Licheng slid the window open and looked outside. He was in the capital of the Su Empire, Shixing, after a long time. The air felt the same as it was years ago. A smile carved on his lips and he slid the window close.
Xiana's stomach growled because she was hungry. She placed her hands on her stomach and asked Licheng when they would reach the imperial palace.
"It will take one more hour," Licheng said.
"Let's stop by a local restaurant. I am hungry," Xiana requested him.
"You can wait more," Licheng said. Xiana sighed as she realized why she even made that request. She hit her head lightly against the wooden window pane and tapped her feet on the wooden base of the carriage.
"Don't do that," Licheng said.
"I am starving," replied Xiana. "Give me something to eat and I will stop," she asserted.
"I don't have anything except water. Do you want to drink water?" Licheng asked. Xiana thought to fill her stomach with water and asked him for it. He handed the snuff bottle to her.
Xiana drank the water and thanked him for it. She returned the bottle to him and wiped her lips.
"I had told you to fill your stomach well, but you didn't eat well that day," Licheng stated.
"It was because you annoyed me. I only asked you a few more questions, but instead of answering me, you started to say irrelevant things. And that creepy smile irked me more," Xiana blurted out at him.
"Creepy smile?" Licheng didn't expect someone would say this to him. She compared him with those creeps and he definitely didn't like the remark.
"Yes. You smile at the serious questions which I ask you. That looks like a creepy smile," Xiana explained to him.
Licheng didn't say anything and turned silent. Xiana was puzzled by his reaction. She thought he would be irritated or angry at her, but that didn't happen.
"Licheng, I apologize," Xiana said.
"I didn't ask for it," Licheng replied.
"I know, but I think I should," Xiana said.
"Very well."
"Why did you live in the Shadow City? You have no idea how difficult it was for me to reach there. The weather was unpredictable and weird," Xiana stated. She thought the time of the journey would appear less to her if she would keep talking to him.
"That's why it was impressive to see you came there all alone. I like this fearless trait of yours," Licheng asserted.
"Thank you for the compliment, but my question was different," Xiana replied.
"I didn't want to live in the palace," Licheng gave a vague response.
"It is strange to hear this from your mouth. You love regal life and love to order people around you," Xiana stated.
Licheng smiled at her and averted his gaze from her. He ignored her questions and thought to remain silent. He didn't want to tell Xiana the reasons why he wasn't in the imperial palace for seven years because he never shared his secrets with anyone.
Xiana realized that she would not get the answers anytime soon from him. She decided to be a little patient and study Licheng's environment.
An hour passed soon and they finally arrived at the imperial palace. The carriage came to a halt and after a few seconds, its door opened. Licheng gestured to Xiana to step out first, which she did.
She scanned her eyes around and found out the soldiers had their eyes on them. Licheng finally got out of the carriage and looked around.
The soldiers ahead bowed to see him. Finally, the Crown Prince of the Empire returned and it was a moment of happiness for all of them.
Licheng started walking while Xiana and the five martial warriors followed him. They kept walking until Licheng stopped. Xiana looked at her front and found the Emperor of the Su Empire. Behind him were the two Generals.
"Su Licheng," Su Zhenji, the Su Empire's Emperor, pronounced. His eyes were misty and the two walked toward each other. Su Zhenji tightly hugged Su Licheng and closed his eyes. His hands patted Licheng's back.
"My dear son, welcome home!" Su Zhenji said and pulled away. His hands rested on Licheng's arms and he looked at him from top to bottom. The scar over his left eye worried the Emperor. "You have grown up into a tall, handsome man, Licheng. What happened to your eye? How did you get hurt?" Emperor Zhenji asked and for a brief moment glanced at the five martial warriors, who always protected Licheng.
"Father, it has a long story," Licheng said.
Su Zhenji was longing to hear his eldest son's voice for years. There was not a single day when he didn't think about how his son would sound. Su Zhenji again hugged his home. "I cannot tell my son how happy I am," he said.
Licheng smiled a little when he heard his mother's voice. He pulled away from the hug. Zhenji turned to look at his wife, Empress Yunxian while keeping his hand on Licheng's shoulder. "Our son has returned," Zhenji said.
Yunxian could not hold her tears back and spread her arms out as the tears of happiness rolled down her cheeks. Licheng walked up to his mother and embraced her.
"Mother," Licheng said. He loved this feeling. He missed it for a long time. When they pulled away after a minute, Licheng asked his mother not to cry anymore. He wiped her tears using his thumbs, "Forgive me."
"Come, I will take you to the manor," Yunxian told him when Licheng asked her to wait.
"I would like to have the special rooms for these five close friends of mine," Licheng said. The five martial warriors stepped up and greeted the Emperor and the Empress.
Zhenji looked in their direction again and ordered the Eunuch about the same. His eyes fell on Xiana and he recognized her.
"Who is this woman?" Yunxian asked her son. "Did the Prince get married?" She questioned while arching her brows at her son.
"I have not married, Mother!" Licheng said. "This is the princess of Yu Kingdom, Yu Xiana." He motioned his hand at her.
She also came forward to greet the Emperor and the Empress
"What is Princess Xiana doing with my son?" Yunxian asked.
"Her Majesty's son brought me here," Xiana replied while keeping her gaze low.
Both the Emperor and the Empress were shocked to learn that.
"I helped Yu Xiana when she wanted to save her kingdom. Now, she will serve me as my servant. It was a promise she had given to me. Father had sent Xiana to bring me home, so from there, a deal happened between us two," Licheng explained to them.
"I remember well," Zhenji said and furrowed his brows together. He thought to talk about all these things later and told his queen they should take Licheng to the manor.
"Xiana, come," Licheng said. Both of his parents gazed at him in astonishment. Xiana walked up to him and looked into his eyes. Zhenji and Yunxian took Licheng to the manor which was closed for seven years while Xiana followed them.
On the other hand, Eunuch Lu Qiyu asked the five martial warriors to follow him.