“Xiu Juan.”

A gentle voice woke her up and she attempted to open her eyes.

“Xiu Juan,” the voice repeated.

Xiu Juan could feel her head pounding from all sorts of directions from the inside. “What time is it?” She asked.

“Past noon.” The voice was Luli’s. “I was looking for you all over last night!” She nudged Xiu Juan’s side. She got up to open the drapes by the balcony doors. “Where did you go? You returned so late! And when I saw Emperor Jinhai hand you over to me, my heart almost stopped! I didn’t know what to think! He must have been so mad for having to leave his party to find you! Was he going to punish me for letting you wander off? Or was he going to punish you for running away by yourself?”

“Luli,” Xiu Juan began.

“I’m so scared! I was up all day! Look at my eyes! I’m getting dark circles!” Luli squealed.

“Luli, please.”

Luli yanked the drapes to the side and Xiu Juan flinched away from the bright light. She opened the doors to let in the fresh air that seemed to help Xiu Juan’s headache.

“Luli, I’m sorry I had you worry about me all night,” Xiu Juan apologized. “But I didn’t wander off. I went to the village. And emperor Jinhai accompanied me.”

“What?!” Luli squealed again. “No way! You two wandered off alone?”

“It’s not what you think,” Xiu Juan rubbed her eyes.

“Eeeeek!” Luli jumped. “Tell me everything!”

“Hmm?” Xiu Juan raised her brow at Luli.

“So what happened? Did he try anything funny with you?” Luli’s eyes were big.

“No. It was nothing like that. We went to visit some friends and then went to go watch some fireworks,” Xiu Juan explained.

“Hmmmmmmm….” Luli hummed. “Is this all because Ying-tai is getting engaged?”

Xiu Juan’s heart dropped. She forgot all about that information. “So it’s true.”

“I wouldn’t believe the rumors yet,” Luli comforted.

“No,” Xiu Juan shook her head, “I spoke to the Crown Prince of Qi last night. He mentioned it.”

Luli’s eyes widened. “But it can’t be. He’s really getting married to the Princess of Qi?”

“Prince Enlai said he hasn’t given his answer yet,” Xiu Juan shared.

Luli took in a deep breath and walked over to Xiu Juan and sat by her. She placed her hand on top of Xiu Juan’s hand and smiled, “Then I wouldn’t’ be so down yet.”

Xiu Juan lifted her head to Luli.

“Unit Commander Ying-tai is a man of duty. No woman will ever be able to tie him down. I know him to be that kind of person. No offense, Xiu Juan,” she chuckled. “Take this as a good thing.”

Xiu Juan smiled lightly. She got up and glided to the bowl of water and splashed her face with the coldness that yanked her from her exhausting spell.

Fourteen days passed since Xiu Juan last saw Jinhai, whose whereabouts were concealed. Xiu Juan was in the music room early in the morning meditating with the tunes she was bringing to life when Sir Weizhe walked in. She immediately got up and lowered her head to him.

“Well, as I expected. It was you playing the beautiful music!” Sir Weizhe chuckled jollily.

“My fingers only run recklessly without sense across the strings. I am still far from deserving such compliment,” Xiu Juan smiled.

Sir Weizhe walked toward her and sighed while looking at the many instruments that hung on the walls, “I strongly disagree. I know a great gift when I see it.”

Xiu Juan watched him sit down by the paper screen doors facing the garden. He patted his hand on the space beside him.

“Come, child,” he said.

Xiu Juan proceeded, “Should I get some tea for us?”

“Hmmm…if it won’t hassle you,” he grinned.

“Not at all,” she shook her head.

When she returned with the tea set, she fluffed her skirt and sat by Sir Weizhe. Still looking outside, he took in a deep breath and sighed while he fanned himself, “Today will be my last day in Zhao.”

Xiu Juan looked up from pouring the tea. “Last day? Why don’t you stay longer?”

Sir Weizhe smiled at her warmly, “I feel I don’t have long to live. I would like to see other places before my body gives up on me.”

Xiu Juan lowered her shoulders and placed the tea kettle down. “We will miss your company dearly. Where do you plan to go after Zhao?”

Whether he didn’t hear her or didn’t want to share his next whereabouts, Sir Weizhe only smiled as he sipped Xiu Juan’s tea.

“Your song, Empress,” Sir Weizhe finally spoke.

