On the way back from The Kumbh Mountains to The Imperial Capital, Su Li noticed the gradual change in the people around her but she didn't pay much attention to it.
When they finally reached The Imperial Palace, she gave leave to all the people who had gone with her on this small adventure and then brought Zhou Sheng along with her inside The Imperial Palace.
A few days later, The Dowager Empress went to The Imperial Study because she wanted to discuss a few affairs of The Inner Palace with His Majesty, on the way, she saw Ning Fu walking in the same direction as her.
After the salutations were made, she asked him a few inconsequential things to while away the time - when they heard a loud burst of laughter from a side garden.
Who dared to laugh so uproariously and impudently in The Imperial Palace?
Both of them turned towards the direction from where the voice came and they were struck dumb by what they saw.
His Majesty and another boy seemed to be playing on swings and the one to laugh was the other boy.
It looked as if His Majesty had told him some wonderful news or a funny joke and His Majesty was smiling looking at the laughing visage of the other boy.
It was the first time since His Majesty had returned to the country, that there seemed to be a semblance of peace in his eyes and the worry lines on his face seemed to have lessened.
Empress Dowager had heard the hushed mutterings of the servants discussing that His Majesty had brought in a commoner to stay in The Imperial Palace and he was particularly favoured by the emperor.
She hadn't paid much attention to the news and had just treated it as a youthful fancy of her son - maybe someone had struck his fancy or he wanted to get close to someone who hasn't seeped into the court politics as of yet.
However, looking at the scene in front of her, it looked much more intimate than casual acquaintances.
Her son who never smiled from the heart had a true, genuine smile on his face. Granted the smile was a shallow one but it was the first true smile she had seen.
Even from this far away, Empress Dowager and Unit Commander could see the simple enjoyment of a summer day and a close friend lighting up His Majesty's face.
Empress Dowager didn't know who the other boy was, nonetheless, she felt grateful towards him for giving her child some measure of happiness.
Recalling that her son had even taken this person to The Kumbh Mountains, she turned towards Ning Fu and ordered, "Unit Commander, you were with His Majesty when His Excellency went for the rain ritual. You must be familiar with that boy. Tell Ajia, how did His Majesty come upon the boy."
Ning Fu didn't think about the reasons for Empress Dowager asking him the question and though he felt he would be portrayed in a bad light if he told the circumstances of that fateful night, he still told the mama-bear everything in the chronological order - without hiding any part of it.
Listening to his words, the mana-bear seemed to become restless. After hearing the details of that night, she fired off many other questions at him.
Why did His Majesty take the boy along with him when he had been mostly unconscious prior to reaching the foothills of the mountains?
What kind of interactions did both of them have?
Did His Majesty pass on any specific orders regarding the boy?
What was the imperial official's reaction to an unknown being picked for the rain ritual?
Ning Fu answered all her questions with extreme patience.
He didn't know what she was driving at but still, he knew she had the best interests of the monarch in her heart, so be didn't mind explaining a bit more.
Suddenly, they heard His Majesty calling them, "Mohou, Unit Commander, why are you standing there? Come inside the pavilion. The sun is too hot today."
Though there was still a smile on the monarch's face, it wasn't as carefree as it had been just a few minutes ago - when His Majesty thought that there weren't other people around.
Ning Fu and Empress Dowager both noticed the difference.
The monarch was still smiling at them I, but his face, his eyes didn't contain the previous joy and contentment.
They came to a joint decision to not disrupt His Majesty and Empress Dowager said, "Ah! Your Majesty, Ajia was just walking in the gardens to stretch Ajia's legs and coincidently met Unit Commander. It has been so long since Ajia had heard about interesting anecdotes about the outside world, so Ajia wants to talk to Unit Commander. We were just leaving."
Finishing her words, Empress Dowager left the place with Ning Fu following behind her at a sedate pace.
They had just taken a few steps when they heard His Majesty's shriek.
Ning Fu felt his breath stuttering when he heard that shriek, his heart almost skipped a beat.
Without worrying about the consequences, he took out a sharp dagger from his robes, pivoted around on one foot and instinct had him throwing his dagger fast and accurate - towards the place an assassin could attack His Majesty from.
He choked in horror when he saw the dagger flying at an equally startled pair - His Majesty and Zhou Sheng.
From their posture, it was clear that the pair had been goofing off - both of them plastered to each other, with nary a space between them. It was then that Ning Fu realised that either of the two might have been tickling the other person, which was why His Majesty had shrieked.
It hadn't been a frightened shriek rather, it had been of playfulness.