Jian Guozhi was sitting for his lunch when Eunuch Long informed him about the visit of Xue Yu-Yan. "Send her in," Jian Guozhi commanded. Eunuch Long bowed and walked out. A minute later, Xue Yu-Yan came there.
She bowed and asked him, "How is Jian Ge doing?"
"I am better than the previous day," Jian Guozhi replied. Xue Yu-Yan passed him with a tiny smile and saw the lunch table was set. "Forgive me for disturbing you at this hour. I thought Jian Ge had his lunch," Xue Yu-Yan stated. "You shall not eat late," she said concernedly.
"I was a little busy at work. Did you eat?" Jian Guozhi queried her as he pulled out a chair.
"I ate so much in the morning that my stomach was full," Xue Yu-Yan replied. She lied to him! When Jian Guozhi told her that he would give her a second chance, she decided to devote herself to him, too. She could not have her food before her husband, so when Jian Guozhi told her that he did not take his meals, she was relieved.
"Have lunch with me," offered Jian Guozhi, who bewildered Xue Yu-Yan. "Do not look at me with those eyes. Aren't you hungry?" Jian Guozhi questioned. He was tapping on the chair.
"How did you find out?" Xue Yu-Yan curiously asked.
"I get informed about both my wives," Jian Guozhi proclaimed. "The food is getting cold. We can have this question-answer session later," stated Jian Guozhi and grasped her arm. He made her sit on the chair and sat beside her on another chair.
The maidservant came forward and served them the food. The two started eating. "So, did you meet your mother?" Jian Guozhi picked the fried slice of fish and ate that.
"Yes. Thank you for letting her come here. Mother had turned weak after my father was punished. She is not taking good care of herself," a tear fell from her eye and it fell on the back of her hand which was around the rice bowl. She wiped the tear on her hand and on her cheek.
She looked at him and said, "Mother did not do wrong but people taunted her." Jian Guozhi did not answer her. What could he answer? He did not want to tell her that even her mother was well aware of her father's work. He did not want her to feel sad about that. "Eat your meal. I wonder when you became this weak. Xue Yu-Yan used to make people cry, and it's strange to see her like this," Jian Guozhi was astounded to see her in this state.
Xue Yu-Yan slightly laughed. She picked the chopsticks and started eating. Soon they finished their lunch and the maidservants cleaned the table.
"A trip is planned. I promised you that I would take you to the mountains. We brothers have decided to go to Mount Jishi. However, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess will not accompany us," Jian Guozhi informed her. She was happy that Jian Guozhi thought of her. But the smile soon disappeared as the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess were not accompanying them. Was that because the Crown Prince still thought that she would harm the Crown Princess?
"Brother Sheng said that as the Crown Prince he should be in the Palace. That's why they both will not accompany us," Jian Guozhi asserted. Xue Yu-Yan nodded her head.
"I heard there is a valley of flowers. Is it true?" Xue Yu-Yan with glistening eyes asked.
"Yes. I have seen it. There are different varieties of flowers. The picturesque view of Mount Jishi is breathtaking," Jian Guozhi said with a broad smile. Xue Yu-Yan smiled back and the two continued talking.
~~~~~
Zhilao Mi was eating berries when her personal assistant, Lin Ning, informed her about Xue Yu-Yan and Jian Guozhi.
"What? She had her lunch with Jian Ge!" She squeezed the berries in her hand. She looked at Lin Ning, whose head was lowered and was on her knees. "It's good that they both are spending time with each other. Jian Ge is finally looking after his both wives," Zhilao Mi delightedly replied.
"My Lady, the Prince, and the Princess Consort have known each other for a long time. If they will be together like this then..." Lin Ning stopped speaking.
"Complete your words," Zhilao Mi commanded her.
"...then the Prince will start liking the Princess Consort more. The Crown Princess became the bridge between their broken relationship. Earlier the Prince did not look at her nor cared for her. What if the Prince started ignoring you? After a month he got closer to you," asserted Lin Ning.
Zhilao Mi picked the knife which was placed near the fruit basket on the table. She stood up from the chair and walked to Lin Ning. Halting near her, she gazed at the sharp blade of the knife and curled her fingers under the chin of Lin Ning. Forcing her to look up at her, she traced her cheek with the knife.
Lin Ning gulped and cried in pain as the sharp blade cut her skin. "My Lady," she winced in pain. Tears overflowed her eyes and she was terrified thinking that she would be dead today.
"This wound is nothing compared to your harsh words towards your mistress. Don't you know some even give immediate death sentences to the servants like you upon insulting their masters," Zhilao Mi pulled her hand back and gazed at the blood on the blade?
"Leave," Zhilao Mi commanded. Immediately, Lin Ning stood up. Holding her cheek, she dashed out of the chamber.
"Till now I was quiet, but not anymore. The one who did not want me to become the Empress is no more. The one who is trying to take her place in Jian Ge's life will soon leave and the one because of whom it all happened will be punished soon," Zhilao Mi smirked and threw the knife on the floor. She went back to the chair and took her seat. Putting one leg over the other, she picked a napkin and cleaned her left hand with which she had squeezed the berries.