"That just exaggerated rumor" Zu Gong stubbornly denied.
"Perhaps" General Fu shrug his shoulder indifferently "But the rumor also said the Sixth prince have no blood related with the Royal family of Jiang Wei, the royal family have mistreated him for years, I don't know why Long Ming left them off but maybe he just wants whatever debt he may had but if you look for trouble to the Jiang Wei Kingdom, Long Ming might give you a hand"
"You!!" Zu gong pointing at General Fu "You lowly General dare to humiliate me, did you not fear Heavenly jade pavilion? I can kill you easily like a dog!!" he screams furiously at General Fu.
"General Fu minds your word!" the emperor reprimand him harshly.
"Yes, General Fu, Heavenly jade pavilion is our Kingdom honor guest you must no be rude with them" the old official who wants to curry favor the emperor and Zu Gong, scold general Fu, in normal situation no one dare to refute general fu because his strong position in the Kingdom but lately General Fu lose the emperor favor soon or later after the emperor took the tiger tally from him, general fu would be tiger without teeth.
"Pardon Master Zu, general Fu is old now so he got muddle head sometimes" other official joined in to beat General Fu.
Zu Gong bad mood slightly lifted, the Emperor also relaxed when Zu Gong stop angry but Fu Xiao Jin watched the coward emperor and the useless official he disheartened, he never realizes the beloved kingdom that he fought for with blood and sweat had gone this low he feel ashamed because his negligence this happening under his owned nose, it's all because this Fake Emperor!
"I m may be old but I think the one who is muddle head is all of you" General Fu sneered "Hei Shen sect have eyes everywhere, we don't know anything about them, Hei Shen sect always one step or five steps in front of us did you all never wonder how? We are in the plain sight while they are in the dark, tell me which one of us who got more advantages"
The hall becomes silent, they busy to bootlicking they forget the one they against is Hei Shen sect what if General Fu right, what if Hei Shen sect people report their words to Long Ming, that cruel man can kill beautiful woman without bat his eyes moreover an old man like them, the officials look each other they all in fright each one of them look pale as sheet.
"Why you all so afraid, Hei Shen is only one sect, the heavenly jade pavilion also powerful sect we….we're not afraid!" he said bravely but then after he said that his eyes scrutinize around him as if he fears if Hei Shen sect spies listening to his words.
General Fu secretly rolls his eyes, Zu Gong words would be convincing if only his hands stop trembling, is he got sudden Parkinson or something?
___________________________________
The news about the missing first princess is shocked the citizen of Liangzu's kingdom, they don't know how the unconscious princess suddenly missing from the palace and who wants to hurt the first Princess who rarely out of the Palace.
people also shocked by the number of people who died inside the forbidden palace, so many people enter but only a few people who managed to get out, even the stronger sect young master and misses from heavenly jade pavilion didn't survive.
So many happened in one day, so many rumors spread among the people and no one can confirm which one is real or fake, people begin to speculate but without proving it become another meaningless rumor.
Meanwhile, Ninjing Manor is peaceful as ever as if everything happened outside it got nothing to do with them, Zhao Li Xin left everything to his people while he busy cultivating, Lory didn't bother him although he finds Zhao Li Xin a bit weird lately, she thought it got something to do with Lianzu or heavenly Jade pavilion matter, so she didn't question him.
On the evening Zhao Li Xin still not return so she decides to bother the 'Brat' who stay in the guest courtyard, it's been three days since she awake from her deep slumbered, in front of Ming Yue Yin room a bunch of maid leave with empty tray, they bow politely when they meet Lory, she nods then smile back at them but then she wonders what is that 'Brat' doing?
In front of Ming Yue Yin room, she knocked on the door softly, a second later she hears noise from inside the room.
"Come…in"
Loy frown but she ignores the weird answer she slowly opens the door when she's welcome by unladylike manner of Ming Yue Yin stuffing her mouth with dumpling, her mouth is cover with oil and her sleeve is stained with sauce and vinegar but still she smiles at Lory innocently but Lory hope she didn't have to.
