22 TGP: The 'Real' conversation

His majesty just waved his hand to skipped the formalities.

Liam quickly sat comfortably.

"Have you been dealing well with the news so far?"

His majesty was surprisingly gentle and treated Liam like her own daughter.

The Empress just glanced a bit because of His majesty's tone.

'This man really places his hope to this woman to kill Ren Shou.'

Liam nodded like a lady she was.

"Your majesty is so kind and loving. With the blessed marriage that His majesty bestowed upon this humble servant, I don't have anything to complain about and wish at all. I am honored, Your majesty."

"Hahaha. I'm glad you are accepting it well. Prime Minister Amm De raised such a good daughter." The Emperor seemed to like Liam's bootlicking.

"Your majesty is great and stands above all. My father could not even compare with how His majesty was raising the empire in such an excellent manner."

"Ha ha ha!" The Emperor laughed. The Empress just smiled.

Liam smiled too, thinking how it was so easy to bootlick the Emperor. Those past bosses she had were more challenging to please than the Emperor. It was good she had become the boss on her own.

"It looks like His majesty now favored you, Lady Liam."

"My Empress, His majesty's love towards you is higher than the heaven compare to mine. "

'When can we move on directly to the topic.' Liam was actually tired to spout praise after praise every time her mouth would open. It couldn't be helped. The two in front of her had higher status than her own.

"Lady Li, I am quite delighted that my choice of letting you marry my nephew was right. "The Emperor said with a smile.

"It's my honor, Your majesty," Liam said with a smile too.

"Lady Li, are you aware where your family stands?" The Emperor was still smiling, but the atmosphere got a little chiller.

Liam sighed in relief. Finally, some 'real' conversation.

Liam bowed.

"Your majesty, the De family stands on his majesty's side. It was in the past, and it was until now." Liam had lived her life to the fullest. She knew what was really the purpose of inviting her here. That's why she was not even surprised that the emperor was here in the empress' chambers. Coupled with the information she had gathered from the secret scroll and from the small talk of her father and Ren Shou, she knew what the situation was at hand.

"That's good. It seems that you are not only a beauty but with a brain too. This talk will be smoother." The Emperor said. He was clearly satisfied by Liam's answer.

The Empress just stayed quiet while letting the two continued their conversation.

"Lady Li, do you know why I chose you to be Ren Shou's wife?"

Liam shook her head. Even she freaking know about it.

"Your Majesty, my thoughts couldn't reach His majesty's thoughts. I am just a humble subject who listens to His majesty."

The emperor smiled at Liam's answer. While the empress glanced once more at Liam. The emperor had a perMajesty where he quickly doubted someone capable. If Liam answered, she knew about it, His majesty would keep Liam in watch and the De family as well. Being too right in front of His majesty would inquire his ire.

His majesty nodded.

"Lady Li, your father had been serving the throne since the former emperor's reign. He was receiving the great status of the Prime Minister because of the throne. Do you know the meaning of this?"

Liam inwardly sighed. This conversation does not really suit her taste. She wants to be more direct. But the emperor in front of her wants to play words in a circle.

"Your majesty, I am only a lady of the De family. But I understand what things I should do and what I shouldn't do." Liam wanted to spit out what the Emperor wanted to say. Duh. They were both adults here.

"It's good Lady Li knows such principles. My nephew is a talented man. Very talented. However, one night, I dream of a tiger and a wolf." Liam was about to be happy that they finally jumped to the real topic but got speechless again by the emperor telling a story first.

"It was about a baby wolf who got taken by a tiger. Two predators could not stay at one land. The tiger fought every predator to protect its own land. And finally, the tiger won against the last den of wolves. But there's one survivor—a baby wolf. The tiger chose to let it live since it was defenseless and weak. " The Emperor reached for the tea that the empress just brew for him.

Liam stayed quiet. 'Did you really dream that?'

Liam knew where this story goes. But again, because of status, she needed to listen until this lame story finished.

"The tiger took the baby wolf into his den. Until the baby wolf grows, the tiger just lets it wander free." The Emperor then looked at Liam.

"But that's a mistake on the tiger's part. The tiger let the baby wolf grew strong and created its own pack. Until one day..."

'The wolf turned into a human. He was the first werewolf in history.' Liam joked in her heard. 'If that is really possible.'

"Until one day, the wolf brings his pack to attack the tiger and own the tiger's land." The Emperor continued the last part of the story with a not-so-good expression.

'Finally, the story is finished.' Liam had this in mind, but she kept her face serious and had a horrible expression on her face.

"I've woken up and thought about the tiger. Is he too similar to me?" The Emperor asked Liam.

Liam bowed to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty is not a tiger but a dragon, a son of god." ' Heck, let's not talk in circles here. Just say what you want. So I can suggest my thing...'

The Empress at the side added.

"This lady is right. Your majesty, no matter how many packs of wolves attacked the throne, His majesty will always win."

The Emperor nodded.

"We know. But We don't like to make the same mistake as the tiger. The wolf in this empire had grown. He had made an entire pack. Now, all We need to do is attack him first before he attacked Us." The Emperor said with a sinister face.

Liam watched this old man who was only forty but looked seventy-five. She understands the weight of having so much power and authority in your hands and the coming dangers it would bring. If you were not careful, those things in your hand would eat you.

'And you will lose yourself.'

But Liam did not pity this old man. Every person has his own way of dealing with those, like how she dealt them smoothly to her way up. She got her position without destroying someone's life. They might be some bitter people, but that wasn't her fault.

"Lady Li," The emperor looked at Liam.

"As the throne's subject, I command you to watch that wolf and its pack. You will bring a great contribution to the kingdom once you handle that wolf for me. You don't have to worry. I'll bring all you need to for that wolf to die." The Emperor said with an assuring smile.

Liam stayed quiet.

Then she bowed.

"This humbled one is honored to receive such great mission from His majesty. But this subject had some request for His Majesty." Liam could finally speak her part. This was the moment she had been waiting for.

The Emperor was kind to her as of this moment. So he nodded and spoke kindly.

"Tell Us."

Liam looked up and smiled awkwardly. Her smile was that of 'I don't want to speak of this, but I have to for our country.'

Seeing her expression, the empress also encouraged her.

"Don't afraid to voice out your thoughts, Lady Li. We are in the same boat after all." The Empress thought that Liam was considering how to scheme at Ren Shou, but plotting at Ren Shou was hard. So this lady, of course, needed something to put the mission in action.

Liam smiled at the generous empress. Her smile was that of 'I am finally free of the burden.'

"Your Majesty is really kind. Then I will say it. Please let this humble on see His majesty's shadow guard."

Liam's list flashed before her eyes.

_flirt with the emperor shadow guard (just wink is OK)

Of course, Liam never forgets the real reason why she was here.