Candle light flickered, casting his shadow onto my bed curtain.

I had to turn aside, neither looking at him nor refusing. I resigned myself to his applying.

It was midnight. The curtains hung tightly; candle burned short. Only he and I stayed in the bedroom. In this situation, I was however disarrayed and we touched closely. Though we had been couple for three years, I could not hold back my nervousness. My fingers grasped a corner of quilt.

Xiao Qi was silent, sometimes giving me a glance. His expression seemed smile, which made me more nervous. Blush extended to my ears.

"Get off and walk." Without my agreement, he held me up from bed.

As soon as my feet touched ground, I buckled and had to grip his arm.

"Too long time in bed." he smiled. "Now that your inner wound heal, you may often have a walk. Lying in bed is helpless."

I looked up at him and thought his suggestion was different. As I had been weak physicially since my childhood, when I suffered cold, my family and servant were careful and always let me rest. No one like him gave such a suggestion actually to my liking.

He held me and walked to the window. He opened the window; night wind came in with fresh and earthy air and plant smell.

I shrank shoulders. Though it was cold, I still took a deep and greedy breath for the air and the smell. It was long for me not to enjoy such refreshing wind.

My shoulder got warm. Xiao Qi took off his cloak and wrapped me with it.

I tensed up and fell into his arms. I was enveloped with both his cloak and his unique and strong manhood.

I never knew that manhood was so. I could not distinguish it that was full of warmth and masculinity. It reminded me of the burning sunshine at noon, iron armor and horse galloping, vast desert and wind blowing.

I recalled the smells of my brother and Zidan. My brother prefered wild ginger; Zidan magnolia. They gave off a trace of the plants. The families of high ranks in the capital always store spices, which were tribute from western countries. They appointed young and pretty maids to make perfume. Even Helan Zhen who was from foreign tribe also had perfume on his clothes.

Only Xiao Qi had not use perfume. I could not sense his feebleness, and all he had were boldness and aggressiveness in low profile.

The bright moon, refreshing wind, silent couple.

I felt unreal when I could hear my heart throbbing quickly.

"Not cold." I nerved myself to speak and wanted to leave his arms for escaping the nervous moment.

With profound expression, he looked down at me.

"Why not ask me where I have been to in past days?" He seemed to smile.

Just now I saw him coming in with undressed armors and tired look, and I thought that he had traveled far in past days.

This was why he had not seen me for days.

However, if he really kept me updated, he could inform me in advance. He did not tell me until now. Was he testing me?

I looked back and said drily, "Your Majesty must have been busy in military affair. How could I ask?"

Xiao Qi twisted his lips. "I don't like dishonest woman."

"Do not?" I gave him a smile, indulging myself in night wind brushing my face. "In first place I thought that a pompous man mostly like dishonest woman."

To his surprise, he roared with laughter which resounded at quiet night.

I smiled too and looked up at him, being distracted.

His black stubble on his chin graced him.

Excepting his reputation, power and glory, as far as his manner and attitude were concerned, he was excellent.

Hero and beauty, as they said, were not fabrication by men of letters.

If our marriage was not appointed and today I met him in the first time and I did not love Zidan, could we fall in love in first sight. Thus the romance of hero and beauty came into being.

However fates conspired against us. Our marriage was imperfect in the beginning.

Now in this sweet moment and beautiful environment, I did not want to spoil it. Even the moment was transient and it was better than no.

I shut my mouth. What I want to say was held back.

So what if not mentioning the past and we started from now.

Night wind was colder.

Xiao Qi approached the window and closed it. Back to me, he seemed to say without any intention. "In past two days, I went to an obsolete village at the border."

I sat beside table and considered his words. I guessed something.

"You went to meet a special enemy?" I frowned at him.

He turned to me and smiled. "What do you mean a special enemy?"

I looked down and hesitated before telling him my guess. For a while, I eventually said, "Sometime, enemy can become friend; vice versa."

"Right!" He smiled with agreement. "He was my enemy indeed."

He indeed met Hulan Prince. No wonder he had been missing. The servants in his residence just knew that he traveled for military inspection; nobody knew where he was. It was treason felony that the chief general met the head of enemy in private, if it was disclosed.

I frowned, "Now that Xu Shou had died and Helan remainders were killed, and all evidence are confirmed. Why did you go yet?"

