Lizzy turned listless the next second, forgetting all the words she meant to say. Things were moving too fast.
"Is, His Lordship inside? Her Majesty has come with the concubines to greet," Lizzy heard someone ask. That voice was that of a female, probably a servant. What had she said; the empress with all the concubines? She started to panic. She was so flustered, she drew the Nether Lord into his seat and hid behind him. Why did she feel like a mistress about to be caught by the legal wife? She glared at the Nether Lord's back in anger.
"The Lord just returned," the servant outside answered and Lizzy felt no need to stay and experience this confrontation.
"I will be leaving then," she said and hurriedly grabbed the Netherworld key and vanished.
The Nether Empress walked in just in time to see a portion of a dark silhouette disappear from behind the Nether Lord. She looked up into scarlet eyes and smiled.
"My Lord," she bowed, but the Nether Lord only stared at her form unflinchingly.
"Was that Lady Han? She should not have left so quickly. This Empress has yet to meet her," she said.
Not receiving an answer from the Nether Lord, she continued as though this was the norm, "Since she is new and does not know the rules, not coming to meet this empress, I brought the concubines to come greet her. Who knew she would leave the moment I came,"
Stepping closer, she stood before the Nether Lord and looked worried, "My Lord, Lady Han is only mortal and has not stayed long enough in the Nether palace to learn the rules. I worry that she will not be any good out there. She should return and spend more time on my lord's side while she learns the rules. Please allow me to send for her to return," she said. Still, not getting an answer, she did not bother.
"I know that you had given the Jiunhqu, but they are still limited, Let this empress send for her return," the empress said with head bowed.
"She likes to play. There is no hurry," the Nether Lord said and she froze slightly in her spot, then looked up at him the next second. Those cold words sounded quite indulgent in her ears.
"Then her majesty should send more maids to her side to guard her so that she can play well," a voice said from outside and stepped in. Lady Min curtsied to the Nether Lord, "My Lord," she said, then moved a step behind the empress.
"A Nether lady moving around without supervision is worrisome as it is, talk more of a mortal Nether lady. Since she likes to play outside, it is only right that Her Majesty shares your burden. The Jiunhqu will not be enough to keep her safe. More guards and maids will make her life much more comfortable in the semi-mortal realms," Lady Min said.
"Doesn't my lord worry that her doing as she likes could put her in danger?" the Nether empress asked.
"A mortal is fragile. It is not best if she drops the body? At least, she will be intact. If something happened down there that injures more than her mortal body, it will not be good," Lady Min said.
"Ah, concubine Guan has a soul body armour," the empress said as though in thought and called the concubine in. The dainty lady bowed deeply to all those there and moved towards the Nether empress.
"You called, your majesty?" she asked.
"Your soul body armour, do you still have it?" the Nether empress asked.
"Yes, My lady, do you need me to bring it?" Concubine Guan asked.
"Yes, it is quite necessary," the Nether empress said, then turned to the Nether Lord, "My lord, we should have the soul body armour to her. At least she can play with your mind at ease," the empress said. They finally stopped talking after a while of what seemed to be a one-woman show with the only character wishing to share the stage with others to make her look good, they looked to the Nether Lord to hear how he responded. They all knew he knew their goals. He was the Nether Lord. Of course, he could not stop them as long as they were within their rights. That is how the Nether palace has been run since the beginning. Even if the Nether Lord knew that they only wished for permission to go out and kill the mortal, he could not refuse their request as long as they had good reason. And they did. He was worried about her, so they sent people to protect her. He wished that she play more outside, they wished to send more maids to make her more comfortable. This was within their right. He had no reason to say no.
"This Lord is keeping watch, let her play," he said and their faces went stiff. He actually rejected it. As though it was not enough, he stated that he was paying attention himself. Was that not a warning to them? If this was not favouritism, what was it?
Lady Min almost smiled at the outcome. If nothing else, his answer has only made the empress more determined to kill the mortal. She wondered, was the Nether Lord doing this on purpose?