Both of them lay on the floor and stare at the wooden beam above them. Song Ning after a long time, she move when she lift up her finger to touch her lips. Her lips are now swollen and dry. Both of them had kiss for quite awhile. Li Tan Ye meanwhile have been thinking how did those couples do it. He never have sex before the only thing his butler told him was that all these things comes naturally. There is nothing he can say or teach him about. The more Li Tan Ye thinks about it, the more he is connivence that his butter might not know anything about this. After all he is an old bachelor that had been in his mansion since his twenties. Now he is an old man who doesn't see the outside world much. Li Tan Ye make up his mind to visit a place of entertainment with his old butler and Bing Ming. They need some lessons in this area of experience. Now he cannot look at Song Ning fearing to see her face of disappointment. His hands reach down to touch his member which is still hard. He knows how to satisfy himself and get an release. However now with Song Ning in the same room, he decide not to do anything and wait for it return back to the regular size. He listen to the breath of Song Ning. She is not sighing nor making any noise. He turn his head to see her staring at him.
"What is it?"
"Your highness … you don't know anything about … couples do in the bedroom, do you?"
"I know what i know what to do…"
Song Ning move closer. She almost whisper softy in the quiet room. Looking into his eyes which at that moment looks like fill with innocent.
"I have seen and know enough what to do… Do you want to experience it?"
He swallow his saliva and take a deep breath in a hurry while staring at her.
"I know what to do but i am thinking of your … innocent. I don't want to be label as a scumbag after … that."
"What is going to label you a scumbag? … The carp fish?"
She point to the carp fish that is drawn on his chest. He look at her with his eyes blinking a few times. He is at lost what to say. He only did not want to take advantage of her and also to show that he doesn't have a clue what couples do in bed. Instead of waiting for a reply, she lay on his chest quietly. She listen to his heart beating which is beating like a drum.
"it is fine that we don't do anything. It's better this way."
"Why?
"Because … we are not … forget it… i am going home."
She gets up but he grab her wrist and force her to stay down on the floor with him. He look into her eyes and they have a spark of life that he wants to touch. She attempt to stand up again but he hold onto her wrist.
"Will you … will you be my wife?"
Her hands shake and her eyes look at him with uncertainty. She close her eyes and breath in deeply. She open her eyes and calmly said.
"No. You are not thinking properly."
"I am! I like you that first time we meet. I like you …"
"You just like a rebellious person who is not bound to the system of this society. However i am not that person for you. I don't need you."
"You need me."
"I don't. I am not like all the wives that you have in this mansion. I am not alike to them. I don't need your protection nor …"
"You need my taels and i can give them to you."
She suddenly keep quiet. He look at her with seriousness.
"You need to bring up your brother. I can do that for you. Whatever he needs are, i will bring those things to him. I can protect him as well."
"Tell me what is the reason that you want to … marry me?"
"I said it. I like you, i want you. I … i fallen in love with you."
At that moment suddenly the light from the only candle that is burning goes off. They look at each other in the dark room with just the moonlight shining into the room.
"But i don't …"
"Then don't! Just marry me and paint me. I will help you to bring your unique painting to the place where your master can see your art work. You will not be in danger to the system of this society that we are in."
"Even if i agree … the emperor will not agree."
"I have my ways to talk to my father, that you do not need to be worry about… Even if you say that you don't love me. I will accept that. As long as you are with me, i believe time will change your heart and how you think about me."
After along silence. She said softy.
"I think… you are a shaman. You know some spells to bewitch anyone."
"Did i do any magic to you? Are you saying you agree?""Unless the emperor is agreeing to this. I don't want to risk my life to marry you."
"Don't worry. My father is easy to talk to … he needs to get really angry with me and everything is fine."
She open her eyes wide and look at him with a frighten expression.
The next few weeks, everything is the same on her daily activities. The Third Prince did not come to look for her nor anyone from the palace look for her. Song Ning spend her days anxious and wondering did she dream of all that had happen between them. She start to look for his presence around her. She is hoping to see him somewhere in her school. However that man who asked her to marry him is no where to be seen. Even when her brother return home, he did not know if anything had happen. The siblings spend three days together. Occasionally Bing Ming will appear with some books on hand to pass to Song Han. Without saying anything he leaves the Song siblings and ride off. This makes Song Ning frustrated and wonder if she have made a fool of herself. The day Song Han return to school just before she step away, an eunuch stop her.
"Lady Song. The empress commands for your presence."
Song Ning bow and follow the eunuch to a carriage. The carriage arrive at the palace and allow to travel inside the palace. After fifteen minutes of travelling inside the palace. the eunuch ask Song Ning to alight and follow him. They keep walking and seems like a never ending long corridor. Every pillar, every lamp, every decoration is alike a repeated scene. Every step on the way is repetitively. After a long walk, they finally come to a end. The huge door is close and the eunuch walk to the maid. They whisper and she enter the side door in a hurry. After a while, the huge door is open. Song Ning follow the eunuch slowly behind. Her hands are shaking and she is asking herself to stay calm.
Inside is a huge room with candles holders at every corner of the room. The windows are open and the wind is blowing in. The curtains are flowing gently with the wind. Song Ning keep walking with the eunuch and the maid to the inner room. They stop walking when they come to a lady who is kneeling down in front of a statue of a god. Song Ning and the others wait aside as the empress is still in her prayers. Finally after a long wait, the empress is stopping her chanting and ask for assistant to get up. The maid beside her hurry to assist. Song Ning is breathing deeply and preparing to talk to the empress who holds power over all the sons of the emperor. When she turn around to face Song Ning, They are both taken back on each other's looks.