Jian Guozhi returned to his chamber after staying outside in the rain for a long time. Eunuch Long was worried about seeing his completely drenched master. "Your highness-"
"I do not want to talk," Jian Guozhi affirmed and from there went to the bathhouse. After he washed up, he changed into a white Hanfu dress and came back to his chamber.
The First Prince sat on the floor mattress around the desk and thought about painting something to distract his mind. He took out a sheet and placed it on the table. Later, he put the inkstone on the table, ground some ink, and started painting.
He drew a plum blossom tree under the moonlight. It took him two hours to make that. His hand stopped as he was going to draw Zhilao Mi – a memory flashed in front of his eyes. A few days back, he was in the flower pavilion with Zhilao Mi in the night. She went to the plum blossom tree and gazed at the moon, which mesmerized him. "Why did I draw this?" He murmured and crumbled the sheet. He threw it and it fell on the other end of the room.
Jian Guozhi then pushed the table, and it tilted. The ink fell on the floor and spread there. Upon hearing the voice, Eunuch Long came inside, panicking. He saw the table had turned upside-down and ink was on the floor.
"I told you to leave me alone," Jian Guozhi shouted at him. Eunuch Long lowered his eyes and took a few steps back. "Get out," he yelled at him. Eunuch Long acknowledged the order of his master and walked outside. Today his anger was different. It was not like the earlier times. It seemed he was hurt badly, because of the betrayal he received from the one towards whom he had opened his heart.
Eunuch Long looked at a maidservant and went near her. "I am coming in a while. Keep a check on his highness." Eunuch Long walked away, and after some time, he arrived outside the chamber of Xue Yu-Yan.
"Inform the Princess Consort about my arrival," Eunuch Long told a maidservant, who walked in, and after a minute, she came out to inform Eunuch Long that he could go in.
Eunuch Long went inside and stood near the second door, which had a long translucent curtain hanging on it. Xue Yu-Yan was on the other side of the curtain. "Why is Eunuch Long here? It is strange," Xue Yu-Yan started the conversation.
"His highness is not doing good after he found out about Lady Mi's true face. He is broken," Eunuch Long informed Xue Yu-Yan.
"What shall I do in this?" Xue Yu-Yan asked him.
"Princess Consort must be with his highness in this tough period," Eunuch Long suggested to her, who laughed wryly.
"Eunuch Long does not know that Jian Ge hates me. Though I tried not to hate him, it could not be helped. He did not trust me when I said I was not behind the conspiracy. He deserves that," Xue Yu-Yan affirmed.
Eunuch Long was befuddled to hear that. "His highness lost two women whom he respected the most– his mother who did not listen to him when he told her to stop and now his first wife, who had changed her identity. Princess Consort, I know you two have a bitter relationship with each other, but this is the time when you shall mend it." Eunuch Long tried hard to make Xue Yu-Yan understand.
"You may leave. I am going to bed," Xue Yu-Yan stated. Eunuch Long bowed and walked out of the chamber.
"I do not care about him," Xue Yu-Yan muttered. "Why shall I? He bitterly told me that he would kill me. He doesn't trust me even a bit," she murmured.
"Her highness shall not say this. The First Prince might have said that in anger. Apologies if I am rude, Princess Consort. Her highness also knows that the Prince was close to his mother and after her demise, he was broken. Also, the First Prince's heart was broken after the truth of Lady Mi came into light," Zhiyi told Xue Yu-Yan.
"So, you mean I shall go to him and then he will be disrespectful to me!" Xue Yu-Yan chuckled. "He always is blunt to me," she murmured.
"It's your duty as his chief wife now," Zhiyi asserted.
Xue Yu-Yan peered at her. "The First Prince will be married to another woman if the Princess Consort keeps neglecting her duties," Zhiyi stated. Xue Yu-Yan contemplated upon that. Her personal assistant was right. It was common in a Royal Family. But, what about her dignity? Should she again lower her self-esteem and talk to him? After fighting with her inner thoughts, she decided to go to Jian Guozhi's chamber.
She reached outside the chamber, which delighted Eunuch Long. "Shall I go in?"
"Of course, your highness," replied Eunuch Long. Xue Yu-Yan walked inside. She was a little nervous, not aware of the reason. She kept moving ahead when her eyes fell on the silhouette of Jian Guozhi, who was standing near the giant window.
She saw the ink on the floor and the inverted table on the floor. Oppositely, Jian Guozhi heard the sound of anklets, so he turned back. Their eyes met, but soon she averted her gaze from him. Xue Yu-Yan fidgeted her fingers when she heard him. "What are you doing here? Didn't you tell me not to come in front of each other?" Jian Guozhi queried.
"You took my conversation so seriously," Xue Yu-Yan snickered.
"I am not in a good mood today. If I get harsh, then you will cry. So, it's better to leave," Jian Guozhi pronounced.
"You did not feel bad when I was in prison, right?" Xue Yu-Yan asked him.
Jian Guozhi did not answer her. "It's fine. I know the answer. I am asking because I will not expect any affection from you then," Xue Yu-Yan proclaimed. "I am here to just listen to you today. You can tell me about the thoughts you have at this moment.. Sharing thoughts is a great way to lessen the pain," Xue Yu-Yan asserted.