Xiu Juan turned to him, “Yes?”

“Would it be too much if I ask you to play it for me one more time?”

Xiu Juan smiled at him with gentle eyes, “Of course I will play it for you. For as many times you ask.” She placed her tea cup down and rose from her seat. She picked up the white guzheng she played at the gala and returned to Sir Weizhe’s side. When she plucked the first note, Sir Weizhe closed his eyes and placed his frail hands on his chest. While Xiu Juan sang to him, the birds hushed their chirps, the wind subsided to her voice, and the waters did not dare to wave. The world became still and quiet.

After the last note was sounded from her song, Sir Weizhe opened his eyes and wiped away a tear that escaped from his eyes.

“Did I displease you?” Xiu Juan was concerned.

Sir Weizhe smiled and shook his head. He looked at her, “I wish to play your song in the days to come after I part from Zhao. I hope you won’t mind.”

Xiu Juan tilted her head and smiled, “I couldn’t be happier. Play my song to your heart’s content.”

“Thank you,” Sir Weizhe bowed his head to her. After he sipped his tea and placed his cup down, he breathed in the summer air that was soon to turn into autumn and then spoke quietly, “I hope your song reaches him.”

Xiu Juan, who was looking down at her warm cup, widened her eyes immediately and lifted her head up to Sir Weizhe.

“I’m sorry?” She exhaled, her muscles stiff.

Sir Weizhe’s gaze was on the waving weeping willows as he replied, “To be that person in your song is unbearable to the mind.” He turned to look at her caringly, “I, myself, would not want to be the reason to why you wrote such a song.”

Xiu Juan dropped her shoulders, “Ah, you saw right through me. I plea for your silence.”

“Oh no! Don’t’ get me wrong, Empress. I won’t tell,” Sir Weizhe promised as he chuckled. “Has he written you letters?” He asked, smiling as he was teasing her.

Xiu Juan blushed and grinned lightly. She lowered her head and shook it, “No.”

Sir Weizhe’s smile quickly fainted. “Not a single one?”

“He’s an honorable man. He won’t write to a married woman,” Xiu Juan clarified.

Sir Weizhe sighed, “I meant before you came to Zhao.”

Xiu Juan paused. She lifted her solemn eyes, “No. He never did.” Xiu Juan then raised her head and smiled brightly. “But he was always so busy, so it’s alright,” she defended Ying-tai. Despite the face of hers, there was forlornness in her voice.

“I’m very old…but know that I was young once. I’ve been in love before. I know to never make a woman wait—”

“Sir Weizhe,” Xiu Juan interrupted him as she clutched onto her skirt tightly, “I know you must think I’m foolish. But please, Sir Weizhe. You, of all people, don’t pity me.”

Sir Weizhe lowered his shoulders. He raised his hand and cupped Xiu Juan’s chin. “I do not pity you, child. I desperately want you to be happy.”

“Knowing that he is alive is more than enough for me,” Xiu Juan expressed.

“What if fate seeks otherwise? Are you not afraid?”

“I’ve lived my life with faith stronger than steel,” Xiu Juan began. Her lips began to quiver and her eyes seemed as though they were turning into glass as it was showcasing the fragile soul she concealed, “After years of my selfless devotion, if God still takes away the one last thing I have left of my humanity…he is no God.” Tears spilt as she made the proclamation.

Sir Weizhe nodded and caressed her hair with both of his hands as though Xiu Juan was his dear daughter. “I, as an Elder, wish you all the goodness in the world,” he declared.

Xiu Juan raised her eyes to him and smiled through shimmery eyes. She bowed lowly to him like she did so for her father, “Thank you so much...”

After a comforting, quiet tea session, Sir Weizhe turned to Xiu Juan, “Before I leave, do you mind me requesting something of you to keep with me for keepsake?”

Xiu Juan looked at him and smiled gently, “Of course. Anything.”

“May I paint a picture of you?”

Xiu Juan smiled wider and beamed, “I’d be delighted!”

Sir Weizhe glowed and pulled out paper and ink.

“Shall I move to a different lighting?” Xiu Juan said as she shyly fixed herself.

Sir Weizhe shook his head, “No, no. With grace such as yours, just your presence is enough to make any piece of work a masterpiece!”

“Sir Weizhe, you are adept at flattery,” Xiu Juan grinned as she tilted her head at him.

