Helplessness

      It felt like an ice cold water was poured into my whole. I could see shock in Xian's face while worry was etched on the Empress's facial features. Me on the other hand was panicking, even if it wasn't so obvious my insides are quivering with fear for my beloved sister, even after what she did but after knowing the Empress Dowager, there was danger.

"I need to go back home!" I announced hurriedly, coming towards the closet to grab some proper clothes. My hand was shaking the whole time, so many negative scenarios were playing inside my head and God's above, please keep Xie Xie safe.

Xian grabbed my arms and stopped me from literally rummaging all the decently folded clothes out of Anxiety.

"Don't! You can't go back home right now" he demanded, holding my arm even tighter.

I glares heatedly at him, forcefully trying to remove my hand from his grasps yet that made him hold onto me even tighter that I was starting to feel some pain.

"Xie Xie is in danger!" I argued still trying my hardest best to get my arm from him.

Out of our argument the Empress suddenly cleared her throat and caught are attention.

"Mother isn't the type of person to hurt anyone physically" she stated and I scoffed.

"Yeah right that's why she sent someone to do the job the dirty job for her"

"No you don't understand" she pressed and I stopped trashing around to look at her.

The Empress sighed and look at close her eyes, she was trying to remember something from the looks of it.

"She won't hurt my Mai, a single hair won't be touched against her but she'll grab some proof"

"Proof?" Me and Xian asked. Looks like he doesn't know too.

"Mother will try to ruin your family's image from the public, nothing brings her more pleasure than seeing her enemies fall apart when they have nothing anymore" she explained carefully. I understand what she meant but I was still worried so bad for Mai.

"What should I do?" I asked, looking at the Empress expectantly.

A grim look passed her face as she inhaled. "Sadly there's nothing we can do other than pretend that mother is wrong"

"How would that help me and my sister!?" I demanded and trashed around once more but Xian held me in place.

"It's gonna have an opposite effect" the Empress tried to explain.

"If the public knows that Mother is just spouting some rubbish the public won't believe her and thus cause shame to her" she added.

I think thoughtfully about what she said. She wasn't wrong but something made him frown.

"You're families image would be tainted" I whispered but not quiet enough for them not to hear. The Empress scoffed and a smile appeared on her face.

"The public knows how much of a power hungry person the Empress Dowager is, if this happened she'll be strip off of her position by all of the higher ups and thus leaving me and Xian the only one's to rule and have full control over the palace for the next decades till we have children that would rule in the future"

For some reason, hearing those didn't make me feel any better. Well, just slightly but my worry was still there nonetheless.

Xian and Lady Khang ruling? Would there be peace and equality? I though sadly yet deep down there was some hope into me after knowing that somehow Xian changed and the Empress isn't a bad person.

"I know how you're feeling right now" The Empress's hand came to pat my shoulder, a gentle look of reassurance in her face.

"I'm scared for my sister" I admitted honestly.

"You're so caring that you could go this far just to protect her even when it was a lie" Xian suddenly spoked, his eyes staring coldly at the Empress's hand.

"What she did isn't gonna cause me any trouble" I pointed.

"This is gonna cause you trouble" Xian pointed at me.

"I'll do everything I can to hide my true identity to the public and what I had done" I spoked firmly. Xian looked at me deep in the eyes before nodding, like he believed in me.

That made me feel nice.

The Empress looked at us back and forth before shaking her head. "For now let's make a plan"

"What kind of plan?" Xian questioned.

"You two will not leave each other's side while I sneak some info from Mother" she suggested.

Me and Xian turned to look at each other in confusion before our eyes went back to her.

"How would that help this so called plan of yours" Xian stated more than asked. The impress smiled and pointed at me.

"Everyone knows how you favored the Noble Consort than the others, in their mind the two of you have something going on" She explained briefly.

I don't know if I'm dumb but I did not get what that means and from the priceless look on Xian's face, he didn't either.

"Come on now, don't look so confused you two, what I'm trying to say is, if the word goes out that you're a man disguised as Noble Consort Li, they won't believe with how often the Emperor is with you" she explained once more.

"I honestly still don't get it" I groaned, clutching my head thinking that I'm an idiot.

"Oh you two are gonna give me a headache" The Empress sighed, massaging the bridge of her nose.

"I'm not saying anything!" Xian argued, stomping his foot childishly.

"My senses are telling me you're putting up a fuss in your head"

"You're being weird again!"

I watched the two of them argue in the corner. It was so childish knowing both of their status but this scene just made me think that no matter what status they are, they're still human. They can be childish, they can laugh and have fun, they can do what they want and what their status is won't stop that unless they're facing a huge crowd.

"Anyways Jin, you and Xian should atleast try to be with each other when you can as much as possible. From time to time I will come back here with information I would get, hopefully that I would and we could execute a plan that would change this events" With those words the Empress left me and Xian standing there. We both stared at each other before I cleared I throat.

"I'm guessing you'll sleep here"

Xian nodded.

"In my room.."

He nodded once again.

"Beside me..."

He nodded once more.

"Why..." I whined in distress.

Xian gave me a deadpan look and I pouted.

"I know this is the only room, there's only one bed and it's what we plan" I grumbled.

"Then you have to just endure being with me who's your–" he paused and smirked at me. "So called rival".

I rolled my eyes into him and plopped down in the soft mattress.

"Just don't get into my side of the bed" I groaned, my voice muffled by the pillows. I heard Xian agree but somehow I feel a bit nervous about this.