Zhilao Mi came to the chamber of Jian Guozhi, who was seated around a table. The maidservant was serving him the tea. He lifted his eyes and passed a warm smile to Zhilao Mi. "Have a seat," Jian Guozhi stated. He ordered the maidservant to leave. Zhilao Mi sat in front of him around the table.
Jian Guozhi picked the teapot and poured the tea into two cups. He handed the cup to Zhilao Mi, who was staring at him. "Take it," Jian Guozhi told her. Zhilao Mi brought her hands and took the cup from him.
"Thank you, Jian Ge," Zhilao Mi humbly said. Jian Guozhi raised the cup and said, "I am a little stressed so I thought to spend some time with you." The cups touched each other, and he pulled his hand back. He sipped the tea while Zhilao Mi turned her head right and sipped a little from the cup.
She turned to look at him and put the cup down on the table. "But Jian Ge was furious at me last night. He left me in the middle," Zhilao Mi said and lowered her eyes.
"Forgive me for that. I just do not want you to get harmed. What if the Crown Princess found out? How could you make a plan to hurt the Crown Princess from hot water? My second wife has already done enough crimes and then you?! I trust you so much, Zhilao. You embraced me at my lowest point. But yesterday when I found out, more than you it hurt me," Jian Guozhi's eyes were filled with tears. Zhilao Mi clutched her skirt as she heard her husband.
"Jian Ge, forgive me for hurting you. I only wanted...I do not know why I acted that way. Jian Ge, can I tell you the truth?" Zhilao Mi asked him. Jian Guozhi knitted his brows and hummed at her question.
"I hate it when you care for the Crown Princess. I mean every woman will be jealous of her husband cares for another woman. But I should not have acted that way. I sincerely apologize to you," she bowed when Jian Guozhi told her not to do that.
She lifted her head. "I heard Sister Xue plotted this time something big against the Crown Princess. It might have upset you that…" she paused and wiped the tears that had rolled over cheeks and continued, "Forgive me, Jian Ge. I realized my mistake last night."
"I have forgiven you the moment you entered my chamber. I am just upset with Xue's nature. Despite giving her a second chance, she betrayed me. Today in the Court the Court Ministers filed a petition to remove me as Governor," Jian Guozhi narrated to Zhilao Mi, who was shocked to learn about that.
"Why are they removing you?" Zhilao Mi worriedly asked.
"Because they think I am also behind all this," Jian Guozhi stated, and laughed wryly. "The Crown Princess entered at the right moment and saved me there," he further told her. Zhilao Mi was astonished to learn about that.
"The Crown Princess saved you?" Zhilao Mi queried.
Jian Guozhi hummed and passed a tiny smile to his wife. "Tea is getting cold. You shall drink it," he informed her. Zhilao Mi picked the cup and drank the remaining tea.
'Why did she help Jian Ge?' she wondered.
"What will they do to Sister Xue?" Zhilao Mi inquired from Jian Guozhi.
"She will probably get a death sentence for doing such a heinous crime," Jian Guozhi replied. Zhilao Mi's lips slightly moved up but she quickly wore a sad facial expression on her face. 'Finally, I will get rid of her. But why does Jian Ge want power?' Zhilao Mi thought in her mind and at the same time furrowed her brows together.
"Jian Ge, I might sound rude but I am curious. Can I ask you something?" Zhilao Mi asked for his permission.
"You may ask." Jian Guozhi poured the tea in the cups.
"Have you ever felt that you were not given the rights and respect you have as the Firstborn?" Jian Guozhi stopped pouring the tea into his cup and peered at her. Zhilao Mi felt she did wrong by asking so she said, "If Jian Ge does not want to tell then it is alright."
"I do feel," replied Jian Guozhi. Zhilao Mi widened her eyes.
"I feel when I am considered inferior to my younger Brother Sheng. Even my mother thought that I could not do anything without her support. The ministers always hate me because my mother was from the Wei Family," Jian Guozhi answered.
"Then why Jian Ge does not raise his voice?" Zhilao Mi queried.
"What's the use? I am powerless," Jian Guozhi affirmed.
Zhilao Mi kept staring at him for a while. She picked the teacup and sipped the tea. Once she finished, she stood up and told Jian Guozhi that she would take her to leave.
"No, you cannot go," Jian Guozhi stated. Zhilao Mi astonishingly looked at him. "Spend time with me. I feel lonely these days. I have no one with whom I can share my worries," Jian Guozhi asserted as he put the cup down. He stood up from the mattress and went to her. Holding her hands, he placed them over his cheeks. "The day when you massaged my head, I felt so relaxed. My mind turned light," Jian Guozhi said.
He then put her hands down and waited for her response. Zhilao Mi tiptoed to kiss on his lips when he turned immediately, shocking her. "Wait, where is that oil? I think I have put it inside that drawer," Jian Guozhi muttered and went towards the left, to the end table. He pulled out the drawer and took out the oil bottle.
Turning to Zhilao Mi, he showed her that oil. Zhilao Mi passed him the smile and went towards the bed.. 'I need to keep her busy for just an hour,' Jian Guozhi thought.