[Evening]
The evening atmosphere was relatively cold.
He Yu and Lingxi lay quietly on the bed for some time.
He Yu turned to her direction but she was backing him.
"Are you asleep?" He Yu asked quietly.
"Not yet", Lingxi answered without turning back.
He Yu was bored but Lingxi did not seem interested in entertaining him.
"Are you happy about your brother's return?" he asked.
"Hmm", was the reply he got.
"You both seem very close"
"Hmm"
The repeated 'Hmm' seemed to be putting off He Yu.
He sighed and held her shoulder turning her over to face.
"What do you want?" Lingxi asked looking at him.
He Yu stared at her for a minute before answering, "I want you to talk to me"
"Talk?"
Lingxi paused for a second before responding, "What do you want to talk about?"
"About…. us", He Yu said.
"What do you want to talk about us?" Lingxi asked again.
"About….." He Yu thought for a long time, "our marriage, about our marriage", he finally answered.
"What do you want to talk about our marriage?" Lingxi asked another question.
He Yu was momentarily speechless.
It seemed Lingxi was not in the mood to talk. Well, if she didn't want to talk, so be it.
He stared at her for some time, "it seems like you don't want to talk to me"
"I don't", Lingxi answered and wanted to turn back to sleep but he turned her back and lay on her.
"He Yu, you..."
"Since you don't want to talk about our marriage, let's talk about your promise", he responded.
Their eyes met for a brief minute and time seemed to stop.
He Yu's lips leaned closer to hers and she closed her eyes slowly but his lips didn't meet hers. It went to her neck instead. She opened her eyes. He Yu kissed her neck for some time before looking up at her. She was about to say something but he proceeded to kiss the other side of her neck. She placed her hand on his shoulder but didn't stop him. He Yu stopped for a second to look at her.
Just when she thought he was about to kiss her lips, he suddenly let go and went back to lying down.
Lingxi could not understand his actions for the first time. She stared at him, a bit confused.
"I don't want to take advantage of you", He Yu said looking at her reaction.
Of course, that was not the only reason. He wanted her to remember him first before anything else.
"That's surprising coming from you", Lingxi said.
He Yu looked at her with a smile and a hint of teasing in his eyes, "but, if you want to....." he was saying as he leaned closer to her lips but Lingxi placed her hand on his chest stopping him halfway.
"Can you do any other thing apart from teasing me?" she asked.
"I can do more", He Yu teased further.
Lingxi had enough and pushed him backwards. He laughed lightly as he lay down.
"We've been married for about two and a half months now. Is it possible for us to return home by the end of the year?" Lingxi asked.
He Yu thought for a while, "the palace usually holds a banquet to celebrate the New Year"
"Does that mean I won't be able to return? I wanted to celebrate the New Year and our three months married together with my family", Lingxi said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.
He Yu was elated that she remembered that they would have been married for three months by the end of the year and of course, he didn't want to see her sad as well.
"We're part of the senior generation of the Imperial family. Moreover, I'm frail. His Majesty wouldn't mind us being absent", He Yu assured her.
"Hmm", Lingxi said and turned to the other side to sleep.
He Yu did not expect her sudden action.
Was she upset with him? But he had agreed.
"Lingxi, are you angry?" he asked concerned but there was no response.
Had she slept suddenly? It was a habit of hers to sleep immediately after entering the bed.
"Are you asleep?" he asked again but there was no response he guessed she must be asleep so he closed his eyes to sleep.
Lingxi, on the other hand, after thinking he must have slept opened her eyes and touched her neck. She gave a short smile.
[Three Days Later]
[Ministry of Justice]
"Greetings, Lord Commander Mo", the staff in the Ministry of Justice stood up and greeted Mo Xiuyan with a bow.
"Commander Mo, we finally meet in person", He Rui said with a slight bow.
Mo Xiuyan bowed back, "I look forward to our investigation", he said and walked past He Rui to look at the case file.
He Rui said nothing and followed him.
"What is the progress on the case?" Mo Xiuyan asked as he opened the scrolls.
"We've investigated the bodies. From the calluses in their hands, they were likely well trained", Lu Qian answered.
Mo Xiuyan looked up at him. "Official Lu, we meet again. It's nice to see you", Mo Xiuyan smiled, "I hope we can work as good as we did before"
"Have you met him before?" Lv Chi asked in a whisper.
"Yes. I've told you before", Lu Qian answered dryly.
