He voice cracked again as she whispered out his name.

"Why can't he see that I don't care about the Emperor, or the scars. I just want the man in front of me." Mai thought as she stared at his turned back. "He wont even look at me."

"Why" it was barely audible whisper that escaped Mais lips but they had all heard it.

Han Bings body grew taunt as he struggled to not turn around and comfort her. He had yet to turn around but he knew that she was a no better position than himself.

"You will be safe this way" Han Bing said as he closed his eyes. Giving up the light in his life would be hard that he had no doubt about. He thought that it was better for the light to still be around even if it was not near him than for it to burn out to quickly from the situation. He would never be able to keep her completely safe and that cut him deeper than any scar that lingered on his body.

"Please Mai, please go where you will be safe. It is better this way" he gently whispered out.

Mai shook her head "I cant live without Han Bing, look at what this week has done to me" Mai tried reasoning with him. She knew that majority of how she had looked was due to his condition and her worry but he didn't need to know that.

"And this will only keep happening, Mai. Please …. I am begging you go to your fathers." Han Bings hands clenched into b.a.l.l.s at what he was saying.

"But … it doesn't matter, life without you is no life at all" Mai whispered out as she let out a sob near the end of her sentence.

As if Han Bing was struck by lightning he's back went straight as steel. Ever muscle in his body was strained as he fought the urge to turn around. To take Mai in his arms and a.s.sure her that everything would be okay. To wipe the tears off of her cheeks and kiss her into oblivion. His every thought was centered around making her happy and the desolate tone in her voice almost broke him on a fundamental level. However, imagining what the Emperor would do to her made him even more scared.

"Zheng Li, it was a mistake bringing her here. Take her back to her room and get her packed." Han Bing said.

Mai screamed no as Zheng Li picked her up and carried her away towards her room. Along the way she had hit, kicked, screamed, and anything else that had popped up in her mind to get him to release her. But her efforts awarded her nothing as they still moved closer to the small courtyard that would soon no longer be hers.

He set her down on her bed and tried to comfort her. She knew that he was only trying to help his friend but what about her! She stared at him with a fiery rage in her eyes hoping to never forgive him.

"Mai, calm down. Did you see him? Did you see the way he strained to not look at you? How tense he was? He is not doing this because he wants to. He is doing it because it is the only thing he believe will keep you alive because he also cant live without you." Zheng Li said trying to get her to understand. "Are you willing to endure what he did in that palace? Because at some point in time your relations.h.i.+p with him will lead you there…. If we are not very careful."

Mai calmed down as she listened to his words. "Could she endure? She thought the last time that she was in the palace that it was horrible, yet it was nothing compared to Han Bings experience" Mai thought to herself.

"What… What should I do than? I am not being given a choice" Mai grumbled out as she stared at the man who might offer her a small sliver of hope.

"You remember how I said we had a plan? It will be complete soon. The Emperor should leave us alone for a little while after the last event which caused quite a stir in the palace. So go to your father's just for a little bit. He will help you get out of this city and you can rejoin us later."

Mai sat there thinking about what Zheng Li was saying. It all sounded reasonable except one part.

"Why can't I just stay here?" Mai asked in a quiet voice.

"A diversion really" Han Bing said with a sigh. "If the Emperor thinks that you are with your father than he will focus on obtaining you since you turned him down for Han Bing. He will focus solely on bringing you back to the palace which will give us the opportunity to leave this city."

"But what if he does get me?" Mai whispered in fear.

"Have more faith in your father Mai, he kept you hidden from the Emperor's gaze for your entire life until you entered here. That says something for his ability don't you think?"

"Then how did I wind up outside of your manor on that day if he is so good" Mai snapped back.

"You heard the man yourself Mai, he was stuck with the army over 2 days ride away. Even if he is good he cant be under control of everything" Zheng Li replied.

Mai's lips quivered as she asked her last question "Will Han Bing even want me to come?" Mai cast a glance downwards not ready for the answer.

"Mai, he loves you. He will want you there" Zheng Li said a.s.suringly.

"Okay, I can do this" Mai said with determination burning in her eyes.

"I will send a letter to your father to return tomorrow. You must be ready than, we need to make a scene so that the Emperor will know that you left and who you left with." Zheng Li said with a proud look in his eyes as he stared at her.