In the carriage~

"Jie, I've been wanting to say this for a long time...", said Li Xi Rui slowly.

"En, what is it?", asked Long Jie.

"There is no difference for me whether I sit on the chair or on your lap. It's the same. Both are hard", Li Xi Rui protests. Every time they travel by the carriage, Long Jie wouldn't let her sit by herself. He will pick her up and let her sit on his thigh. He will say that the chair is too hard and would make her uncomfortable.

"Xi-er, there is a big difference. The chair wouldn't be able to protect you like I do. See, of you lean on me like this, wouldn't it be much more comfortable for you? And I could also protect our child", said Long Jie as he caressed her belly.

'Why is he spouting nonsense? This man obviously just wanted to eat some tofu', thought Li Xi Rui. "Shameless~", said Li Xi Rui.

"Hurm? Who is the one being shameless last night? Do you need me to remind you?", Long Jie teased Li Xi Rui.

Li Xi Rui blushes. She admits that she has been feeling unfulfilled as her pregnancy progress. Qiqi had said that this was due to her pregnancy. "Oh... Then do you want all the people to hear how you were calling me last night?", Li Xi Rui teased the shameless man back. She laughs when she saw Long Jie's ears turned red.

Her laugh is like music to his ears. He tighten his hold on her, 'You could only be mine in this life', thought Long Jie. He is a possessive lover. But so does Li Xi Rui. For her ,someone who belongs to her, could only be hers. It wasn't until a crisis in the future will make her realized that she has long considered Long Jie as hers.

"Jie, have you ever thought about what will happen if I insist on pursuing the crown prince?", asked Li Xi Rui.

"Xi-er, you wouldn't", replied Long Jie. 'Naturally, I have many ways to ensure that you and him will never become us', Long Jie is happily hugging his wife.

'If only you knew', she thought.

"Xi-er, how did you know that the emperor would believe your lies?", asked Long Jie. Long Jie didn't have any attachment to the emperor. For him, the emperor is just his benefactor.

"I don't. It was just a gamble. I was gambling whether the emperor remembered the old days. He has done everything to suppress my family when my father has been nothing but loyal to him", said Li Xi Rui. She hates the imperial family.

"And if the emperor didn't believe you? What would you do?", asked Long Jie. He is curious to what his little lioness schemed.

"If the emperor didn't believe me, then...", Li Xi Rui turns her head and touches Long Jie's nose. "My husband would naturally have a backup plan. If not, he would become a poor widow after being married for only a couple of weeks", Li Xi Rui is doing a good job in hugging Long Jie's thigh. She would leave the small details to him without informing him first.

Long Jie smile. She is indeed becoming brazen after being married. What Li Xi Rui said is true. He had prepare a back up plan if her plan failed. He would protect her and stand behind her like a good husband.

For Li Xi Rui, it was just a matter of trust. She trusts Long Jie. They have an agreement.

"En, I really did have a back up plan", he agreed.

"Jie, wouldn't it be nice for us to just leave the capital? Maybe then... maybe then our life would not be as complicated", said Li Xi Rui. 'Maybe then I could try to love you...' she left this sentence unsaid. If only she didn't fall in love with the crown prince. If only she try to get along with Long Jie in the first place, maybe her horror past would not even happen. Long Jie is not as bad as she originally thought.

"Xi-er, maybe in the future we could disappear from the capital. But for now, it is not possible. I am the second prince, it's my duty to support my brother before his ascension. Besides, the phantom sect is keeping an eye to Li clan. They're getting impatient. It's important to act oblivious", advised Long Jie. "For now, being in the Qilin sect would only make them cautious and increase their guard".

"I understand. The right prime Minister might be one of his man. We cannot let him be", said Li Xi Rui. If the prime minister is in cahoot with the phantom sect, then it explained his attitude. He must be anxious to search for the orb. Since being stealthy failed, then he did it openly. "Jie, burn the main quarter!", Li Xi Rui is determine to destroy the secret compartment in the study room. At least, it can throw the enemy off track for a while.

"Are you sure? It is your maiden home. The place where you grew up", Long Jie didn't want Li Xi Rui to be sad.

"It is just a house. It didn't matter", Li Xi Rui is determine to burn the main quarter. She believes that her father and mother would not be mad at her.

"Jie-Yi, you heard the madam", said Long Jie to the shadow.

