Zhilao Mi was pacing in her chamber. After Zhiyi informed her about the court matter, she was tense. "How could Su Feng get caught? He never acted this way. Did he tell them about me as well? What about father?" She was fidgeting with her fingers in nervousness. She stopped pacing. "But if he had talked about me then, they would have taken me away by now. This means he did not say anything. I need to inform my father that Su Feng betrayed him. I need to send a message to him, but I do not know how many spies they have caught."
She went towards the floor desk and sat around it. She ground some of the ink on an inkstone and picked the brush. Dipping it into the ink, she spread a plain sheet on the table and quickly wrote a message on it. Fanning over it, she dried it and then folded the paper. "I need to meet Huo Jin. Only he can help me now. I hope he does not get caught," Zhilao Mi murmured and put the paper inside her pocket. She stood up and went towards the chaise on which she had placed the overcoat.
She picked it when Jian Guozhi entered her chamber. "Are you going somewhere?" He questioned, passing a fake smile to her.
Zhilao Mi's face turned pale. "I-I…" words did not come out of her mouth. Jian Guozhi stood behind her and helped her to wear the overcoat. "Were you going to my chamber?" He whispered in her ear.
Zhilao Mi turned and smiled faintly. "Yes. I heard the judgment from my assistant. The Crown Princess saved you. I wanted to thank her as well. I thought to go to Jian Ge's chamber, and then from there we two might go to meet the Crown Princess," stated Zhilao Mi.
"I am afraid, but the Crown Princess is tired from the entire day's activities," Jian Guozhi told Zhilao Mi. "I will take a rest in my chamber. My name got dragged into all this," Jian Guozhi sighed.
"Jian Ge, they are jealous of you. Please do not take their words to your heart," asserted Zhilao Mi.
"I am trying," Jian Guozhi replied. "You shall take your dinner in a while. I need to meet Xue as well." Zhilao Mi flinched her eyes as she heard him.
"You shall go, Jian Ge," Zhilao Mi told him. "I will meet Sister Xue in the morning," she added. Jian Guozhi nodded his head and walked out of the chamber. She heaved a sigh of relief and brought her hand to her chest. "I would not have let you go to her but today I have urgent work," she murmured.
She went towards the inner garden of her chamber and sat on the porch. The sky was turning dark, but the redness was still there. She waited for the sky to turn dark because that was the time when she could meet Huo Jin.
~~~~~
Jian Guozhi went inside the chamber of Xue Yu-Yan, where she was assisted by the maidservants. He found she had taken a bath after coming from the prison. The maidservants were drying her hair when they all heard the voice of Jian Guozhi. "I need some privacy." The maidservants stepped back and left while Xue Yu-Yan stood up from the chair.
The two looked at each other for a few seconds. "Why did it happen? I chose the right path, yet they did this," Xue Yu-Yan complained. It seemed that she would break into tears anytime. "Even you did n-not believe me. You shall not come here," Xue Yu-Yan said in anger.
"Forgive me."
Xue Yu-Yan laughed wryly, and at the same time, tears rolled over her cheek. "I will not. What if the Crown Princess did not prove me innocent? I would have died by now for the crime I never did," Xue Yu-Yan affirmed. Jian Guozhi found how angry she was, which was legit. He walked to her and hugged her.
"Okay, do not forgive me, but do not cry. It makes me feel guilty," Jian Guozhi said. Xue Yu-Yan could not hold her tears anymore and cry profusely. She clutched his robes and rested her head on his chest. "I have no one except you in this Palace, yet you are always cold towards me. I expected my husband's help today, but… you… you." Her voice choked and again cried.
"I will be good to you from today onward. I promise," Jian Guozhi stated and pulled back from the hug. He wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"I do not want you to be good to me anymore. Don't ever come here. You and I were forced into this marriage, so I free you from this. I do not expect any love from you, and I will never complain about your love to Sister Mi. You shall leave," Xue Yu-Yan told him while averting her gaze from him.
"Fine." Jian Guozhi respected her decision and walked out of the chamber.
Xue Yu-Yan chuckled and again started crying. "He indeed never wanted and cared for me," she muttered while crying.
Jian Guozhi reached the Secret exit of the Palace where Ying Lili, General Xiao, and Commander Yang were waiting for him. Ying Lili was on the horse and looking at the sky. "It's good that there are no clouds."
"Crown Princess, you shall use the horse carriage," Jian Guozhi suggested to her.
"It's fine. I will use the horse," Ying Lili stated and covered her head with the veiled hat. "Brother Jian, keep an eye on Zhilao Mi. Today's incident might force her to make her moves," she further stated.
"Do not worry. I will keep my ears and eyes open," Jian Guozhi affirmed. Ying Lili nodded and pulled the reins on her horse, which started moving. General Xiao, Commander Yang, and five other Commanders with the piece of the army followed the Crown Princess while Jian Guozhi waved at them. Once they vanished from his sight, the soldiers closed the doors. Jian Guozhi retired to his chamber while the soldiers went to the barracks.
