what are you saying? Kneel!" Her father kneeled down and pulled Xu Zi.

Yi Guan couldn't stand them seeing so formal to her so she let them rise.

"Alright, that's enough. Father, please rise." She help her father rise and then she speak.

"The 2nd Prince have something urgent to do on our way here. So I ask him to be here after his business."

Her mother walk towards her as she hugged Yi Guan tight.

"Guan'er, mother missed you so much."

Yi Guan felt home from her mother's warmth.

"I missed you too, mother."

"Tsk, are you just saying the Prince have something urgent? Or maybe he doesn't want to go home with you." Xu Zi speak out from nowhere.

"Xu Zi!" Madam Xu was anger by her behavior. "How dare you speak like that to the 2nd Prince wife?!"

Even Fu Cheng couldn't help but speak up.

"How bold you are!" Xu Zi was backed off from Fu Cheng's words.

Yi Guan gestured her hand to let Fu Cheng step aside. Fu Cheng just followed her order.

"Sister Zi, how can I not tell you the truth on the Prince's business? And if his really in his business, what are you going to do?"

"You!" Xu Zi was speechless because of Yi Guan. She then let out a big sigh and even continue to speak.

"Yi Guan, you have gotten bold too when you got to marry the Prince." Everyone was startled by Xu Zi's words. Even the guards and maids felt anger when someone offended their Lady.

Fu Cheng was about to speak up but a loud running footsteps of horse came towards them.

"How dare you called Lady Xiao by her name!" Someone shouted from afar.

All of them gasped when they saw who just came. Xu Zi recognized the mask Hui Jin was wearing so she eventually kneeled down while her eyes were shaking.

Yi Guan turned around to see Hui Jin in his horse. Hui Jin get down from his horse and walk towards where Yi Guan was standing.

They all kneeled down and greeted him.

"Greetings, 2nd Prince. Your Highness."

"Say that again or this will be the last day you'll see the sunshine!" Hui Jin said with a serious tone. He's angered because of Xu Zi's disrespectful attitude towards his wife.

"Your Highness! Please forgive me on behalf of my daughter. She was just calling her by her name because they are sisters." 2nd mother spoke but couldn't look in the eyes of the Prince. Yi Guan rolled her eyes when she heard the word 'sisters'.

'She doesn't even treat me as a sister.' Yi Guan said to herself.

"Even when they are sisters, Yi Guan is married to me so she is now Lady Xiao." Hui Jin took a glance at Yi Guan and then continue speaking.

"Also, you are nothing but also a daughter of a concubine. You should know your own status!"

Xu Zi was hit by the word status. She was trembling and sweating at the same time. She knows how ruthless this Prince is yet she had the courage to speak nonsense to Yi Guan.