In Chu household, Chu QingQing followed by a group of maids went straight to her mother's quarters in a fit of anger.
Baili Yi was gracefully drinking tea when her daughter Chu QingQing barged into her room.
"Calm down Qing'er" Baili Yi consoled her daughter.
"Mother." Chu QingQing said on the verge of tears, "I ... Chu Lanlan is really a nuisance, it seems she's been hiding in the palace all this time."
Baili Yi's lips curved upwards. A maid suddenly rushed into the room panting.
"My lady this is urgent, the second young lady has come back." She said panting.
Baili Yi stood up and ordered the maid to lead the way. When they reached the Chu household main hall they found Chu Lanlan sitting comfortably and worry free.
Amidst the kingdom's bloody view a young handsome man dressed in a dark red clothing was sitting on the the throne with his eyes closed and an hour glass with limited sand moving down. When all the sand had gone down his eyes opened and they glowed red.
Another man dressed in an armor went and knelt before him.
"Your highness the king is in seclusion meditating for a hundred days after knowing the news of the fate stars that have emerged." The man in the armor said. "Jian Yu will take care of all clan affairs."
Demon prince Yi Wu stood up from his throne and motioned his guard to rise.
"Good. Prepare some men and an an armor for me." Yi Wu said as he walked through a dark portal that led to a room with grey fogged clouds and a grand revealer mirror in it. Opposite that was a well-laid bed with dark red blankets and a pillow of the same color.
"Lanlan, you've become so thin." Baili Yi hurried over to Lanlan's seat acting all concerned and held her hand gently.
Lanlan pulled her hand away and started eating an orange from a table bowl in front of her. She stood up and took the bowl of oranges in one of her hands as she used the other to eat her half-chewed orange.
"Your taste has improved," Lanlan said as she went to her room in the western quarters, leaving Chu QingQing to throw tantrums at her maids.
Lanlan lived secluded the best she could away from Chu family members as she tried reading as many books as possible about the Xu family. All records showed the same thing; their uprise and downfall.
The Xu family was the most renowned for many generations. They had military and economical power that even the emperor himself desired but were suddenly punished for treason.
"If they had so much power, why would they commit treason?" Lanlan asked herself now and then. "Something's definitely wrong."She said quietly as she lay on the bed.
One morning, Lanlan suddenly heard a huge commotion and called over her little maid Lian Xi who seemed very excited.
"What's going on?" She asked, holding a scroll in her hands.
"My lady, you mayn't know but I overheard lady QingQing's maids saying that lord Nan and lord Shuo will pass by here to discuss politics with his lordship." Lian Xi said with a bright smile on her face.
"Li Shuo and Li NanYi together. A rare sight."Lanlan said as her lips slightly curved. Lian Xi's face brightened. "Sadly, you aren't going anywhere." she told Lian Xi coldly.
Lian Xi started crying like a baby "You're so mean."
Lanlan's face softened after seeing Lian Xi's cute and sad face. "You always get your way don't you?" She smiled, "let's go."
Lanlan and Lian Xi went to the main Chu household garden and surprisingly, they had finished their discussion with Chu Haoli already.
Chu QingQing was busy showing off her beauty and elegance when Lanlan arrived followed by Lian Xi.
"... so kind to pass by here with your busy day." Lanlan found Chu QingQing telling the two lords.
Li Shuo was drinking tea ignoring Chu QingQing while Li NanYi nodded every now and then to show that he understood what she was saying.
Li Shuo's attention suddenly turned from the tea to Lanlan.
"I know you from somewhere."
Lanlan shook her head in disagreement.
"I'm sure I do." Li Shuo insisted. He seemed to try his best remember. When Li NanYi saw the cold atmosphere, he offered to play a game of go. Li Shuo suddenly seemed to understand.
"You're the chess piece girl."