Episode 5: He has Returned, Sweetest In-law

"Answer me, father." She made a comeback, staring at her father disdainfully.

"Here I thought I was missed but it seems it's a blessing in disguise in your end." She scoffed, rolling her eyes in disbelief.

"Hua'er, you have to do this." Lord Rong's voice found its way back to their conversation. "This is the only way you can find peace in the palace. Since it has gotten to this, you have to change." Lord Rong urged her and she stood up.

"If you are done, please leave." She informed him strictly, staring in a different direction. Lord Rong swallowed hard on nothing.

"Hua…" Lord Rong didn't finish his statement when she interrupted him.

"Leave! I don't want to see you again!" She snapped him out of his wishful thinking.

Lord Rong gave her a sad long look before leaving the pavilion, she exhaled sadly and crashed on the brick stool.

It was a forced marriage, and she felt her parents would insist on sticking with her, but it was the opposite. Her father was now trying to use her to satisfy his political pleasure. She was no longer their child again, but their bait.

"My lady, do you like your dress?" Wei's voice called her out of her daze. She sighed heavily.

After her father's visit, she hadn't gotten herself. She had been worried and confused.

"Do I have a choice?" She scoffed.

"You do." Wei rushed over to her. "I heard this is the first time the Emperor changed wedding dress. Rather than giving you the usual wedding dress, he made the Embroidery bureau make you something peculiar." Wei informed her, attempting to lighten her mood.

"And is that supposed to make me happy?" She curled her lips and Wei waved at the servants to take the wedding dress inside.

"My lady, are you okay?" Wei asked her calmly.

"I'm fine. I want to be alone." She mumbled.

"I know this feeling, it's normal." Wei began. "When my sworn sister was about to get married, she was also acting the same way you are right now." Wei squeezed out a smile.

"At least, she was getting married to the love of her life, right?" She sighed. "Mine is different." She spilled bluntly.

"But the Emperor will love you." Wei tried to assure her.

"I don't love him, love can't be forced." She reminded Wei coldly and Wei gave up.

"Fine." Wei exhaled. "I will leave you alone," Wei accepted defeat.

Walking in the secluded hallway, she saw General Kui at the entrance and tried to walk up to him, but he changed route. It was obvious that he had been avoiding her since she confessed affection to him.

She also didn't take it too seriously, since it was her first time and since the feeling wasn't reciprocated, she had to let it go.

"Maybe we aren't meant for each other." She muttered sadly to herself.

She wanted to protect him from getting hurt if they had an affair. It was best to keep their distance and stop making things difficult for him.

One courtyard led to another, they looked familiar, yet she just felt like walking. Inside her chamber reminded her of her discussion with her father, at least walking made her feel at ease. She didn't want to get married to the Emperor, she knew inwardly he wasn't the one for her.

Suddenly, the cold hand that rested on her shoulder made her senses return.

"You…." She couldn't complete her statement as she stared at the stranger, dauntlessly speechless.

"Who are you?" The stranger asked her seriously, giving her a dirty look and she smirked.

"Are you asking me that? Who doesn't know me?" She curled her lips, and for the first time, she bragged about her position.

"That's not a way of answering a question." He grabbed her arm, making it difficult for her to escape.

"What do you want?" Her chin tightened, asking him seriously.

"Who are you and what are you doing in this palace?!" The stranger didn't want to give up, and she rolled her eyes slyly.

"I'm Hua Rong, will you let me go?" She questioned him in disgust and slowly, he let go of her hand.

"You are the one…" The stranger began, and she didn't interrupt him. "My brother's new woman." Another statement followed.

"Brother? You are the Emperor's brother?" Her eyes widened in disbelief and astonishment.

"Yes, his stepbrother." The stranger kept his distance from her. "I'm Qiang Cheng, forgive my manners." The Emperor's stepbrother, Qiang, bowed.

