Chapter 72 - Question

When Lory and Zhao Li Xin went outside, the venerable crown prince still kneeling on the ground his face cover with sweat and white as sheet and there's a trickle of fresh blood on the corner of his lips, he wants to get up before Zhao Li Xin see him but sadly his feet didn't listen to his command, the other expert if not faint they all at the same state like Zhao Mu Fan.

When they see Zhao Li Xin approach them, their body tremble profusely they can't hide they fear anymore, Zhao Li Xin is a lot stronger than the rumor is at first they though Zhao Li Xin can't be stronger than heavenly King level at the beginner stage but who could have thought he is at the sovereign level, when the last time sovereign cultivator appear in this continent, they not dare to look in to Zhao Li Xin eyes.

Zhao Li Xin left Lory with Mong Ki and Mong Yi, he stands in front of Zhao Mu Fan who is still kneeling on the ground with indifferent expression, while Zhao Mu Fan feels his world upside down the man who supposed to be beneath him and ridiculed by him now looking down at him, it's even more painful because Zhao Li Xin eyes showing nothing while looking at him as if he is a pebble on the street.

"You...you hide well" Zhao Mu Fan glare with contempt, he can't stand the way Zhao Li Xin looking at him.

"It's easier this way" Zhao Li Xin said casually.

"What do you want?" Zhao Mu Fan didn't believe Zhao Li Xin didn't have a hidden agenda coming to the Liangzu Kingdom

Zhao Li Xin's face unperturbed "Nothing," he said shortly, he got personal business but nothing like Zhao Mu fan thought.

Zhao Mu Fan scoffed disbelieve "Don't lie to me, aren't you here for Liangzu princess too, don't pretend you not interested, you want to become Prince again isn't it without it you just lowly commoner?" Zhao Mu Fan taunts him, he knew Zhao Li Xin lost his title and become commoner he believed Zhao Li Xin never reconcile about his situation and try to get back his title again.

Zhao Li Xin looking at Zhao Mu Fan indifferently "I'm a Hei Shen sect Master…?" Zhao Li Xin begins to wonder if he hit Zhao Mu fan too hard until he becomes an idiot.

"If I want a tittle or a fief or even a throned….what makes you think I can have all that with my own power...Hei Shen power?" Zhao Li Xin smirked, he doesn't need to ruin the Jiang Wei Kingdom if that old fool makes this stupid crown prince as an Emperor Jiang Wei Kingdom would be ruined by Zhao Mu Fan himself.

"Ain't like you, I don't need to depend on a woman to get where I am now" he quipped.

"You!!" Zhao Mu Fan knew he talks about Lao Fei Yan, he used Lao Fei Yan to strengthen his position in court with Prime minister Lao support he gains a lot of support from the high official ranking on his Kindom making his position as a 'crown prince' smooth sailing.

He always thinks there's nothing wrong with using others for his own benefit but why now he feel ashamed in front of Zhao Li Xin, why he feels jealous of him.

Zhao Li Xin thought he spend too much time talking to this stupid crown prince while he supposed to spend his time with his little savior, he turns away and left Zhao Mu Fan who still kneeling on the ground.

One of the experts who regains a little bit of his strength got up and help Zhao Mu Fan to stand up, Zhao Mu Fan feel more embarrassed, when Zhao Li Xin walk alone in steady pace he needs other people to help him stand, never in his life Zhao Mu Fan feel so jealous with other people not even to Zhao Yi Chen, but in front of Zhao Li Xin he feels so useless and small, he will never let Zhao Li Xin get away with it, he promised himself someday he would make Zhao Li Xin kneeled in front of him, Zhao Mu Fan clenched his fist until his hand bleed.

Zhao Li Xin walks calmly, he smiles at Lory faintly. His fleeting smiles race her small heart she feels shy but she can't take her eyes off him, she doesn't know what happened with her why her eyes follow his every move.

Zhao Li Xin like the way she looks at him it's weird because he used to feel disgusted when a woman looking at him like that but if it's her he doesn't mind, the truth is he loves it…..love, that's the word that never crossed his mind before.

"Are you done?" Lory managed to calm her racing heartbeat before she speaks.

"I am…" he replied softly "Do you want to ride a small boat?" he suddenly struck by an idea.

