He had attended court every single day since he came back waiting for the other shoe to drop. However, he hadn't been singled out even once so that gave him hope for his future. He also noticed that the monarch didn't seem to care which way the murky waters of court politics was floating.

He had noticed that His Majesty's style of doing things was far different from how the royal's thought and implemented their words. The monarch never reprimanded or chastened anyone without cause and although he never praised anyone for a job well done, he never seemed to question the people he used.

The first imperial edict had left him reeling with shock. Who could have thought that His Majesty would improve the lives of uncountable individuals and warm up so many hearts with just one edict?

He had also watched the farce created by all the hungry wolves to force His Majesty to take on a few consorts. Though Ning Fu hadn't contended in court and was comfortable with playing on the battlefield, it didn't mean that he wasn't well versed in the inner workings of the Imperial Court politics.

Today, the monarch had dismissed the court and while he was walking out of the audience hall, a eunuch had come to inform him that the emperor was calling him for an audience.

He had thought that he would be led to the Imperial Study but the eunuch had walked towards one of the gardens that were a bit secluded.

Ning Fu wondered whether he would be killed in this garden? He couldn't see anyone except His Majesty and a number of his shadow guards, hidden away from plain sight. If it was to be so, let it be.

Ning Fu hardened his heart and went forward. Before he could kneel, His Majesty had said, "No need to kneel."

Ning Fu felt taken aback by those words.

With a questioning lilt in his voice, he had started, "Your Majesty, ..."

The emperor had turned towards the eunuch standing by their side and sent him away as well by then and when he turned to face him again he had ordered, "Unit Commander Ning, walk with me."

They had walked for about half an hour in between the pathways in the lavish garden but the emperor didn't say a word all this time. Ning Fu firmly believed in the fact that until his superior asked or ordered him, he shouldn't open his mouth.

Su Li watched from the corner of her eyes as Ning Fu walked two steps behind her, matching her pace perfectly. She thought this must be the result of the patience he had attained while fighting on the battlefield. The guy was older than her by almost seven years, however, she was his superior.

She marvelled at the thought that these ancient folks would follow the commands of a fourteen-year-old child when they were a lot older and intelligent than the aforesaid person.

Su Li watched in amus.e.m.e.nt as The Unit Commander kept his head lowered, his eyes downcast and how he never strayed his line of sight away from her shoes. She turned towards him and questioned, "Unit Commander Ning, are you afraid of me?"

She wouldn't be bothered by his answer but she was interested to hear what he had to say.

Hearing His Majesty's question, Ning Fu's eyes clouded but he covered his emotions. He couldn't afford to reveal the slightest bit of his fears or worries of imperial power.

He hastily replied, "Your Majesty, you are the favoured Son of Heavens. This official knows that Your Majesty isn't someone unreasonable, therefore, this lowly official isn't fearful of Your Majesty. This lowly official is simply in reverence of your exalted existence."

Su Li hadn't thought the other person would give her a textbook reply by rote learning. This lowered her interest in the valiant man. Still, she couldn't just wave her hands and send him off like this. It would be too disrespectful towards a soldier.

Therefore, she waved towards a nearby pavilion and walked towards it. As she sat down, she noticed that the other person was still standing and she realised that in these times n.o.body would sit as an equivalent with her.

Su Li rolled her eyes at herself for expecting too much of someone who followed the rules and regulation explicitly.

His Majesty asked, "Unit Commander Ning Fu, you have been back for some time. I hope any and all injuries you received on your expedition have healed and all the soldiers that returned along with you have settled into the barracks."

She had long wanted to have this conversation with him. Therefore, currently was as good a time as any other and this could additionally take her mind off the problems and issues heaped-up upon her.

Ning Fu respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, most of my wounds have healed and the soldiers have also settled in the barracks."

Ning Fu thought that the emperor wanted to exchange some common courtesies before he came to his main point so his reply was somewhat pre functionary.

His Majesty raised his gla.s.s and warmly said, "Unit Commander Ning Fu, have a toast with me."

The words made Ning Fu almost freeze in terror.

What was about to come, will surely come?

n.o.body could change their fate.

It seemed this was to be his end.

The bitter realization flooded his face with horror.

He watched as His Majesty poured two cups of wine, one for each of them.

Ning Fu could clearly picture how His Majesty must have organized everything to give him a swift end. He had heard about jars with mechanisms where although a person poured wine or tea from the same jar, one cup would be poisoned whereas the other one was nonvenomous.

It appeared that His Majesty had prepared everything meticulously. The emperor was still looking at him with a warm gaze and a slight smile on his lips.

It seemed His Majesty was very interested in play-acting that even when he was on the brink of sending someone off to the Yellow Springs, he still wouldn't remove his benevolent mask.

But if the monarch thought that Ning Fu was going to make it easy for him, then he was utterly mistaken.

Even if he had to die today, he'll make sure to make His Majesty realise that not all military men had wolf-like ambitions to control everything under the heavens.

Ning Fu lamented that he couldn't merely send the entire tray flying, that would send the heads of his family and subordinates flying as well to accompany him in the afterlife.