"I had no idea he had a handsome brother." She muttered absentmindedly and he smirked.

"He shouldn't hear you say that," Qiang smirked, using his hand fan to blow some breeze. "What are you doing here, lonely?" Qiang raised a brow, and she nodded immediately, he smirked.

"I understand, is it okay if I lure you into having fun with me?" Qiang asked anxiously and she swallowed hard.

"Sure, I'm in." Immediately, Qiang grabbed her hand, and they attempted to leave when a voice stopped them.

"What is happening here?" They turned, fear and shock clouding their faces.

"Your Majesty." Qiang and Hua bowed courteously.

"I asked a question." He made a comeback, giving them an unpleasant stare.

Behind him were a few guards, eunuchs, and servants following him. They bowed their head while he continued his discussion.

"What does it look like? Your woman is lonely." Qiang scoffed, curling his lips. 

His eyebrows fluttered in surprise. "What?" That was the word that escaped from his mouth.

"I.. I.." She struggled to let go of Qiang's hand, but he held her strong.

"Do you oppose that?" Qiang asked him boldly.

"I'm getting married to her, Qiang." He reminded him coldly.

"I know, but does it make any difference?" Qiang questioned curtly. Qiang was so presumptuous that it surprised Hua.

"You are not leaving here with her." He informed Qiang seriously.

Qiang smirked as he wrapped his stout arm around Hua's waist, pulling her close.

"Where is the Empress Dowager? I want to see her." Qiang began. "I want this woman, Hua Rong," Qiang added vividly.

Yu Cheng and Hua were surprised by what he said. "What?" They gasped. Absentmindedly, her cheeks flushed.

Someone was willing to claim her in distress. Will it work?

"What are you doing?" His hand pumped into a tight fist, staring at Qiang annoyingly.

"Mother!" Yu Cheng's face folded upon hearing the Empress Dowager's statement.

"What?" Lui rolled her eyes disgustingly away from him.

"I'm getting married to this woman! She is my wife! What do you want people to think if they see them together?" He questioned her seriously.

"Does that matter?" Lui darted her eyes at him. "Your brother is going out with your wife, is it bad?" Lui raised an anxious brow.

"Didn't you hear what he said, and you approve of it?" He shook his head, his beaded crown making sounds. "He wants my wife!" He reminded her with a loud voice.

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me!" Lui shunned him immediately, standing from her throne-like armchair.

Qiang smirked. "Can we go now, my lady?" Qiang asked Hua calmly.

"Y... Yes." She swallowed hard, avoiding Yu Cheng's sharp gaze.

"Mother, we will be out now." Qiang chuckled, holding her hand as they left the hall.

He walked in circles before facing Lui.

"He left the border without my order, are you saying nothing about it?" He made a comeback, staring at her.

"Do you even need to say all these things? He is my son! He has all the rights to come and go as he pleases." Lui snapped at him in anger.

"You keep defiling my orders and making me feel useless. Why not take over the throne?" He hissed.

"Someone!" Lui attempted to call on the guards, but he stretched his hand out.

"You don't have to call anyone, I know the way out." He sighed, giving her a long look before leaving the hall.

For the first time since she arrived at the Palace, she easily came out without hindrances.

"Why did you do that?" She asked him when they were fully in the street.

Qiang's man rode the carriage in the bustling street.

"To please a beautiful lady." Qiang let out a toothy smile.

"Y... You didn't have to do that." She blushed, lowering her face.

"It's nothing." Qiang knocked on the carriage edge and the carriage stopped.

"We are here, let's go," Qiang said.

"Where is this place?" She raised an anxious brow.

"I want to take you somewhere, but you can't dress like this," Qiang informed her.

"Where is that?" She became curious.

Qiang took her hand and pulled her down from the carriage. They entered a shop that sells materials and textures.

"Welcome, Master Qiang." Though he wasn't in the capital, he was quite popular because of his accomplishments.

