The golden sun shines brightly in the sky of Donghua. Noel looked at the blue sky and missed his home in Shilla. He is not talking much with his mother. Disappointed, resentment, angry at his mother for making his life miserable.
Aliyah knew Noel was ignoring her. She was not aware that Noel is angry with her because she mistreated Julia. All she was thinking is Noel still can't accept the fact that he got deposed by King George.
She made some effort to cheer him up. Aliyah took out her handkerchief to wipe the sweats on his face, but he pushed her hand off his face. "Why are you ignoring me, my prince?" She asked.
"Please give me some time to cool down. You know for the first time, I found a woman who found the key to open my heart. I am truly in love with her and I was very happy that I finally became a father soon. But my child died in her womb." Noel said and he shed a tear.
"You are missing Julia? You can invite her here to stay with you. I am sure King Jamal will agree with your decision." Aliyah said.
"Why? Why should I?" He chuckled.
Aliyah looked at Noel, perplexed with his response. "You just said you found a woman that you truly love. Of course, we will support you."
Noel glared at his mother, "I heard from the courtiers, you have been abusing Julia. She suffered from a miscarriage because of you tormenting her. You have 20 servants, but you made her do everything for you? " Noel asked, and hoped his mother would tell him the truth.
"Do you believe the courtier? Why don't you ask Julia about this yourself? Why are you blaming me? I am your mother, and I gave birth to you. You don't trust me?" Aliyah glared at Noel.
He became confused. Who is actually telling the truth? The courtier or his mother? They were waiting outside the Imperial hall to meet the Queen mother.
King Jamal summons Aliyah and Noel to the Imperial hall to meet his mother, Queen Dowager Yanti.
Aliyah and Noel entered the imperial hall. Both of them smiled at Queen Dowager Yanti, sitting in the middle of the hall, she is an elegant, graceful and kind-hearted lady.
At a glance, she doesn't like Aliyah and Noel. King Jamal was persuading his mother to allow him to marry the woman he loved, Aliyah. Queen Yanti Dowager remembered Aliyah, the first lover of King Jamal. She never expected Aliyah to have his child.
Furthermore, she deceived the royal family of Shilla, impregnated the child of the royal family from Donghua. Now, she wondered if Noel is truly her grandson.
Considering the fact, they have loved each other for many years, she gave her blessing to King Jamal and Aliyah to get married, as, for the queen title, Aliyah will prove to them that she truly deserved the title.
The moon is shining in the dark sky.
As per instruction by Aliyah, the servants filled up the pool with milk. When they filled up the pool with milk, they shook their head in disbelief. What a waste! Milk is too precious, expensive and it's hard to get. They compared her with the queen of Donghua. They prayed the queen would live a long life. If Aliyah replaced her as queen, they imagined it as a doomsday.
Aliyah soaked herself in a pool filled with red flower petals and milk.
King Jamal appeared in the pool, he removed his robes and joined her in the pool. Helping her to scrub her skin. After so many years, she still looked the same to him. Skin is skin delicate, hair is silky.
The servants prepared many dishes and served them on the table. They bring a jug of fruit wines.
Aliyah and King Jamal are spending an intimate night together.
In the balcony of King Jamal's chamber, drinking their fruit wine, and enjoying the night scenery in Donghua.
"I am very happy you are here, Aliyah. Forget about Shilla and spend the rest of your life in Donghua with me." He grinned and embraced Aliyah.
Aliyah laughed and said, "In Shilla, I was a queen. In Donghua, I am just your mistress." She smirked.
King Jamal kept quiet for a bit, he knew Aliyah wanted the queen title in Donghua. Even though he is the king of Donghua, his mother is still alive. He will need to persuade his mother, Queen Dowager Yanti to give Aliyah the queen title.
He looked at Aliyah, she was frowning. "Aliyah, you have been a queen for many years. I am sure you know the queen title doesn't come easily. If I replace the queen as I wish, how will the citizens look at me?"
Aliyah smiled, "I understand. Don't worry. I am just saying."
King Jamal said, "I have not done much for the citizens. I am a king with no achievement."
Aliyah looked at King Jamal. "I have a proposal for you. You can conquer Shilla, unify these two countries. That way, you have achieved something."
He stared at her, perplexed, chuckled, "Are you serious?"
Aliyah sip her fruit wine and said, "This is your golden opportunity. First, the troops, and the officials in Shilla were demotivated. In the eyes of citizens, the king is just a clown."
He got curious and interested in this topic, he asked"Why were they demotivated? And, what makes you think I could conquer Shilla?"
Aliyah responded, "King George was trying to kill me when he found out that you are the real father of Noel."
He gasped in shock, "How did he find out?"
Aliyah shook his head, "I told our son the truth, you are his real father. I supposed someone overheard our conversation. I was going to leave them alone, but he tried to kill me and Noel. I taught him a lesson."
King Jamal asked, "What lesson did you teach him?"
She chuckled and said, "An apple for an apple. He tried to kill me, so I returned a favour. I have bribed my attendant to poison the king and his consorts. I supposed they will die anytime soon."
He looked at her, "The King got another son, Prince Liam."
Aliyah raised her eyebrows, "Oh you actually know he got a son? So what? I have already instructed my bodyguard to kill him."
Gulped, he never expected Aliyah to be so cruel. He is more interested in conquering Shilla, "What happened if both king and the prince died?"
Aliyah responded, "I made a fake ledger, and asked my bodyguard to present it to the king. From the fake ledger, the dumb king actually believed his loyal ministers betrayed him and involved in crimes. He sentenced them to flog. They have turned their back against him." She laughed loudly.
"The minister of defence that died while he received his punishment is an honourable man. The citizens and the troops respect him more than the king. Now, they have turned their back against the king." Aliyah said with a big smile on her face.
For a moment, he actually thinks that she is intelligent. The fallen Shilla will be beneficial for the Donghua, she was right, this is the golden opportunity to launch a war against the Shilla.
King Jamal summoned his attendant. He instructed him to get the report from the spy. Not long after, the attendant and his grand marshall, General Khun appeared.
King Jamal had several elite warriors that lived in Shilla to spy on the neighbouring country. The attendant appeared to give him the report from the agent.
The report is just like what Aliyah just told him. Shilla had gone haywire, and all these chaos started because of the woman he loved. He will be living with this vicious woman for the rest of his life, he believed that this woman can harm him easily too.
A big grin on the face of King Jamal. He instructed his team to work an in-depth analysis and budget if they will attack Shilla.
Aliyah put on her hand on his shoulder and whispered, "You will clinch a victory easily. Because, in Shilla, they have about 30 armouries and I am the owner. I can sell you the weapon for a good deal."
The first thing that came into his mind is, you can not make her your enemy. He touched her hand and said. "If I have conquered the Shilla, this will be a big achievement. By then, I will make you the queen, and Noel the crown prince."
She is happy now to hear that and that is what she wants, to be the queen of Donghua. He carried her to the bed, undressed her, kissed her, and stroked her body. While he kissed her, he felt that the beautiful face was just a hidden mask. After all, she said, he began to think, he thought he knew her very well, but it was wrong.