In the afternoon, there was a commotion outside the courtyard and when everybody rushed to the gate, Su Zhang Li told Senja to go back to her room. Obediently, the little girl did as she told.
The commotion was growing louder, from the sound of it there were no less than 20 people outside and for some reason that Senja didn't know she became anxious about something. She fiddled the hem of her dress with her finger and biting her lips.
Suddenly the door of her room was thrown opened and Ye Xiu rushed inside followed by Ye Bai. Both of them were arguing.
"Brother, what you will do now?" Ye Bai asked.
"I will take her away." Ye Xiu brushed him aside while he grabbed Senja's hand and dragged her away. Senja, who couldn't match Ye Xiu's footstep was stumble couple of time.
"Brother, I don't know who leak the information about you kidnapped Elder Dam granddaughter, but once Xinghe Emperor learned about it he gave you command to hand her over."
Of course in this chaotic situation between Xinghe and Azura, once Xinghe Emperor learned that their side had taken custody upon Elder Dam's granddaughter, the main Commander of Azura Military Clan, it was the most advantage situation for their side.
"Why don't you tell me about it sooner!?" Ye Xiu snapped and suddenly stopped, due to the sudden moved, Senja face bumped into his back, but no one notice this because they continued their arguments.
"I just know about this, 5 minutes ago!" Ye Bai raised her 5 fingers with agitated.
Initially, Ye Bai was Xinghe's spy to spying Azura's movement, no need to say that he didn't pay attention to the Emperor movement. Why he needed to pay attention to Emperor of Xinghe movement after all?
"Useless!" Ye Xiu was very angry and he reprimanded Ye Bai harshly. "You even can't find out about this thing earlier?!"
"Brother! I have just come back from spying Rockstone Kingdom as per your order!" Ye Bai didn't want to be blamed for this thing. He left his men to monitor the situation here, but because he was in mission he wasn't able to be contacted. "Moreover, what did your motive to kidnap her? Just hand her over to the Emperor! She will be a good bargain chip for our Country! Elder Dam will do anything to save her!"
Ye Xiu gave his brother a menacing glare with killing intent that made him shut his mouth. Senja, who was behind him turned stiff, she knew exactly what meant to be a hostage between the two countries that was in the middle of war. It wouldn't be good.
"Not even a single soul will know about her, do you understand?" He said trough his gritted teeth. His tone was very cold and rigid that made Ye Bai stunned. Ye Xiu knew who the person behind it, it must be Wang Yu. He must have craftily created an excuse to attack the Xinghe Kingdom, added fuel to the fire. This good for nothing father was a psycho for traded his own daughter life for his own benefit.
"Understand." Ye Bai weakly said in submission. He didn't know what his brother plan, but one thing that Ye Xiu knew, Ye Bai must have strong reason behind his absurd action.
After Ye Xiu got the affirmation from Ye Bai, he dragged Senja away.
***
On the same afternoon. Xiao Jun was reading his subordinate report when a soft knocked from the door made him to put down the missive in his hand before he let the person behind the door to come in.
After that a beautiful lady with 2 maid servants followed behind her, sauntered into the room. She signaled the maidservant to put down the food on the table and tell them to leave.
"I see you haven't had meal since last night." She walked toward Xiao Jun's side.
"I have." Xiao Jun replied her softly and returned to his activity.
"I am worry." Qianru looked at her own finger timidly and muttered softly.
Xiao Jun put back the missive in his hand and looked at the delicate woman that he married 2 years ago as a smile appear on his lips. "Let's eat together." Xiao Jun stood up and walked to the table while Qianru followed behind him happily.
Both of them were about to sat down when another knock was heard. The next moment, Liu Wei, Xiao Jun most trusted man strode inside the room with trouble expression. He gave respect to Xiao Jun and Qianru, however since Qianru was there he didn't deliver his message directly.
Qianru knew about this, but she insisted to not leave. She had married to Xiao Jun for almost 2 years now. On the surface they were very harmonious, Xiao Jun had always been treated her politely, he would never get angry with her, but he also would never do something affectionate towards her like husband and wife supposed to be, almost like a stranger and she couldn't take this anymore.
"Thank you for your meal, but I am sorry I have to leave. Please continue." Xiao Jun was about to stand up when Qianru held him back by grabbing his sleeves.
"Couldn't you eat first?" Her eyes looked at him expectantly.
Xiao Jun was like always, would give her a harmless smile as he put down her hand which was grabbing his sleeve. "I will eat later." And he walked outside the room with Liu Wei followed behind him and considerately close the door.
Qianru was looking his retreating back with tears began to formed in the corner of her eyes. She remembered clearly the words that Xiao Jun told her when He asked her hand to get married. It wasn't poetry or romantic words.
It was a warning that he sang in beautiful melody.
"I will make this clear for you. I will marry you for the sake of the state. I will treat you with the most respect that I could, you could do whatever you want as long as it doesn't brought disgrace for my name or your name. In return, you would never demand anything from me. If you have no problem with that then I will marry you." Xiao Jun said very calm like he was talking about the weather.
"Is that because what had happened to me?" Qianru queried him with swollen eyes.
"No." Xiao Jun shook his head. "It's because of me."
Tears were streaming down her cheek when she looked at him. Xiao Jun was her childhood sweetheart, she loved him for long time, but the most terrible thing that not every woman could imagine had happened to her. That was the darkest moment in her life.
Qianru shuddered when she remembered that damned night 4 years ago, that took all of her pride. That had happened right 3 months after she got engaged with him. Qianru still remembered how happy she was, until someone was schemed her by using Xiao Jun's name to lured her out from her residence in the middle of the night.
She remembered clearly that night, because right at the same time Azura's army conquered the Mountain Sui Sword Sect and her world also crumbled apart.
Somehow Xiao Jun knew about it and came for the rescued, unfortunately the deed had done. There was nothing he could do to redeem the damage that had happened. Although all those bastards had died in horrible death, that's not enough, it would never be enough.
That night Xiao Jun hugged her silently while she was crying until her throat hurt and her voice gone. No one could imagine the intensity of the agony that she have to endure a few hours ago. Xiao Jun was there to soothe her soreness until her tears dried up. In that long night, he only said "It's not your fault, their aim was me. Don't blame yourself." And he apologized repeatedly.
3 days after the incident, bad rumors spread on the street fiercely. Qianru was so depress, she thought she had lost everything as an idea to end her life flashed in her numb mind. No men wanted a woman like her, not to mention a figure like Xiao Jun.
However, at the 4th day Xiao Jun came, not to annul their engagement, but to take her to the palace dinner instead. Their appearance together suppressed the rumor effectively after that the following week the rumor died down and people forgot about that.
Not a single soul around her knew about that incident, except him.
Xiao Jun assured her that he didn't avoid her because of what had happened. But, it was because she wasn't a woman in his heart. He said it clearly and he always very clear with what inside his mind, although it hurt her sometimes.
"Because you love another woman?" Tears were rolling down Qianru's cheeks when she said this at that time.
"Yes." Xiao Jun wiped away the tears from the girl cheeks gently.
Qianru thought the thing between them was more like a compromise. Xiao Jun never mistreated her, but he never acted other than politeness either. She wanted to win him over badly, but her consciousness screamed at her that she didn't deserve to ask anything from him. Xiao Jun had made it clear from the start.
Qianru looked at the food on the table depressingly as she lost her appetite.