He Yu's nervous expression dissipated as he sat down, "I've only been gone for less than an hour, was Zhizhi missing me that badly?" he asked.
Lingxi smiled back, "your highness…."
"Your highness? I didn't know Zhizhi was one to forget things so easily", He Yu interrupted.
Lingxi nudged closer as she supported her face with her arm, "you only copied 100 rules. Xu Yicheng and I copied three hundred. What makes you think you deserve a reward?"
He Yu looked wronged and he stared at the sky. He sighed, "Zhizhi has only known Physician Xu for a day but is now on a first name basis while I….." he paused for a second to look at her and with a sad tone, continued, "... I have been with you for more than a month and I'm still addressed so formally"
Lingxi couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. She never knew He Yu was so skilled at acting wronged.
"He Yu?" she said. He Yu's gaze caught hers.
"My name sounds so sweet when you say it", he said.
"Then, I'll call you by your name from now on. Is that okay?" she asked.
He Yu thought for a long while as though he was making a very important decision.
He finally looked back at her to answer, "He Yu sounds sweet but Fujun sounds sweeter"
Lingxi picked up her teacup and raised it as though she wanted to hit him and he raised his hand to shield himself, "fine, fine, He Yu it is, then"
"That's more like it", Lingxi dropped the cup.
He Yu heaved a sigh of relief as he adjusted his posture.
The teacup had not yet rested fully on the table when he added another suggestion, "how about He Yu in public and Fujun in private?"
Lingxi's eyes were about to glare.
"We should leave each other a way out, shouldn't we?" he said before she could say anything.
Lingxi seemed to recall that those were her own words.
"Okay, I agree... Fujun", she said.
He Yu smiled, "So, Zhizhi was waiting for me?" he asked.
"I couldn't sleep so I took a walk around. I then found this board and realized it was the unfinished game we had played", Lingxi said looking at the board then back at He Yu.
However He Yu's attention was not on the board but on her.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked.
"Nothing, I just felt touched when I realized Zhizhi could not sleep without me by her side", He Yu said looking very touched.
Lingxi could not help but look behind to check if Qin Yan was still standing there because what He Yu said was very cheeky.
Fortunately, Qin Yan was long gone.
"He left when I sat down", He Yu explained. Lingxi was still not used to Qin Yan disappearing randomly.
"I must say, your bodyguard sure knows how to read the room", He Yu added.
There was a short pause and He Yu's attention shifted to the board, "would Zhizhi like to finish the game?"
"Yes, I want to reclaim my two pieces", Lingxi answered.
She picked up her white piece and placed it on the board and claimed two of He Yu's pieces. He Yu smiled and the game continued.
[The wedding day]
The marriage between the First Prince and the Li Family should have been a cause for celebration but there was only suspicion.
Li Min who was already dressed for the wedding still had a bad feeling in her heart.
"Father, I'll be leaving now", she said.
The wedding procession had already arrived and was waiting for her.
"Min'er, the palace is a dangerous place and one cannot make mistakes. Remember, no matter what happens, do not lose your ground. Carry yourself with dignity and remember that you are the only hope for the Li family", Li Changsheng reminded but Li Min felt his words sounded like parting words.
She curtsied deeply, "Min'er will remember Father's words"
Li Changsheng nodded. Mrs. Li hugged her tightly and whispered some words in her ears. Li Min nodded.
She took her fan and held it in front of her face as she walked into the bridal carriage.
[Wei City]
"We've checked all of Minister Li's movements. There are indeed some suspicious points but we can't quite pin them down", Lv Chi said.
"A wedding between the Li family and the First Prince at this time is indeed suspicious but there isn't much we can do. Isn't your highness going to attend the wedding?" Liu ying asked.
He Rui stood up, "I have to attend the wedding. Since there is nothing extra, we should close the case"
"Okay", Lv Chi nodded and was about to leave then an official came.
"Someone sent this to your highness", he said and handed the box to Lv Chi.
"Open it", He Rui instructed.
Lv Chi opened the box. Inside were tiny scrolls. He opened one of them.
"Your highness, this is..." he looked surprised.
He Rui took it from him while Lv Chi opened another one.
"These are letters between Shen Cheng'an and Li Changsheng", He Rui said.
The others were surprised.
Liu ying reached for a letter and read one, "it turns out Minister Li was the one who ordered Prime Minister Wei's death"
"Who sent these letters?" Fu Jiu asked.
"It was a child", the official said.
"Shouldn't we find the child?" Liu ying asked.
"No need. If someone behind the scenes sent these messages, they would surely leave no clues", Lu Qian said.
"I'll leave for the capital at once. Lu Qian, Lv Chi, handle things here. Liu ying, come with me", He Rui instructed.
"Yes", they answered.
"I'll come along too", Fu Jiu said following behind.
[The Palace]
The wedding was done in the main hall. He Yan and Li Min walked in side by side, dressed in matching red attires.
"Bow to heaven and earth!" the eunuch's voice resounded the hall.
The couple knelt down and bowed.
"Bow to parents!"
They both knelt down and bowed to He Jingcheng and Shen Ruihua who were seated together on the throne.
"Third bow to each other. May your marriage last seven lifetimes", the eunuch said.
They faced each other and bowed.
"Congratulations!"Li Min was soon to led to her bridal chambers while He Yan stayed behind to drink with the guests.
"Congratulations", the ministers amongst others were giving their toasts.
"Thank you, thank you", He Yan was accepting every toast.
He Yan seemed to be able to hold his liquor well.
"He Yu, won't you offer a toast as well?" Lingxi asked.
They were not very close to He Yan and the others who were offering their toasts.
"I can't drink. I'll feel dizzy and might even end up losing consciousness. Then, Zhizhi would have to take care of me all night. Although it feels great to have you take care of me, I would feel guilty for tiring you out", He Yu responded in his very cheesy tone.
Lingxi rolled her eyes and signaled him to lean closer. He bent his ear towards her.
"He Yu, we're outside, have some decency", she said.
"Granduncle!" He Yan called out.
He Yu straightened up and looked in He Yan's direction. He Yan walked up to He Yu.
"Granduncle, I would like to toast to you", he said lifting up his cup.
He Yu was handed a cup by a servant. He Yu smiled and reached for the cup but Lingxi took it instead.
"My husband is not in good health. I'll drink with you instead", she said and drank the cup of wine instead.
She set the cup on the tray the servant carried.
"Grandaunt is considerate", He Yan responded and drank his own cup.
He set his cup down, "I hope granduncle and grandaunt has sent a generous gift"
"Of course, it is Prince Cheng's wedding today. We won't be stingy", Lingxi answered.
He Yan smiled and was about to say something when an announcement was heard, "His Highness, Prince Jing has arrived!"