It was nighttime. Tonight was darker than any other night. The sky was dark. However, if seen carefully there was a star in the sky that seems brighter than any other stars from other night. Black clouds were there in the sky, but those black clouds couldn't hide that star among themselves. As much as it looked beautiful, it made the night scarier and differently mysterious.

True that tonight was really different because it was the beginning to exposure of many secrets that remained hidden since a long ago. They had come to light but not at the right time.

Amidst the thundering, Lian courtyard was so silent that even a crunch of a leaf could be counted as a nuisance. It looked like a deserted place. Nevertheless, this was not true.

Inside the innermost room of Lian courtyard, its only source of light, a candle, was on the verge of losing its flame. There was a bed in the mid of the room. There was a man lying on that comfy bed. His face was very pale nonetheless it didn't lessen his beauty. With a very smooth forehead, a sharp nose, a rigid jaw, he looked ethereal. His body was covered till his stomach with a brown blanket. The left side of his chest was bound with many layers of white cloth. A red patch of blood could be seen on those layers. He seemed to be sleeping very peacefully.

Suddenly, a large wind blew outside, swaying the trees. The flickering candle got extinguished and the room lost its only source of light. In the darkroom, no one knew how a man appeared at that instant. His hair was white from the top of his head to his waist. His strikingly handsome features were making him look very young. All of his clothes were of white color. There was a small smile on his face as he looked at the man lying on the bed.

With two or three small steps, he stood in front of the bed on which the wounded man was lying. He raised his hand and put his palm on the man's forehead. He closed his eyes and with no longer a smile on his face he remained in that position. When he opened his eyes again, a glint of red light flashed in them for a second and he murmured

" As you wish. "

He removed his palm from the man's forehead and left the room. After two minutes, there was a frown on the wounded man's forehead.

This was the first expression on his face after one month and fifteen days.

The name of the wounded man was Xi Ying.

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Since long ago, Xi Ying could see only one thing, endless darkness. He didn't know how long it has been since the time he went unconscious due to his injury, but he was sure that a lot of time has passed. The time they were waiting for was coming soon. The time he couldn't waste in any situation, he was losing it in such a helpless way.

As much as he knew, his injury was not this serious. The arrow hit him in his chest, just near his heart. He would have died then and there if the archer hit him successfully in his heart. The archer was a very trained person. But he was fated to live that day. Since he didn't get shot in his heart, he was sure he would be saved.

He had not thought that things would become like this. Everything was going fine. He was on his way to set everything according to their plan with his shadow guards. What he didn't expect was the sudden attack. Around twenty to thirty fighters attacked them together and all of them knew martial arts. It was fine as he and his shadow guards were able to fight with them. But there were archers hidden behind the trees. Amidst all this, when he was not focused an arrow suddenly hit him. All that followed after this was an endless darkness.

After some days, he could feel that he was alive. He could feel whenever his shadow guard, An-Ping, or any physician came to check on him. But he couldn't open his eyes even after many tries. He tried to move his body, but he couldn't move. His body was not listening to his mind. He never felt this helpless in his life.

Xi Ying thought that after getting up from this bed, first of all, he would find the person behind this attack on them.

Like every day, An Ping came to check on him. The physician checked his pulse, cleaned his wound, and informed An Ping about no change in his condition.

But today different from everyday's routine, after An Ping left he felt one more presence in the room. Since the person was alone, Xi Ying was not sure if he was sent by An Ping. As he remembered the last attack, Xi Ying thought that this person might be here to kill him. In that case, he needed to save himself. When he was trying to think about what should he do, the man put his hand on Xi Ying's forehead and he couldn't think anything else. Suddenly he saw some rays of light within his closed eyes and heard three words

" As you wish ."

After all this, that endless darkness came again. Like the light was his own hallucination.

But after a few seconds, Xi Ying suddenly found himself on his legs at a familiar place. This place was one of the courtyards in his manor. It was surrounded by plum trees. Plum Courtyard, The most isolated courtyard in his manor, just like a cold place. On seeing the courtyard, Xi Ying remembered the person residing here. As he looked around himself, he found that he was in the garden area.

Hearing some movements, Xi Ying turned around only to come across a face he had not seen in four years. However, it had not changed in this long time but has become more beautiful. Those clear and calm eyes, which once made him a fool were still the same.

And the owner of those eyes and a beautiful face was his wangfei, Li Rui.

The wangfei he despised from the depth of his heart.

Li Rui was walking towards him with her two maids. Xi Ying was looking at his wangfei in a daze until she passed by him. Passed by him. Without any greeting. Xi Ying thought that she must have gotten a lot of courage to ignore him. Even though they have not seen each other for the last four years, even though their relationship has never been good, this was not the way a wangfei should treat his husband.

