A day passed and Jiang Meng was back early in the morning with a letter from Mi An.

❝Rest now, Jiang Meng, you must be tired.❞

❝Yes, Miss, I will sleep for 3 hours then we can start planning.❞Jiang Meng smiled tired.

❝Sleep as much as you need, I don't want you to get sick.❞

❝Thanks for worrying miss...❞ Jiang Meng said as his eyes closed and he fell with his head on Xu Yang's shouldered, fast asleep.

Xu Yang touched his shoulder, but noticed he is asleep. She placed his head on her lap and looked at him for a while. His long black hair that was tied in a high pony tail was a little messy and some hairs we're covering his face. Xu Yang put her hand on his cheek and moved the hair from his face. Jiang Meng fell asleep with a smile on his face, this made Xu Yang giggle a little.

She slowly reached for the letter and unfolded the paper. Mi An said she will help Xu Yang with whatever she need so she send one of her best servants at the border to wait for the three and help them. Mi An also said she contacted Xu Jiang and told him about the situation and he immediately agreed to help Xu Yang cross safely.

❝Brother.... ❞Xu Yang whispered smiling.

She was happy thinking about meeting her oldest brother after so long. Maybe after a while she could invite her brothers in Saju to spend some time together. She wondered what they were doing now.

Xu Yang continued to look at Jiang Meng's peaceful face and sleep took over her as well. After 3 hours, Jiang Meng woke up and looked around confused, he knew he was tired, but to fell asleep on Xu Yang's lap, he couldn't help, but blush.

❝Miss.❞ he whispered looking at Xu Yang sleeping face.

Xu Yang moved a little in her sleep. Jiang Meng was so close to her that he could feel her breath on his cheek. He wondered what would happen if he kissed Xu Yang now, will she feel it? Will she wake up and get mad at him? Not thinking anymore he looked at her lips and softly kissed her. Xu Yang felt the warm lips on hers and opened her eyes immediately thinking it was Zhang Wan. To her surprise, her eyes met Jiang Meng's closed one's and her panic dissappeared.

❝Did I wake you?❞ Jiang Meng softly asked after breaking the contact between their lips.

❝No... well yes. I needed to wake up anyways.❞Xu Yang said looking in his eyes.

They were still close to each other, Xu Yang could feel his breath on her lips and her heart started to beat fast as she realized they just kissed. She shared her first kiss with Jiang Meng.

Jiang Meng looked in her big black eyes and smiled. She was adorable, how her cheeks became pink just now and how she just looked in his eyes so sweet. It didn't help his longing for her.

❝Why you must be so adorable, Miss... ❞he whispered.

Xu Yang put her hand on his cheek, which startled Jiang Meng a little.

❝Did you slept well?❞ she asked in a quiet voice.

❝Yes, did Miss slept well?❞

❝You can call me Yang...❞ she said looking away.

❝But I'm miss's servant.❞

❝Friend. You are my close friend, not a servant.❞ Xu Yang said serious and looked at him.

Jiang Meng's heart had gone crazy and his ears were a deep shade of red.

❞Yang.❞ he called her name and smiled.

❝Yes?❞

❝You're so beautiful, Yang.❞ he added and gently pinched her nose.

Xu Yang covered her red nose and opened her mouth to scold him, but her mouth was immediately covered by his again. She made a sound when she felt her back touch the bed and closed her eyes. Jiang Meng continued to kiss her until they needed air.

❝My lips hurt... ❞Xu Yang complained and looking at Jiang Meng.

❝I'm sorry. ❞he said kissing her cheek smiling.

❝Let's talk about the plan now.❞ Xu Yang suggested.

Jiang Meng nodded his head and got up helping Xu Yang to get up as well. Xu Yang called Ji An and dismissed everyone.

