13 13. The number one rule

"You are not allowed to go out without my permission!" Chao Shen said to Lihua the moment he saw her on his study.

Lihua knotted her forehead in confusion.

"I only went out under your orders," she said frankly.

"Yes! but I did not permit you to talk to every man you saw on the road!" Shen stopped himself the moment he said those words. He has been holding his anger since the morning incident in the city gates but hearing her arrogant words, he cannot hold it anymore.

Lihua just stared at him at that moment. She immediately understood what her master told him before. Her gaze suddenly turned into an icy cold. She could not believe that the first young master of the Prime Miniter's manor, the young man that the whole capital city's young ladies dreamed of being their lover, is showing her the kind of attitude that a jealous lover has.

Shen shivered when he saw those cold eyes. He knew that he has no right to say those words but what else can he do? It already slipt in his mouth and could not be taken back.

Lihua quietly said, "I will remember the number one rule you laid out to me five years ago."

Shen panicked the moment he heard those words from him. He wanted to explain himself but he was cut off immediately by Lihua.

"Young master is the first young master of the Prime Minister household. You are the heir to the Chao Estate and the future ruler of the country. This lowly servant will not allow the young master to forget his status and his great goal in life." she said it with emphasis on Shen's status. Looking at the helpless and sad face of Chao Shen, Lihua felt great pain on her heart. She did not realize that she cared for this man already. Right now, she is grateful that she will leave him soon.

Chao Shen suddenly felt like the girl in front of him is starting to slip away his grasp. Her cold words reminded him of the rule he laid out to her five years ago.

"You are not allowed to fall for me," the younger Chao Shen told the younger Lihua when they are in the training hall. The younger Shen noticed the close observation of the young girl towards him, and he concluded that the lowly girl might have fallen for him.

"Yes, young master. This lowly servant wouldn't dare to do such a thing." Lihua slightly bowed as an acknowledgment of his order.

Chao Shen cursed himself inside. He never thought that he will regret saying to her before. But then again, he did not see that he will be like this towards her.

"Young master might be tired today. I will take my leave now." Lihua bowed to him before turning around to leave.

"Still, you are not allowed to go out. Understand?" Chao Shen's voice lacks conviction when he said that. He knows deep inside that Lihua can leave the Prime Minister's manor anytime she wanted without anyone noticing it. With her level of martial arts now, she can do anything even without his notice.

Hui entered the study hall when Lihua left. He saw Chao Shen cursing in a low voice. It is obvious in his face that his anger hasn't cooled down. It looks like it was even worst when Lihua entered the study hall.

"I shouldn't have trained her!"

Hui can sense immense regret on his young master's voice.

"Did she offended you, young master?"

Chao Shen looked up at Hui with determination. "Go and make sure that she will not leave the manor without my permission."

"But young master..."

"Do as I told you to you. I will go to the palace right now. I will do all the necessary preparations to execute my plan."

Hui can't help but follow his master's order. He knew well to just follow him and stop asking questions.