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“I can walk, Your Royal Highness,” she said as she reached the top of the stairs and let go of his hand. Xiaoming looked at a female servant, who had accompanied them, and asked her to support Liu Jin Yu.

As they reached outside the King’s main chamber, the servant walked in to inform Qiu Zedong about it.

“His Majesty has allowed the Crown Prince to enter,” the maidservant answered after getting permission from the King.

Xiaoming glanced at Liu Jin Yu and they both walked in. They greeted the King, who was seated on the broad chair. His hands rested on the bolsters while two male servants fanned him.

“I am impressed with the way you saved the Crown Prince. He could have gotten injured badly if you hadn’t intervened,” Qiu Zedong said, looking at the court lady. She bowed and walked to the table to her left, picking up a tray.

“It is for your indomitable courage,” Qiu Zedong picked the thick gold chain which would glisten anyone’s eyes. Xiaoming looked at Liu Jin Yu when she refused to accept that.

“When the King gives the prize, then one must accept it,” Qiu Zedong stated.

“Your Majesty, I did it out of my duty as a citizen of this kingdom. Pardon me, your Majesty, I cannot accept. His Majesty allows me to have such expensive treatment in the palace, and that is enough for me,” Liu Jin Yu asserted. Xiaoming was surprised to find that she didn’t take that gold chain. If she had taken it and sold it on the market, then she would not have had to work for a few years.

.....

Qiu Zedong caressed his beard and put his hand down.

“If there had been another person in your place, then he would have gladly accepted it,” he opined.

“I agree with the Royal Father’s words,” Xiaoming said, keeping a tiny smile on his lips.

“Liu Jin Yu, who trained you? Based on what the Crown Prince told me, it makes me wonder who was your master.” Qiu Zedong’s sudden interest grew in her fighting skills.

“Your Majesty, I learned it myself. I was raised in an environment where the only way to survive was to kill or be killed. So, I decided to learn how to fight, how to use swords,” Liu Jin Yu said, keeping her head down.

It surprised the King that Liu Jin Yu learned such things on her own. Her personality somewhat impressed Qiu Zedong.

Qiu Zedong asked them to take seats and glanced at the Court Lady. She understood the gesture and left with the servants, who were present in the chamber. Now, only Qiu Zedong, Xiaoming, and Liu Jin Yu were present.

“The Crown Prince will remain quiet, and only Liu Jin Yu will answer. If the Crown Prince intervenes, then Liu Jin Yu has to bear the consequences,” Qiu Zedong stated. Xiaoming and Liu Jin Yu looked at each other, wondering what the King would ask her.

“Did the Crown Prince go to see you?” Qiu Zedong asked his first question. “Answer truthfully. I am good at catching lies. I am the King, so indeed, I know what is going on around me,” he affirmed.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Liu Jin Yu answered.

“Royal Father, I-”

Qiu Zedong reminded Xiaoming about his earlier statement where he clearly mentioned that he would punish Jin Yu if he intervened. Xiaoming shut his mouth and got nervous.

“May I know the reason?” Qiu Zedong asked.

“His Royal Highness has called me his friend. That’s why he thought to meet me, Your Majesty,” Liu Jin Yu answered.

“A woman from the low class cannot even converse with the princes or princesses. Were you aware of this?” Qiu Zedong inquired and squinted his eyes.

“I am well aware of it, Your Majesty. However, there is one famous quote from a great scholar. If there is any relationship in the world that has no set boundaries, then that’s friendship. I agreed to befriend the Crown Prince because of that saying,” Liu Jin Yu answered without fearing the King.

Qiu Zedong smiled to hear her. “Despite belonging to a low class, your thoughts are big,” he said with a smile.

“I was informed that you were attacked by three masked men. Do you know the reason behind the attack on you?” Qiu Zedong’s question made them wonder if he knew it was the Queen.

“There is nothing to fear here. You are free to tell me.” Qiu Zedong glanced at Xiaoming and found his son troubled.

“Because the Crown Prince conversed with me, that’s why I was attacked. I am well aware of the fact that I should not be around the Crown Prince because it would bring more danger to him than me,” Liu Jin Yu stated.

“The Crown Prince gets soft with good women. I know that in his position, he feels lonely, but that aloofness can only a noble class woman vanish in his life.” Qiu Zedong indirectly told Xiaoming that if he was thinking of marrying Liu Jin Yu, then that was impossible.

“Your Majesty,” Liu Jin Yu slightly chuckled and continued, “the Crown Prince and I are only friends. He never saw me as a woman. Also, I will be married soon. So, His Majesty doesn’t need to worry that I will try to chase the Crown Prince.”

Xiaoming was shocked to hear her. He knew she lied in front of the King about her marriage. He got hurt because Liu Jin Yu didn’t feel the way he felt towards her. He curled his fingers. He realized that he was indeed a puppet whose strings were in his father’s and mother’s hands.

He remembered saying to Liu Jin Yu earlier that he would defend his woman in front of his family.

“You are a smart woman,” Qiu Zedong said, and smiled.

Liu Jin Yu narrowly glanced at Xiaoming. He didn’t appear good to her, and she was aware of the reason behind that.

After the King dismissed them, Liu Jin Yu and Xiaoming halted outside the doors of the King’s manor.

“Why did you lie that you were going to marry?” Xiaoming asked her. He was disappointed that she didn’t even hesitate to say that.

“That’s the truth, Your Royal Highness. Forgive me for not telling him beforehand. My Master has seen a man for me. I am 24 years old, Your Royal Highness. If I do not marry now, then people will think I have some fault,” she explained to him.

“Are you telling the truth?” Xiaoming knitted his brows as he was sceptical of her.

“Why would I lie about it? I thought it wasn’t important to tell the Crown Prince. So, I didn’t tell him,” Liu Jin Yu said, and averted his gaze from him. She started to descend the stairs and reached the bottom of them.

She bowed and looked up to meet his gaze, “Thank you for getting me treated by the Royal Physician. I will leave this place. I don’t want my master to get worried about me. I will take a local carriage to reach my place. So, His Royal Highness doesn’t need to worry about me. Please take care and don’t go out.”

Xiaoming got down the stairs and stared into her eyes. “I want to meet the person who will marry you. Tomorrow, I will come. So, be ready,” Xiaoming said, and walked to his manor in anger. His servants followed him when Liu Jin Yu decided to go after him.

She stopped him as she stood in front of him. “His Royal Highness cannot go out of the palace. The King has given orders to him,” she stated.

“Don’t worry about it. By tomorrow morning, I will make sure to catch the culprit. You can leave,” Xiaoming ended their conversation in a crisp manner and walked ahead of her.