"Today, I, as the emperor of Qi kingdom am very proud to announce that my son's wife, the crown prince's consort had made a large contribution in our astronomy department. She has invented a mechanism that could determine the time accurately", announced the emperor.

"Please, first consort, tell the court how this invention could tell time", the emperor voice sounded in the hall.

Bowing her head, slowly she make way to the front, "This princess understand your highness. Please bring the sundial in!". Mu Jiu Jiu had been proud to show her brilliance in front of the court.

"This is the sundial. It can tell the time by putting it in the middle of the sun, so it can cast shadow to the respective number. I have marked the number so when the shadow fall to a certain number, it indicates how many hour had passed", said Mu Jiu Jiu. She had faith in her own invention.

But a voice interrupts, "It depends on the sun light, so how about at night? What should we do then?".

"What does it matter at night? At night we just go to sleep, why should you even counting the time?!", the minister of rights deflected the question.

"So, it will not be functioning without the sun as it will not cast shadow?", suddenly Li Xi Rui interrupts.

"Yes second consort, it is the only drawback. This is functional in daylights", Mu Jiu Jiu once again educate Li Xi Rui. Even this simple thing is hard for her to understand, why is she showing her stupidity in the court room?

"But, even if it is not night time, it might be a problem though~", said Li Xi Rui slowly.

"Second consort, it's better if you didn't comment something without understanding the context", the right prime minister advised.

"Oh? Then tell me, how to resolve the problem when there is no sun? I'm talking about gloomy rainy days. When the sun is hiding between the clouds. Did first consort has any way to solve the problem?", asked Li Xi Rui. It's not like she wanted to find trouble, she couldn't help but pointing out the weak point of the invention.

"This...", Mu Jiu Jiu couldn't believe her ears. In her confidence she forgot the most important weakness in her so called invention.

"Father emperor, Jiu-er invention is indeed lacking. Maybe if we combine the usage of both the candle clocks and the sundial, we would achieve an even accurate reading of time", the crown prince interrupts.

"The crown prince are right!", several ministers agreed with the crown prince.

"Then, reward the first princess consort with 3 crates of gold, 5 silks and 2 scrolls", the emperor rewarded Mu Jiu Jiu. Mu Jiu Jiu had always been very exceptional so far, so her mistake this time is not that big, the emperor is still willing to give her a chance.

Li Xi Rui watches the drama unfold. With Mu Jiu Jiu good fortunes, even her mistake could be forgiven. Li xi Rui smile mockingly. Mu Jiu Jiu has always trying to show case how brilliant she is, but sometimes it is not a good move.

While Li Xi Rui is lost in her thought, Long Qing has been staring at her. 'She looks happy', thought Long Qing. Somehow it made him angry. 'You will come back to me eventually!', he swore. He realized, that it doesn't matter to him even if he is not her first man, it doesn't matter as long as she return to his side.

"Emperor, please let me address a growing concern of the public", the right prime minister asked for permission.

'Ah~ the weasel couldn't hold himself back anymore', thought Li Xi Rui.

"Granted", said the emperor, allowing the right prime minister, to spout nonsense.

"Second consort, it has come to our attention that the Duke hasn't been seen for a while. Is that true?", asked the weasel.

"Yes, it's true", Li Xi Rui wanted to see what nonsense this weasel wanting to say.

"Why there's rumor that Duke Li has disappeared suddenly in the middle of the night? And why hadn't anyone seen him left the residence? Isn't this suspicious?", the weasel tried to instill doubt in the court.

"Well, why would he told anyone about our family matter?", Li Xi Rui retaliated.

"This is beyond family matter Li Xi Rui! Your father is rumored to have been killed by someone. The question is, who want to kill the Duke family?", asked the right prime Minister again.

"True, who would want to kill the duke? This is all so suspicious", said another minister.

"I'd say, let's us go to the Li residence and convey an investigation!", support another minister.

"Emperor, this is not a matter for the court to pay attention to. It's the Li clan problems", said the new Left Prime Minister, Bai Wu Chen.

"Left prime minister, everyone know that you have some relation to the Duke. Why aren't you investigating this case? If there is really something happened to the Duke, there might really be threat to other noble families?", said the Right prime minister.

Li Xi Rui sneered. The right prime minister is trying to investigate a rumor? Who would have thought that he would be so concern about her family?

"Or maybe, the Duke have something to hide? Did Duke Li is trying to rebel? He might stage this disappearing act to try and fake his death. He might secretly colluding with the enemy for revenge", the Right prime minister trying to make the case bigger and bigger.

"Pfftt... This princess here didn't realize that the right prime Minister is really a good story teller", teased Li Xi Rui. She had been waiting for this weasel to exposed himself and now he is delivering his head to be chopped on his own.

"Li Xi Rui! Be serious! You might be beheaded if your clan really is rebelling!", the right prime Minister is riled up. He didn't have time to argue with a little girl. He just wanted to raid the Li residence!

Long Jie clenched his fist. How dare that wretched man shout at his Xi-er?! Lucky for him, they are in court and he must maintain a certain persona.

"Be quiet! At the very least, I am still a princess consort! A family member of the imperial family. I advised you to not be rude. I am innocent until you could bring out the evidence~", Li Xi Rui couldn't believe that she had to teach a certain minister about manner.

"Quiet! Right prime minister remember who you are! Don't overstep your boundaries. As the matter of Duke Li, a thorough investigation should take place", said the Emperor.

"But emperor, if we didn't raid the residence, the evidence might have long been gone!", the right prime minister doesn't want to give up.

"Right prime minister!", the emperor is on his last bit of patience.

"Emperor, why don't we just let the Right prime minister to do what he want, least he tried to pin a crime against the Li clan again. But, may this princess ask for a favor?", Li Xi Rui is asking for a favor from the emperor.

The emperor look at Li Xi Rui in contemplation. Should he grant her a favor?

"It's best for Second princess consort to state the favor first", Bai Wu Chen lend a hand.

"Since the Right prime Minister is very sure to pin a crime against my family, then this princess need a higher up to be a witness in this raid", said Li Xi Rui.

"Audacious!", the right prime Minister didn't want to give in.

"And who is this higher up would be?", Bai Wu Chen interrupts.

"It should be the Emperor himself. Who else held a higher position than the right prime minister? This princess couldn't ask my husband to be a witness. Even the crown prince shouldn't be involved. As for the Left prime minister, the right prime Minister already state the relation we have. What is left should be the emperor himself", Li Xi Rui bowed her head.

Long Jie followed along. The couple bowed their head to the emperor as the ministers, crown prince and Mu Jiu Jiu stood watching.

As the emperor look at the couple in front of him. After a few more contemplation, he agreed, "Fine, Zhen will grant you this favor. In a sichen, gather in front of the palace. We will head to the Li residence together". The emperor left the court room to change his clothes. After all, he couldn't possibly going to raid someone's house with his official garment.

P/s: I always enjoyed painting but recently, I don't feel that satisfaction. It feels like I'm painting because of obligation. Last month I did a portrait for my friend and I find myself unable to hold the brush. Numb- that's what I was feeling.

Since I'm in my last year of university, I might take a break from painting for a while. I hope I could find that feeling again in the future. Painting is something that I wouldn't be able to let go in this life.

Sorry for ranting. I just need to tell someone about what I'm feeling.