Xie Ming was feeling awkward being alone with Jian Yan outside. She pursed her lips and said, " You're right. It's cold here. We should go back."

  She turned around to leave but her steps came to halt when she heard his words.

  " Wu Yan."

  Xie Ming stopped and turned to look at him not understanding his words.

  " En?"

  His expressions became gentle as he said, " My real name is Wu Yan. Just wanted to tell you that." He said while staring at her with his expectant gaze.

  Xie Ming's eyelashes fluttered as she stared at him in confusion, she laughed awkwardly and said, " Ah, I know that your real name is Wu Yan. Mrs. Wu told me last time when we met together at the mall. It's a nice name." She said with a smile and went inside the house.

  Jian Yan's smile disappeared when she left. A sad expression appeared on his face seeing her reaction.

  He had told her his name in the hope to get some reaction or she might recognize him, but in the end, all of his expectations broke when she said that she already knows his real name but she still has no idea who he is.

  " Seems like I was the only one who thought so much about our first encounter." He chuckled as he thought about how he made a joke of himself.

  A tear rolled down his cheeks remembering all the time he has invested just to find her or she might recognize him if he becomes famous. But in the end, she doesn't even remember him.

  When Xie Ming came back to her room, she was washing her face when she remembered something.

  She looked into the mirror and murmured, " Wu Yan. Why does this name sound so familiar?"

  ****

  Ji Dynasty.

  Ji Cheng was busy dealing with the ministers and was attending the meetings since he had decided to abolish the long-standing tradition of having many wives.

  He didn't even have any time to spend with Zhao Ming and was staying in the study room for the last two days to not disturb Zhao Ming's sleep because sometimes he had to work till late.

  Zhao Ming was in the guest room as Grandmother Shuren was arriving today and she took the task to prepare Grandmother Shuren's room and was ordering Lu shi to do things since morning.

  " Lu shi, what kind of flowers Grandmother likes? Do you think she would like the soap that I made personally for her? Ah, I am so nervous."

  " I have heard from Ji Cheng that even Empress Dowager is scared of Grandmother Shuren. I wonder how she is going to treat me." Zhao Ming felt her hands getting hot from nervousness.

  Lu shi felt her ears hurting. Zhao Ming was asking the same question for hours now.

  Lu shi wasn't afraid of how Grandmother Shuren is going to treat Zhao Ming. But she was worried about Zhao Ming's attitude towards grandmother. She was just afraid that Zhao Ming might do something to annoy Grandfather Shuren.

  " Empress, His Majesty has called you to the main hall of the Palace. "

  Zhao Ming looked at the maid who had just arrived and understood that Grandmother Shuren must have arrived because earlier Ji Cheng went out of the palace to bring Grandmother Shuren personally.

  Her heartbeat became fast as she felt a little nervous. She already has a bad relationship with Wen Xu, that's why she was worried about Grandmother Shuren.

  …


  In the main hall, Ji Cheng was sitting on his royal chair while a special large royal chair which was bigger than Wen Xu was prepared on which a woman with a large body built and wrinkly face was sitting. She has partial white hair but her aura was too strong to be looked upon.

  Zhao Ming pursed her lips as she felt the atmosphere a little intimidating. All the ministers were present in the hall to welcome Grandmother Shuren. Most of them came to see the drama that they were expecting to unfold.

  " You're here? Let me introduce you to Grandmother Shuren?" Ji Cheng said when he saw Zhao Ming walking at a slower pace and her expressions were enough to tell him that she is nervous.

  It was his first time he has seen her like this.

  Zhao Ming pursed her lips and followed Ji Cheng who had especially got down from his seat to introduce to Grandmother.

  " Grandmother, this is my wife, the Empress of Ji Dynasty, Zhao Ming. You never get to meet her properly, so today I am officially introducing her to you." Ji Cheng said while holding onto Zhao Ming's hand as he stood beside her.

  " Greetings to Grandmother Shuren." Zhao Ming smiled and gave her a courtesy bow to greet her. Her hands were tightly clasped in front.

  Ji Cheng was surprised seeing her acting this docile.

  Grandmother Shuren looked at Zhao Ming with her stern gaze and after a few minutes of silence, she said, " So you're the one because of who sent Wen Xu to an abandoned chamber?" her tone was cold and stern.

  Ji Cheng was a little surprised hearing her words. By now he didn't tell her anything and was planning to tell her the whole story after she settles down. How come she knows about it without him telling her? [ Read this novel on W e b n o v e l . c o m ( remove spaces). If you are reading this elsewhere, then this novel is pirated. Support the original author, not thieves. Regards Kamlyn]

  "-_-"

  Zhao Ming's heart sank when she heard her words. In the hall, all the members were looking at them with their curious gazes as they wanted to see how Grandmother Shuren crumbles Xie Ming's power.

  " I……didn't. I…" Zhao Ming was shocked seeing the way she was acting. For some reason, her voice couldn't come out of her throat.

  ' WHAT THE HELL XIE MING'

  ' Why are you acting like a coward?' she bit her lower lip and scolded herself inwardly for acting so being in front of Grandmother Shuren

  Ji Cheng pursed his lips and tried to explain, " Grandmother, it wasn't because of Zhao Ming. It was me who made that decision. Zhao Ming has no involvement in the……"

  " No Grandmother. It indeed happened because of me. Ji Cheng took this decision to protect me and my dignity as the Empress. If you want to punish…" Zhao Ming interjected Ji Cheng's words and said her words while her expressions firm.

  " Very Good…!!"

  ##

  Read this novel on W e b n o v e l . c o m ( remove spaces), Regards Kamlyn.