"Every time I see your alluring beauty, I remember the Plum Blossoms in Mount Tai."

Xu Zhengming shows his killer smile to the young maid. He also made sure to position his head slightly facing the left side. He believes that it is his best angle; that he looks handsome the most in this angle.

The truth is, he already used this line countless times.

The young miss blushed and giggles. "You flatter me, Eunuch Xu."

"How about me, Eunuch Xu? Do you remember something whenever you see me?" Another maid asks as her big round eyes glimmer.

"You're enveloped with a lively atmosphere. Whenever you're around, your surroundings brighten. Just like the morning sun that shines above the skies. Warm and full of life." This line as well... he literally lost count of how many times did he use this.

"Ooooh. Is that true, Eunuch Xu?" The maid beams a smile.

Xu Zhengming smiles at her, "Of course."

Court Lady Han can't stand it anymore. She scolded the servants present but her voice is low enough not to be heard inside the Lotus Hall. "You all are so loud. Are you not afraid of disturbing the royal twins and their masters?"

The servants, including Xu Zhengming stopped talking and fall in line properly.

The court lady then asked the little eunuch. "Do you remember something when you see me as well?"

"...!?" Xu Zhengming didn't expect this question from Court Lady Han herself. Even the maids had a hard time not laughing. Fortunately, Xu Zhengming recovered his composure immediately.

"You, Court Lady Han..." He thinks for a while then smiles like a naughty child. "Did you see the willow tree by the lake in the imperial garden?"

Court Lady Han nods as a response.

Like a poet, he speaks with emotions. "Whenever I see you, I  remember that tree."

Court Lady Han can't help but think, "If I am not mistaken, willow trees give a sense of stability, hope, and healing."

Xu Zhengming nods. "That's correct but that's not my point, Court Lady Han."

The court lady's left eyebrow raised. "Then what do you mean, Eunuch Xu? Why would you be reminded of the willow tree by the lake?"

With a straight face, he said, "Because you and the willow tree are both old."

"Pfft..." The emperor's maids, as well as the princess's subordinate, Officer Liu Chen, can't help themselves but puff a laugh.

"You...!" Court Lady Han's eyes became red because of anger.

"Then how about me?" All eyes threw at the lady behind them.

"Greetings Empress Xue Chi." All of them bowed before the empress.

Court Lady Han was about to announce the arrival of the empress but her highness raised her hand to stop her.

"I am not here to see the emperor. I know he is too busy to see me." A weak smile flashed on her pale face. "I am here for Eunuch Xu."

"Me?" Xu Zhengming pointed to himself. "What can I do for her highness?"

The empress chuckles, "I want to have a word with you." Then she winks at him.

He thought, maybe the empress is here to ask for information regarding the emperor's taste in women? "I understand, your highness."

Xu Zhengming gives Court Lady Han a meaningful look but the old woman seems she's still feeling sour about the willow tree. "Hmmp!" She avoids his gaze.

"..." Xu Zhengming can't refuse the empress but he can't just go away without saying... or rather relaying a word to the emperor through others, right?

"It would not take too long. And we're not going anywhere far. We can just distance ourselves a few meters away from them if you want privacy." She said before tapping his shoulders.

The two of them distanced themselves from the crowd. Xu Zhengming noticed that her highness, the empress, is a bit different today. Her complexion is pale. Her eyes are a little drowsy. Her presence isn't as lively as the day they first met.

Xu Zhengming lowers his head. "Your highness, this lowly one thinks you are not in your best self for some unknown reasons. Eunuch Xu humbly suggests that it is better for you to rest."

The empress looked surprised for a split second but recovers her composure right away.

She smiles, "Don't worry about me. It's just I don't have the appetite this morning." She holds Xu Zhengming's head with both hands to rise and meet her gaze. With a bashful smile, she asks, "Did you managed to ask him his preferences?"

The little eunuch averted his eyes and forced a smile. "Your highness, please don't be offended. You see, his majesty's preferences are a little... absurd."

