Qing-qing

Meanwhile Qing Yang was embarrassed to have worried the emperor, she wanted to say that she was okay, but she didn't, because she didn't know how far the rainstorm had gone. If the rainstorm was poured very heavy and accompanied by thunder and thunder with a deafening roar then she would surely die of frighten.

Usually if this happened at Xiao Hai's house, she would immediately run to Fen Fang's grandma's room and bury her face in her arms. Grandma would just stroke her head trying to calm her down.

In fact, she was ashamed of her grandmother, considering that she was no longer a child. But the sound of thunder really scared her to death since childhood.

"With you skipping lunch, I'm sure you must be hungry by now. come" said the emperor with a small smile on his face.

And at that moment there was a rumbling sound from her stomach. Her face was flushed with embarrassment, holding her stomach with both hands.

The emperor laughed at her reaction, stretched out his hand in front of Qing Yang, who was immediately greeted by her.

They went to the dining room for dinner. No one spoke, the dining room only heard the sound of the cutlery used by the emperor and Qing Yang. the atmosphere of the room seemed awkward until Qing Yang broke the silence by asking.

"Your Majesty, it's getting dark, I don't think I have any more lessons today. After eating, I intend to excuse myself and go home." She announced because she felt the awkwardness that happened made her very uncomfortable. So, she expects to be able to leave the emperor's presence.

The emperor's right eyebrow raised, squinting at Qing Yang. but his mouth is still moving, chewing. "I have informed Grandmother that from today until an unspecified time, you will live in the palace, and you don't have to worry about your clothes. Because I have provided, as well as other needs, "concluded the emperor, not wanting to drag the argument with her.

Qing Yang's eyes widened, shocked. Her shy face turned to fear. With her right palm covering her mouth which she was sure was now also wide open and that was a shame. But she ventured to ask. "W-what do you mean, Your Majesty?"

"Qing Yang, will you come with to somewhere place?" an emperor shouldn't ask permission, let alone ordinary people. But not to her. "At least later you will understand why you have to stay in the palace for a while" this time the emperor's voice sounded pleading, his face looked sad and vulnerable. His two hands tightly gripped the palm of her right hand, because she was sitting on the left side of the emperor. So, the emperor could easily reach her hand.

Qing Yang looked at the emperor without batting an eye. Afraid that if she blinked the emperor would do something that would make the situation even more uncomfortable, but she still felt safe around him. Confusion was evident on her face. Confused whether to follow the emperor's invitation or not. What would she gain by following the emperor's invitation.

Whatever the place they were going to had to do with her having to live in the palace.

Not to mention, she wasn't very familiar with palace life which was full of rules here and there. She was afraid that she would unintentionally cause trouble and trouble the emperor in the midst of his responsibility as the king in this kingdom.

"Okay," she replied shortly after much deliberation, also not wanting to disappoint the emperor.

Her ingrained curiosity made her ask further. "But Your Majesty, it's getting dark, where are we going" she put on a big smiley face making the emperor smile at him.

"Finish your dinner, after that we will go right away. Don't worry, we're just going away for a while, we'll be back here in an hour" said the emperor, without answering her question. Then he turned his attention back to the food in front of him.

After eating, the emperor stood up, extended his hand to Qing Yang and was greeted by her. After she stood up, the two of them stepped towards the dining room door. But as soon as their feet stepped, in the blink of an eye they were already in front of the tree of life.

Qing Yang's eyes went wide, she blinked, doubting who knew she was hallucinating. But after a few blinks she remained standing before the tree of life, dumbfounded.

She digested, 'Is this Your Majesty intention of taking her away. But what for?' Wait, she realized something. Slowly she turned to the emperor. The emperor's face looked normal, not surprised by the changes around him. 'Is Your Majesty also the same as Hai Zian, coming from the heaven?' Her brows knit together.

Before she opened her mouth to ask. The emperor cut her off.

"Qing Yang, you must be wondering why I invited you here. I want you to drink the dew of memory so you can remember your past" the emperor explained patiently without batting an eye. He wanted to see her reaction. Whether she agrees or refuses.

"Your Majesty, but yesterday I drank it," she answered simply.

It is not clear whether she agreed or refused. Her answer, she only told that she had drunk it.

"That's right, but there are memories that you don't remember, for that I ask you to drink it again". The emperor chimed in hoping she would understand. His eyes were fixed but gentle on her.

"Can I have another drink?" she asked with suspicious eyes.

"Yes, as long as there is something you don't remember completely," replied the emperor reassuringly, both of his hands holding Qing Yang's upper arms but not too tight grip.

Silence covered both of them. They see each other. The emperor waited patiently for her answer, while Qing Yang hesitated whether to drink it again or not. She inhaled and exhaled. "Okay," she answered shortly after a long assessment.

The emperor smiled widely, he didn't notice that he was holding his breath while waiting for Qing Yang's answer. his heartbeat erratically. How not, because if she drank it again this time, then the memories she would remember were all related to him.

One moment he was happy, that the phoenix would remember him again, in the side he was afraid of how Phoenix would react.

The emperor stood tall. He removed both of Qing Yang's arms then said. "Wait here". The emperor stepped towards the tree of life. Upon arriving, his right hand raised to one of the orange leaves. In second, A small grail appeared in the emperor's hand. then the orange leaves move down on their own. The dewdrops on the leaves slowly merge into one. Then it flows into the small grail.

Qing Yang's mouth opened in shock, the leaf moved on its own. Still in shock, she saw the emperor walking back towards her. As he steps near, the emperor stretched out his hand which was holding the grail filled with dew. And then nodded his head slightly to her. Signalling her to drink it.

Qing Yang took a breath but this time she didn't let it out right away. Afraid when she exhaled there was no oxygen, she could breathe in to fill her congested lungs.

She took the grail from the emperor's hand and brought it in front of her chest. Looking inside, just like yesterday that there was only one drop of dew inside.

The emperor saw her take a breath but had not seen her exhale. And from her behaviour she looks nervous. "Breathing Qing Yang" the words just slipped out of his mouth afraid that if she didn't breathe normally her lungs would stop receiving oxygen.

The emperor's voice sounded distant but very clear to her ears. She slowly exhaled and she just realized that she had been holding her breath for a long time. A faint smile appeared on her face.

Slowly she lifted the grail and drank it. She felt the same freshness she had yesterday, after that, flashes of memory appeared before her like watching an opera show in an opera house. But the players were herself and the emperor.

She raised her left palm, covering her mouth which she felt was open. Unknowingly, tears flowed from the corners of her eyes, streaming down her cheeks which were reddened by the emotion that welled up from inside her. The next second she looked at the emperor now her eyes were filled with tears, she bit her lower lip.

"Qing-qing!" Call Xuan Ti.

"Xuan Ti!" Phoenix called back.