My gratitude toward you [Bonus chapter]

Zhi Yawen gazed at Emperor Zhenji and complained to him how Licheng refuted every offer they gave.

"Because there is nothing that can replace my demand. I don't understand it. When the Yu Kingdom was on the brink of losing everything, I gave them a helping hand," Licheng pronounced. He had shifted his gaze to Xiana. "I wish I had let your kingdom burn into ashes," he stated in a fit of rage.

"We would have won even if Crown Prince Licheng did not help us," Zhi Yawen remarked. "The Crown Prince of the Su Empire underestimates our strength," he proudly said.

"Yawen, please stop. I know Father and you want me to return to the Yu Kingdom, but I cannot go back. It was my promise to Licheng and I must fulfill it," Xiana affirmed.

"Xiana, you want us not to see you anymore! What will I say to your mother, who is not well right after you left?" Yu Xiangkong asked her.

Xiana turned silent. She was upset to find that her mother was not doing well. She blinked a few times, wondering how she should convince them.

Licheng noticed one thing Xiana did not tell them she would return after a while. Why? He contemplated.

Yu Xiangkong looked in the Emperor's direction. "Emperor Zhenji's decision will be final in this. Does he want my kingdom to be a part of the Su Empire? I will happily do that, but let my daughter go with me," he stated.

"We don't need the Yu Kingdom," Licheng said. "I will send Xiana back to the Yu Kingdom after some time," he finally said. Xiana frowned at him once again. He did what he felt right at that time when he knew he needed her for a long time.

"Licheng, speak with all your senses. The day you stopped my marriage with Zhi Yawen, you told me I could never go back. I don't want to play games with you. I warned you not to play with my life," Xiana sternly said. She was furious at him. He was again jeopardizing her life by giving false hopes to his father, and Zhi Yawen, whom she broke up with.

Emperor Zhenji glanced at his son, wondering why he said that. He remembered clearly what Licheng told him when they talked about Xiana's stay in the palace.

"Princess Xiana is right. Crown Prince Licheng has played enough with her life. I also remember how he said that he would like to keep Princess Xiana with him for his entire life. Tomorrow, he will again change his decision," Zhi Yawen raised an objection to Licheng's decision.

"Isn't this what you all want me to do? I will not go back to my words. I will send her back when the time comes," Licheng asserted.

"When will that time come?" Zhi Yawen asked.

"I do not know," Licheng replied.

Zhi Yawen chuckled and said, "I don't believe in the Crown Prince's words at all. He is straying us," he affirmed.

Xiana realized Licheng would not speak about his real self. She did not want to feel upset about it but she did. Licheng helped them in their vulnerable time. Her father and Zhi Yawen did not understand it, which made Xiana embarrassed.

"I would like to speak now. I request Zhi Yawen to stay quiet. It will be my final decision and no one will have the right to object to it," Xiana affirmed. She gazed into Licheng's eyes for a brief moment and stood up from her place.

"I do not want to marry you, Zhi Yawen. I broke my marriage with you because I knew I would never come back," she pronounced. Yu Xiangkong told his daughter not to say that, but she didn't listen to her father and again urged her father to remain quiet.

"It was my decision to take help from Crown Prince Licheng six months ago. He understood me that day and decided to help me without any selfish reason. During my stay in this palace, I never once felt troubled. Licheng calls me his servant, but he also respects my status as the Princess. It is between me and Licheng, so we both will solve it. I will be by his side because he needs me now. I cannot leave him," Xiana asserted.

She was clear this time and requested her father to tell her mother she had to fulfill her promise. "I am happy here too. It is just I cannot see you all every day. Father knows well what would have happened if we lost in the war. That's why I want him to understand what Crown Prince Licheng did for us. I want to repay Licheng and now, I do not feel bound by it because this is what my heart wants too."

Everyone was stunned to hear Xiana's explanation, especially Licheng. He did not expect her to say all those things. Didn't she hate him? Even before coming there, they both were arguing with each other.

Xiana again glanced at Licheng. "No one can change my decision from now onward," she stated.

Emperor Zhenji smiled a little to hear Xiana and decided to speak.

"King Yu Xiangkong, since the Princess has given her decision, I believe none of us can object to it. I assure you the princess will not feel any trouble here," Emperor Zhenji stated.

"Xiana, don't you want to marry and get settled in life? Wasn't this your dream?" Yu Xiangkong asked.

"It was your dream, Father," Xiana said and turned to look at Yu Xiangkong. "Mother and you want me to marry because that's what women do," she asserted.

"Don't tell me Princess you do not love me," Zhi Yawen said as he rose to his feet. He was a bit devastated to hear her. "I want to be with you," he said.

"But I cannot be," Xiana affirmed. "It is my life and it is my final decision. I will not go back and I have no intention to get married. Love happens for the second time too, Zhi Yawen. You are not bound to me nor am I to you," Xiana asserted. She looked at her father again and continued, "I will never be happy if I return with Father today. Please be understandable, Father." She had to request it from her father at last.

Yu Xiangkong's eyes turned watery. He had no idea why his daughter was so adamant about this.

"At this point, I can only assure Princess Xiana's safety here. Princess Xiana's family is welcome to come here and meet her any time," Emperor Zhenji pronounced.

"Rest of the conversation will be done later. Eunuch Haoyu will show the way to the guest rooms to both the King and the General of the Yu Kingdom." Emperor Zhenji instructed Eunuch Haoyu to provide the best service to them.

Yu Xiangkong thanked the Emperor for listening to them. He asked Zhi Yawen to come with him and the two left for the guest rooms.

"Princess Xiana and Crown Prince Licheng must clear the conflict between each other. Also, Crown Prince Licheng will no longer make the Princess work," Emperor Zhenji announced and ordered them to leave.

Xiana left the chamber first while Licheng bowed to his father before going behind her. He caught her arm and pulled her in a way that she was turned to him with her back slightly tilted back.

"What was that?" Licheng demanded an answer from her.

"It was my gratitude toward you for saving my people," Xiana replied.

"Will you be by my side all my life?" Licheng asked her.

"Of course. Unless you let me go, I won't go. You told me to win your trust. I am making an effort to do it. That day you could have refused to help me, but you did not. You listened to me and sent the five martial warriors with me. I can never forget such a favor of yours and if I have to repay you with my life, I will do that too," she said with a serious tone.

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