CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Miyojin had always known that the Xia family was wealthy. To be precise, they are the wealthiest of all the noblemen in the whole empire. That is why it was no surprise that they built their manor on top of a hill isolated from the busy noise of the capital. When they are nearing the mansion, Miyojin can see that despite being smaller in size, the Xia mansion is the second most majestic home in the capital. The first one is the Imperial Palace itself.

Their land is vast where one can find farms and fruit-bearing trees planted. There are lots of workers tending to these resources which is most likely part of one of the businesses of the Xias. Their land was so wide that it took a long while before they finally reached the main house.

Right there, by the doorstep, is the patriarch and matriarch of the Xia family. Another familiar elderly-looking man was beside them. Miyojin recognized him as the general who had been protecting their northern borders, General Cheng. He had seen him numerous times in the palace whenever the emperor called upon him either to discuss the northern borders or reward him for his bravery.

The general had always been a joyful man despite the many tragedies that had come in his life. However, his face is etched in anxiousness mirroring the faces of the Xia couple. Although they can already see Xia Yu and Miyojin, they can't recognize them because of their disguise.

Huiqing was in front of the couple since they were keeping up with their act. When they reached the doorstep, the Xias and General Cheng met Huiqing halfway, and looked like they were about to ask her questions regarding Xia Yu and the prince. As Xia Yu had briefed, Huiqing greeted the elders with a smile. She, then, asked that they go inside the house first. Thus, that is what they did.

Once the only people left in the reception room were the Xias, General Cheng, Huiqing, and the royal couple, only then did Xia Yu and Miyojin take off their human skin masks to reveal themselves. The eyes of the Xia couple widen when they recognize their daughter.

"Yu Ying!" Xia Yu's mother cried as she pulled her daughter in for an embrace. The older woman burst into sobs both in happiness and sadness.

Xia Rong You with glazed eyes also embraces both his daughter and his wife. His face had an expression of a mixture of happiness and relief. General Cheng's usual joyful face was back as he watched the tearful reunion of his remaining family.

Miyojin only looked at the Xias embracing each other. It brought joy to him that Xia Yu was able to reunite with her parents after so long. After thinking she was dead, it brought so much relief to her parents to see her alive and well. He couldn't help but think of his parents. He wished his parents knew he was alive so they too could sigh in relief and no longer be burdened by sadness.

When the Xias broke away from the embrace, Xia Yu turned to Miyojin. Because of this, her parents did the same. Miyojin was about to bow in greeting to the Xias when Cheng Shu Ying came forward. To the prince's surprise, the Madam of the Xias put her comforting arms around him, enveloping him in an embrace.

"You must have suffered a lot. But it is alright now, for you have returned to us. We are so happy to see you alive and well." Cheng Shu Ying said as she soothed Miyojin's back.

At that moment, Miyojin didn't feel like a prince. He felt like a son being welcomed back by his mother after years of separation. He couldn't help but hug her back and find solace in this motherly embrace. After a while, his mother-in-law broke away. Then, his father-in-law came forward and gave him a comforting pat on the back.

"We are saddened by the loss of your brother. But we are overjoyed that you are finally here with us now." He said to the prince.

Miyojin smiled at his father-in-law and gave his gratitude. Moments like this remind him that Xia Yu was still his wife and her parents are also his parents. He is glad that his in-laws still cared for him even though this was an arranged marriage that they did not want for their daughter. At that moment, Miyojin didn't feel like a stranger to them. It felt like he was home with his family.

"Now that our Yu Ying and His Highness are here, I guess it is time we begin our important discussion." General Cheng said, reminding everyone of the impending problems.

"Uncle Cheng is right. There is still a lot more that we need to discuss. Let us all take a seat then." Xia Yu said.

Everyone took their seats and began discussing their next steps and how they would proceed and eventually, uncover the mastermind behind the assassination.

Several days after Xia Yu and Miyojin arrived at the Xia Mansion, the entire household was busy making preparations. Huiqing, who had been a great help to them, had left the capital to join her family in the independent region of Nansheng. She wished she could stay but Xia Yu said that her work is done. Furthermore, it is best she leaves and returns to her family. Because according to her, a storm is brewing and will soon strike the capital. And she didn't mean that as a real storm.

To set the stage for this metaphorical storm, the entire Xia Mansion is preparing for a funeral. This funeral is for Xia Yu, a front to the people that the Xias have accepted the fate of their only daughter. However, this is only part of the plan made by the Xias and the Chengs.

