Oh! How painful it must be for such a young person to first stay as a hostage and then come back to his home and realizing that many of his own blood brothers had an ounce of pity for what he had gone through and didn't even show him the respect he deserved.

He looked at his new brother, his actions and eyes clearing asking the other person to try and talk to the monarch but all he received in response was a minute shake of the head. 

It was clear that the other person wanted to let the monarch to speak the difficulties in his heart and hence lighten his heavy heart. So, Ning Fu also wisely decided to keep quiet and simply listen. 

Su Li walked back and forth on the paved ground and then whirled towards the other two people and said, "Zhen doesn't want to fight with his own blood brothers. At least, not for this empty position. But Zhen will not let them harm the innocents in their bid to power." 

At those words, Ning Fu felt his blood boil and with a loud thump, he went on his knees to kowtow to the monarch and proclaimed, "Your Majesty, this lowly one is at your service. This servant doesn't know much about the imperial court politics but from what this lowly one has seen, it's better for the dynasty and the commoners if these miscreants are dealt with before they spread ma.s.s hysteria in the public." 

Su Li hadn't even thought that before she could finish her words, she would be presented with such a scene where The Unit Commander would loudly proclaim his loyalty and send himself to her door to be a s.h.i.+eld and a sword for her. 

She gave a bittersweet smile at the scene in front of her, simply raised her hand and replied, "Get off the cold floor, Unit Commander. Zhen knows about your loyalty and doesn't doubt you. If Zhen had, Zhen wouldn't have allowed Zhou Sheng to be entered into the genealogy books." 

Ning Fu felt happy when he heard the first few words of his liege but the next words completely put to rest the joy that had been bubbling up inside his heart. 

He wondered to himself, why was it that earlier he had to contend with that fool Head Commander of the Shadow Guards and now he had to contend against Zhou Sheng for the monarch's praise. 

It was truly difficult to get a word of praise from the dragon's mouth. 

Irrespective of what he was thinking, Su Li turned towards Zhou Sheng. 

Before Zhou Sheng could pay obeisance to her, she held him by his hands and warmly mentioned, "I don't ever want to see you bowing to me. I can tolerate it in front of others because you insist on it but not when we are the only ones here." 

She gave him a deep look before adding, "Moreover, I have much to thank you for. So, if you insist on doing this, it makes me feel even more awkward. More importantly, I can never repay you for all that you have done for me." 

Zhou Sheng simply smiled at her words and replied, "I — I will help you do whatever you want. You can trust me on that, can't you?" 

Su Li laughed at his words.

"If do. I trust you with all my heart." 

"Even after all that has already happened? You don't blame me?" He questioned. 

"Why should I? It's not like you were the one who did everything. Rather you repeatedly insisted me to go back that day. If not for that person, you wouldn't have had to see such an ugly side of things." Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

"Prin...Your Majesty, it is to my everlasting regret that I couldn't do more for you and that person," he lamented.

"Zhou Sheng, I know more than anyone that you tried your best and that is all one can for. As they say, man proposes, G.o.d disposed." 

There was a thin veneer of tears in Su Li's eyes that she tried hard to hide but was unsuccessful. 

Zhou Sheng could only hope that those tears would fall from those blinking eyes so that it might just lessen the pain in her heart but to no avail. 

Thinking of lightning the mood, he offered, "The best places to hear any kind of gossip are the seedy places. So, how about the three of us to go to observe and scout for news." 

At this point in the conversation, Ning Fu b.u.t.ted in, "No. It's not safe in the Imperial Capital. We can't allow His Majesty to go around without completely checking the premises." 

Zhou Sheng huffed at those words and with a sardonic grin replied, "Who said we would be going while touting out ident.i.ties for one and sundry? Can't go in plain clothes and incognito?"

Even though Ning Fu wanted to refute the idea on principle alone, when he saw the monarch's eyes lighting up at the idea, he kept the words to himself and readily acquiesced. 

At his positive reply, Su Li clapped her hands in delight and called for the Head Commander of the Shadow Guards. 

When the Head Commander arrived, he was told that in the evening his liege would go to those bad places that various young masters who freeloaded on their families visited regularly. 

He gave Ning Fu the stink eye because he thought that this bad idea must have been presented to the monarch by this so-called 'G.o.d Of War'. 

He must not let this man influence his pure, innocent master. 

After all, if the monarch learnt some bad habits while going out to frolic with such a person, wouldn't he - The Unit Commander of the Shadow Guards have to give a satisfactory reply to the Empress Dowager. 

All the more, this person will go back to his manor after having his fun but it would be him who would have to take all responsibility of bringing back the monarch safely to the Imperial Palace.

He tried to stop the charade, "Your Majesty, please reconsider this outing. Those — Those unclean places, how could the monarch visit such places? They are not safe and if someone gets word of it, they might try to cause trouble for Your Majesty." 

However, his words fell on deaf ears. 

Meanwhile, Ning Fu recalled what this fool had said that day on the rooftop of his room and decided to get even with him. 

He snorted and called out to the Head Commander, "Why are you speaking all this nonsense? It was His Majesty's decision..." 

Before he could continue to lambast the other person, the monarch cut-off his words with a muttered, "Zhen hasn't been able to enjoy himself even once since Zhen became the emperor."