He did not explain but his eye revealed profound smile and hidden surprise.

However, I could not really understand something: even if the prince had another and important evidence, he just would have sent a secret letter to Xiao Qi who did not actually take a risk of meeting him.

Or, he had another scheme?

"You are half right because you guess a wrong man." Xiao Qi smiled, "The special enemy was not Hulan."

I was confused and he told the story. "Hulan is valiant and a nice rival in battle. It is pity that his wisdom is insufficient while Helan Zhen's outdoes his much."

Candle shed light on a side of his face -- thin lips bearing disdain. "It was his wrong information about Helan Zhen's trick that made me delay my deployment, so you were abducted."

He snorted, "In the future, if he rivals Helan Zhen, I am afraid that he suffered a stunning defeat."

I stood up, being appalled. "You mean that Helan Zhen is alive?"

Xiao Qi cast an aside and sharp glance at me, smiling and saying no word.

"You went to see Helan Zhen!" It indeed appalled me much. The man whose hand was cut was still alive though he fell down from the cliff. Despite the fact, what shocked me was that Xiao Qi did not go on to kill him but secretly met him.

Meeting his profound glance, I chilled.

"Not only did I met him but dispatched my trusted subordinates to send him back to Tujue and to help him defend Hulan's chasing." Xiao Qi's smile was cold as frost. He said slowly. "After this, it will be up to his destiny. I wish that he could return to Tujue's capital, so that my elaboration works well."

Head drooping, I woke up to it. The previous factors were connected and I cast light on his elaboration.

In first place he intrigued with Hulan Prince against Helan Zhen and Xu Shou's group: killing them. After the explosion at drilling ground, Xu Shou died while Helan Zhen was still alive. He changed his scheme by helping Helan Zhen return to Tujue. Helan Zhen's temper was bad and he must have had hatred for Hulan. It added a new element in their competition for Tujue's throne. As they scramble, Tujue would reduce to serious disorder.

At this moment I recollected then scene of the event of feasting the army at Chao Yang Gate.

Back then I just thought he was impressive in manner and verve. Since then Yu Zhang King, Xiao Qi, had been a legendary name in my mind.

After marrying him, loneliness of three years accompanied me. I knew nothing about him but the factor that my husband was hardhearted.

Later we met at Ning Shuo after my dangerous and suffering travel. When I saw him killing enemies, I knew bleeding made his prestige.

Now he was right before me. He was calm to tell his deployment just like chatting of a couple. However, his move already changed the game which had far-reaching impact on multiple situations. It impacted the border, court of Tujue, people of two kingdoms. Lives of numerous people would be changed.

Just a hero's deed was far from the impact.

I felt like waking up from a dream.

The man now standing before me was not only a hero who just fought in battles but a local king who changed the game. He was both a famous general and a powerful minister. I even had an illusion that he would dominate our kingdom and tower over the other kingdoms.

This idea came to my mind and made me tremble and excited.

"This is a hero..." I signed and exalted his far-sighted moves.

Xiao Qi stood with hands in back, silence and smile. He gazed at me, revealing his appreciating me.

For a long while, he spoke leisurely. "Nice, a girl in harem has such insight."

Though I got used to praise, I still felt happy as at first time he expressed his appreciation to me.

But considering Helan Zhen's malice, I sighed, "He hated you so much. And you uncaged him like a tiger. In the future, he will bite you again from somewhere."

Xiao Qi gave a faint smile. "It is hard to make bosom friend; it is interesting to have an able rival."

My smile followed my surprise.

In the world there were many celebrities who I had met, and no one made me admire. In past, my brother criticized me for my haughtiness. He did not understand me. I was not haughty because I did not meet someone who made me admire.

Now I did.

When I pondered with head drooping, I did not sense Xiao Qi approaching me and raising my face.

"Are you afraid that Helan Zhen hurts me?" His smiling gaze was pressing.

I was suffocating as if I was scalded. I shunned his hand as soon.

It was May but I very felt hot and stuffy.

"You, want to take a cup of tea?"

In hurry, I could not cover my nervousness and answered with a question.

Though I turned back to take the cup, I still sensed his scalding gaze.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

I made myself composed to take cup for tea. My heart throbbing made my hand quiver when pouring tea. What happened to me? I had not been so nervous in my life.

