"This Lady greets His Highness," her long dress swept the floor as she curtsy.

King Jingze's always jolly mood was rather bad today, he seemed dispirited and heartbroken. He was secretly shedding tears for his niece, his heart had been bleeding of Liena's sudden unnatural death. King Jingze loved her so much as if she was his daughter. It was impossible for him to accept her death. He just wished and prayed that everything was a hallucination, a bad dream, so the moment Nuwa voiced out for him, his heart skipped for a bit. His face gleamed with the hope that it must be Liena calling him again, but when he saw it was not her but Nuwa, reality struck him like thunder. He was utterly disappointed.

"How many times have this king ordered you to call him imperial uncle!"

Sighing loudly, he told her though Nuwa could feel a tinge of anger was mixed in his voice. But she didn't take his rude behavior to her heart since she was already too used to his lecturings. She knew that he was one of them who genuinely cared for her well-being. After all, he was the fourth person next to King and Queen Lin pair who wholeheartedly accepted her as a family member.

She could understand the reason for his bad mood today, she could see his bloodshot eyes. Nuwa was angry with herself for angering him and also... for not being able to cry.

'Why I can't cry like him? What's wrong with me?'

Nuwa again felt the piercing pain in her heart, as if it crumbled with pieces.

"Yes, Imperial uncle. This lady asks for forgiveness." She hurriedly corrected herself and asked a few questions about his well beings.

"En. It's okay."

King Jingze slightly nodded in her response. Compared to the other royals and imperial family members, he was very easygoing and approachable, so people around his would always feel comfortable and listened to his bits of advice because he didn't give much whit and follow the so-called palace's courtesies.

Pondering for a moment, he sorrowfully looked at her and a sudden realization hit him when he noticed that she was walking alone. There weren't any maids or guards following behind her, so, he got concerned about her fearing that another a.s.sa.s.sin attempt might happen if she was alone. What he really wanted her now to quickly move to a safe harbor.

"What are you doing! Do you dare to stroll alone? Where are your bodyguards?"

"This lady is okay and she was here to visit the Empress Dowager."

King Jingze got curious when he heard his mother's name. So he inquired about the reasons behind the sudden visit. In response, Nuwa told him about her leaving the Kingdom for marriage. Hearing such a piece of shocking news, his already bad mood got worse. He felt distraught about his useless self.

'What's the point of being a King when I cannot even protect my loved ones!'

'She must be terribly upset.' King Jingze a.s.sumed.

He knew how much she loved Liena, they were like sisters. So it was natural for him believing that, she was sadder. Preparing for marriage after two days of the princess's death...she must be going through a lot. As a result, he cautiously asked her.

"Are you okay, Mei?

However, to his surprise, she disapprovingly nodded in response. To be honest, King Jingze was shocked as well as disappointed with her behavior. There wasn't any sadness or hurt expressions on her face. It was totally aloof as if everything was normal, Liena's death had nothing to do with her. For some reason, he felt betrayed.

"Ummm... If imperial uncle doesn't mind, can this niece make some requests?"

King Lin was taken back of her sudden change of expression. She was looking straight to his eyes while talking to him. He didn't understand why but he felt uncomfortable on her coldness, for an unknown reason he felt like he didn't know her. She was a completely different person.

'When did she talk to me back when looking at my eyes!!!' He wondered.

After exchanging some information, they bid their farewell.

"Then this lady will leave now."

"Oh! Okay!!!" He replied absentmindedly.

She left the place afterwards. Before she left, King Lin was startled to glimpse a sight of Nuwa. Without his knowledge, he cautiously took a few steps back with a confused look.

What actually caught his attention was her eyes, they looked absolutely different than usual. He could not figure out on what basis but his instinct was telling him it was abnormal.

"Did I see it wrong! It's impossible for her eyes... Did they glint for a moment before she left?" He murmured with amus.e.m.e.nt.

[Note: Unedited chapter.]