Although Xia Yu and Miyojin cannot help in the preparation for the funeral, they too are making their preparations. They are hidden in Xia Yu's garden practicing swordsmanship. It has only been almost two weeks since Xia Yu began training Miyojin. However, the prince can now hold his own in a practice sword fight with Xia Yu. He is already at his seventh defense against her.

"Seven!" Miyojin said as he was able to catch Xia Yu's blow with his wooden sword.

He broke away from Xia Yu and shifted his sword to attack her. However, Xia Yu was able to dodge him easily.

"Look at you... you're now brave enough to take an offensive move." She said as she attacked him with her eighth blow.

"Eight!" Miyojin said as he dodged the blow as it nearly hit him.

If this mock battle had occurred a week ago, Miyojin would have been very tired by now. But thanks to Xia Yu's stamina-building exercise, he was able to have strength and endurance. He, once again, tried to attack Xia Yu. However, Xia Yu never made it easy for him. He nearly failed to block her ninth blow.

"Ninth!"

But before Miyojin could find his balance to make his next move, Xia Yu tripped him with her foot. The prince completely lost his balance and fell. By the time he looked up, the tip of Xia Yu's sword was already at his throat. He knew he couldn't beat Xia Yu but he still wished that there was a moment that he was able to rattle her a bit. However, this woman didn't even break a sweat.

"You did well." She said as she put her sword aside and held her free hand for the prince to grab on.

"You always say that." He replied as he took her hand and got pulled up.

"It was good progress. It still deserved a bit of recognition." Xia Yu smiled as she let go of the prince.

They both walk to the bench under the shade of the large center tree of the garden. Once seated, Xia Yu took one of the water containers and gave it to Miyojin. They both drank water as they relaxed under the cool shade.

As they did so, Miyojin looked around the site in front of him. He remembered the day Xia Yu said that the palace's center garden pales in comparison to her garden at home. And she wasn't lying. This is indeed the most beautiful garden he had ever seen. The view combined with the tranquility made this garden an aesthetically relaxing place to stay in. However, the peace was ruined when he heard a loud screech from high above.

That damn bird.

The prince muttered inside his head.

When he first came to the garden, that bird came swooping down with unbelievable speed. He thought it was going to attack him. However, it landed gracefully on Xia Yu's arm. He could not believe that she was keeping a large terrifying bird as a pet. No part of the bird indicates it is friendly. It looked like it could peck a person to death.

The large bird came swooping down again and landed beside Xia Yu who gave the bird some water and began caressing it. If there was one good thing that came with the presence of the bird, it was how Xia Yu interacted with it.

Xia Yu treats the bird as if it was the most adorable creature in the world. She would make cooing sounds and give it a few kisses. She would have a huge smile on her face every time the bird reacted to her gestures.

Seeing this, Miyojin couldn't help but think that he was seeing a different side to his wife-in-name only. He didn't expect to see her soft side. More precisely, he didn't think she even had a soft side. If there were men that fancy her... and probably there are plenty, they would definitely get jealous of this bird. Some might even wish they could switch places with the bird because of the amount of affection Xia Yu was giving it.

Not wanting to fade away in the background, Miyojin began to talk to her.

"The preparations will be complete today, right?"

"Hmm?" Xia Yu muttered and then realized what Miyojin was asking. "Oh, Right! Father and Mother will begin receiving guests tomorrow at sunrise."

"Do you think this will help us find out the mastermind of the assassination?"

"Certainly!"

Xia Yu had always been confident in anything that she did. This is good however, Miyojin sometimes tends to get skeptical of how sure she always is.

"How can you say so? It is not that I have doubts about you or this plan for that matter. I just want to understand how this will work."

"This funeral is a way for us to bait the mastermind."

"Bait him? Why would he even come to the funeral of the person he killed?"

"That is exactly why he will come." Xia Yu said as she stopped petting Garu. "People will suspect the person who didn't attend the funeral rather than the person who came and paid their condolences."

"Oh, I see. But how will we know which one of the guests is the mastermind?"

"We will be observing each one of them closely."

"We???" Miyojin said in surprise.

"Of course, we will be disguised as servants as we make our observations." Xia Yu explained.

The prince looked so unsure that Xia Yu had to assure him.

"Don't worry. You did a good job pretending to be a servant when we traveled from the borders to the capital. I'm sure you won't have a problem pretending again for this funeral."

"That is not what I am worried about."

"Then, what are you still worried about?"

"How will I know if the mastermind is already in front of me?" he asked since he knew he had no skill in finding wolves hidden in sheep's clothing.

Xia Yu looked at him with an assuring smile.

"You will know it is him once you see him."