With the intention of reprimanding his wangfei, he turned in the direction she went. He walked in front of her. Still seeing no reaction from the person he wanted to confront, only heightened his anger. In this anger, he tried to stop her by holding her arm when she was about to pass by him again. However, he couldn't hold her arm. His hands couldn't grip anything but passed through her arm without any obstruction.

Xi Ying's mind went blank. He wondered, what sort of sorcery does this woman know?

He composed himself and tried again but his hands passed through her arm without any resistance. A thought came to Xi Ying's mind. Even if his wife, Li Rui, has the courage to ignore him, her maids can never be this brave. So what was happening exactly? It could only mean that ...

Dismissing this thought, Xi Ying tried to pick something else with his hands but couldn't do so. He tried to pluck the flowers but his hands passed through the flowers. From all these things, Xi Ying could conclude only one thing.

This was not his body. This was his soul. That was the reason Li Rui passed by his side without any change in her calm and composed expression. She couldn't see him. He didn't notice that he felt somewhat comforted on finding that Li Rui did not ignore him deliberately.

Still, there was one question that remains unanswered.

He was dead or alive?

But he didn't get the time to sort out all this and before he could come out of this predicament, he heard something ridiculous.

Two maids were cutting the weeds in the garden. There was a large wall of bushes and small trees between them and the side on which Li Rui and Xi Ying were standing. As their hands were not stopping their work, their mouth didn't stop doing their work.

" Have you listened to the latest rumor going around lately? " The first maid asked the other.

The second maid had a confused expression on her face.

" Which One? " She asked the first

The asked maid showed a mocking smile on her face and told her.

" All over the Xin City, People are saying that Prime Minister Xi himself asked His Majesty to solve the ongoing problem between Xin and neighboring Country. After solving this border problem, he is going to ask for an imperial edict of marriage with First Princess Wenling from His Majesty in reward. "

The second maid seemed to be filled with fresh energy suddenly. Her face showed great excitement.

" Really? Well if all this is true, then His Majesty will certainly grant this marriage. This border problem has been continuing for almost ten years. His Majesty will surely be impressed by Prime Minister Xi if he solved this problem. And knowing Lord Xi's intelligence, he is the only person who is able to solve this. Doesn't it mean that Xi manor will be going to have a concubine soon? "

At this, the first maid looked at the second maid like she was looking at an idiot.

" Have you lost your mind somewhere? What concubine? Don't you know how much His Majesty adores First Princess Wenling? How can he let her become a mere concubine? "

Making a shocked face the second maid said

"Then Does it mean that Lady Li .....? "

The rest was unsaid but was understandable.

The second maid stopped herself from saying anything else and shut her mouth tightly. She looked around herself in fear if someone has listened to her.

" Why are you looking so shocked? Ha…I knew this would happen one day. Lord Xi has never stepped in Lady Li's courtyard in these four years. He also gave her the most isolated courtyard in this Manor. I am certain if there had not been that kind of situation four years ago, Lord Xi would have never married her. After all, everyone can see how much Lord Xi and First Princess Wenling likes each other. "

Xi Ying's face looked like he had something in his throat which he doesn't know how to swallow. He and First Princess Wenling. He didn't know why he looked at Li Rui to see any effect of the ongoing conversation on her face.

He was looking at his wangfei since the maid said that there is a rumor going around lately that he was going to ask His Majesty for an imperial edict of marriage. He didn't know who was Idle to spread this false rumor. He would never marry Princess Wenling even in the same circumstances which were the reason for the marriage between him and Li Rui.

Princess Wenling was an intelligent lady. There was no doubt in that. But Xi Ying has never liked the arrogance in the royalties which was their childhood quality. And First Princess was no different. She was good at almost everything and could even defeat many men in Xin. But he did not like self-conceit in any person.

But all of this was not known to his Li Rui. Seeing no change in those calm eyes since she has entered even after listening to the ongoing chit-chat, bothered him. Her being so calm was bothering him a lot. Even at the mention of four years ago's incident, she didn't react. She was still looking at the plants in the garden with whole concentration. The heart that was beating very fast after seeing her, suddenly calm down. A whole new emotion surrounded his heart. He was upset. Very upset.

He was confused. He knew how many times his wangfei had dirtied her hands just to keep the position of the first wife of Xi Manor. Whenever he came to know about her schemes, he was very furious. Her love for the status of his first wife disgusted him. But she never stopped. In the end, he arranged the most isolated courtyard for her.

Of course, she was not stupid enough to think that she could use the same schemes on Princess Wenling.

Then what was the reason behind this calmness? And why her calmness was bothering him so much?

