Xie Ming narrowed her eyes as she waited for him to make an excuse.

  She was really annoyed at the fact that Xinyi was insulting her and he was just listening to her without saying anything.

  He blinked his eyes and said, " I really wasn't listening to her at that time."

  " I was looking at you." He said while leaning in for a kiss.

  She frowned and backed away, " What do you mean?"

  He sighed and showed her what he was looking at when Xinyi arrived.

  "-_-"

  It was the article that was posted on Weibo about the movie and cast. And there were a few pictures of them from their shoot.

  " I was reading this article when she arrived. I didn't look at her. During the whole time, I just signed the document and was reading this article." he pouted his lips as he felt wronged.

  When Xinyi came he was reading the article and when she started talking he was busy reading the comments which made his blood boil. All the comments were about Xie Ming and Jiang Yan.

  He acknowledged the comments which appreciated Xie Ming's beauty and aura but many were about the chemistry between her and Jiang Yan.

  They haven't even seen them acting together and they are already shipping them? And in what sense he looked good with her?

  Just thinking about those comments, upsets him.

  Xie Ming saw the change in his expressions and asked, " Why are you frowning all of a sudden? I should be angry with you, why are you playing the victim card?"

  He didn't say anything and scrolled down and showed her the comments on the article.

  "-_-"

  She pursed her lips upon seeing the comments.

  ' These people have some other level of imagination'.

  " You're upset because of it? These are just stupid comments. Don't take it to heart." she laughed awkwardly while waving her hand.

  He narrowed his eyes and asked, " He is just the second male lead right? You both don't have any……scenes…… together right?" he hesitated as he wanted to ask her if they had any intimate scenes together. He couldn't even find a proper word to ask this question.

  She stared at him in confusion as it took some time for her to register his question. She pursed her lips as she felt like laughing seeing his expressions.

  " Of course not. He is acting as the brother of the Emperor in the movie. And I am the Empress, what can happen between us? There is a little past between the two as he had liked her before she got married but as far I know, there is no such scene between me and Brother Jiang Yan. "

  His frown deepened as he caught the word ' Brother Jiang Yan'. Why does she have to call him brother?

  Brother sounds intimate as if she knows him for a long time.

  She pursed her lips seeing his bad mood and said,"?Let's have lunch. I made all your favorite dishes."

  A smile appeared on his face as he said, " I don't have any particular favorite dish. Whatever you make is my favorite. "

  "-_-"

  She chuckled and said, " Just eat and don't talk." she shoved a piece of meat in his mouth as his words were too cheesy.

  …..**

  Ji Dynasty

  Zhao Ming dressed up in a comfortable dress and braided her hair in a loose braid which made her look different but beautiful.

  Her lower body was aching like she has done extreme workout especially 50 sets of lunges and squats. She has never felt this extreme pain and uncomfortable there.

  Ji Cheng went to the morning court and she was glad that he went. Otherwise, he would have teased her for having low stamina and a weak body.

  " Miss, here's your breakfast. "

  Zhao Ming looked at the breakfast that Lu Shi bought for her.

  She frowned and asked, " This? Why are there so many nuts and dates? And why is there milk? You know how much I hate milk. Where are my spicy noodles?"

  Lu shi pursed her lips and replied, " His highness has told me to bring you this breakfast. He said your body is weak and you need nutritious food not oily and spicy food. "

  She frowned and said, " But it's all vegetarian food. Give me a meat dish at least."

  " I am sorry but I can't help you with this."

  " Who is your master? Me or him? You should listen to me, not him."

  " You're my master but he is the Emperor. In the end, his decision is final."

  Zhao Ming pursed her lips and said angrily, " Get out. Don't show me your face again. Go to your Emperor. After all, you are more loyal to him than me." She humphed as she looked at the milk with disgust in her eyes.

  This is plain milk. And she hated it the most.

  ' Yuck'

  Strawberry or chocolate milkshake would have been better. But plain milk is pure 'No'.

  Lu shi shook her head and prepared to leave the room. When she stepped out of the room, she almost bumped into the figure in front of her.

  " Empress Dowager?" Her complexion turned pale as she hurriedly bowed down and greeted her.

  Wen Xu frowned and pushed her to the side and entered the room without asking for permission.

  Zhao Ming was surprised when Wen Xu suddenly barged into the room looking angry as if she would kill her right away.

  " Empress Dowager, what brings you here?" She asked in a rather calm way.

  Wen Xu pursed her lips and looked at the special breakfast in front of Zhao Ming.

  She stared at her from top to bottom and her frown deepened when she noticed those purple marks on her neck.

  Since she has styled her hair in a braid, the marks were more clear than it would be if she has kept them open.

  " Is there any reason for you to barge into my room like this? "

  " Zhao Ming, what is the meaning of all this? You not only suspended me and Xiao Li but now minister Yu Shao as well? What game exactly are you playing?"

  She only today found out about this news that because of Zhao Ming, Ji Cheng has removed Minister Yu Shao from his position.

  Yu Shao was her closest confidant among the ministers and that's why she has asked him to talk to Ji Cheng about her suspension letter. If things would have gone right then Ji Cheng had to take back his decision to suspend them because of the pressure by the ministers.

  But because of Zhao Ming, Ji Cheng removed Yu Shao from his position and now no other minister is ready to support her and dared to speak against her suspension.

  And it's all because of Zhao Ming.

  ##

  "If you're not reading this novel on webnovel.com, then this work has been stolen. To support the author and fight against the theft please read this novel on webnovel.com. Regards, kamlyn."