Stay in the palace

At the huge palace, Nian Zhen gazed in awe at the beauty of the palace.

She's never been to the palace before so everything in it seemed to mesmerize her alot, they walked past the courtyard, she stayed close to Wang Shu like a little child.

"The palace looks really beautiful and so big." she said to Wang Shu as her big eyes admired each corner of the place.

He scoffed, she's so memorised by this, he wondered how she would react if she saw the spiritual realm.

Ever since the battle, the three realms have split up and most of the immortal's couldn't return to the spiritual realm leaving them stranded on earth.

Eunuch Shin led them to the courtyard, inside were different designed buildings and she could already tell which was the imperial court.

Was it the structure of the building, or the way it was fenced?

"It's the signboard." Wang Shu's voice caught her attention.

"Huh?"

"It's not the fence or anything, you clearly saw the signboard." he pointed at the signboard, she pouted averting her gaze at him.

"I thought I was actually thinking."

"You think too loud."

He walked into the courtroom with Eunuch Shin leading the way, she twitched her lips.

"Spoiler alert!" she eyed him and followed his trail, Eunuch Shin walked into the imperial court room.

It wasn't actually filled up like she expected it to be, the Minister's, public prosecutor's and protrait of Justice as well as the civil servants were all there with a few witnesses.

Of course, the noble chief had to be here too, well in a way he deserved it, he once made her uncle work for hours without paying him so she just got her revenge, nothing more she has no resentment at all.

The Emperor himself sat comfortably on his royal throne, Nian Zhen's eyes widened at the sight of him, she actually expected the late Emperor's son to look ugly, short or even pot bellied since everyone claims he was so greedy and cruel but he was actually the opposite.

He looked charming with silver white hair cascading down his back, his eyes looked alluring as well, she shrugged it off, he wasn't up to Wang Shu's level of charms anyway, a hate is still a hate.

"Are you Nian Zhen?" he asked, the noble chief shot her a glare but she walked up to the New Emperor with a bow.

"Oh great Emperor, I'm Nian Zhen and that's my brother." she pointed at Wang Shu who gazed at the Emperor curiously, the Emperor also averted his gaze at Wang Shu, the two seemed to dwell on each other before averting their gaze.

One of the Minister stood up from his seat. "This cursed girl has been nothing but trouble in weishung." he said.

The noble chief nodded in agreement. "She had the ordersity to throw stones at my windows!, no wonder she's cursed cause she has such a vile nature!"

Nian Zhen secretly rolled her eyes at their words.

"She needs to be punished for trying to hurt the noble chief of weishung!"

They raged, Nian Zhen practically ignored them and bowed at the young Emperor "Do I have the permission to speak?"

The emperor gazed at her for a while before nodding.

"As you've heard that's his side of the story, now it's my turn, that so called noble chief made my uncle work for days to clear up his stupid farms and didn't pay my loving uncle a single penny, is that right?"

The Minister got to his feet. "Such foul words aren't allowed here, that's another crime young miss!"

Nian Zhen realized she was caught but she can't help it most times, there's a lot more she wanted to say but now she's given herself double the punishment.

"Sorry to interrupt." Wang Shu spoke up gaining everyone's attention. "She did use foul language but if she has to get punished." he pointed at the noble chief. "He has to get punished as well."

The noble chief frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

Wang Shu averted his gaze at the noble chief and for some reason the noble chief couldn't understand, he remained quiet.

"You also used foul words by calling her a cursed girl."

"Cause that's what she is!"

"People use words according to how they see things, you used the foul word cause that's how you've pictured her to be, the same way she used her own words cause that's how she pictured you to be..."

Nian Zhen stared at him in a daze, he was standing up for her?, that's rare, no one has ever done that for her before.

"What are you imposing on?" the Emperor asked, Wang Shu gazed at him.

"You've heard from her point, he didn't pay her uncle a dime, so she retaliated."

"Why didn't she come to the imperial court to explain what happened?"

