Request denied, Princess!

Xiana drank the water and plonked it on the table. "That was delicious. I feel so refreshed and energetic," she said and smiled at Licheng, who put the chopsticks above the plate. He joined both of his hands, thanking God for the food, and called the servant in.

"I would like to take a rest for a few hours. Also, show the empty room in the manor to Xiana. She will live there from now onward," Licheng said and shifted his gaze to Xiana.

The servant bowed and picked up the dishes on the tray. Licheng stood up and went to the bedchamber to take a rest. Xiana followed him and stood by the door.

"Licheng," she pronounced his name and he turned to look at her.

"You are supposed to tell me the answers to many questions. Also, I want to remind you about my sword. Return it to me soon," Xiana asserted.

"I will on one condition, Xiana," Licheng said.

Xiana frowned at him. "Say it," she crossed her arms across her chest.

"You need to win it back from me," Licheng stated and he passed a smile to her.

Xiana chuckled to hear his condition. "And what do I need to do to win you? Will you do a sword fight with me?" She arched her eyebrow.

"No. You may not stand even for a second before me," Licheng replied. His confident smile irked Xiana again and she walked up to him.

Lowering her hands, she halted in front of him. "Licheng, you should not underestimate me. I can definitely defeat you," she stated.

"You cannot, Xiana. Your sword skills are impressive, but you have not reached the level where I am in swordsmanship," Licheng briefly explained to her. Xiana pursed her lips together and hummed.

"So, should I go to sleep or do you want us to sleep together again?" He asked her with a smirk.

"I didn't sleep with you. So, don't say things like this. We are in the palace and if anyone hears about it, they may take the wrong meaning of this," Xiana said and urged him to not bring it up ever in their conversation

"Request denied, Princess!" Licheng said and tucked the loose tendrils behind her ear. The pad of his fingers touched her earlobe, making her gaze deeply at him. She yanked his hand away and asked him to not do that without her permission.

They both heard the knock on the door. Xiana turned to look and found the maidservant there. "The room is ready for—" she was a bit confused thinking about what she should call Xiana: Miss or Princess.

"Call her Princess Xiana," Licheng said.

Xiana looked at him in bewilderment. "Didn't you claim me as your servant?" She muttered.

"I have. However, your royal title cannot be removed," Licheng stated and gestured to her to leave. Xiana hummed and left with the maidservant. The door slid closed and Licheng went to the bed to sleep.

As Xiana stepped out of the room, she saw a court lady before her.

"Her Majesty wants to see the Princess," the court lady delivered the message to Xiana. She sighed because she had decided to sleep till evening. She could not either refuse to see the Empress and left with the court lady.

Upon reaching the grand manor of the Empress, Xiana got a bit nervous. Not because she would meet the Empress, but because of the questions she would face now.

"Princess Yu Xiana is here, Your Majesty," the court lady informed the Empress, who was on the embellished broad chair. Yunxian had her arms resting on the bolster of the broad chair. Her silver long fingernails were the center of attraction, to whoever would look at her hands. The golden phoenix crown embellished with hundreds of precious stones on the Empress' head showed her prestige.

Xiana didn't look into her eyes and kept her gaze on the floor mat.

"I will ask some questions from Princess Xiana. I want her to answer me truthfully. Why did my son bring the Princess of Yu Kingdom here?" Yunxian asked.

"Prince Licheng has already answered it, Your Majesty. I fulfilled my promise to Prince Licheng in exchange for his benevolent help. Prince Licheng came to the Yu Kingdom on the day of my marriage to take me with him," Yu Xiana stated.

Yunxian frowned and asked her why she agreed to such a condition.

"It was not my choice, Your Majesty. I promised him I would return the favor in the future. That's why I am here," Xiana asserted.

"Did Prince Licheng break the marriage of Princess Xiana?" Yunxian queried.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Xiana answered.

"I will talk with my son later. I do not wish a princess to stay near my son as a servant or whatever he prefers to call her," Yunxian stated.

Xiana was delighted to hear that. The Empress would herself talk to Licheng and it gave her hope again. She thanked Empress Yunxian for this and prayed Licheng would let her go.

"My son is supposed to marry a woman of my choice. So, if for some reason, Princess Xiana does not go back to the Yu Kingdom and stay as the servant in Prince Licheng's manor, then she must stay at arm's length from my son. Prince Xuanzi has already complained to me about Princess Xiana. She must not take out the name of my son," Yunxian pronounced.

Xiana lost her hope again to return because Empress Yunxian was not either sure whether her son would let Xiana leave or not.

"Princess Xiana is dismissed," Yunxian said and moved her fingers on the bolster. Xiana bowed to the Empress before heading to the eldest prince's manor.

"Why does it seem I am already stuck in this palace? Licheng's mother isn't pleased to see me, which I understand," Xiana mumbled and descended the stairs. She sighed and looked up at the sky.

"Please, Heaven, save me from the upcoming problems," Xiana whispered.