Suddenly my hand was held.

He held my hand behind me, and I realized that tea spilled over the cup while I still poured.

He smiled with silence and took teapot from my hand. He took another cup to pour.

I was so embarrassed while he filled the cup easily and hand it to me.

"Let me serve you." Low voice came with warmth.

Even if I was very obtuse, I could sense the feeling between couple.

The cup in his hand without spilling was handed to me and I did not receive it.

I looked at him quietly and tried to sense how much his amorous expression was true.

Our eye contact was silent.

His scalding gaze faded. "You don't forgive me yet?"

"Forgive for what?" Keeping eye contact, I managed to be composed. "Why do you want me to forgive you?"

In the first place, I thought that I would never ask, if he did not explain.

The wedding evening was my indelible humiliation in my life.

Candle shed its flickering light on his face. His expression was lucid.

He frowned with lips tightening as if he did not know how to say. For a long while, he apologized, "It was urgent that day. I had to..."

He had to. Until now he still used this bad excuse to explain.

I gave him an angry glance. "Even Jizhou fell and awaited your aid, and it did not delay to see me for a short while."

"Jizhou fell?" Turning to me, Xiao Qi was astonished as if it was very incredible.

I laughed out of anger. "What, Your Majesty can't remember?"

Xiao Qi, deadpan, reduced to silence. His astonishing just flashed away.

"The Chief Minister... Your father just told you that Jizhou fell, and nothing else?" He asked in serious voice.

"What does Your Majesty mean?" To my surprise, I stared at him.

Frowning so much, he was serious. "Since then, he has said so?"

What he said and his expression chilled me.

I managed to be composed and look up at him. "Pardon my obtuseness, Your Majesty. Please explain."

The room sank into a sudden deadlock.

We stared at each other, saying nothing, and I could sense his seriousness.

Candlewick sparked with a crack, which reminded me of the evening when red candles burned lonely.

Heavy grief gushed and stifled me.

Xiao Qi kept staring with unknown expression. "You really want me to explain?"

"Yes." With lips tightening, I gazed at him.

He said slowly, "Nice. You have to brace yourself for the toughest thing."

I bit lips and nodded.

Hands in back, he paced to window. Back to me, he told the story. "On the day of wedding, if without the Chief Minister's written order, how could I move the guarding troop of the capital, which your clan controlled, and left for the border?"

My heart sank as if I was whipped badly.

"Go on." I tensed up, staring at the candle light.

His voice was calm and aloof as if he was telling other's story. "The emperor is not satisfied with the crown princess's bad manners and Wang's controlling the court, so he long has intention of changing the crown princess. However the crown princess is supported by Wang's clan. If the emperor wants to change him, he has to depose Wang's. Over past years, your father and the queen has control half of the court, and only the deputy minister, Wen zongshen and the emperor-trusted officials have struggled against Wang and supported the emperor. Two fractions keep rivalry, and the other aristocrat clans have been involved in the rivalry. Nobody cares about the defense. National defense and extending border reckon on our humble origins. The court did not recognize me until I had suppressed riot in the border and controlled the army. Wen Zongshen, the deputy minister, insists on deposing our generals' military power but was afraid that it weakened the border defense; therefore he did not take the risk. However he did not know that the queen and chief minister had had another scheme."

He paused, and I had understood what he meant.

This was as if a bucket of icy water poured down on my head. I was chilled totally. In the first place, they had the move of our marriage.

No wonder my aunt had always been against my love with Zidan and my father always declined the other matchmakers. Those matchmakers came for many aristocrat clans, some of which were peers of Wang. Back then my mother even smiled and signed, "I am afraid that in your father's eyes, nobody can match his cherished daughter, excepting sons of the emperor."

I thought so at that time. I did not realize that my father already had his favorite candidate who was not Zidan, because Zidan was powerless princess. Even if he ascended the throne, my father just would be a father-in-law of emperor. Absolutely not did my aunt allow the others to rob her son of his emperor-will-be.

Wang's needed more power, so besides supports from court officials and the queen, it needed more from the military power.

In the beginning, they had chosen Xiao Qi, visa verse.

Surprisingly I laughed and asked him, "Letting the emperor do as matchmaker was your idea or the queen's?"