"Yes!", Jie-Yi efficiently flew to carry out the matter personally. He has long learned that the sect madam is the most important person in their master's heart. So, it's better for him to personally carry out the order.

Not long after, the main quarter of the Li residence is fiercely engulf in the fire. With no one present in the residence, the main quarter burns to the ground.

When the news reached the emperor's ear, he shut himself in the imperial study. No one knows what is on his mind.

With the news, the Duke and Madam Li has never been seen again. No one could be sure if the Duke and Madam is alive or dead. Only the emperor is sure that the Duke has perished along the fire. As for Li Xi Rui and Li Mu Han, both of them never said anything or even held a funeral for their parents. It further escalate the confusion of the people in the capital.

Meanwhile in Qilin Sect~

"That stinky brat! He dare to hide such a big thing from us?", said Duke Li in displeasure. He is wearing a half brown mask similar to Long Jie's.

"What are you scolding our son in law for? Wasn't this your chance to achieve your dream? Didn't you had always wanted to be a masked hero from Jianghu?", scolded Madam Li.

*Cough* "That was when I was still a stinky brat myself. I'm now an old man. How could I compete with the martial arts masters?", complained the Duke.

"Husband, you are being appointed as an adviser. You are not required to duel with the masters. Silly man~", said Madam Li. After they had left the Li residence, most of the loyal servants had been located in the Qilin sect. Long Jie had come clean with his identity. Her husband has not stop nitpicking him since then.

*Sigh* "I just want Xi-er to have a regular life. With his identity, it would be difficult", said Duke Li. He didn't want much. He just want Li Xi Rui to be happy.

"Then, do you want them to divorce? Do you want your grandchild to grow up without a father?", asked madam Li. In fact, she knows that deep down her husband really like their son in law.

"What?!!! It's just a couple of weeks and Xi-er is pregnant?! When has you realized?", asked the duke. Wasn't this just a bit too early?

"Well, she has been pregnant since before the wedding", madam Li simply said the sentence as if she is talking about the weather.

"That stinky boy!!!", roared the Duke. Since then, the Duke has been treating Long Jie as if he owes him a large sum of debt.

'Like father, like daughter~', thought madam Li. Where else would she inherit her childishness if not from her father?

************************************

Meanwhile, during the Raid in Li residence~

Jie Er: Chief, do I really need to? *Defiant eyes*

Jie Yi: This is the master's order. Besides, madam Li is a beautiful woman. Why? Are you displeased? *Questioning eyes*

Jie Er: But, why should I be the one disguised as a woman? Why not the other? *Pitiful eyes*

Jie Yi: Have you look at them? *Looking at the other shadow guards*

Jie Er: *Look at the other shadow guard* [manly and Bulky]

*Look at himself* [Thin and delicate]

*sad eyes* But why couldn't I be the Duke? He is thin.

Jie Yi: I'll naturally be the Duke and you'll be Madam Li. *Narrowed eyes*

Handed Jie Er the skin mask

Jie Yi: Beside, you look beautiful like this. *Mysterious eyes*

Other shadow guard: *Nodding heads* Yes, Jie Er look the most pretty.

Jie Er: But I don't want to be pretty! I am a man! *Crying*

Other shadow guard: *Doubtful eyes*

Alas, it was Jie Er's lost. Long Jie's back up plan for the shadow guard to disguise as Li Xi Rui's parents is useless.

Jie Er: *crying in the corner* Hateful Emperor! Hateful right prime minister! I wouldn't have to disguise as a woman if not for you!

Jie Si: *eyes looking at Jie Er* He does look pretty in that dress.

Jie Yi: *slapped Jie Si's head* There are bugs inside your head. Thanked me later. *Flew away*

Jie Si: *blinking confusedly* Inside?
*Turning head to look at Jie Er* Eh? Where is that little beauty go?

While Jie Si is looking for Jie Er, Jie Yi has already kidnapped the little beauty.

Jie Er: No, no! Why are you stripping me chief? *Trembling eyes*

Jie Yi: I'm helping you change your clothes. *Fierce eyes*

Jie Er: I can do it by myself~ *desperately hanging on to the dress*

Jie Yi: No! I am more efficient *slapped Jie Er's hand away*

In the end, little Jie Er has lost more than just his dignity as a man.

P/s: In the middle of nowhere~ (this is where I have my class for a couple of weeks). I'm writing this chapter in the bus, since it took nearly 1 hour to go to this place. Yay for not wasting time and being productive!