"I want a male outfit for her," Qiang informed the owner of the shop.

"Male outfit?" Her eyes widened in shock and confusion.

"Sure, Master." The owner bowed.

A few minutes later, Hua Rong stepped out of the dressing room, looking at her outfit and her face in the mirror. Her hair was gathered like a man, and she was wearing a masculine robe giving her a different look. She was so engrossed in herself that she didn't know when Qiang stood by her back.

"For a man, you also look hot," Qiang whispered flirtatiously to her ear, which sent sharp shivers up her spine.

"Qiang... Please stop, you are my in-law." She stammered nervously.

"In-law?" Qiang's brow fluttered. "Then, allow me to be your sweet in-law," Qiang suggested boldly, and she swallowed hard, unable to say a word.

Qiang smirked, realizing the position he had kept her. "Let's go." Qiang grabbed her hand and dashed out of the shop. His right-hand man dropped some gold on the table and followed them.

"Wait, brothel?!" She gasped in shock, struggling to go back, but he held her tight.

"Don't you want to try something different?" Qiang mischievously wiggled his brow.

"I... I have never been in a brothel before." She mumbled shyly.

He engaged her in having fun at the brothel, listening to roadside tales by old men, and also playing games. Hua had never experienced such before. In the beginning, she felt he would be a strict and uninteresting person like the Emperor or Kui, but he proved her negative.

He was fearless, sweet, and fun to be with.

The last place they crashed was a nearby wine shop.

"We have to finish here and return to the Palace before it gets to the curfew time," Qiang informed her calmly.

"Sure!"

The wine seller placed some wine on the table and attempted to leave but paused when he found something familiar.

"M.. master Qiang?" The wine seller almost gasped.

"Do you know me?" Qiang gave the man a long serious look.

"Of course! Have you forgotten?" The wine seller's eyes were weak, so they shook restlessly. Qiang sadly shook his head.

"You saved me and my wife from the bandits. Thanks to you, my baby's life was saved because she was pregnant." The wine seller explained to him, looking excited.

"Oh..!" Qiang raised a brow and laughed. "That's my duty, so it's nothing." Qiang waved at him.

"No." The wine seller refused. "All drinks here are free, I won't charge you." The wine seller insisted.

They returned to the Palace, laughing drunkenly and discussing.

"I never knew great men existed." She laughed heartily.

"You are yet to explore the world, Hua." Qiang placed a hand on her shoulder. "There are great and handsome men out there. You have to look for the unique one and fall in love." Qiang said. He was a little tipsy from the wine they drank.

"Fall in love? I'm getting married, and you will be my in-law. Have you forgotten?" She raised a slight brow as they staggered in the hallway.

A few servants and guards that crossed paths with them didn't stop gossiping and concluding their relationship.

Soon, the Emperor stepped in with Yuwen Yu, Wei, and another guard.

"Is this the right time to come back with my woman? I guess the news is already circulating by now." Yu Cheng snorted, rolling his eyes.

He got no response from them, so he faced the guards.

"Send Master Qiang to his room." He instructed the guard.

They took Qiang to his chamber even though he kept on struggling with them.

Hua started to laugh even when nothing was funny.

"What will happen to you if I sanction your father for your action?" He questioned her curtly.

"You don't expect me to choose a weak person like you when the Dowager wants the latter." She absentmindedly rambled with words.

"What?" His brows furrowed, staring at her in irritation and surprise.

"I... I will send Lady Hua back to her room." Immediately, Wei stepped in. She knew her master was drunk.

"No, let her..." He insisted on her presence but Yuwen Yu stepped in and he sighed.

"Your Majesty, are you okay?" Yuwen Yu asked after a long silence. He rubbed his forehead.

"Is it obvious?" He looked at his right-hand man. "That I'm the Dowager's puppet?" He raised a disdainful brow and Yuwen Yu fell silent.

He was in no position to answer such a question, as he abstained from hurting him.