"Cause he's a noble chief, no one would ever pick side with a girl they've all claimed to be cursed."

Most of them could make out his point but the noble chief wasn't backing down.

"Who would want to pick side's with a cursed girl!, who knows what her parents must have done she became cursed!"

Nian Zhen suddenly frowned, this is about her, why bring her dead parents into this?!, he could say all the vile words he wants to say about her but not her late parents, she clearly can't and would not take that!

Wang Shu could sense her aura and he could tell it wasn't a good one, she glared daggers at the noble chief.

"You sure know how to call us cursed but you still let a cursed family work for you!"

"Nian Zhen." he called but she was too enraged to glance his way.

"Nian Zhen."

She still had her gaze fixated on the noble chief, her spiritual powers were starting to get stronger and more dangerous, before she could do anything, Wang Shu grabbed her hand entwining his fingers with hers, a sudden energy left him through his hands into hers weakening her powers temporarily, no one noticed.

Nian Zhen could easily tell he was doing something to her, she tried to free her hands but he wouldn't let go holding it even tighter, she glanced up at him but he kept his gaze on the noble chief.

"It wasn't necessary to bring her parents into this discussion!"

The Emperor said nothing, he only observed the situation without saying a word, it made Nian Zhen wonder if he'll ever let her go.

"Who are you to interfere, where do you come from?!"

Wang Shu remained quiet, if he really knew who he was, he wouldn't have the mouth to speak back to him any longer.

"I'm her brother and it is my duty to protect my sister."

Nian Zhen gazed at him in awe, did he just call her his sister?!

"Silence." the young Emperor finally spoke, everyone averted their gaze at him.

"I've heard and seen all I have to see and I've made my decision."

The Noble Chief smirked. "Yes, she should be giving a punishment which should be the penal servitude."

Nian Zhen gasped, penal servitude?!, she possibly can't do that.

The public prosecutor bowed at the Emperor. "Your Emperor, I need to know your decision before I make out her punishment, is she guilty or not guilty?"

The Emperor straightened up, his handsome face was unreadable. "She's guilty."

Nian Zhen expected that but prayed silently it would be the opposite,The noble chief grinned. "She is?"

"But..." the Emperor suddenly added. "I'll be the one to choose the right punishment for her."

"Which is?" she asked.

"You'll work for me." he said leaving everyone in a daze, Wang Shu on the other hand wasn't totally surprised.

She blinked at him. "What?" she clearly wasn't expecting that at all.

"You'll work for me, plus I'll get you trained so you can as well handle demons who are still trying to attack weishung."

Nian Zhen would have declined but for Wang Shu's sake, she.....

"But Emperor...!"

"Sit." he said, the noble chief was clearly stricken by it and sat down.

Nian Zhen smirked, he totally deserved that.

"I'll gladly accept your offer but on one condition."

The Emperor raised a brow at her finding it interesting. "State your condition."

She glanced up at Wang Shu. "My brother has to stay with me."

Wang Shu gazed at her but she flashed him a sweet smile.

"Is that all?"

"And also my uncle must know about this and I can go visit him."

The Emperor found her offer meaningful. "It is settled then."

Nian Zhen grinned, she'd get in serious trouble if the whole town knew she was at the imperial court, if they all start laying counts on all the troubles she has caused over the past years, even Wang Shu wouldn't believe it but what surprised her more was the fact it never bothered her most of the time.

The Emperor averted his gaze at the noble chief. "Firstly you made the use of foul words, then made a shameful comment, such isn't allowed here and if you really want her to get punished, you'll have to receive the same punishment along with her."

Nian Zhen gazed at the Noble Chief mockingly with folded arms.

"Do you accept noble chief?" even her tone sounded sarcastic but she had no problem since she didn't use any foul words.

The noble Chief's head was clearly turning red in anger but couldn't say anything.

"It's decided, Nian Zhen and her brother will stay in the palace."

Nian Zhen couldn't help but feel a little tinge at his words, did she do the right thing by accepting his offer?

Wang Shu smirked.