"It was mine." With full apology, Xiao Qi turned to meet my suspicious eyes. "I received the call of the queen to secretly meet her and the chief minister."

Not needing the full story, I had understood all.

Excepting for smile, I had nothing to hold my only pride.

"How was the situation on the wedding day?" I spoke slowly, word by word, keeping my voice calm.

Xiao Qi frowned at me, bearing guilty expression, gazing long at my face.

I looked up at him, staring and waiting his continuing.

"As I boast the military achievement of conquering the south, in the court I requested marrying Wang's daughter. The queen herself agreed and the emperor had no choice and had to agree." The friction of the deputy minister got uneasy. They intrigued with the emperor against us. When I went back to the capital for our wedding, the emperor covertly instructed Chang Ning Marquis to take over the army in Ning Shuo. When I finished our wedding, the emperor immediately promoted me to be Grand Preceptor, a nominal top position. Actually I was deposed from my military power and stranded in the capital. The scheme, deployed by the emperor, worked quickly and secretly. I and the chief minister had not woken up to it until the date of our wedding. We were decisive to make use of Jizhou falling, and I led the guarding troop to head for Ning Shuo in the evening. It happened that Tujue invaded. A help from heaven. Chang Ning Marquis lost in protecting Jizhou. I killed him by the military decree. So far, I saved the situation and made the emperor fail to depose my power. Since then, I made the excuse of Tujue harrassing for staying Ning Shuo. Not return for three years. I stayed in the border, in concert with the chief minister in the court."

Xiao Qi told the story in quick and brief way. He picked the important points, seeming not to elaborate.

I got transient confused, looking up at him. "All reasons are so?"

"Yes." Profoundly and guiltily, he gazed at me with yes.

I pondered over his each sentences and tried to find a flaw to refute him -- what he said was fake.

It was useless. Not only did I found no flaw, but the story became clear. Many neglected details that were recalled now were in accord with what he said, even something that I had doubted that time. However that time I never figured out that all these resulted from my beloved families.

I could not and dared not think so.

It was impossible that I thought that my father and my aunt could cheated me and made use of me. Until now they told me nothing and imputed the blame to Xiao Qi, which reduced me to anger and loneliness. Like my aunt, I had had not the beloved and attached myself to the clan. We were loyal to and even devoted ourselves to it.

Sadly, it was them who were cheating.

The others might cheat me but I could not do myself.

All were obvious, nothing hidden.

Though it was warm in May, I was so chilled in my bones as if soaking in icy water.

"Wang Xuan" I heard Xiao Qi's voice; he was calling me.

In a daze, I looked up at him who was approaching me. He embraced my shoulders.

It was warm in his arms, like his voice, which were full of love and pity. "You are trembling."

"No!" I raised my head. My obstinacy in deep mind drove me struggle out of his arms. "No, I don't tremble. Don't touch me."

I felt pain all over and could not stand other's touch.

"You, go out." I braced myself beside table and manage not to buckle, but eventually I was all of a tremble.

He stared silently at me. His guilty gaze like a knife stabbed me.

I turned back, not seeing him. I was dispirited. "I am fine. Let me rest."

He kept silent, and for a long while he turned and left.

Hearing his footstep over door, I could not brace anymore. Sadly I leant on table, face buried in hands.

My mind went blank and my tears fell down.

I recollected and said nothing, reconciling myself to tear gushing.

Sudden warm came back on my body. I turned back surprisingly, forgetting to wipe off tear.

Xiao Qi bent to put his cloak on my shoulder and said tenderly, "I am outside."

Seeing him leaving, I felt a sudden panic and drowned in forlornness.

"Xiao Qi..."I called him in hoarsely. When he turned, my tears fell again.

He stepped back to hold me in his arms.

"All have been gone." He stroked my hair. "Those all is gone."

He held me so tight that wounds on my arms were pressed.

I endured the pains, not uttering a word. I was afraid that as long as I uttered a word, I would lose his warm arms.

His chip touched me, stubble prickling, which made me feel prickly and comfortable.

"Though all has passed, you eventually confront the tough, and you can't hide under clan's wing." He gazed at me and said word by word, "Since now, you are my consort and the woman who spend lifetime with me. I don't allow you to be weak."