No one can touch you, harm you [Bonus chapter]

"How much more tears are you going to shed?" Licheng asked. His hands were still down and Xiana lifted her head to look into his eyes.

"Can you just not console me?" Xiana brought her hand to her eye and wiped the tears from it, and then moved to the second eye.

"What do you expect me to say then?" Licheng queried.

"Nothing," Xiana said and withdrew her hands from around him before taking a step back. Licheng held his arm and pulled her close. He placed his hand above her head and patted it.

"You should not cry anymore. You look better when you stay in anger and when you smile," Licheng affirmed. Xiana gazed into his eyes and hummed.

"I should wash my face," Xiana said and turned to go. Licheng lowered his hand and told her he would see her at dinner time.

"I do not want to take meals. I will sleep," Xiana asserted.

"I do not allow that. I will wait for you in my chamber," Licheng said and walked out. Xiana realized he did not let her speak. She was not in a mood to have meals. She had a big argument with Zhi Yawen. Only his thoughts had occupied her head.

Licheng returned to his chamber where he saw his mother. He narrowly glanced at Eunuch Jize, who had kept his head down. "Good evening, Mother," Licheng bowed to Empress Yunxian. He saw her seated on the broad chair with her hands on the bolsters.

"Send Xiana away," Empress Yunxian said.

"I cannot," Licheng replied instantly.

"Why? I heard what happened here earlier. The man who she was supposed to marry accused my son of snatching his woman," Empress Yunxian stated.

Licheng's jaw clenched and he tilted his head to look at Jize. "I strictly instructed you to not let the word spread out," he looked annoyed this time.

"Crown Prince Licheng, Eunuch Jize did not inform me. You are in the palace, where even walls have ears," Empress Yunxian stated.

"Will Mother stop intervening in my matters?" Licheng sternly asked and returned his gaze to her. Empress Yunxian got hurt by that statement. "If she cannot, then she should tell me. I will find a permanent solution to this," he added.

Eunuch Jize and Court Lady Hwang were worried to hear such words from the Crown Prince's mouth. They both knew that the Empress would be badly hurt and might show her anger to Xiana.

"Seven years you stayed away from me, yet you have the audacity to speak this way with me. Fine. I will go now. The Crown Prince is doing what he likes, so I will do what I feel is right," Empress Yunxian stated and rose to her feet.

"Mother, do anything but do not involve Xiana in that. I will leave the palace if she does that," Licheng threatened his mother. "Let's live in harmony, Mother," he requested.

Empress Yunxian glared into the eyes of her son and asked Eunuch Jize to bring Xiana. Licheng frowned and wondered what his mother was up to. He told Jize to stay there and not to listen to his mother.

"Who is the Empress of the Su Empire, Eunuch Jize?" Empress Yunxian asked.

Eunuch Jize could not stop his feet and left to bring Xiana.

"Why did Mother have to drag Xiana into all this? I am the one who brought her here, so Mother must deal with me, not with her," Licheng argued with his mother. However, she remained quiet and waited for Xiana to come.

Eunuch Jize arrived with Xiana and informed the same of the Empress. Licheng turned his head to look at her, who greeted the Empress.

"Come forward, Xiana," Empress Yunxian said when Licheng asked Xiana not to move. She beamed at him and then went toward the Empress.

"Crown Prince Licheng is swayed by the Princess of the Yu Kingdom. He gives me a vague explanation and it annoys me," Empress Yunxian stated, looking into the eyes of Xiana.

Xiana furrowed her brows together when Empress Yunxian asked her why she did not want to go home. "I do not want to hear it was because of some rubbish promise," Empress Yunxian stated.

"I have no other explanation, Your Majesty," Xiana stated.

Empress Yunxian raised her hand to slap Xiana. She widened her eyes and shut them tightly. Her hands clenched and her heart pounded because of the fear, but nothing happened. She did feel a gust of wind as if someone passed across her at a high speed. She opened her eyes and saw Licheng before her.

Licheng was tightly holding the wrist of his mother. His left eye shone red as he bore his gaze on his mother.

Eunuch Jize and Court Lady Hwang were shocked to see that sight. The Crown Prince was not supposed to hold his mother's hand.

Empress Yunxian was shocked to see her son's face. She was puzzled thinking about how could her son appear before her in a blink of an eye. He looked darker, furious, and a completely different person. Licheng lowered his mother's arm gradually while speaking, "This is the first and the last time Mother did this." He let go of her wrist and asked her to leave.

"Your eye, Licheng," Empress Yunxian took a step toward her.

"Leave, Mother!" Licheng shouted.

Xiana was terrified to hear his shout. She had seen him getting angry, but not to this extent.

Empress Yunxian did not stop even for a second and dashed out of the room, followed by the Court Lady.

"Your Royal—"

"Shut your mouth! Leave my sight before I kill you, Jize!" Licheng voiced loudly. Eunuch Jize gulped and went out of the room.

Xiana grabbed Licheng's arm and made him turn so that they would face each other. She gazed at his left eye and caressed his arm. She said no words and kept staring at him. Licheng also did not avert his gaze this time.

"No one can touch you, harm you in my presence. Keep this in mind," Licheng stated.