❝Me and Ji An came with a plan and I would like to hear your opinion. We will leave at night, me and Ji An will dress in men clothing and we will buy 2 horses. I think we can make it out of the capital before they notice we left and after we will buy a carriage filled with hay. You will drive the carriage and me and Ji An will hide in the hay in case the imperial guards may see through our disguise. At the border, my brother will help us pass and once on Saju land, Mi An's servant will help us.❞Xu Yang explained.

❝Do you think taking the main road to the border will be safe? The Emperor isn't stupid, he will know that's the first place you'll run to.❞

❝I know, but it's a speed batle. If we can reach my brother first then we are safe. Being the first to leave the Capital we have a bigger chance to reach there first. But if he catches with us we will have to fight our way out and we can't fight so many imperial guards...❞Xu Yang said realizing how dangerous it can be if they are caught.

❝I think taking the forest route may be a better choice, if they reach us we can hide somewhere until it's safe to move again.❞Jiang Meng said.

❝Yes, you are right. Let's go that way then.❞Xu Yang said nodding her head.

❝Tomorrow morning his majesty has a meeting with the officials, maybe that will slow him down. ❞Ji An said.

❝Less likely... he would leave the meeting without a second thought. We can rely on luck and hope the servants take some time before noticing I'm not here.❞ Xu Yang said exhaling loud.

❝Everything will be alright, I will protect you, Yang. I would fight the Emperor if I need to for your safety. ❞

❝Think about yourself too, Jiang Meng. Don't do dangerous things.❞

❝If you get hurt there is no myself. I will do anything to get you out of here, Yang. Let's pack up now, tonight we'll leave this damned place.❞ Jiang Meng pat Xu Yang's head before leaving.

❝Miss? You and Jiang Meng are closer than before... I sense something happened.❞ Ji An said playfully.

❝Is there anything you don't notice?❞

❝No! I know everything about miss and now, Miss has eyes for Jiang Meng! Miss's eyes are glowing when miss looks at him.❞ Ji An said laughing.

❝Shush, Ji An. Don't tease me. Let's start packing now.❞Xu Yang said standing up and looking around the room.

She packed her most important books, some clothes and of course, money. She took some jewelry as well, but only the one's she came in the Palace with, the one's her family gifted her. Xu Yang wanted to take her zheng, but it was too big and inconvenient to carry so she left it at Phoenix Palace. She chose a eunuch and ordered him to carry some chests (with gold) to her family house and tell General Xu it's from her. She took enough money with them, taking all of the money she collected in Saju and money she had saved it's too much to carry with them so she gave them to her family.

Ji An packed her belongings as well and the two were waiting for the night to come drinking some tea in the garden.

❝Her majesty, Empress Dowager!❞a servant announced.

Xu Yang cursed in her mind and got up to greet the Empress Dowager.

❝Sit down, child, no need for this. The last days have been busy and I couldn't spend time with you. How are you doing?❞

❝I'm fine, your majesty. Just enjoying some tea and fresh air. ❞

❝Good, you need to take good care of your body.❞

❝How is your majesty feeling? Your majesty fainted that day and spend some days in bed.❞ Xu Yang asked as she poured tea.

❝I'm good now, like every mother, my heart was crushed for my son, my poor son can't have heirs, how unfortunate he is. ❞

❝Your majesty needs to take good care of your majesty's health, his highness needs his mother here as long as the Gods allow, your majesty.❞

❝Oh, how you think about my son, perhaps is it true that your relationship with my son is going better?❞

"As if!" Xu Yang thought and faked a smile.

