Confession

Da Ying was sitting in her room, face full of anger. On one side, she was glad that it was General Ming who contacted Prime Minister Yao and not someone else. This saved her an extra step in the future. But from a female's standpoint, she could not tolerate what he did to Consort Yun. No matter how bad that woman was, she was his wife after all. How could he throw her away like trash? Everyone knew he was a known womanizer but what rights did he have to take away a life just because he wanted to? At the age of only 30, he has over 13 concubines. With his dashing features and fame, it was no surprise women fell head over heels for him, sadly most of them would either have the same fate as Concubine Yun or live a lonely life. When Da Ying thought about how fame and fortune could turn someone so evil, she wished she could have been born a commoner. Live a life where the man was devoted to one person, his wife.

The door creaked open, entered a teary eyed Ban Shiang and Bai Zhi. Ban Shiang quickly knelt on the ground in front of Da Ying. "Xiaojie, I'm sorry, I have failed you. Please punish me," even with tears in her eyes, she didn't stray from her intentions of coming over. There was no way for her to make up for her crime. If it wasn't for her carelessness, her Xiaojie would not have been blamed to begin with. "Get up; it is not your fault. It was his intentions to begin with, no matter what, it was unavoidable. You two may leave first, I am going out tonight,"

The tearful Ban Shiang didn't dare ask her where she was going. She got up, said her goodbyes and left with Bai Zhi at her side.

No matter what happened, if Da Ying did not get her answers tonight, she would not be able to sleep peacefully. Ban Shiang's case had been solved, now she needed one last question answered. Why Xie De helped her?

Back at Xie De's estate, An Du was in Xie De's room, having a serious conversation. "General Ming…what resentments does he have towards Da Ying gongzhu?" Xie De tapped his finger on the table lightly as he asked An Du. He could not figure out what the relationship between the two was. From anybody else's view, he blaming Da Ying was unsuspicious. It was her maid who delivered the wine after all. It seems only Xie De caught onto General Ming's intentions early on. It was obvious General Ming was trying to frame Da Ying from the start. His intentions were clear, especially his constant accusations toward Da Ying. Just from his observation tonight, there was no way there wasn't any bad blood between the two, but what...what exactly happened?

"Replying to your lordship, I am also not sure what their relationship is but I will find out," An Du replied back to him.

"Mm…report to me immediately after you find out,"

"Yes," An Du acknowledged the order. "Wait," Xie De stopped him abruptly. "Did you find out whom that guard was?"

"I'm sorry; I haven't been able to identify him yet,"

"You may go," Xie De spoke disappointingly.

The moment An Du left, Xie De let out a soft silly laugh. What made him smile? Xie De suddenly thought of how intelligent Da Ying was tonight. He had to admit, she won his admiration. It's been a long time since he's met such a smart woman. He didn't think she could get out of this one without a scratch. Even if she was framed, he had intended to help her. It's just he never thought she could handle it on her own. When he thought about it, he couldn't help but laugh. He had really underestimated her.

*Knock* His silly thoughts were put to a halt when a light knock came from his door. He automatically put his guard up. It was so late at night, who would be visiting him at this time. He took long strides over and slowly opened the door. [Da Ying, how could it be?] He rubbed his eyes a few times to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. It was her, dressed in a simple white tunic. She was here on her own will but why did she not look happy. Da Ying raised the wine gourd in her hand, "Let's have a drink," her tone matched her unhappy face, cold.

They were both sitting beside each other, feet dangling in the air as they sat on the edge of his summer pavilion, looking at the pond in front of them. Da Ying popped the cap open and took a mouthful before handing it to Xie De. His first reaction was, [Is she drunk?] There was absolutely no chance that she would come here on her own will. Da Ying turned her head slightly his way. When she saw the somewhat suspicious and confused look at his face, she rolled her eyes. "It's to thank you for earlier. For your help and…getting him to apologize," Xie De was stunned, did she just thank him. What was going on today? He must have done hundreds of good deeds in the past to earn such a day. Da Ying pushed the bottle into his hands when he didn't take it. Xie De took a drank, "It was nothing, I would have helped you even if you didn't ask," he handed the bottle back to her. Da Ying held tightly onto the bottle and stared at it. "Why did you help me?"