Lory didn't comment sighs, she has long used to this 'brat' weird behavior so she's not bothered with Ming Yue Yin antics, on the other hand, Ming Yue Yin munches her dumpling in haste before she swallows everything in one gulp.
"Just to be noticed, I won't help you if you choked" Lory raised her eyebrows.
Ming Yue Yin then gulped a cup of tea before she breathes freely "This dumpling is good!" she widens her eyes with astonished expression.
Lory see three empty boxes of dumpling on the table then she makes a sarcastic comment "I know"
Ming Yue Yin ignore Lory rude replied, they bickering is one of the things she appreciated the most she knew when she's back to her palace and reclaimed her position she won't have another person who will treat her genuinely like Lory, once again she must wear the Princess mask and acted gracefully like how a princess should if she could choose she never want to return.
"So, how are you feeling?" Lory pulls the chair opposite of Ming Yue Yin to sits.
"Other than my smelling sense, I'm fine" she forces her smiles while stuffed another dumpling in her mouth, After Jin Hao diagnosed Ming Yue Yin body he said although her body is fine without any damaged or malfunction but the remains of the drugs that she consumed for years still inside her and if she wants to increase her cultivation speed she needs to detox all the drugs from her system.
Ming Yue Yin who eager to be strong in a hurry agree without hesitation but she regrets immediately when she knew she would be boiled like an egg for ten hours in a tub filled with strong smelled medicine, Lory can't stand the awful smelled, without sympathy she wish her good luck and leave her behind in a swift.
Ming Yue Yin who was abandoned by her 'Aunt'can only cry inside the smelly bathtub, and sadly the smelled is getting stronger after a few hours. No one dares to get close to her place except Jin Hao female assistant who already numb with the smell.
After the smelly bath Ming Yue Yin needs a special elixir to get rid of the smell so she was forced to soak to a tub for another hour with the special elixir until her smell dissipated, the dignified princess can do anything but comply.
"At least you can cultivate normally now, what stage are you know?" Lory cheers her up out of guilt for leaving her but she just can't stand the smell.
"Master level at peak stage" Ming Yue Ying said indifferently while munching her dumpling.
Lory stunned "How can it be so fast?"
"I don't know, it's your 'Gift' after all" she shrugs her shoulder.
"It's not my 'Gift', it's the trinity 'Gift'" Lory correcting her.
"Is it different?" Ming Yue Yin surprised.
"It does, I'm still not powerful enough to 'Gift' you anything" Lory raised her eyebrows.
Ming Yue Yin wiped her mouth with the clean towel "This 'Gift' is really magical" her eyes twinkles and she grinned widely.
Lory laugh "I want to say the same thing about cultivation"
Suddenly Girsha barged in from the window, she perches on the table and snatched the grapes on the bowl. Ming Yue Yin surprised while Lory flicks Girsha's head for being rude.
"This is Girsha right, your guardian" Ming Yue Yin suddenly exclaimed excitedly, when she dreams about Lory's past she also saw Girsha on it, she saw how magnificent Girsha's real appearance and how amazing his power is. The term of a guardian is never used for a beast in this world because the beast who is forced or chooses to be a contractual beast their position is below their master, they're relationship is more like a slave and the master.
Ming Yue yin only knew the terms of a guardian is because the dream she had, and she knew the relationship between Girsha and Lory is deeper than a slave-master relationship, Girsha is her guardian, teacher, friend and family they not bound by contract but they are bound by a promised.
"Lord Girsha, this humble princess greeting you earnestly" Ming Yue Yin raised from her seat and bow in front of Girsha courteously. She might not know the whole story about Girsha but in her short dream, everyone in Lory's world treats Girsha with respect even the King himself so she didn't feel wrong to bow in front of a bird, A powerful bird who can destroy a country with hurricane and tornado.
[You always keep the weird one around you isn't it?] Girsha teased her
[I guess so…] Lory sighs, she pinches dumpling from the box with a chopstick then stuffed it in her mouth.