Therefore, Ning Fu picked up the cup of wine offered to him and without a missing a beat, he poured the wine on to the ground.

Afterwards, he looked up at the emperor and said his heartfelt words, "Your Majesty, this lowly- official is wholeheartedly loyal to you. The Sun and Moon are a witness to my devotion towards you. If you still don't feel at ease, then this official will solely die so that Your Majesty can sleep at night without any worries."

Before Su Li could comprehend what had happened Ning Fu rushed towards one of the pillars. He would have preferred to die with a sword to his neck, however, no one was allowed to bring weapons into The Imperial Palace. Hence he was without his trusted sword.

However, Ning Fu still wanted to die in his own honourable way and not die thanks to someone's petty scheme even if the aforesaid person was the revered monarch.

Su Li had also realised that this battle-hardened idiot had misunderstood her words so she simply called, "Stop." She knew with his martial arts and his loyalty towards her, he would stop as soon as her words reached his ears.

Ning Fu felt perplexed and puzzled when His Majesty ordered him to stop.

Wasn't that what the emperor wanted?

Didn't the emperor want him dead?

Now, that he was ready to give away his life, the other person stopped him. What? What was the monarch playing at?

Did His Majesty simply want him to die at his own command? Thus, he wasn't even allowed the dignity of taking his own life?

If that was the case, it was too cruel and callous of His Majesty.

He heard His Majesty's next words, "Turn around" and with a heavy heart, he turned around to face the monarch.

Su Li continued, "Look at me."

Ning Fu didn't dare to. Who in their right mind would stare at the Son of Heavens? It was an offence punishable by death with extreme torture.

When Su Li realised that the other person wasn't paying heed to her words, she grew agitated.

She shouted in a hoa.r.s.e voice, "I asked you to look at me."

At that moment she even forgot to use Zhen - a self-appellation used exclusively by the emperor.

Ning Fu was baffled by these haphazard orders by His Majesty but still did as he was asked. He raised his head but didn't look at the emperor straight on, rather he fixed his gaze on a point far away and slightly above His Majesty's head.

By now Ning Fu had a faint hunch that either there seemed to be some kind of misunderstanding or the emperor had changed his thoughts at the eleventh hour.

He was more inclined to believe the former rather than the latter because if His Majesty had really changed his decision after hearing his words that proved that the monarch was fickle in nature and didn't weigh the pros and cons of his decisions.

Su Li had stood up when this person had tried to commit suicide to prove his innocence, now that things seemed to have somewhat calmed down, she again went back to her chair and sat down. She looked at The Unit Commander and couldn't seem to find her voice.

Her throat appeared to be clogged.

Anyways, everything else could wait but she had to clear a few things.

Su Li ordered in a terse voice, "Repeat what you just said to me."

Hearing His Majesty's repressed voice, Ning Fu felt even more apprehensive and knew that right now his best bet was to keep quiet.

His Majesty yelled, "I asked you to repeat your earlier words. It couldn't be that your ears have gone deaf or have you turned mute within these few seconds. Don't act like a statue. Answer me."

With a dreadful feeling in his heart Ning Fu repeated his earlier words verbatim. He watched from behind hooded eyes as His Majesty stood up from his seat agitatedly at the beginning of the impa.s.sioned words he had said earlier.

His Majesty staggered back from him in apparent horror by the end of his words.

Those words were very familiar to Su Li.

Terribly familiar.

Those frank, similar words of loyalty had been said to her by another person in another world.

The words reminded her of happier days, and as she listened to them, she couldn't stop hoping and praying, however, she felt apprehensive in equal measure.

What if it wasn't anything other than her fervent imagination?

How could this person say those words with the same intonations that person had used?

"Look me in the eye and do not attempt to evade them." She had to make sure.

She had to be certain.

Su Li knew she was desperately clutching at straws. However, if there was even a glimmer of hope, she would take that over the actual fact that she would never see or meet that person ever again.

Ning Fu wondered if His Majesty was alright. He just kept on insisting him to raise his head. This was the third time already and he could no longer refuse or it might be seen as insubordination.

As soon as he looked at His Majesty. He was struck dumb by what he saw. His heart trembled.

His Majesty looked at him in a desperate manner akin to a person who had at last found an oasis after a long walk in the desert.

The emperor looked at him as if he was the most precious person to him in his life.

No, His Majesty wasn't looking at him. He was staring at his eyes as if making a desperate attempt to reach his very soul through his eyes.

He watched as His Majesty didn't seem to find whatever he had been trying to see in his eyes.

What could it be?

Was he thinking too much?

How could a sovereign look at a subject with that kind of gaze?

Ning Fu watched in bewilderment as the dazzling eyes of His Majesty lost their twinkle and became almost dull within seconds.

It was as if he or his eyes, in particular, had disappointed the emperor at a visceral level.

As if he had taken away the monarch's most cherished thing and there was no light left in His Majesty's life.

His Majesty laughed out loud.

However, the laughter didn't have the usual happiness in it.

It was a hollow laugh.

It was brittle and humourless.

It was grating to Ning Fu's ears - that broken, mirthless laughter of His Majesty.