Li Rui's maids, Li Hua and Li Mei were looking at her mistress with a very concern. Howbeit seeing no change in her expression their distressed hearts were assured. It didn't matter what others said. The thing of great importance was, their Lady Li's peace and happiness. Still, it made them worry if this rumor was really true then what will happen to their Lady. Behind Li Rui, Li Mei silently wiped a tear escaped from her eye. She couldn't see her mistress's plight anymore. Li Hua held her hand to comfort her.

Li Hua and Li Mei still remember the day they were brought to Li Manor. General Li himself had selected them to serve Li Rui. Six years old Li Rui had welcomed them in her courtyard with a large smile.

She had looked at them for almost two minutes.

" I have gained two loyal friends." That's what she said to them looking straight into their eyes.

Being taught how to remain a submissive slave, they didn't know how to react to the said statement. Still those words warmed their hearts. In the slave market, everyone talked about how slaves were treated in those noble families. But they were never treated like those servants in other courtyards. Their lady never hit any maid. She was very polite and respectful to everyone. Nevertheless, there were punishments for those who committed mistakes. But not hard enough to take anyone's life.

They have seen how she grew up from that six-year-old child. How that large smile was slowly replaced by a small smile which never changed. How their young miss became able to conceal her emotions under the mask of calmness.

And how she suffered silently in Xi Manor.

Every wrong thing which occurred in Xi Manor was supposed to be done by their Lady, Li Rui. And she never came out to explain herself. Even the servants of Xi manor could be found saying rubbish about their Lady every now and then.

Li Hua and Li Mei's hearts hurt to see all of this.

Amid all these thoughts, Li Hua heard her lady asking her something.

" How is Xi Ling doing? "

The question broke not only two maids' reverie but of Xi Ying also.

Listening his Son name picked Xi Ying's attention. The thoughts which were making him restless vanished instantly. He had the urge to sneer on hearing Li Rui mentioning Xi Ling, his son.

' Does this woman still remember that she has a son? '

" My Lady, I tried to find out about young master's condition. According to what I got to know, Young Master is suffering from a High fever and stomachache. A physician comes regularly to check on him but the young master is not getting any better. "

The news startled Xi Ying. What happened to his Son? He was absolutely healthy and fine when he left.

He saw a serious expression forming on Li Rui's face which was very similar to the one on his face at this instant. Although Xi Ying was a person who looked very cold and knew how to hide his emotions under his calm and lazy persona but his son was very precious to him.

" I want every information about Xi Ling's Health till Prime Minister Xi comes back. Do you understand? "

Till he comes back. What does it mean? Does she have no responsibility after his arrival? Xi Ying remembered his son asking about his mother once. He had silenced him somehow at that time. And Xi Ling never asked again. But Xi Ying could see how much Xi Ling wanted a mother. He could never fulfill that role even if he tried to do so in his life. But what could he do? He could never believe this woman enough to let his son know about her.

And hearing her words just now made him feel that he had been right all along about Li Rui.

With these ongoing thoughts, Xi Ying didn't forget his Son. He was worried about him. He decided to check on him and turned to go out from Plum courtyard. Xi Ying was at the entrance of Plum Courtyard. He raised his foot to step out of the courtyard but his foot couldn't move ahead. He felt an invisible wall stopped him. He raised his hand and moved it in the direction he wanted to go. But his hand couldn't go outside the entrance.

Xi Ying's eyes were very cold at this time. He wanted to kill whoever was doing this. But he didn't even know the person behind all this. Since this was his soul then he should be able to roam anywhere by his will. But now Xi Ying realized that his soul was being controlled by someone. At this instant, he remembered those three words "As you wish ". All of this started after that. But he never wished for something like this.

But what could he do now? Listening to the maid a few minutes ago, he knew that his son's health is not good since a long ago. It must have been very serious. What were the servants in manor doing? How did Xi Ling suddenly fell ill? Was there no one in his manor to be able to take care of a three-year-old child?

He spent a long time thinking about what could he do in this situation but couldn't find any solution.

Then he saw his wangfei Li Rui walking in his direction with her maids.

"Is everything ready, Li Hua?"

"Yes, Lady Li."

"Good."

Looking at them, it seemed like they were going somewhere. As she stepped out, he didn't know why he tried to step out again. And this time he succeeded.

He was very surprised. After so many failed attempts, it was a mystery how he succeeded in this one. No longer bothering himself with this, he walked to his courtyard. But as he was taking some steps in the opposite direction to Li Rui, he was pulled back. An invisible force was making him walk backward.

Xi Ying thought that his situation couldn't get any worse. Because he soon realized that his soul was bound with his wangfei, Li Rui and he couldn't go anywhere where she was not.