He started to make delicate strokes on his paper, furrowing his brows as he did so, “Believe me, child. It’s no flattery. Your face holds elegance. Your lips are doorways to the unparalleled treasure you have that quenches weary hearts. And your eyes are capable of moving a kingdom.” Sir Weizhe paused, “Hence…the reason you can move such a king.”

Xiu Juan was confounded, “What?”

Sir Weizhe looked at her and smiled, “You do not see it do you?”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand…” Xiu Juan began nervously, turning away.

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“Emperor Jinhai has grown fond of you. Very.” Sir Weizhe returned to sketch Xiu Juan.

She shook her head, “You are mistaken. He has told me he cannot see pass the fact that I am someone he must loathe.”

“Did that ever stop you from trying to befriend him?”

Xiu Juan turned to Sir Weizhe who kept his eyes on his canvas.

“Then why should anything stop him from a change of heart?” He mentioned.

“Why are you telling me this?” Xiu Juan asked with downcast eyes.

“Because…” Sir Weizhe looked down and picked up a different brush, “…he might not ever want to let you go from his grasp.”

Xiu Juan’s eyes flicked upward. Her chest heaved.

“Whatever your heart pursues, be yet very careful, Empress. You hold the heart of a king in the palm of your hands.”

After Sir Weizhe finished his sketch of her, they both said their parting words. Xiu Juan was not able to see the finished work, but was promised by Sir Weizhe she would definitely see it again someday.

“That’s a promise,” Xiu Juan smiled to him as she patted his frail hands and blessed him on his journey to elsewhere.

“Of course. It will be my excuse to see you again!” Sir Weizhe chuckled as he rolled up his canvas that contained her image.

On her return to her chamber, a maid called upon her name.

“Empress Xiu Juan,” her high voice toned.

Xiu Juan turned to her, “Yes?”

“Lady Ngo Kwang has summoned me to retrieve you,” she informed.

Xiu Juan raised her brows, “Oh?” Ngo Kwang had never wanted to see her before. “Did she say for what reason?”

“No. She only told me to tell you to meet her by the Cliff of Whispering Prayers.”

“Cliff of Whispering Prayers?” Xiu Juan pondered.

“It’s on the west side of the lake where the ruins of the old temples are,” the maid described.

Xiu Juan looked down to the maid who was bowing all this time, “Tell Lady Ngo Kwang I will be there shortly.”

The blue silk on Xiu Juan’s gown mimicked the waves of the lake as she climbed upward to the Cliff of Whispering Prayers. Luli tagged along and kept close to Xiu Juan the whole way up. Before reaching the top, Xiu Juan turned to Luli.

“Stay here. I don’t think this will take long,” she said with an assuring smile to Luli.

“I don’t know. I’m kind of skeptical about this. Maybe I should come with you,” Luli proceeded forward but Xiu Juan stopped her. Luli gripped Xiu Juan’s hand, “If you don’t come back in five minutes, I’m coming after you. Ngo Kwang is a mistrustful person!”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” Xiu Juan chuckled as she started off without Luli. “It’s Ngo Kwang. What can she do?”

“I’m just stating facts!” Luli yelled after Xiu Juan and kept watch of her until she was no longer in sight.

Ngo Kwang was standing at the edge of the cliff with some of her concubine friends. When they heard Xiu Juan approach, they turned to her.

“Empress Xiu Juan,” Ngo Kwang had coldness in her eyes. She approached Xiu Juan, “I didn’t think you would come to my request.”

Xiu Juan stood poised, “I’ve come as you wished. To what matter do you need with me?”

The howling wind whirled through the ruins of the temples, causing a low whistle to come in tune.

“I’ve heard about your deeds with the emperor outside of the palace. What is the scandalous meaning of this?” Ngo Kwang hissed between clenched teeth.

“I think you’ve got it wrong. We did not do anything. We went to visit some friends briefly then returned. That is all,” Xiu Juan corrected.

“Briefly? You both returned at the break of dawn! One of my guards saw!” Ngo Kwang screeched. “They said you were very incoherent when you returned. You dare tell me nothing happened between you two?”

“I’ll admit I was intoxicated on our return. But I promise that is all there is to it,” Xiu Juan tried to calm Ngo Kwang who walked up closer to her.

“Intoxicated? How improper of you, Empress of Zhao! How could you face emperor Jinhai like that? How could you dare seduce him in that state?”

