Amm De could not believe it. If he was one of the two- the left or right general- he could take the news, but very slowly. But not the general himself! Not the fifth prince!
He slammed his hand hard at the table, cracks could be seen on it, even he did not train his martial arts nowadays, he was still an excellent man in his youth.
"Y-you...did you scheme at me?!!"
Ren Shou just smirked. It didn't matter his opinion anyway.
"Why would I? Why would I scheme at you? Is there any reason for me to stoop low and scheme at you?" Ren Shou said with cold eyes.
Amm De stopped breathing. His eyes were wide. He could not help but remember the bitter years that passed when he was assisting the current emperor to his throne. And the big mistake he had that gave him heavy shackles that he was wearing until now. Seeing this man, reminding him of those bitter memories.
"Even you scheme at me or not, I will not let you marry my daughter! Shadow guards!" Again, those black-clothed men appeared.
Ren Shou was silently sipping at his tea. He did not even care he was surrounded by these men. After sipping, he chuckled.
"So you cannot wait to assassinate me in some desolate place with a perfect time. Now, you want to implicate your household. Tell me, did uncle emperor really cannot wait?" Ren Shou stands up. He had no sword with him. Before they let him enter, many servants check him and put out his belongings. But it did not matter. There are many weapons in this room that he could use.
"Do you really think that by having these twenty men who are only slightly average than normal can harm me?" He stepped forward to Amm De. The twenty men surrounded him in close proximity. Ren Shou just smiled coldly at them.
"I don't mind to taint your floors with blood. However, would Lady Li be happy after our exercise? My future wife will scold me for bullying his father."
Amm De's jaw tightened. He was right. This general in front of him could protect himself even against hundreds of men.
"What do you want? If you want revenge to what happened to your father years ago, then harm me! Not my family! Not my daughter!"
Ren Shou got pissed. He did not like to think that he would bring harm to the girl. The moment he saw the girl there was a feeling from his heart deepest from his soul to protect her and never leave her. If not, he would not do something crazy like finding the girl. It was just... A feeling...a feeling that he lost something important without finding the girl.
"Hmph...why would I hurt her?She's not part of this. But since you are his father, I'll give you mercy. If you pledge your loyalty to me and exposed the current emperor's crime against my father and the scheme of the empress and emperor to execute my mother, I'll promise you I will not destroy the De residence. You will retire and pay for your crimes by exiling you to the north."
This mercy was very hard for him to give. He hated this man. His father trusted this man, but in the end, this man betrayed his father and side to that despicable man! But he would give him a chance. Since he was the father of his future wife.
Amm De was dumbfounded. He knew his sins could only be paid by his life and his family's lives. But this young man, who was the mixture of his former friend that he betrayed and the kind consort whom they schemed against, unexpectedly gave him this kind of mercy after he implicated him with so much pain.
He might not be the prime integrator of the scheme in the past, but he still participate, that was his mistake. But he was a man who had deepest respect and promise an oath to that old man. That he would protect and stay at his heir, his son's side no matter what happened in the future. Hence, he was loyal to his son, the current emperor. Until now, his promised to that old man still rooted in his heart. He could not break it. He could not betray his son.
"I-I can't..." Amm De said dejectedly.
The emperor was a good man...at first. But when the former emperor, his father, the old man, died, he became restless. The emperor became suspicious of everything, even to his own younger brother.
The emperor's younger brother, Ren Shou's father, was currently the general at that time. He was like his son, unmatched on the battlefield. Because of his prowess, he gained a lot of respect and good reputation from people. Every time he reported to the palace, he always brought good news, success of protecting their land and the success of conquering another land. And all of it, made the emperor doubt his younger brother more.
Amm De closed his eyes at the same time shutting the memories that want to resurface. He was ashamed of what he did before. But he was already walking on the wrong path, he just need to continue even with the heaviness of every step.
"You can't?" The surroundings got darker and the pressure was heavier.
"Are you saying you did not repent of what you've done before? Are you still siding the emperor?" Every question, Ren Shou took a step forward toward Amm De.
Green veins bulged on Ren Shou's forehead, he was clenching his hands that blood poured out. However, he did not notice this. He just wanted to snap this man's neck. He was so angry. How could they...how could they not repent! Nor ask forgiveness! Shameless! So shameless!
When he was about to reach out his hands to the man's neck, the twenty men jumped at him, however, he was fast. In one swift, the nearby shadow guard got knocked off and his sword was stolen away by Ren Shou. He then swung the sword around, blood spattered and open wound could bee seen in every shadow guard's chest. The shadow guards took a step back out of shock. In just a second....all of them got wounded.
