Not long after the commotion, Xiao Zi left the hall with the Empress tag along gracefully.
Xiao Jun stayed behind until the hall was almost empty, only after that government officer Qi approached him.
He was Qianru's father, one of the most loyal trusted people of the previous Emperor, Xiao Zong. Xiao Jun had known him and Qianru since he was little.
"Let's take a walk." Officer Qi spoke prudently.
Albeit the hall looked empty, however who could guarantee that the wall didn't have ear. In this situation, everything was possible to happen and the last thing they needed was a superfluous mistake.
Xiao Jun entire body was still shaken with anger when he obliged Officer Qi's offer. Both of them walked toward the yard where servants and guards were passing in the hallway far away from them.
"What happened with Tianyao?" He asked when he ensured their discussion was out of ear shot. "Did you make a sudden change in our plan?"
Xiao Jun couldn't contain his anger to give Officer Qi a proper explanation, thus he shook his head and took a deep breath before he started. "Tianyao is being used by him."
Furrowed form on Officer Qi's forehead. "Him? You meant the Emperor? How is that possible?" He knew Xiao Tianyao like his own son, hence how could that possible that Xiao Tianyao was being used so blatantly right before their eyes.
"This just my assumption…" Xiao Jun said tiredly. "There was something about the woman that Tianyao brought from the Kingdom of Xinghe…"
"What your guess?"
"I think she had something to do with Modama…"
Government Officer Qi gasped in surprised. "Did you think that he is using his ability to manipulate Tianyao?"
"Tianyao indeed met Modama when he overthrown the Kingdom of Xinghe. It was Modama who had killed their Emperor by using his ability. But, Xiao Tianyao is fine until this woman appeared."
Office Qi gave a deeper thought by Xiao Jun's word.
"Jun, do you think that the woman has the same ability?" He asked carefully.
The intensity of their subject of discussion was too profound that made them halt in their step.
Xiao Jun didn't answer him immediately as he looked up and watched how the clear sky was so contrary with his thought now.
"Officer Qi, could you run an investigation about the background of this woman?" Xiao Jun spoke slowly as though his mind was elsewhere except there.
Looking at Xiao Jun was being in lost, he felt sadness engulfed him.
Xiao Jun lost his parents unexpectedly in such a young age, abdicate from his title as a Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Azura in one night, fought his way to survive and protect the only kin he has and now Xiao Tianyao was being used by the person that had killed their parents to go against him.
The obstacles that he must be overcome were extremely difficult.
"I will do it right away my prince." Officer Qi gave him the most respect that he deserved, bowed down and walked away from him.
However, before he could go too far Xiao Jun spoke very low. "I will pick Qianru up…" He said.
Officer Qi knew that Xiao Jun had ordered Qianru returned to their household to protect her when he was away. In the other hand, the moment he came back, Qianru refused to go back to his mansion.
At first, he thought something had happened between both of them, but his daughter said that Xiao Jun would be the one who would pick her up.
Thus, when Xiao Jun said that he would come for Qianru, he was overjoyed. Everything was good as long as they were together.
Before, Officer Qi could give a response upon his statement, Xiao Jun had walked away.
***
The moment Xiao Jun reach Government Officer Qi's mansion. He stormed inside the house, darted along the hallway, ignoring the bowed and greeted from the servants who passed him.
His calmed expression almost broke when he reached Qianru courtyard.
The afternoon sun scorched his skin, but he remained standing in the front gate of his wife courtyard. After a moment of silence, he strolled inside.
In the hallway, he could hear Qianru's soft voice. She was always the gentle person that he had ever met.
Qianru's face came to his sight and suddenly he felt calm by her serene expression and her soft voice. Their eyes locked and Xiao Jun could see the surprise that soon turned into a joy in her beautiful eyes.
As he marched toward her, he dismissed all the servants who attended.
"Jun, I …" Qianru wanted to say that she had been waiting for him, but was intercepted by his sudden action.
Xiao Jun hugged Qianru tightly, buried his face on the curve of her shoulder.
He hugged her tightly as if his life depended on it. She was the safety place that he just realized it.
She was the only person who always there for him, since they were little, adult and now. She was the only person who would understand him, even in the time when he gave unreasonable request for their marriage.
She had suffered greatly because of him, but there wasn't a trace of resentment in her eyes.
She smiled at him like she always been.
And now, when Xiao Jun's world was getting hard and the amount of responsibility weight him down, the only thing that he needed now was looking for comfort in her arms.
Unfortunately, Qianru didn't understand what Xiao Jun was thinking. All she knew was, the man that she loved, shattered into million pieces in her embrace.
As though the world had abandoned him.
"Everything will be alright…" Qianru said softly while stroking his back soothingly.