Offended, Xiu Juan glared at her, “Ngo Kwang, do not look down so lowly on his highness. He is more of a man than that. I would think you, of all people, would know.”

“Don’t think that I’m stupid, Xiu Juan,” she spat out her name with entire disrespect, widening the eyes of Xiu Juan. “I have people in the village too. Those who do not follow your ways. And they tell me you and the emperor were rather close that night.”

“Lady Ngo Kwang, you must watch your tongue,” Xiu Juan warned.

“An indecent woman like you is probably why all of Qin decided to toss you away. Let’s just hope Princess of Qi brings up the name of your horrid state if she marries Unit Commander Ying-tai of Qin!”

At the bitter announcement of his name, Xiu Juan swung her arm and struck Ngo Kwang's dolled face, sending her hurtling to the ground with her excessively layered gown flailing wildly after her. It was a swift blow her own father had taught her in means of defense against men in armor. A feeble woman like Ngo Kwang could have been knocked unconscious by the strike.

“Lady Ngo Kwang!” The concubines screamed. They scurried to her hurriedly with their hair ornaments tinkling and the silk on their backs getting tangled by the wind. The concubines held Ngo Kwang up and found her spitting out blood.

“She’s bleeding!” One concubine cried.

“Empress! How could you—“

When they looked up at Xiu Juan, her eyes were flickering with violent rage. Their knees fell weak and they collapsed to the ground and knelt before her.

Xiu Juan tilted her head at them in a menacing manner, “I think you’ve forgotten who I am. I am your Empress. Just by the raise of my finger I can cut your tongues.”

“Empress…” The trembling voices of the concubines pled for her to come to her senses. “Whatever Lady Ngo Kwang said, she didn’t mean it. Please let us go!”

“What is the matter with you?” Ngo Kwang looked up at her weakly as she wiped the blood from her red lips.

Xiu Juan casted her stone cold eyes down to her, “You do not get to speak of Qin that way.”

Ngo Kwang kept quiet as she dared to continue to glare at Xiu Juan.

“We are done here,” Xiu Juan declared. As she turned to leave, her heavy outer robe blew open from the gusting wind and her charm leapt from under the layers and tinkled in the open air. Ngo Kwang glued her eyes on it and, in the midst of Xiu Juan’s lack of awareness, she stretched out and ripped it apart from her. Xiu Juan whipped around and gasped.

“Give it back!”

Ngo Kwang quickly pulled back and clutched onto Ying-tai’s charm tightly in her hand, holding it high above them. She cunningly turned her eyes to the charm, “Well, Empress Xiu Juan. I think I’ve found your vulnerability.” Ngo Kwang returned her proud eyes to Xiu Juan who now had eyes of a pleading, helpless child. She lowered her shoulders and mocked, “Oh, Empress. Don’t tell me you have a secret admirer!”

“Please. Give it back to me, Ngo Kwang,” Xiu Juan extended her hand out as she pled. She was now a completely different person than the one she was a blinking moment ago.

Ngo Kwang gathered her theories together and tilted her head at Xiu Juan, “Your song. It was for nothing other than one particular person. You have a dearly beloved you’ve been concealing!” Her conniving smile began to diminish. Her brows furrowed at Xiu Juan, “You pitiful person…”

“You’re making false assumptions. I have nobody of the sort,” Xiu Juan denied.

Ngo Kwang lifted the charm higher over the edge of the cliff, “Oh? Really?”

Xiu Juan’s muscles stiffened as she breathed heavily with wide eyes, “Ngo Kwang, please!”

“Who is it that you so sing for?” Ngo Kwang questioned sternly.

“Don’t be so credulous!” Xiu Juan scolded, her eyes darting back and forth between her charm and Ngo Kwang. The wind was whipping hard against them.

“Then I guess this holds no dear meaning to you,” Ngo Kwang pronounced and released the charm to plunge into the immeasurable depths of the lake below them.

As soon as one glimmer from the carved gold plum blossom in the phoenix’s beak illuminated, Xiu Juan plummeted forward and slipped off her heavy robe and plunged downward with the charm Ying-tai gifted her. The blue layers of her silk gown whirled and fanned out as she extended her hand before her, desperately trying to seize the phoenix while the white tassels continued to slip through her fingers to her dismay.