"The men were indeed very skilled and were about forty in number. They were not only skilled swordsmen, but archers. As far as I know, no ordinary citizen can raise a secret army on their own", Mo Xiuyan said.
"So you are saying that someone from the imperial family is responsible?" He Rui asked.
"Whether or not someone from the imperial family is responsible, they won't be able to carry out such a task alone"
"So we also need to investigate the ministers too", He Rui added.
Mo Xiuyan cast a long glance at him, "It seems Your Highness has a strong sense of reasoning. Since that's the case, His Majesty can rest assured with the case in your hands"
"Relieving His Majesty's worries is my duty", He Rui responded.
"I have things to do. I won't disturb you any further", Mo Xiuyan said before leaving.
However, he had not taken more than five steps when he heard He Rui's voice.
"Commander Mo", He Rui called.
Mo Xiuyan paused.
"I am yet to thank you for your intervention in the Prime Minister's case", He Rui said.
"No need", Mo Xiuyan said and left.
He Rui watched his back while Lv Chi went through the case files again.
Lv Chi, on the other hand, bit an apple as he noticed the growing tension in He Rui.
[Liu Residence]
"Father, I've said it before. I don't want to get married", Liu ying protested.
"You've come of age. Why don't you want to get married?" Liu Feng asked.
Liu Ying was now twenty years old but still insists on not getting married. He did not know what else to do.
"I just want to work in the Ministry of Justice", Liu ying gave her point.
"Aren't you working in the Ministry of Justice already? How does this relate to your getting married?"
"If I were to get married, I would have to stop working. I don't want to be some noble lady cooped up managing household affairs", Liu ying.
"You.... How dare you say that? Besides, who said you could only be a housewife. After getting married, you can continue to work as an official", Liu Feng argued.
"How do you know that I will be allowed to work? Am I marrying you?" Liu ying argued back.
"You! You insolent child!" Liu Feng was speechless.
"What's going on?" Mrs. Liu asked as she walked carrying some pastries.
She set it down.
"Mother, Father is forcing me to get married", Liu ying complained.
"Yingying, every girl will eventually get married. Look at you, you are not young anymore. When else do you want to get married?" Mrs. Liu comforted her.
"I don't care even if I don't end up getting married in this lifetime", Liu ying said.
Liu Feng was speechless, "fine", he said.
"You've agreed?" Liu ying looked elated as she held her father's hand.
"Yes. What else can I do? I can't possibly tie you up and force you to get married, right?"
Liu ying's smile grew wider, "Father, you're the best. It's so rare to have such an understanding father like you"
"Of course, I'm very understanding so I'm giving you two options"
The smile on Liu ying's face faltered as she let go of his hand.
"What two options?"
"His Majesty has assigned another case to the Ministry of Justice"
"What case?" Liu ying was curious.
She had been at home lately and hadn't gotten any information.
"Prince Cheng was almost assassinated on his way to the Northwest. His Majesty has ordered Commander Mo and Prince Jing to work together on the case to find out the culprit"
"That's amazing!" she felt elated.
Realizing she may have been a bit too excited about a prince's assassination, she adjusted her tone, "Since Prince Jing is working on the case and I'm part of his team, does that mean I get to work on the case?" she was genuinely excited.
After the Prime Minister's case, there were hardly any interesting cases.
"That depends on your choice", Liu Feng responded.
Liu ying was confused, "what choice?"
"On the table is a list of fine scholars I carefully selected for you. Choose one and I'll let you join the case. If you refuse, you will no longer work in the Ministry of Justice and you will most definitely not join the case"
"Why should I choose? I've always worked with Prince Jing. Whether you want me to or not is not relevant", Liu ying replied defiantly.
Liu Feng let out a laugh, "it seems you have forgotten your father is the Minister of Justice. His Highness works under my ministry. I delegated Lv Chi, Lu Qian as well as you to his team. Do you think I can't replace you?" he replied and started walking out.
Liu ying was furious, "Father, you're abusing your power!"
"Yes", Liu Feng agreed with a teasing expression, "and what are you going to do about it?"
He thought for a while as though trying to come up with an answer.
Then, he let out a gasp, "oh? Nothing", he said and walked out.
"You.....you...." Liu ying could not control her fury.
She turned to Mrs. Liu, "Mother, he is bullying me!" she whined.
"Enough now. Just choose one and let it be. You can always reject them later", her mother responded.
Though upset, Liu Ying did not forget to stuff some pastries in her mouth.