Xie De let out an awkward scoff. "You wouldn't believe it but I felt anxious. I thought it was part of my aunt's plan," Da Ying set the bottle down and looked straight into the pond. The moon could be seen reflected from the pond; it was a magical sight to see. Too bad the two were too awkward to enjoy the night.

"Isn't that good for you? Didn't you want to get rid of me?" she asked sarcastically.

"At first, I did. If I knew my aunt was trying to get rid of you, I would not have said those words to you. I thought you wanted to take revenge on her for taking your mother's position. I didn't know she was also out to get you. Whether you want to go head to head with her, I will not stop you anymore. I just ask that you leave Wen Wan alone. She is innocent," he spoke honestly from his heart. Da Ying let out a sarcastic short laugh, Wen Wan innocent? Did he not know his own cousin? Of course Da Ying hated the two faced Wen Wan but as long as that woman didn't obstruct her plans, she wouldn't lay a finger on her. That, she had originally decided. Da Ying grabbed the bottle once more and chugged more down. Xie De peeked over, the corner of his eyes were staring at the beautiful woman in front of him. He didn't realize a smile was formed on his face. "What are you thinking?" Da Ying noticed him staring at her, with a strange smile on his face. This was not like the Xie De she knew.

"Your appearance hasn't changed one bit," he spoke, this time with a gentle and cheery tone. Da Ying looked at him confused, he knew her? Her first time meeting him was after her return. how did he know her? Xie De could read the expression on her face clearly. It made him let out another smile. "Did you know, of all the gongzhu's in the palace, I was allowed to talk to all of them except you. It was easy to get close to them but you...I was strictly forbidden to speak to you back then," this time, his voice was much lower and sounded gloomy.

"Why?"

"Why? Everyone knew back then, my late father, Marquis Qin became a drunk after my mother eloped with another man. He squandered all our money and properties on women and gambling, finally dying from despair. At the end, it was my aunt who took me under her wings." Xie De took the bottle from Da Ying's hand.

It was no secret, that year, everyone knew about Marquis Qin's problem but to hear it from Xie De, she felt her heart tug. He was after all only a child then, how could he cope with such a tragedy. Da Ying had always looked him in a bad light that she forgot, he was just like her.

"Ah! This is good wine," a very forced smile appeared on his face. "How could I, a child from the Qin family have the rights to even look you in the eyes?"

"I didn't know," Da Ying looked at him emotionally for the first time. She wanted to reach out to him and reassure him but dared not to make a move.

Xie De let out another soft laughter, "I still remember the first time I saw you. I was a naughty child back then. I had just arrived at the palace and I ran into your courtyard by accident. That day, you had two braided pigtails, wearing a bright pink floral dress, playing the zither. You don't know how many times I laughed at you for making a mistake. You would always scrunch your nose frustrated," Both Xie De and Da Ying laughed. "I did do that, didn't I?" for the first time in a long time, Da Ying let out a pure and sincere laughter. "I could only hide in the grass back then but I snuck into your courtyard every morning to watch you play," with every sentence they spoke back and forth, the atmosphere became much lighter. "If I knew you were peeping at me back then, I would have chased you with a stick and beat you," Da Ying pointed her finger at the naughty Xie De. Time seemed to have flown as the two chatted happily, forgetting the tension they once had between each other.

"I should get going," Da Ying was getting ready to get up when Xie De reached over, taking her hand in his. Her eyes widened, surprised by his action. "I probably won't have another perfect timing like this to say…" A small silence filled the air. "I won't regret saying this," he paused once more, trying to calm his beating heart. "I wanted to make you my enemy because…I wanted to lie to myself, lie that I didn't like you anymore," Da Ying's smile quickly faded after hearing him, was he confessing to her? Did he know how wrong it was? "Those five years that you were gone, I told myself I would move on...that I wouldn't think about you anymore. I buried this secret with me for 5 years and I prepared myself when I heard you were returning. But…but the moment I saw you, I knew, I couldn't fool myself. I've always liked you...from the little girl I secretly watched from a far to the woman standing in front of me," Xie De looked at her desperately, as if wanting her to tell him she also felt the same way. Da Ying removed his hand from hers and stood up slowly. "Why are you telling me this? I don't and can't like you…let your feelings go," without looking back, Da Ying ruthlessly walked away from a heartbroken Qin Xie De.