Everything about you is suspicious

Jia Li let go of Xianwu's arm. "I did not ask you to leave. Tell me your name," she stated.

Xianwu looked around and found no one was present except them. He took a step forward and leaned down to reach the level of her face when she took a step back. "You can talk from there only," she asserted.

Xianwu did not listen to her and again took a step forward. This time he did not lean down and she had to lift her head. "The Crown Princess needs to make special efforts to know my name," he stated.

"What special efforts do I have to make?" Jia Li arched her eyebrow at him.

"She should invite me for a tea session with her," Xianwu asserted.

"Do you know what you are saying?" Jia Li frowned at him.

"I am very well aware of my words, Your Royal Highness," Xianwu affirmed.

"I refuse. As the Crown Princess of the Empire, you should comply with my order," Jia Li proclaimed.

"Really?" Xianwu chuckled. "I take my leave, Your Royal Highness. It was a nice conversation with you," he asserted and again walked past her when Jia Li stopped him.

"Let's have tea tomorrow morning after the Court Session ends," Jia Li stated. The two turned to each other at the same time. "If you try to over-smart me, then be ready for the punishment."

"If the Crown Princess keeps threatening me with the punishment, I may have to refuse her," Xianwu said, smiling amusedly at her.

Jia Li did not like his attitude. Since knowing his name was important to her, she stayed calm. "I won't do that," she said.

"The Crown Princess needs to be authoritative when she wants something from the people. I wonder how the Crown Princess survived till now," Xianwu remarked. He saw her curls of hair, brushing her cheek, so he reached out his hand to tuck them behind her ear.

"The Crown Princess needs to know that the people around her are dangerous ones. Someone attempted to kill the Emperor the previous night. Till now, the shooter isn't caught. Isn't that strange?" Xianwu's words bewildered Jia Li. She thought he was the one, who had something to do with the attack.

"I saw you with Lee Shimin last night. How do you know him? What position do you hold?" Jia Li inquired.

"I hold no rank," Xianwu replied and smiled at her.

"Don't lie," Jia Li said.

"I don't dare to lie to the Crown Princess," Xianwu stated.

Jia Li squinted her eyes at him. "Everything about you is suspicious," she stated.

"That's something new I heard about myself, else people usually call me of no use," Xianwu asserted.

Jia Li furrowed her brows together. "You must have troubled people that's why they said that," she proclaimed.

Xianwu smiled to hear her response. Before he could speak further, Jia Li told him she would take her leave. "I will see you tomorrow morning. I don't want to play games with you, so better tell me about everything I ask you tomorrow," she pronounced.

"Since the Crown Princess is so curious to know about me, I will surely tell her who I am," Xianwu said and bowed to her. Jia Li headed to her chamber while he watched her leave. "She is still the same," he murmured.

Xianwu left the palace and headed to the market in the carriage. Although he should have left for home to tell his father he accepted the position for which he was giving him threats in every possible, he didn't do that.

The carriage stopped outside the famous inn, Lotus Blossom Inn, in Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Empire.

"Go home," Xianwu ordered the carriage's driver, who complied with the order.

Xianwu was greeted by Shao Wudi, the day innkeeper, at the reception desk. "Young Master Xianwu showed his presence in the Lotus Blossom after many days," he said and asked him if he would take the same private room in the inn.

"Yes. Send Tongyun wine for me," Xianwu said.

"Sure, Young Master," Shao Wudi said and watched him leave.

"Should I serve him the wine?" Jiaolian asked the innkeeper. Jiaolian was considered the prettiest girl in the Lotus Blossom Inn, who would usually serve wine or sometimes tea to the highest-ranking nobles in Chang'an.

"Isn't this the time for Miss Jiaolian to rest?" Shao Wudi inquired.

Jiaolian didn't respond to his question. He was well aware she used to serve the nobles only in the evening. "You have a dance performance in the night. So, you should rest," Shao Wudi asserted and called for a servant.

"I want to serve the wine to the eldest son of the Lee Family," Jiaolian sternly said. Her intimidating gaze made Shao Wudi decide to let her serve Xianwu.

"Young Master Xianwu doesn't like those who speak much. So, keep in mind not to converse with him unless he starts the conversation," Shao Wudi stated and gazed at the female servant. "Give one jar of Tongyun wine on a tray to Miss Jiaolian," Shao Wudi ordered her.

A few minutes later, Jiaolian took the tray to the private room where Lee Xianwu was present. Some of the nobles saw her and were confused to see her working in the day.

Jiaolian sent the female servant away and slid the door open.

Xianwu was standing near the window of the private room with his back toward Jiaolian. She placed the tray on the table and gazed at Xianwu, wondering what he was looking at.

Clearing her throat, she decided to speak when she heard Xianwu say, "You may leave."

"I am here to serve the wine," Jiaolian replied.

Xianwu tilted his head and glanced at her. "Miss Jiao." He looked amused and returned to the floor table.

Xianwu settled on the thick floor mattress, and after him, she sat down.

Jiaolian took out a folded sheet from inside the inner pocket of the upper robe and placed it on the table. Xianwu picked it up and opened it.

Jiaolian poured the wine into the cup and forwarded it to Xianwu, who thanked her and took a sip after taking its aroma.

"Is Miss Jiao sure?" Xianwu asked as he folded the paper.

"Yes, I am," Jiaolian replied. "Someone is scheming against the Crown Princess. The person's name is mentioned in that paper," she added.

Xianwu chugged the wine and put the porcelain cup on the table. He put the paper into his pocket and thanked Jiaolian for the information.

"Anything for Young Master Xianwu," Jiaolian replied. She had a big favor from Xianwu on her. He saved her from dying, thus she turned loyal to him from that day onwards.

"Miss Jiaolian should leave," Xianwu said.

She picked up the jar and poured more wine into the cup.

"Her presence here may arise questions among reputed nobles," Xianwu said.

"Young Master Xianwu doesn't have to worry about that," Jiaolian said and passed him a tiny smile.

Xianwu took the porcelain cup from her and thanked her.

"Why doesn't the Young Master let me serve him all his life?" Jiaolian asked her.

Xianwu tapped his fingers on the rim of the teacup. "Miss Jiao is again at that. I do not want her to serve me," he stated.

"Is it because I served many nobles with my body?" Jiaolian queried.

"No. Miss Jiao is wrong. I see her as my sister. She should not bring this matter upfront anymore," Xianwu said.