“Father, we should stop these kind of rumors. What would happen if the emperor heard the public opinion? Wouldn’t that be too late father?”, Li Mu Han couldn’t just watch her father’s status as the left prime minister crumble to nothing.

“Mu Han, you shouldn’t talk like that about the emperor! It is a capital offense!”, the Left Prime Minister still have confidence in the Emperor. He had been serving as the left prime minister for more than 20 years. He had been the teacher to the crown prince and never commit any wrong doings. The emperor wouldn’t be that heartless to forsake his effort. ‘The Emperor would uphold justice. He would make a wise decision for the country’, he thought to himself.

“Father, when would you stop believing him? I understand that you and the emperor have been through thick and thin together, but please just open your eyes”, Li Mu Han’s tone almost begging. ‘Why would father refused to see the truth?’, Li Mu Han thought. True, the Emperor regards his father as a loyal subject. But it is also true how bad he had treated his loyal subject. He decreed an engagement to the crown prince, but when the crown prince wanted to break the engagement, he had easily retracted that decree. True, the Emperor trust his father. But it is also true he had believed in those rumors about the loyal subject’s daughter. When someone better than Li Xi Rui appeared, the emperor tried to engage his treasured son to that lady. 

His most loyal subject’s only son is sent to the border and couldn’t see his family for a long time. Wouldn’t the wise emperor know how dangerous the border is? If any mishap happened, wouldn’t Li Mu Han perished and buried the future of the Li Clan? Really, such a ‘wise’ Emperor. But is the Emperor really do treasure the Left Prime Minister? His action said otherwise.

“Enough Mu Han!”, the Left Prime Minister reprimanded his son. How could he not guess what would happen? Is he the one serving more than 20 years as the Left prime minister could be so blind? What he did was just to stop Li Mu Han from committing a crime against the Emperor.  He just need to hear the definite sentence from the Emperor. He ‘must’ trust the Emperor even though his own heart is in chaos.

Sighing, Li Mu Han relented. His father might be kind but once he chooses to believe in someone, he will do it till the end. Until the other person said it in front of his face.  “I’m sorry father. But I am just worried about you. You had sacrifice everything for the country, but if it comes to fruition, you might need to resign”, he reminded the left prime minister again.

“Let’s believe in the emperor”, the left prime minister left his son alone. He didn’t want to worry his son. Li Mu Han had just arrived home after a few years at the border. He just hopes his daughter wouldn’t have heard the rumors. Wouldn’t she be devastated by then?

But as if refusing his prayer, the heaven decided to do the opposite of his wish. Li Xi Rui had come back to the capital escorted by the second prince and QiQi. Along the way while in the carriage, all they could hear is the hottest rumor going around like skewered meat on top of the fire.

‘Would the forth event come true after all?’, Li Xi Rui is worried. Her father, the left prime minister has dedicated his whole life for the people of Qi kingdom. But the people now are eager to get rid of him to a person with coming from a commoner background.

Sensing Li Xi Rui’s agitation, Long Jie said, “Don’t worry too much. Your father is not that fragile”. After getting close to his future father in-law, what Long Jie have understand the most is the said person character. He might have a temperament like a little lamb, but his cunningness is akin to a fox. But even a fox in a lamb skin would lose all his claws after being betrayed. He hopes the Emperor would make a wise decision.

“Long Jie, would we be alright?”, Li Xi Rui asked. This is the first time she showed her concerned face to him.  What she most scared about is the event that is taking place after her father’s removal. In her previous life, her father and brother will be killed by assassins. Will nothing change after all?

“Jie, what if they knew?”, Li Xi Rui asked. What if they knew that the orb in their hand is a fake? She is scared. She is truly scared. She didn’t want to see her family die again. How could she cope with it the second time around? Clenching her fist, she tries to calm herself down.

“It would be alright”, Long Jie hold her in his arm. “I have someone inside. Don’t worry”, he caressed her back. Putting his palm behind her head, he directed it towards his chest. “I would protect you and everyone. I promise. Trust me”, he whispered with a low tone.

Inhaling the familiar scent, Li Xi Rui buried her head on his hard chest. She wanted to trust him. She really does. Would it be alright this time? Would he be enough to protect them? Still, she wanted to trust. So far, after her reincarnation, Long Jie had done nothing but supporting her. He had changed she realized. He no longer tries to find faults with her. He no longer bickered with her. ‘I will trust you’, she thought.

“Thank you”, she whispered back. Her voice shook with emotion. Rising her head, she repeated the same thing again but with a clear voice,” Thank you”. Suddenly she pecks his lips as a sign of her trust in him. As a gift for his kind intention. After pecking him, she buried her head on his chest again. Li Xi Rui is feeling a bit shy for her impulsiveness.

Long Jie smile. Though the kiss is not their first, it is the first time she initiates it. The kiss might not be because she loves him, but he still felt good about it.  He continues to caress her back. He didn’t dare to do anything. ‘This is enough’, he thought. He would do anything for her and for their family. For them, he would sacrifice everything.

This is Long Jie’s true color. Once he decided to something, he will pursue it to the end. Only the matter regarding Li Xi Rui could shake his will. Be it the past lifetime or this life.