Ngo Kwang watched blankly after Xiu Juan while the concubines behind her stirred in panic.

“Ngo Kwang! What were you thinking? Do you not know when to stop???”

“Our heads will get cut off at this point!”

“I didn’t think she’d do it,” Ngo Kwang intoned.

“Where’s Xiu Juan?” A voice from behind them asked.

They spun around and found Luli standing before them, her eyes filled with fear of the worst.

“WHAT DID YOU DO TO XIU JUAN?!!” Luli shrieked at them, not able to find Xiu Juan anywhere in sight.

The concubines began to point at Ngo Kwang, “Ngo Kwang! She made her do it!”

Luli began to hyperventilate. She rushed to the edge of the cliff, shoving Ngo Kwang to the side. She only saw the ripples on the surface of the deep waters from the aftermath of Xiu Juan’s plunge. She twisted around and grabbed Ngo Kwang by the collar of her gown with tears in her eyes.

“What have you done, Ngo Kwang?! Do you not know self restraint?! Are you not human, you BITCH!” Luli screamed.

Ngo Kwang yanked Luli’s hand away and pushed her, “Why are you freaking out? She’ll resurface! She only went to get her charm.”

“SHE. CANNOT. SWIM!” Luli cried.

At this very moment, terror made its way into Ngo Kwang's eyes. She trembled. “I—I didn’t know…”

“Why did you push her so much? You could’ve killed her!” Luli wailed as she spun around to make her way down the cliff where the rocks were. In the middle of her fright, she ran into a fully armored soldier.

“Hey! What are you ladies doing here?” The large Zhao soldier questioned them in a bellowing voice. Other soldiers began to emerge from behind him.

“Sir! The Empress!” Luli tugged him. “Oh, please help!”

“What? The Empress?” Hui Zhong’s spine chilling voice sounded as he stepped forward. “What did she do now?”

“Sir Hui Zhong! Help the Empress! She’s in the water and she can’t swim!”

“Xiu Juan of Qin?” Jinhai was behind the men when he heard the commotion. His eyes darted to the edge of the cliff and he jumped ahead and slipped off his heavy armor and garments.

Hui Zhong quickly dispersed his men to go to the rocks to retrieve Xiu Juan and attempted to stop Jinhai. “Emperor Jinhai! I got our men on it! They’re on their way now!”

“No time!” Was all Jinhai said and leapt from the daunting height of the cliff into the water after Xiu Juan.

“Jinhai!” Hui Zhong shouted after him. “Aya!” He grunted and ran down toward the rocks.

Piercing through the surface of the cold water, Jinhai swept through the vicious bubbles from the impact to get into a still area for a clearer view of his surrounding. He examined his left and then his right before turning his whole body around, positioning himself upright in the water. In the region where the beams of light swiveled their radiance, Xiu Juan was cradled by her blue layers of sheer silk there. Jinhai whizzed forward. As soon as he was close enough to touch her, he wrapped his arms around her tightly and stared at her lifeless porcelain face. He gently brushed the hair strand that drifted to her cheek to the side and, not wanting to bear wasting another second of her life, he pulled himself upward to surface but was stopped by a flickering glow. The gold on the charm shined even more brilliantly when the sun touched it under water. He looked at Xiu Juan and then back at the charm that was beginning to descend from them. Feeling it might be of great significance to her, he threw his arm forward and grasped the phoenix tightly in his hands and finally ascended to the surface.

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Bursting through the waters and filling his lungs with the ever so satisfying taste of air, Jinhai swam to the rocks where Hui Zhong, Luli, and his soldiers waited.

“Xiu Juan!” Luli cried.

Hui Zhong took Xiu Juan from Jinhai when they neared and laid her down evenly on a flat surface. Jinhai climbed up and immediately made his way to Xiu Juan. He moved Hui Zhong to the side and began to compress her chest himself in a rhythmic pattern, listening to her breathing here and then.

“Come on,” Jinhai furrowed his brows.

Ngo Kwang finally made it down to the rocks and stared at Xiu Juan and Jinhai. She was speechless and in awe of what just happened.

“She went after it even though she knew she was throwing herself into calamity’s way.” She placed her hands over her trembling lips, “Just how dear do you hold onto something, Xiu Juan of Qin?”

