Jian Guozhi stopped by his mother's chamber and lowered his head. He walked ahead to the Eastern Palace, after a while.

  "Your Highness, the Princess is waiting for you," Eunuch Long informed Jian Guozhi, who stepped in and the doors were closed behind him.

  "Xue," he called out her name as he stopped by the main door. "You look beautiful," he said and passed her a smile. Xue Yu-Yan thanked him for the compliment.

  "The Empress Dowager gifted this dress to me. She gave the dresses to every Princess," Xue Yu-Yan said and outstretched her arms to glance at them.

  "The color looks good on you," Jian Guozhi came near her and pinched her cheek. He stepped back and removed the overcoat. Eunuch Long announced about the dinner meals and came inside with a few maidservants. He took the overcoat of his master and stepped back.

  "Eunuch Long, what about the special drink that I have asked you to bring?" He asked him.

  "I thought that His Highness will not be able to drink it today as he's tired," Eunuch Long deduced. "Forgive me, Your Highness, for making this kind of assumption. I will bring it," he said humbly and walked out of the chamber with the maidservants.

  Jian Guozhi and Xue Yu-Yan sat around the table. "Jian Ge, here," Xue Yu-Yan handed him the chopsticks.

  "What special wine Jian Ge has asked for?" Xue Yu-Yan asked him.

  "Grape wine," Jian Guozhi answered.

  "Oh. I would like to taste it too if Jian Ge allows," Xue Yu-Yan said with excitement.

  "Of Course, you can. You don't need to ask my permission, Xue," Jian Guozhi stated.

  "Today I enjoyed hunting after such a long time. Though, I missed Brother Sheng's presence and Yongzheng's too. Earlier, it used to be so competitive, full of jealousy. Whenever I used to prepare for hunting, my mother used to tell me only one thing– to win at any cost even if I have to hurt my younger brothers.

  I was supposed to be the best in all aspects as I had to become the Crown Prince someday. But deep inside, I knew that I could never become a Crown Prince." Jian Guozhi recalled his past again and those days when he was forced to listen to his mother and even the Prime Minister.

  "I also joined once," Xue Yu-Yan stated. "I met the Empress that day for the first time. She was jealous of Prince Sheng Li. I remember vividly that you were not feeling well that day, but you were supposed to fight against the Fifth Prince," Xue Yu-Yan recalled.

  Eunuch Long came in and put the tray on the table which had a porcelain wine jar on it. After that, he left the chamber.

  "I told you that I was supposed to do well in everything to get into the eyes of not only my late father but also the ministers too. However, I failed to understand that the negative feelings towards Brother Sheng would never make me succeed," asserted Jian Guozhi. "Let's have our dinner before it gets cold," he said and the two started eating.

  After they finished, the servant cleaned the table. Jian Guozhi picked the porcelain jar and poured the grape wine into the two cups. Xue Yu-Yan thanked him and gracefully picked it up by placing her hands on it.

  "It's delicious. My friend from Western Province has sent this," Jian Guozhi pronounced and smiled.

  Xue Yu-Yan put the cup down and asked him about his friend.

  "His name is Qiao Long. His father used to be a minister, but lately, got shifted to the Western Province as the Governor seven years ago," Jian Guozhi briefed her. "He is a great friend of mine," he said and again poured the wine into their cups.

  "Is Jian Ge missing his old days?" Xue Yu-Yan asked him out of the blue.

  Jian Guozhi hummed and gulped the wine. "Those days were filled with momentary happiness. Brother Sheng left the Palace and started Military campaigns while I enjoyed the Palace life with comfort. I do not know how I even thought at that time that I could be the future Emperor!" A chuckle escaped his mouth.

  Xue Yu-Yan curiously gazed at him as she could not understand what Jian Guozhi meant by that.

  "Brother Sheng learned things while being in the war and that's his strength. He left this pleasure which all the Princes enjoyed at a young age. One reason could be that he wanted to live in the Palace. How could I trouble my younger brother? I still am guilty about that," Jian Guozhi muttered and drank more wine.

  "It's going to be finished soon," Jian Guozhi said as he looked into the jar.

  "Jian Ge, when did you realize that you want to turn good?" Xue Yu-Yan asked him.

  "When my mother made evil plans for the Princess of Juyan, I realized it was the time to stop. Alas! I could not stop my mother. The person who saved my life, I could never let her die just for my benefits," Jian Guozhi explained to her and took the last sip of the wine.

  Xue Yu-Yan realized that Jian Guozhi was stressed about something, but he was not telling her completely.

  "I won't ever teach our kids such negative things, Xue. I will let them do anything they want to do. They don't need to come first in everything, nor do they have to fight for it!" Jian Guozhi affirmed. Xue Yu-Yan rested her hand over Jian Guozhi's hand.

  "We will be good parents to them. Even if they get failed; I will encourage them and will pat their backs," Jian Guozhi said as a smile appeared on his lips. He stood up from the table and wavered a little. Xue Yu-Yan quickly went near him and supported him by holding his arm.

  "Jian Ge, you are drunk," she said when he tightly hugged her.

  "Xue, I miss my mother. Every time I cross her chamber, I feel she will be there, waiting for me. I hate it. I hate that people now call her with various evil names. I know that I was the one who asked to punish her but——" he ended up sleeping while she tightly held him.

  Xue Yu-Yan took him to the bed and covered him with the blanket…… She caressed his forehead and planted a soft kiss in its middle.