8 8. That woman

"What are you doing?" Chao Shen's voice is quiet but anyone can sense that he is deadly serious. Lihua knew that she'd done it but what else can she do? Besides, she needs to live this place sooner or later.

"I deserve to be punished"

"Answer my question," he sighed heavily, suppressing his urge to shout at her.

But Lihua remained quiet. She just looked at the ground, not daring to look at him. Chao Shen is now being impatient.

"You will not speak are you?"

Lihua bit her lips. She's been with this young man for almost five years. The things they've been through all these years are enormous. Even though they did not say it to each other before they knew that they can rely on each other.

Lihua took a deep breath before looking at him. He saw confusion and frustration on his eyes.

"There are things I cannot tell you right now but trust me I will soon enough,"

The two just stared at each other as if their conversation continued but no one can hear it. Chao Shen felt tired first just by staring at her. It's no use since ever since they met each other, he still cannot read her mind. He just wished that she will trust him totally. But like what he learned with other things in life, he cannot force it.

Chao Shen left Lihua outside his bedchamber without saying another word. He entered his room, slamming his door shut. He clenched his fist, allowing his frustration to pass. He turned around and look at his door.

"Why can't you trust me?" he asked in desperation as if the young girl outside is in front of him.

Outside, Lihua remained transfixed on her stop. She is looking at the closed door in front of her. She does not understand why her heart feels something painful inside. She feels like she wanted to bang that door and told him everything. But, she remembered her conversation with his master two years ago...

"Master, that Chao Shen trusts me now." a younger Lihua told Master Guang proudly.

"hmmm?" the old master just continue reading without looking at her.

"That's the truth master. He nows give more and more time training me than before."

Master Guang looked up and Lihua saw coldness there.

"Listen to me child, no matter what happened you are not allowed to like this young man."

Lihua was surprised.

"Master, I swear I will not like my target. I don't understand why you said that"

Master Guang ignored her question. He said instead, "It's good if he likes you. You can easily manipulate him and use him."

During that time, Lihua couldn't understand why his master said those things to her. Even now, she is clear that she doesn't like the first young master of the Prime Minister manor. She respects him somehow but she doesn't like him like that.

Now that things are getting complicated, Lihua is now devising a plan of escape. But when she thought of it, there's another pinch of pain in her heart.

For the next two weeks, Lihua and Chao Shen did not talk to each other. If Chao Shen is getting irritated as the days went by with this situation, Lihua used it to plan for her next move. She collected all the information she gathered about the Prime Minister's manor. All the names of their maids and servants. All the people who come to the manor and all the vendors and other servants and maids who made contact with any member of the Chao household. She also gathered all the names of the spies that the Prime Minister planted in the palace, in the capital, and the neighboring cities. Staying in the Prime Minister's manor has its pros and cons but looking back now, Lihua can say that she is somewhat comfortable in this manor.

The Prime Minister, who met her five years ago treated her nicely. When the first young master introduced her to him, she thought that the old man will be suspicious about her identity. Maybe because he trusted his first son to make his own decision that's why he doesn't bother her much. Though there are times that she felt that the old man is watching her closely.

Lihua just finished preparing everything when she heard someone is knocking on her door. She slowly walked and opened the door and saw a young maid in front of her.

"First young master wants you to go to his study room." the young maid said timidly.

"Okay,"

The two of them walked towards Chao Shen's study room. As when they are near, they heard a few people talking rather loudly. When they reached the study room, they saw a young lady arguing with Chao Shen's personal bodyguard, Hui.

"How dare you block my way!" the young lady slap Hui.

"I apologize to Lady Tian but the first young master is currently not here. I will inform you the moment he returned." Hui remained polite even after he received the slap.

Tian Xifeng, the only daughter of the Minister of Finance. One of the young ladies who are madly in love with Chao Shen. Lihua and the little maid remained standing on the side. Hearing what Hui said to the young lady, the little maid is confused.

"Young master is not here?" the little maid said quietly.

Lihua immediately tapped the shoulder of the young maid. When she turned around, she signaled not to say anything. At that moment, Xifeng noticed them.