She releases Xu Zhengming's hand with a puzzled look on her face. "What do you mean to say?"

Eunuch Xu sighs before he speaks. "When I asked his majesty about his preferences, he said he prefers a woman who knows she's beautiful but doesn't compliment herself too much. Witty but can be dumb sometimes. A little short-tempered but gentle towards him. A strong woman but seeks help from him. Possessive but doesn't threaten his freedom."

After hearing this, the empress' facial expression became unreadable. "I am not beautiful and I dare not compliment myself. I am slow-witted. I do have long patience. I am not strong. And I dare not act possessive towards the emperor." With a pair of puppy eyes, she looks at him. "Eunuch Xu, I do not have any of the mentioned attitudes. What should I do?"

Xu Zhengming gives the empress a smile. "Empress Xue Chi, please do not give it much thought. This fact only tells us that his majesty's preferred woman does not exist." He paused for a while before speaking once more. "Worry not, your highness. The time I asked this question to the emperor, he's not in a good mood. Maybe he's not serious that time and didn't give this question much of a thought. I will ask him once again when he's rational."

"Please do, Eunuch Xu. I will do anything to become of his liking." The empress said.

Hearing this, Xu Zhengming was about to say something but in the end, he chose to keep his thoughts to himself.

Why is she head over heels to this temperamental emperor? She seems desperate to the point she's willing to become somebody else. If it's the wealth and fame she's after, she already became the empress and need not force herself to the emperor to have those.

Is it really out of love?

Xu Zhengming got dragged out of his thoughts when the empress speaks. "Eunuch Xu, I heard you were sick. How are you feeling now?" Her face filled with sincere concern.

"I am fine now, your highness. Thank you for your concern." He smiles. However, the facial expression that the empress wears is still full of worry.

She takes a small brocade pouch out of her hems and handed it to Xu Zhengming. "You are my friend now and I worry about your well-being. Please keep this pouch with you, Eunuch Xu. Promise me not to keep this away from you at any moment from now onwards."

"What is this, your highness?" He was about to open the pouch but she stopped her halfway.

"You need not know what is inside. This pouch will keep you safe." She looks like she has a lot of disorganized thoughts in her mind and doesn't even know what to say... or should she say something. Empress Xue Chi gave up in the end and sighs. "Promise me that you'll keep that with you wherever you go. And please don't let the emperor know this."

Though Xu Zhengming isn't sure why the empress acts strange, he still nods. "I promise, your highness. And I won't tell his majesty as well."

"You won't tell me what?"

The hair on his nape stand and his hands turn cold. Xu Zhengming knows only one person who has this voice.

"Your majesty." Empress Xue Chi bows her head and smiles gently. "I'm afraid I have to take my leave now. I still have matters to attend to. Please excuse me, your majesty."

Yin Renshu only stares at her silently with his cold eyes. He didn't say a word to his wife until she completely turns her back to leave with her maids.

Xu Zhengming knows very well that the emperor is not in a 'good mood'. And he also knows that this is the very reason why the empress sprinted away, leaving him to clear the mess.

"You're talking to her again." The emperor speaks. "What is it about this time?"

"Your majesty, it's nothing much. Her highness is just being too kind to me as she sees me as a friend. She heard that I got sick." He said without looking directly into the emperor's eyes.

"That's it?" Yin Renshu looks at him full of doubts.

Xu Zhengming responded casually, "Nothing more, nothing less."

The eunuch stares back at his majesty and a wide mischievous smile draws on his lips.

"Is it that... His Majesty is jealous? Ah, you need not to worry, your majesty. I dare not hit on her highness the empress."

"Tch." The emperor averted his eyes. "I don't care even if you flirt with her in front of me."

"If His Majesty said so." Xu Zhengming says sarcastically as he shrugs his shoulder.

"Seriously, don't casually hang out with her." The emperor paused, his face filled with seriousness. "I don't trust her that much."

"..."

Xu Zhengming is out of words. Is it really possible for a married couple not to trust each other? Why doesn't he trust her? Is it the reason why he won't fall for her despite her beauty?