Chapter 99 (1/2)

”Hehe, thank you for that praise, Your Majesty.  It is indeed chenqie's goal to be a benevolent and virtuous Empress.  Chenqie will work hard to achieve that goal.  Never mind Miss Ya Xian, chenqie will not object even if Your Majesty wants to take every single unmarried maiden out there into the palace,” Mo Qi Qi continues speaking, completely unaware of Jun Qian Che's anger.

The look on Jun Qian Che's eyes turn cold as he warningly says, ”That's enough.”

”Your Majesty, chenqie mean every word that chenqie said!  They are all true!” Mo Qi Qi pats her chest whole-heartedly.

Jun Qian Che glares at her angrily before stalking off.

”Wei, Your Majesty!  Are you leaving just like that?” When Jun Qian Che does not as much as turn his head around to address her, Mo Qi Qi scowls, ”What the h.e.l.l?  He comes and goes as he pleases!  I have been so benevolent, the least he could do was to reward me!”  She shakes her head helplessly.

Ban Xiang rushes in.  Just as Ban Xiang is about to speak, Mo Qi Qi blocks her mouth, ”Are you going to ask, 'Did you fight with His Majesty again, Your Ladyship?  Why did he left as soon as he got here?'”

Ban Xiang nods.

Mo Qi Qi looks at her in grievance, ”It was not my fault this time.  I was speaking so kindly, it was him who got really rude and left without saying anything.  How rude!”

Ban Xiang helplessly sighs, ”Why is it so hard for you two to get along?”

”It's not me, it's him!  He is mentally unstable!  He throws temper tantrum for no good reason!  You don't have to be rude to invoke his anger!  He really is too tiring!”  She spreads out her map and begins studying it once again.  She refuses to waste her time on someone like him.

After studying the map, Mo Qi Qi gets ready for a field trip outside.  She checks the map again. According to the Board of Astronomy, something was different in the sky the day the previous owner fell from the viewing tower.  They are still investigating that phenomenon; just what exactly was different?  Does it has anything to do with her getting here?  If she manage to figure out what it was, does that means that she has a chance to return to her own time?

Without realizing it, she reaches the rose garden.  She looks at the name plat grievously:  she originally thought she could figure out a way to return to her old life here, but not only did she fail, she also almost lost her own life in the process.  Wuwu, why does it feels like ill luck has been circling around her ever since she got here?

”Qi Qi—-” a gentle voice calls her.

Mo Qi Qi turns around and finds Jun Yue Hen standing behind her.  She looks at him in surprise, ”Yue Hen?  What are you doing here?”

Jun Yue Hen walks towards her with a warm smile, ”I entered the palace to greet my Imperial Mother.  I was just about to return home.  What about you?  What are you doing here?”

Mo Qi Qi quickly puts away the map on her hand before smiling sheepishly, ”Nothing, I am just strolling around.”

Jun Yue Hen eyes the map that she is currently hiding behind her, ”Qi Qi, are you still planning to run away?”

d.a.m.n!  She quickly shakes her head, ”No, I am not planning to run away anymore.”  Not yet, because she still needs to study the map properly.

Jun Qian Che looks at her in worry, ”I am worried about you.  My heart will not be at peace as long as you still live inside the palace.”

”Why are you saying this, Yue Hen?” Mo Qi Qi's heart picks up it's pace when she sees the heavy expression on his face.

Jun Yue Hen looks at her solemnly, ”Qi Qi, you almost died twice during the trip out this time.  Don't you think someone has been trying to kill you?”

”Kill me?  I don't think that is very accurate.  More like someone tried to kill Jun Qian Che and I merely got in the way,” says Mo Qi Qi.

Jun Yue Hen's face becomes heavier, ”Are you sure His Majesty was the real target?”

Mo Qi Qi looks at him perplexed, ”What do you mean?  Don't tell me the real target was me?”

”Qi Qi, don't you feel like those a.s.sa.s.sins were the accomplice of those who tried to a.s.sa.s.sinate you on your way back from Duke Zhen's manor back then?”

The scenes of the previous a.s.sa.s.sination attempts resurfaced inside Mo Qi Qi's head.  If those a.s.sa.s.sins weren't dispatched by her father, don't tell her it was….. Jun Qian Che?  There were two attempts, and both times, the target was her.  The first time, Yue Hen saved her.  The second time, she got pushed down a cliff.  Although Jun Qian Che jumped down with her, that does not mean that he had no connections to the a.s.sa.s.sins.

He was too calm while facing those a.s.sa.s.sins back then.  He did not seem worried at all.  Maybe he regretted it when they pushed her down that cliff.  Her father was holding the court.  If she died in that manner, her father would snap and seize that chance to rebel.  Or maybe he was only doing that for show, to garner her trust, so that she would only say good things about him to her father.

His qinggong is very high, he would not have died even if he fell down from that height.  Was it really for show?

What those a.s.sa.s.sins wore and their martial arts method were indeed similar to the ones that attacked her on her way from Duke Zhen's manor.

Mo Qi Qi looks at Jun Yue Hen, ”The a.s.sa.s.sins were sent by Jun Qian Che.  Their goal was simple enough; they were to kill me.  The target was never Jun Qian Che.”