You may betray me anytime

"Why did the Empress call Ji Anning to the palace when Licheng has already refused to get engaged to her?" Emperor Zhenji asked after hearing from his son.

Empress Yunxian did not answer her husband's question. Instead, she replied to Licheng, "I will never ask anything from the Crown Prince. He can do whatever he wants to do. He left us several questions seven years ago. Today, he did not bother to tell his mother the reason why he has no plans for marriage. He harshly talked with a woman who waited for him for seven years. Indeed, as the Empress I have to think of the future of the Crown Prince, of this kingdom. However, it will no longer happen," she affirmed.

Licheng curled his fingers. "I understand, Mother." He did not argue with his mother anymore as it would only increase tensions between them. He bowed to them and walked out of the chamber.

"Empress Yunxian did not have to talk this way with Licheng. Princess Xiana is not a wrong choice for him," Emperor Zhenji asserted.

"It is not about the woman Crown Prince Licheng wants to choose for him. It is about my influence in his life which is nil. He hides everything from his mother. Ji Anning waited for the Crown Prince for seven years, so when she got the news about his return, she sent me a message asking if she could see him. I allowed it, but I did not know he would be heartless to her," Empress Yunxian said with a troubled expression on her face.

Emperor Zhenji wanted to tell the truth to his wife, but at the same time, he had to keep fulfilling his promise to Licheng. He decided to let Licheng handle his matter with his mother. "Licheng knows what he is doing. So, the Empress does not need to worry about his future and the kingdom," Emperor Zhenji stated.

Empress Yunxian could not agree with the Emperor. "I want to ask the Emperor. Does he not feel upset that his eldest son keeps his thoughts to himself? He told me he would find another place to live if I pester him," she said with a fit of rage.

"Empress Yunxian should understand for now that our son needs time to sort out something important. He did not intend to hurt anyone, but he does not intend to be rude to the people around him," Emperor Zhenji stated. He wished internally that Licheng would soon find a way to turn things right.

~~~~~~~

Licheng refused to take lunch and sat silently on the patio. His mother did not forgive him. He heard the silent footsteps and recognized who was there. "You never listened to me. Why?"

"I wanted to put lots of spices in your food thinking you would eat, but you told Eunuch Jize you would not have lunch," Xiana said and stood next to him. She quickly sat down next to him.

Licheng chuckled. "You don't fear me at all, right?" he asked.

"Why do I have to fear you?" Xiana mumbled. "I know you will not dare to punish me," she stated. "Moreover, those spices were to bring your mind to the right place."

Licheng tilted his head to gaze at her. "My mind was never in the wrong place," he asserted.

Xiana put her elbow on her knee and rested her chin on her palm. She turned to face him and said, "It is not at the right place either." They kept staring at each other for some time before Licheng averted his gaze from her. "I would like to be alone, Princess," he said.

"Fine. I will go. But answer my one question," Xiana stated.

Licheng permitted her to ask.

"When will you take your meals?" Xiana asked.

"Why? Do you want to put spices in that?" Licheng questioned her back.

"I will join you for lunch. So, call me when you get better," Xiana stated.

"Have you not eaten your lunch?" Licheng gazed at her with furrowed brows.

"I wanted to, but then I want a companion with whom I-I can have meals. At my home, I usually used to have lunch with my younger brother," Xiana stated.

"So, you now consider your master a companion?" Licheng arched his eyebrow.

"You were never my master," Xiana said.

"I wasn't in the past, but now I am," Licheng said with a smile.

"Only during the training. We can be friends," Xiana pronounced.

"Why should I make you my friend? You may betray me anytime," Licheng stated.

"Why would I do that?" Xiana laughed at his statement.

"Earlier you did. You said you would tell Ji Anning the lie we told her. Friends don't do that, Xiana," Licheng stated.

"That was to threaten you," Xiana replied. "You call those five martial warriors your friends, your brothers. You should call me a friend too," Xiana opined

"I want to stay as a master with you," Licheng asserted.

Xiana got irked and raised her hand to hit his shoulder, but he caught it in the mid-air. "Why do you love to hit me?" He queried and lowered her when she used the other hand. He caught it too and amusedly glanced at her.

"Because you annoy me. I try to be a good person to you, but you get on my nerves," Xiana said and twisted her hands in his grip.

"My wrists are hurting, Licheng," Xiana said while knitting her brows together.

Licheng immediately let her hands go and gestured to her to leave. Xiana fisted her palm and hit his shoulder hard.

Licheng widened his eyes.

"Your grip has hurt me more than the hit I gave," she muttered and looked at her wrists. She could see the prints of his fingers on her skin. She thought to leave when Licheng held her hands. This time his hold was gentle.

"Stay quiet," Licheng said before he could resist her.

He slowly moved his hands above her wrists and said, "I did not realize how strongly I held them. Forgive me." A light blue radiance shone on his palms and it astonished Xiana. She felt the pain leave her wrists and their eyes met.

"You are strange, Licheng," Xiana said while gazing into his eyes.