Chapter 648 - The Ripple in The water

The maid pours a cup of wine from the flask, she bows her head then left knowingly. At the other manor, no one would let a woman and man talk privately because they fear incurring bad rumors but this is Hei Shen territory, no one dares to speak ill about their master especially their precious young madam because they knew something much worst than death is waiting for their carelessness.

Yuan Shao lifts the wine cup he cheers to show his courtesy before he drinks the wine. Lory nod in politeness then sip her tea, she notices Yuan Shao look slightly agitated, he wants to say something but didn't know where to start. Lory amused by his nervousness, the general who used to be brave and valiant is fidgeting in front of her.

"Master Yuan, does Yue Ying still refused to meet you?" Lory decide to break the awkwardness first.

Yuan Shao looks relieved because Lory brought up the matters first "Ah, yes….I think I make her really angry right now" he is quite embarrassed when he admits his mistakes.

Lory sigh then she put down her teacup on the table gently she looks at Yuan Shao with worry looks "Well, the problem is a bit….worst than that"

"What do you mean?" Yuan Shao's heart feel tight all of the sudden.

"She got…second thought" 

"About what?"

"About the relationship"

It feel like a mountain press his c.h.e.s.t, he suddenly feel it hard to breathe "But….there's nothing between me and Miss sanguan Li Ye, this is all misunderstanding, I never betray her!" Yuan Shao clarifies himself in front of Lory like a kid confess his wrongdoing in front of his mother, it is quite funny coming from a large man like him.

Lory raised her hand while hiding her smile "I know – I know, I think deep down Yue Yin also trust you but the situation is a bit complicated because of her status" Lory folded her hand on the table as she leans forward "Do you ever think what would happen after you propose Yue Yin? Would you become the emperor? Is that mean your status will be above her? how about harem, you might not want it but there would be a situation where you were forced to accept women for advantages?"

Yuan Shao's faces turn ashen, he never thought it that far before. It true that the emperor accepts women from official family to strengthen his position, there also women who were sent as a tribute from a foreign country, as the emperor he must accept the women as a token of sincerity, and many other situations that would involve women where the emperor can't avoid to accept them. 

Yuan Shao was served Liu Yan kingdom and his family was also involved in this type of situation so he is quite familiar with how intricate the problem is, and Ming Yue Yin as an Empress must act for the kingdom's greater good so she can't act like a jealous woman.

"Now you understand how she felt right now" Lory let out a long heave.

Yuan Shao look befuddled, all this time he just thought of how to raise his position so he could marry her but he never ponders what would happen after that, perhaps he avoids thinking further because he knows there's a lot of hurdles waiting in their way.

"What do you think, Madam Zhao? Should I leave Yue Yin then?" he said bitterly.

Lory tilted her head "What do you think? If you ask me, soon or later Yue Yin should marry someone, she is the last of her family so procreation is unavoidable, either she marries you or marries someone else" Lory shrug.

Yuan Shao clenched his fist until his nail digs his skin but he didn't feel the pain in his hands only in his heart, he can't imagine Ming Yue Yin become someone else woman. He liked her the moment he saw her, he was attracted by her strength, bravery, and kindness then he falls in love with her cheeky smiles, her sarcastic words, and her unrestrained laugh.

Before he realizes he already filled his mind, he searches for her figures in a crowd even though he knows he would never find her. They say distance would make their heart waver but is not the same for him, the wider their distance the clearer her face in his memory, he knows he can't lose her.

"I can not do without her" he mutter.

"Is not me you need to be reassured, you must think about this, I know you still have a lot of matter at Zhuan Dong continent, you want to unite the whole tribes and ascend yourself as the king of all the tribes, I guess you do this for Yue Yin isn't it?"

He nods firmly "Yes"

"Then what would you gives to be with her?" 

"Everything!" he said with determined eyes.

Her smile grew wider "And everything you must to give, are you willing?" she look at him with a solemn look.

Yuan Shao's eyes widen, his heart beating loudly then slowly his heart calms again. He understands what he must do right now, he looks at Lory with a profound expression "I finally understand why Yue Yin respect you very much"

He raised from his sit then cupped his fist courteously and bow deeply "Thank you for your guidance, her highness" he had heard Lory's story from Ming Yue Yin but it never sank in his heart, only now he realize she is as wise as people said.

Lory never realizes that one day changes the not only faith of one kingdom she also change the face of society who treat women not more than a tool, she changes how people perceived women and how women value themself, they begin to question everything and just like a water drop on the hard stone, slowly but surely it changes the faith of a lot of women at Liang Zu kingdom and gradually reaches to another country. 

Lory's existance is like a small ripple in the vast ocean, and how far that ripple goes not even Lory herself would know.

[Act like a cupid again?] Girsha land on the table smoothly.

[I know you do…]

___________________________________

Meanwhile, at The sanguan manor one of the courtyards, Bai Xue eyebrows are knitted so closely it could fly on it. Her maidservant said that Lu Xin didn't touch her soup he not even bring in the soup bowl and left it on the table where she left it. Her face turns crimson and she gritted her teeth in anger.

Every time she gets one step closer he would push her three steps back 'HOW DARE HIM!'

Zhao Li Xin didn't care, he told Mong Liu to tell Bai Xue, a servant, to pick up the soup at the garden and remind her not to bring another food for him, Mong Liu said his master is a picky eater and very hard to please do they better give up, the maid face turn from red to dark she thought Zhao Li Xin is so smug he didn't know what he's missing.

Mong Liu stifles watching the maid left in harrumph. He is not lying though, Zhao Li Xin is hard to please, although he's not that picky eater, but he doesn't have favorite food either. As if he eats just to sustain his body and after his cultivation raised he didn't need to eat too much and she becomes less and less to eat, the chef in their manor is barely cooking until young madam come.

The young madam turns out to be a foodie and she loves eating dessert, the chef is overjoyed because he finally has something to do. His Lord habit also change, he feel bad to leave young madam to eat alone he decide to accompany her whenever he can and that's how things become normal again.

Mong Liu already forgets about the angry maid, at this time he was hand a report from Mong Ki. He was sent to investigate the Celestial immortal sect and especially inquire everything about Zi Quan Mei, from the report said that Zi Quan Mei was not born as a talented woman as she is right now at least not until she reaches the age of thirteen and suddenly her cultivation increased tremendously.

The elder of the Zi family said it was normal since her talent probably awakened when she gets older, everyone is suspicious but there's no concrete evidence so the matter is quiet down, but of course, Zhao Li Xin is not convinced.

The situation is similar to Lao Min Na, although Zi Quan Mei is not a waste, however for her talent suddenly increased to leaped and bound is not normal. Could be there's an external power who helps her become a peerless genius like this?

"Is there anything that happened to Zi Quan Mei before she reaches thirteen years old?" Zhao Li Xin rubs her finger while he immersed in his thought.

"Not, according to brother Mong Ki milord," said mong Liu.

Zhao Li Xin tapped his finger on the table a few times then say: "Tell him to investigated is there anything that happened before she reaches thirteen, I want to know everything no matter how insignificant it is" 

"Yes, Milord!" Mong Liu bows his head.