Jinhai continued to compress Xiu Juan’s chest. He was getting frustrated at her unresponsiveness. He couldn’t stand it. “There’s only one way to do this now,” Jinhai breathed heavily. He looked at her red lips and raised his hands to her face. He felt his heart begin to beat at a faster rate as he lowered himself to her. Then, catching him by surprise, Xiu Juan coughed up a load of water into his face. He squinted his eyes and quickly turned away from her.

“Xiu Juan!” Luli jumped. She ran right to her side and fell onto her knees.

“Try not to move her too much,” Jinhai instructed in a low voice as he wiped away the water from his face.

“Thank you so much, emperor Jinhai. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! I can never thank you enough!!!” Luli bowed her head.

“No need to thank me,” Jinhai said. He returned his eyes to Xiu Juan and couldn’t help but feel the greatest weight lift from his chest. He smiled lightly and whispered, “Thank god.”

Hui Zhong handed him his outer robe, “For a moment there, I thought you were going to go into panic for the first time in your life.”

Jinhai took the robe from him and smirked at the remark, “No such thing.” Then he looked up to his men and ordered, “Bring the horses.”

Luli was holding Xiu Juan up and rubbing her back while she was still coughing up water and recovering from her haze. Jinhai knelt by her and wrapped his robe around her shoulders. Xiu Juan looked up, surprised to see Jinhai.

“Your highness!” Xiu Juan addressed him. “When did you return?”

“Just now,” he replied her.

“You’re all wet,” Xiu Juan observed him. She fumbled to return his robe, “You’ll catch a cold. An emperor mustn’t risk---“

“Keep it on. You’re in a worse state than I,” he recommended.

She looked up at him, “But—“

“Luli, go and retrieve a horse from my men for you both,” he ordered her.

“Yes! Yes!” She nodded and scurried off.

After she was gone from sight, Jinhai stood up and turned to Ngo Kwang and the concubines. She wouldn’t dare look at him in the eyes. Jinhai moved but was stopped by Xiu Juan who wrapped her fingers around his wrist. He immediately turned his head to her.

“Let them go,” she said with downcast eyes.

Ngo Kwang and Jinhai widened their eyes at her mercy. He opened his lips to argue but Xiu Juan pled on, “I don’t want to hear anymore vile words coming out of anybody’s lips today. Please,” She squeezed his wrist harder.

Jinhai clenched his fists, closed his eyes, and took in a deep breath. He waved his hand and his men guided the concubines from off the rocks and back to the palace. Ngo Kwang, struck, staggered forward and casted her head downward.

After they left, Jinhai asked Xiu Juan quietly with his back turned to her, “Why did you not seek punishment for how they treated you? Are you not bothered by repetitive torment?”

Xiu Juan, her head bowed, responded solemnly, “Love’s made her bitter. For a moment, she helped me understand her pain so clearly. And it’s terrifying.” Xiu Juan held herself tightly, “To wrath. To covet. Even I, Xiu Juan, could be just like that.”

Jinhai turned around and lifted Xiu Juan onto her feet, “You’re far too pure to turn into something like that.”

Xiu Juan looked up at him to find him smiling tenderly at her. He put his hand into his garment to pull out an item and placed it in Xiu Juan’s palm.

“You treat an enemy as your own. I can only imagine how dearly you treasure those who are close to you.” Jinhai watched Xiu Juan open her hand and then smile gratefully with tearful eyes at the phoenix charm.

“You…you’re returning this to me?” Xiu Juan placed her fingers on her lips. After collecting herself, she reached out for Jinhai’s hand and grabbed it with both hands, catching him off guard. She raised it up and pressed the back of his hand to her forehead while her head was bowed to him, “Thank you so much. Oh, how could I ever repay my dues?”

Hearing the horses neigh above them, Jinhai was jerked from his daze and turned his head toward the sound of hoof steps. Two soldiers made their way down to aid Xiu Juan back up and Jinhai let go of her hand as they proceeded toward them.

“Don’t place yourself in danger, Xiu Juan,” Jinhai said softly, his head still turned away to look at the oncoming soldiers. Xiu Juan, astounded by her name being called so amicably from Jinhai, widened her eyes and her chest heaved. He casted kind eyes upon her, “That’s how you can repay your dues. Because even the heart of a king can only take so much.”

The two soldiers rushed past Jinhai to retrieve Xiu Juan and escorted her from the cliffside before she could even say anything in return.