The Empress's Scorn.

Yi Cheng's imperial mother halted before them, and her eyes, hard and cold, fixed on A'Fen.

"Liu Fen pays respect to Your Majesty the Empress." A'Fen bowed low, her voice quivering.

Yi Cheng's Imperial mother replied with a snort, then turned her attention to him. "You have time for her," she said sharply, waving a hand at A'Fen, "but none for your own cousin. She's been weeping her eyes out, claiming you haven't seen her since she arrived."

Yi Cheng sighed inwardly. He knew his cousin had set her eyes on him, and she never missed an opportunity to throw herself at him whenever they met, something Yi Cheng feared might ruin his chances with A'Fen. "Imperial mother," he said calmly, "I've been busy hunting down the villains who harmed her."

His Imperial mother scoffed. "And I suppose you've come here," she pointed at A'Fen, "to arrest her because she's one of them?"

"Of course not," Yi Cheng replied quickly. "I was on my way to see A'Xue" he lied smoothly, "but I stopped by to ask A'Fen to join me."

His imperial mother sneered. "Why do you need her to join you?" she said, her tone tinged with scorn. "Does she even care about Xue'er? She's been here since Xue'er's arrival, yet she hasn't visited her even once."

Yi Cheng studied A'Fen — she appeared pale and frightened. He couldn't allow his mother to continue intimidating her like this. He lowered his head respectfully, hoping to appease his mother's anger. "It was my fault not to visit A'Xue sooner," he said apologetically. "I'll go see her now." Softening his tone and adding a touch of concern, he continued, "And you should go and rest, imperial Mother. You've worked tirelessly caring for A'Xue. You must be exhausted."

His mother's expression softened slightly; she looked at him with a faint trace of pity in her eyes. "She's been asking for you all day," she said softly. "Don't make her wait any longer." Her voice hardened a little. "And make sure you apologize for neglecting her."

"Alright. Alright," he agreed, eager to end this awkward encounter. "I will do that."

He watched as his imperial mother and her attendants walked away, their forms gradually disappearing in the distance.

He heard A'Fen let out a sigh of relief and he turned to look at her.

She met his gaze with a smile that seemed forced. "Your Highness," she said, her tone steady but tinged with nervousness. "The Empress is right. You should hurry to see your cousin. She must be waiting for you anxiously."

She was pushing him away. Maybe she was angry with him for coming here; for bringing his imperial mother's wrath upon her. Or maybe she feared that his imperial mother would come back and find them together again. He felt a wave of guilt and sadness wash over him. "I suppose I should go see A'Xue then," he said, forcing a smile. "Sleep well."

She bowed her head slightly, and a few strands of her hair fell over her face. "You too, Your Highness."

Yi Cheng watched as she slipped into her room and shut the door behind her. His heart throbbed with the urge to follow her, to hold her in his arms and whisper words of love in her ear. But he knew he had no right to do that. Not now. Not when she looked at him with only friendship in her eyes.

He turned around and walked away from the door, feeling a lump in his throat and a sting in his chest. He decided to take a stroll among the trees. He needed to clear his head of this longing, before he went to face his cousin.