"Your Highness? I figured you called for me." Dao Ye speaks from outside, Yi Hua, dazed, keeps staring out of the window, and Lu Yang Yang enters the room to find her intact in the robe she was from before.
"Your Highness?" he calls her again, getting no response he frowns in concern.
Lu Yang Yang runs and jumps on her lap, startling her, gasping in shock she stands up resulting in Lu Yang Yang groaning on the floor, "Hua… stop hurting me." He mutters which had her blink her eyes, still coming out of her trance.
"I-I… I am sorry." Yi Hua mutters and kneels down, picking Lu Yang Yang in her arms, Dao Ye observes her silently, Yi Hua looks up and finds Dao Ye standing still.
"Oh, you are here. Come and sit." Yi Hua says, gesturing him to sit on the cushion before her, she sits down opposite of him, facing him.
"Yes, Your Highness?" Dao Ye questions, tilting his head and watching Yi Hua narrow her gaze at him, he takes out a scroll that belongs to her but is plain and places it before her, "You wanted to see me?" Dao Ye adds hesitantly, Yi Hua exhales loudly and nods her head.
"So, where have you been? Did you find a lead or something?" Yi Hua asks, grabbing the scroll and looking at Lu Yang Yang, "Did you suppose I will speak and he will listen to me?" Lu Yang Yang speaks, mockingly while Yi Hua rolls her eyes and throws the scroll away, meeting his gaze.
"Uh, I was taking my time to investigate things before I bring it up to you." Dao Ye says, Yi Hua nods her head and stares at him in silence, Dao Ye clears his throat.
"The jade and hairpin won't be enough evidence to accuse him. I figured we ought to search for more…so…" Dao Ye says, looking up at Yi Hua and awkwardly chuckling before he looks away.
"So? I won't scold you, Dao Ye. I know you are working hard and hiding it is making it all so hard, so speak comfortably." Yi Hua says, assuring him with a soft nod while Dao Ye looks at her, smiles, and nods his head.
"So, I followed him but I found him only visiting the brothels and drinking last night. I am sorry I couldn't find anything." Dao Ye says, checking up on her change in expression, "Uh, I will go and keep an eye on him today as well." he adds, her silence tensing up the atmosphere.
"It's okay. Take it easy but we need to hurry up. That demon seems to have taken a liking of me already. Whatever we need to do must be hurried." Yi Hua says, heaving out a sigh.
Dao Ye widens his eyes and nods his head, "Uh, Your Highness, what is the last thing you remember? I mean… before you woke up in the demon land." Dao Ye asks, a little leaning forward too keen on listening to her answer.
Yi Hua frowns, tilting her head as she ponders over her memories, closing her eyes she takes in a deep breath, and a faint series of memories start playing inside her head.
"Uh, I was getting ready to go to bed when someone came up to me." Yi Hua says, widening her eyes and looking at him, "Why didn't I remember this before?" She questions herself in disbelief.
"Who?" Yi Hua frowns, looking at him as he questions, "I don't know." Yi Hua says, shaking her head as she goes further into her memories trying to acknowledge the person.
"There was this girl… she seemed familiar though." Yi Hua mutters, still frowning in confusion.
"What did she come up to you for?" Dao Ye asks, listening to her with concentration, "She brought me a glass of milk, it was not that unusual for the maids to serve me milk before I sleep so it didn't seem fishy." Yi Hua says.
"But now that I think of it, I was fine before I drank the milk… so I guess we found the culprit." Yi Hua smirks, Dao Ye nods her head and chuckles, "But, Your Highness, we need to identify that maid."
Upon his words, Yi Hua heaves a sigh and looks distressed, "I know, "Do you remember how she looks?" Dao Ye asks, Yi Hua tilts her head and hesitantly nods her head.
"I guess so." She mutters, "Then I will secretly have an artist visit you for the portrait." Dao Ye says, Yi Hua nods her head, "Yeah, that's feasible." Yi Hua agrees, "Make sure, this remains between us." Yi Hua says, squinting her eyes.
Dao Ye blinks his eyes, hesitantly nods his head, and looks up, "Okay, now get to work." Yi Hua says, dismissing him, Dao Ye nods his head and stands up before he bows towards her and walks out of the room.
"Hua, are you sure you can trust him?" Lu Yang Yang asks, looking up at her, "I think yes, why?" Yi Hua questions in surprise, "I heard him talk to your brother, I mean literally talk to him about you." Lu Yang Yang says, checking up on her expression.
"Is he?" Yi Hua asks, frowning.
"Yeah, maybe your brother is worried about you and is not a bad guy. It wouldn't matter, right?" Lu Yang Yang asks, leaning against her, "Yeah, he wouldn't hurt me. If it's only with Brother Zhen then Dao Ye is trustworthy…" Yi Hua says, taking a deep breath.
"Don't worry, I will keep an eye on him." Lu Yang Yang says, licking her hand while Yi Hua chuckles, "Now, I can rest assured."
"But what do you mean by the demon taking an interest in you?" Lu Yang Yang asks, recalling her words from before, Yi Hua looks at Lu Yang Yang and she breaks down.
"That bastard!" She shouts, clenching her fist against her cloth while Lu Yang Yang widens his eyes, "Hua, what happened?" He asks, concerned.
"He wants me! Fricking bastard!" Yi Hua screams, grabbing the cushion beside her and throwing it away as a tear rolls down her eyes, in frustration and helplessness.