Good thing no one died. But Ren Shou raised the sword and pointed it towards Amm De. His hands were trembling because of anger. But he knew it was not yet the time. Besides, there was someone listening to their conversation for a while. He put down his sword and stared hard at the startled Amm De.
"For the sake of Li Amm, I'll give you time until the banquet. If your answer is not satisfying. I'll make sure your household would have no home to return to." He then strode off.
Amm De stared dumbly at the door where the young man had gone to . This general was so powerful...could he complete the mission? No, the question is, how should he report this to the emperor?
****
Li amm was pressing her ears hard to the door. Every bit of the conversation in the room, she tried to caught up. Some were clear some were vague.
After hearing some time, the revelation of Ren Shou and the mystery of her father's involvement make Li Amm excited.
'Oh my...I should not be surprised. This is the ancient era after all. Scheming is usual. But this... Between the general and my father! Oh not only that! If the general and me was in love and the general wants revenge against my father, then love comes in the way! Really! Did I really not transmigrated in the novel where I'm the female lead? Oh what to do...what to do....what will father will do? More importantly , what general Ren would do?!Oh me too! I'm involved! How should I act?'
Li amm put her hands in her grinning face.
'Gosh I'm so excited!'
Li amm considered herself as a bystander only. Like an audience waiting for the next performance.
Suddenly the door opened and since she was leaning on the door her figure crashed to the person who opened the door.
Li Amm's eyes went wide when she saw Ren Shou there.
'Did he caught me eavesdropping to them?'
Then quickly she stands up and smiled.
"I...." 'What?? What should I say?'
"I miss you " 'What the heck, why did I say that? That's cheesy! I need a reason!'
"And I--" she continued. 'A reason!'
"I was thirsty." 'A plausible reason!'
"And I miss you--" 'Why I'm going in circles here!'
"And I got hungry." 'I think I should shut up.'
So Li amm shut up with a smile. Oh don't blame her. It was her first time she was caught eavesdropping, for her it was the same as peeping someone in their bath. Besides she was a good girl last lifetime.
Ren Shou stared at Li Am. Examining her reaction. Did she got shocked from earlier? Maybe, that's the reason why she was muddle-headed. Since he was going to spend his life with her, there's no need to hide this from her. Better she knows it before they got married.
"Everything you heard earlier, is true. Ask your father if your not convince. But remember this, since I met you, this is the first time I knew you are his daughter. If I knew--" he trailed off. If he knew what he would do? Not pursue the girl? He did not know the answer. But he knew that if he did not find her, it would make his mind unease. So he concluded that it was better that he found her.
Li Amm just raised her hands. Truthfully, even she was excited with all this drama, it has nothing to do with her. Really, she just came into this world for one purpose. To find her regrets. Since she did not know what it was exactly, she must do trial and error. This drama, let it evolve in its own world. She would act if this hinders her plans and goals.
Besides, she thought that this Ren Shou was not really bad. He would not kill her father. She was sure of that. Why did she say so? Just a hunch.
"Its OK. I believe you. But no matter what your problem with my father has nothing to do with me ,right? You will not exact your revenge on me, right?" Li Amm asked. It's not going to be cliché right? She was worried she would wake up in her marriage days being choke in her sleep. That would be embarrassing in front of Jack and Jill
"No. It has nothing to do with you. Did you not listened earlier?"
"Oh. I can't quite hear it. Your voice was low--" 'ohh did I just sell myself?'
Li Amm put her hands in her mouth to stop it from saying anymore. Her eyes were a bit wide. Like a rabbit who got caught.
Ren Shou could not help but laugh. His future wangfei was so cute. His heaviness and frown was gone. Really, he felt warm and comfortable around her. He caressed her head gently and said.
"I'll be going now, let's meet again at my welcome banquet. I will send my servant later to deliver the invitation letter." After saying that he walked away and not even glance at his in-laws.
Coughed coughed coughed
Li Amm turned her gaze towards the room. Bloods on the floor, the twenty men were tending to their wounds.
Li Amm was shocked. Something big happened here that turned out like this? But I did not hear any thrashing.
Li Amm walked to her father and check if he suffered from any wounds. After confirming that he was safe, Li Amm asked.
"What happened?"
Her father looked at her. With so much sorrow in his eyes.
'Oh forget about that...maybe I will interrogate this man in another day..'
And like that, she did not get any answer after a few more days.