'WOW, Milord learns how to be spontaneous!!' Mong Yi was cheering his Lord secretly even Mong Ki who rarely change his expression seems content with his Lord change.

Lory nodded "Let's go!" her bright mood return, she saw the small boat with thin curtains from the second floor of tea shop at that time she already noted herself to ask Zhao Li Xin to ride the boat but now Zhao Li Xin himself asking her, how good is that.

Zhao Li Xin's relief her mood lifted, he worries her mood was ruin because the disturbance from the stupid crown prince, Lory excitedly pull his hands to the side of the canal where a lot of small boats was docked.

Lory then chooses the small boat with a wooden roof on the center of the boat entrance and window cover with yellow gauze curtains inside it, there's a small wooden table and seat cover with cushion, it's amazing how this small boat could make a cozy small room on his boat.

Zhao Li Xin help her get inside the boat he worries she would fall to the river canal, Lory never rides this kinda boat before she feels so excited she can't stop smiling.

Slowly the boat leaving the docked, the man who paddles the boat is middle-aged man about fifty years old with thick beard and tan skin, he nodded courteously when Lory looking at him and Lory nod politely back at him with kind smile, immediately the middle-aged man feel this customer is far better than any customer before her who treat him like an air, all of the sudden the middle-aged mood become better.

"You always smile with a stranger…Zhao Li Xin suddenly asked

"Is that bad?" Lory covers her mouth unconsciously, she still not use to the strict custom in this world.

"No, it just odd.." he said calmly "Most women will keep their gaze from strangers especially man, they expected to be reserved and docile" there's hint ridicule toned in his word.

Lory chuckle "In my experience, I haven't seen that kinda woman around me" Lory remembers Lao Min Na, Lao Fei Yan, and Xiang Feng Ran, all of them are far from reserved and docile.

Zhao Li Xin also agree with her "That what society expected, doesn't mean that the reality is" he takes out a teapot and cup from his spatial ring and using his inner qi to boil the teapot, then he pours the tea inside the teacup for Lory, his moves are elegant, harmonious and swift, Lory was amazed just watching her even with her years training with Fredhard she still can't reach Zhao Li Xin elegant level.

Lory sip her tea slowly and the warm engulf inside her, the breeze caresses her cheek with gentle touch leaving her with water and flower scent mix together, a moment of peaceful she thought, she never knew she will have this kinda life again after all she's been through.

"My mother…."Lory said quietly, she exhales with bittersweet smiles on her face "She told me to smile when because if you sad other people would be sad when they looking at you and when you angry you will make other people angry too, so she tells me to smile so other people would smile back at you" maybe her mother teach her to be polite no one would like to see their Princess pout all the time.

"Your Mother…"

"He passed away when I'm five years old" Lory smile but her eyes look sad.

Zhao Li Xin heart aching for her "I'm sorry…." He suddenly blurted out the word Lory once said to comfort him, at that time she doesn't know why she said that but now he understands.

"Thank you, it's a long time ago so I'm okay now" Lory feels better after she hears his caring words.

"You don't have stepmother?" in Zhao Li Xinworld, he never seen a man who stay single after they lost their wife some even have multiple wifes before his wife dead and no man had stay single after they lost their wife either they married for himself or for taking care their children overall they did not stay single.

Lory giggles, she knew the custom in this world "No….." she cover her mouth to stop her giggle "My Father said he already give all his heart to my Mother and when she die she took his heart away with her, so what's the point having another woman when he had nothing to give, it's not fair for him and for that woman" lory remember what his Father said once to her, he also warned her as a Lucient they can only fell in love once in their lifetime, who knew if that a bless or cursed but no Lucient married more than once some even not married at all and give their throned to their nephew but that's how it is for thousands of years.

Lory took a glance at Zhao Li Xin her face become red then she avoid his gaze by sip more tea. While Zhao Li Xin stunned he never knew there's a man like that in the world, Lory Father sounds a lot better than any man he knows but perhaps Lory Father is commoner, nobleman was pressed by society to have a lot of women and offspring only commoner who has that kinda freedom but no matter how he looks at her, she doesn't like commoner at all.

Zhao Li Xin was left with more question about her turns out he only gain more question than answer when it coming to her.