❝I have no feelings for his majesty.❞

❝Oh, my poor child. Can't you to understand him, child? It hurts me to see him suffer like this, only I knows how my child is suffering. He isn't a bad man, he will treat you good, I assure. He even divorced and sent back the rest of the concubines, what other things a woman can ask for, child? ❞

❝I can't force feelings, your majesty. And I don't wish to live my life unhappy.❞

❞Time will solve everything, you may not love him now, but in the future your feelings can change, child.❞

❝What if they don't and I just wasted precious time? A human's life is short, so short that today you're laughing and enjoying yourself and tomorrow you die. You never know when your time is coming so why live your life unhappy? Why must I sacrifice my life for his happiness? I've loved him for two years before we got married, did he cared about my love then? Did he cared that I was suffering seeing him not even look at me? Using me to get the throne and then let me alone in an empty Palace? ❞

Empress Dowager decided to not continue the conversation as it was useless and left, sad for her pitiful son.

❝Are you feeling alright?❞ Jiang Meng asked and sat down next to Xu Yang.

❝Yes, just a bit nervous for tonight.❞

❝It would be alright, I will get you out. ❞

❝Thank you, Jiang Meng. ❞

Jiang Meng pulled Xu Yang in his arms and hugged her close.

❝No need to thank me. We still have time until the night comes, do you wish to do anything?❞ he asked looking down at her.

Xu Yang thought for a while.

❝Let's fight! ❞

❝Fight?❞ Jiang Meng asked puzzled.

❝Yes, I've always wanted to see you fight and it would help my nervousness. A sword fight!❞

❝Alright then, let's fight. I won't go easy on you, Yang. ❞

❝Don't even think about it! I will beat your ass!❞ Xu Yang laughed and rushed to change her clothes.

After she came back, Xu Yang took a sword and looked at Jiang Meng who was smirking.

Xu Yang was the first to attack, but before she could touch him, Jiang Meng dissappeared.

❝Huh?❞she looked around and felt her gut feelings telling her to move so she jumped back in her initial place.

Jiang Meng was in the air planning to attack her from above.

❝Impressive, didn't expected less from my miss.❞he said smiling.

❝An air attack? Damn you!❞

This time Jiang Meng attacked and Xu Yang dodged by slipping between his legs being now behind him. Jiang Meng turned immediately and their swords clashed. Both of them looked so graceful, like they were celestial beings, not humans.

❝You're beautiful, Yang.❞

❝This won't work, Jiang Meng!❞

They both jumped back and looked at each other. After more attacks that resulted in their swords clashing and a fight for who's the stronger and can push the other, they decided to drop their swords and fight without them.

Xu Yang attacked first trying to punch him, but Jiang Meng caught her punch before it touched him and with his free hand he tried to untie her hair and make seeing difficult for Xu Yang, but she dodged and leaning forwards hitting his head with hers. Both were taken back by the impact and took some seconds to recover.

❝Why would you do that? It hurts you too.❞ Jiang Meng said looking at Xu Yang.

❝You wanted to untie my hair, didn't you? Dirty!❞ she exclaimed pointing at Jiang Meng.

They laugh together and Xu Yang initiated another attack, this time she planned on grabbing his leg to push him down. She launched, caught his leg and tried pushing him, but he wouldn't fall. She looked down confused and saw Jiang Meng's feet were not touching the ground. Xu Yang stepped back with furrowed eyebrows and Jiang Meng couldn't help but laugh.

❝Your expression it's so beautiful, Yang. ❞

❝Not fair! ❞

❝I will teach you one day. Do you accept defeat?❞

❝No!❞

Xu Yang sprinted, she jumped trying to grab him by the torso to push him down to the ground, but once her body touched his, Jiang Meng flew higher in the sky.

❝What are you doing?❞ Xu Yang looked at him and grabbed onto him harder.

❝You don't know when to give up, Yang. Now you're stuck here until you accept defeat. ❞

❝Damn you! Fine! I lost!❞she said upset.

Jiang Meng smiled and kissed her while slowly landing on the ground. Their kiss lasted minutes.

❝It was very fun, we should do it again.❞ Jiang Meng said looking at Xu Yang's face.

❝Yes, I had fun. ❞she said smiling.

Outside the sun went to sleep while they fought.

❝It's time. ❞Xu Yang said looking at the dark sky.