33 Questions

Lihua sat there quietly without looking at him. She can sense that he is looking at her intently. When it feels like he has no intention of looking away she looked at him with irritation.

"May I ask if this humble servant offended your highness in the past?"

"Even your voice is similar to her," he said in a daze.

"What?" she cannot hide her confusion. She knew that acting lady-like in front of him will not work so she did not bother to charm him in any way.

"Lady Hu, I am just curious about you,"

Lihua did not know what to say, she just looked at him dumbfounded. Then, he let out a weak smile.

"I know it's crazy but I feel that I've known you for a long time," there's longing in his voice but it quickly disappears the moment he looked at her again.

"What are you planning to do?"

Lihua was startled by his question. She remembered the first time he used that question to her. She's still working on his manor as a servant and a spy.

"What are you planning to do?" Chao Shen's voice is low but it is full of anger and suspicions.

Lihua immediately sensed that there's something wrong. She looked at him with confusion.

"What do you mean?"

Chao Shen suddenly grabbed her neck and pinned her on the wall. They are currently on the secret training ground.

"Hey..." she is struggling to get lose but Chao Shen's force is great she cannot do anything.

"Why did you appear on the night I found you?" his eyes are filled with hatred.

Lihua can only try to push him away. Then, Chao Shen seemed to come to his senses and release her. She inhaled deeply. Her heart beats fast.

"Are you trying to kill me?" she asked angrily.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. He moved back to his table and gulped the content of the teacup. For the next couple of minutes, no one dared to speak. Time inside the study room seemed to freeze.

"Why are you trying to kill me?" she asked him again.

"My father investigated you," he answered her without looking at her.

"And?" she asked pretending to be upset but the truth is she is nervous.

"I want to hear the truth from you," he answered without looking at her.

"You've been training me for two years now, do you think I have the ability to hide things from you?" she looked at him acting hurt. Chao Shen looked at her, his expression softened. When she saw the change she sighed with relief.

"I am sorry, my father is just being cautious," he said apologetically.

Too cautious that almost caused my life, she wanted to yell at him but she restrained herself. She has to make sure that this thing will never happen again. Her training of concealing her true identity has been extensive but Prime Minister's people are not that simple. She needs to be careful in the future.

"Lady Hu?" Chao Shen's call brought her back to the present. She felt a little pain in her chest and Chao Shen saw that pained expression on her face that only happened in a few seconds before it was changed to coldness. His curiosity is awakened more.

"Yes, imperial advisor?" the tone of annoyance is very evident in her voice.

"I am asking about your life before you returned to Hu residence,"

Lihua glared at him, he is sure very impatient to know her past. And then, she remembered this attitude of him.

"I am wondering why the imperial advisor wants to know these things about me?"

"It is for the king," he said immediately.

Lihua looked at him. So, he is very suspicious about her. I wonder if he can now see through her.

Chao Shen looked at those clear deep eyes looking at him with disbelief. He can still remember that girl who has the same deep eyes that he cannot reach. Now that this lady suddenly appears in his life, he will definitely do everything to make sure if she is the same girl. Just like that girl in the past, he cannot read this lady. Today, she will enter the palace, though he has more chances of meeting her in the palace, he cannot do that. This lady will soon be one of the women of the king, he needs to make sure if she is the same person before it is too late.

Lihua decided to just ignore the man in front of her until they reached the palace. She is sure that the moment she enters the palace he will not dare to get close with her. Chao Shen, on the other hand, is trying to control himself not to strangle the lady in front of him to get the answers he wants. She's been ignoring him now. He ordered his men to take the longest road towards the palace to give him the time to talk to her but it failed. Now that they are in the palace he cannot do anything about it anymore. Maybe, he will find another way soon.

When they reach the palace, Chao Shen excused himself and leave Lihua with the eunuch who will bring her to the hall where all the other women are waiting. Lihua chuckled when she looked at Chao Shen's retreating figure. 'You will never know who I really am,' she told herself before turning around and follow the eunuch.