Ji Cheng who was drinking his tea in his study got the news that Wen Ru has come back from his trip to P country and was patiently waiting for him.

  But after waiting for a while he did not arrive.

  He was reading a book in his study when Feng Ju hurriedly came in and said, " Your highness, Empress Zhao Ming and Xiao Li are in front of the palace hall. I saw them talking with Master Wen Ru and that's why came to inform you." he said as he bowed in front of him.

  Ji Cheng raised his brows when he heard Feng Ju 's words.

  He didn't mind Zhao Ming talking with Wen Ru because he was his cousin but when he heard that Xiao Li was also there, his expression darkened.

  He has seen how his mother and Xiao Li was continuously trying to humiliate and distress Zhao Ming.

  Before when he was not in the palace and always outside the palace or on wars, he never knew how his mother and Xiao Li has made Zhao Ming's life hell in the palace.

  But now he has strengthened his power in other regions and does not need to go on wars as frequently as before.

  When he came back, his mother told him the immoral relationship between Zhao Ming and the bodyguard Ah Leng.

  Ah Leng was Zhao Ming's bodyguard from the start and she had treated him as his brother.

  He knows he was close with Zhao Ming but he couldn't believe that Zhao Ming has a relationship with him. But when he saw her together with him coming out of her Chamber, his blood boiled in anger.

  He believed that Zhao Ming could not do anything like that. But at that time he has spoken harshly and shouted at her in spite of anger.

  But later when he calmed down he realized that some things didn't match together because it was Xiao Li who took him there saying that they should meet Zhao Ming and clear things with her.

  When they reach the lotus pavilion they saw the bodyguard Ah Leng and Zhao Ming coming together from her chamber and her clothes and hair were disheveled.

  At that time, he got into Xiao Li and his mother's nonsense and don't know what nonsense he said to Zhao Ming which hurt her to the point that she attempted suicide.

  His expressions fell when he remembered all these things and everything that he did to her. He couldn't change the past but he could try to change the future.

  He truly wanted to mend for his past mistakes and wanted to give Zhao Ming a happy life ahead.

  He gets up from his chair and went out of the study. He was walking towards the entrance of the palace hall when he saw Xiao Li walking towards him.

  His brows furrowed when he saw her walking towards him. She was also his wife but he never wished to marry her in the first place.

  It was Xiao Li's father who cornered him to marry her in exchange for their loyalty to Ji Dynasty. At that time, his power was weak and recently took over the throne so he can't make any new enemies.

  Because it will not only harm him but will cost the lives of many innocent people if the war broke out. So he has no choice but to marry Xiao Li which became the base of their alliance.

  He never liked her and has told her already that he couldn't give her his time and love because he doesn't love her before their marriage.

  But she still insisted to marry him but he never expected that a girl which looked naive and innocent could trap Zhao Ming to the point of no return.

  Xiao Li has made a huge impact on Empress Dowager and always do whatever she wishes because she knows that Empress Dowager was there to protect her.

  He slightly closed his eyes to calm his temper down. He needed to do things rationally because there are many untold things that Zhao Ming doest know and he needs to resolve them before making any decision.

  Though a ruler enjoys a bunch of luxuries however he was also the one who has the gravest responsibilities. He needs to make his every decision carefully be it public or private.

  Because every private decision of a ruler affects his public decisions and the people.

  ….

  Xiao Li entered the palace without waiting for Zhao Ming and Wen Ru saw Ji Cheng who was also going to the entrance of the palace hall.

  Her? lips curled upwards as she smiled and pushed her hair back and walked elegantly towards him, " Greeting to his highness."

  She greeted him with a slight bow when she met him.

  Ji Cheng looked at her and spoke with a blank expression on his face, " What are you doing here?"

  Xiao Li was slightly startled with his cold and distant tone. She has noticed that he was behaving differently since Zhao Ming has attempted suicide.

  He behaves differently in front of Empress Dowager and different in front of her.

  " Your highness, I saw Master Wen and Sister Ming were coming here to have tea so I also joined them. I hope his highness won't mind," she said with a low voice and with her bright smile.

  He raised his brows when he heard her words.

  " But where are they? They were coming behind me but why didn't they come yet? His highness let's go out to see why they haven't come inside yet. " Xiao Li blinked her eyes as if wondering why they didn't come yet.

  He could see the hidden meaning behind Xiao LI's innocent words but didn't say anything.

  By now he didn't get any evidence against Xiao Li that she was the one who plotted against Zhao Ming and spread rumors of their immoral relationship.

  He didn't say anything to her and took a deep breath and walked towards the entrance of the palace hall.