The moment he laid eyes on Ye An, Xi Chen bowed curtly. "Your Imperial Majesty."

Ye An noticed that he was only wearing a thin inner robe and quickly averted her eyes. But not before noting the way Xi Chen was hugging himself which made her turned back towards him in concern, "How long have you been here? Aren't you cold?"

"No, not really. I've only been here for a while." Xi Chen answered a little too quickly for it to be the truth.

That brought a good-natured laugh out of Ye An. "I can see through that lie, Lieutenant Yun." Ye An could also see Xi Chen's reddening ears through the shadows of the moonless night. Before she even knew about, a warm feeling that contrasted the chilly night breeze had enveloped her heart.

"I saw you leave towards the garden and followed without thinking. But I didn't want to interrupt, so I stayed out here." Xi Chen admitted, slightly embarrassed at himself and changed the subject. "What you played just now was beautiful."

"Is it? It's just something that I came up with." Ye An replied blasély.

"Your Imperial Majesty, may I ask what's troubling you? Is it because of what Governess Hsu told you yesterday?"

"How did you.." Ye An looked at Xi Chen curiously. If this conversation was to happen a month ago, she would've stared daggers at the lieutenant. But not now. Ye An came to a realization that her initial inhibitions about Xi Chen were already long gone.

Xi Chen smiled gently at Ye An. "Let's just say that I have a gut feeling that you would only go to the garden when you have some troubling thoughts."

"Hmm.." Ye An mumbled with her eyes downcast.

Xi Chen lowered his stance to have a better look at her. "Your Imperial Majesty, I trust you. I trust that whatever you do, you will end up making the best decision for yourself. But that aside, do you want to hear about it from an outsider?"

Even though her decision was already made, Ye An was curious about what the lieutenant thought of her situation. She lifted her head up to look at Xi Chen. "Go ahead."

"Governess Hsu might have kept it away from you because she knew that you'll react this way, mulling over it incessantly. But Your Imperial Majesty, no matter who your father is, you are still who you are. Nothing's changed. That is also probably another reason why she decided not to tell you. Because it probably doesn't matter to her if you are Emperor Lee Hwi's daughter or Lee Han's daughter, you are still the same Lee Ye An who's adored and loved by the Empress." It was the first time Ye An heard the lieutenant call her name and it surprised her how much she liked the way her name rolled off smoothly from Xi Chen's mouth.

Realizing that he had accidentally called the emperor's name, Xi Chen's eyes widened as he straightened and apologized. "Forgive me for calling your name, Your Imperial Majesty."

"It's fine. I don't really object to being called by my name if it's not used in a scathing or condescending manner. And besides, I trust that you are not the type of person to step out of line and start a rebellion just because you started calling me by my name." Ye An let out a small laugh before continuing. "But if I allow you to call me by my name, I'd like to be able to call you by yours."

"That's alright by me, Your Imperial Majesty."

"Well then, that settles it. Just call me Ye An when there's no one around."

"But still-"

"Ugh, you're just like Governess Hsu. Anyway, I already gave you my permission to call me by my name. Do whatever you want with it, Xi Chen." Ye An said.

Xi Chen's heart started beating violently the moment he heard Ye An calling his name. Ever since her secret about being a woman was exposed to Xi Chen, Ye An thought that it was pointless to keep faking her voice when they were alone. But if Xi Chen were to be utterly honest, he knew that his heart would still skip a beat even if she used her fake deep voice. It wasn't so much the pitch of the voice but the person who was uttering his name. Xi Chen could feel the warmth on his ears, knowing full well that they were already red.

Ye An started walking back to her residence with Xi Chen following behind her as he tried his best to calm himself. Ye An spoke as she was walking, "While I was in the garden, I've already come to a decision to put things behind me. But still, thank you for your insight. I really appreciate it."

"Oh um. Thank you for the compliment, Your Imperial Majesty."

Ye An turned to face Xi Chen and tutted at him for his unwillingness to use her name when they were alone. "You're exactly the same as Governess Hsu. No wonder she's taken a liking to you."

As the Forbidden Garden was located only a stone's throw away from the courtyard that both of them shared, they reached the center of the courtyard after only a short walk.

"Xi Chen, you should head back to sleep." Ye An said gently without noticing the effect of her words on Xi Chen. "When Governess Hsu comes to you tomorrow morning with the ointment, send her straight to me."

"Y-yes, Your Imperial Majesty. Goodnight."

"You have a good night too, Xi Chen." Ye An said and left Xi Chen standing in the courtyard dumbfounded as he watched the emperor head indoors before heading back to his own residence.

"Xi Chen, where did you go?" Ah Lin mumbled groggily, woken up by the creak of the door when Xi Chen entered.

"Nowhere. Go back to sleep." Xi Chen answered brusquely as he held the palm of his hand over his chest while lying on his bed with the knowledge that he was probably going to lose sleep tonight.

*******

Early next morning when it was still dark, Governess Hsu stepped into the courtyard at the East Palace with Ye An's fresh ointment. When she arrived, Xi Chen was already in the midst of his morning training. Most of the courtyard was covered with thick morning mist. Like the governess, Xi Chen was bundled up due to the chilly weather but the governess noticed that there were already pearls of sweat on the lieutenant forehead and temples.

"Lieutenant Yun, good morning." As she came closer, she also noticed that there were faint dark circles under Xi Chen's eyes. "How long have you been awake?"

Xi Chen put down the bamboo he was practicing with when he saw the governess and took over some of the items that she was carrying into his arms. "Good morning, Governess Hsu. Probably three hours now."

"Three hours?? Did you even sleep last night?" Governess Hsu asked in concern. It was barely dawn and it seemed like the lieutenant was out here training since he'd wakened up.

"Yes, for a couple of hours." Xi Chen scratched the back of his head. For some reason, he felt guilty under Governess Hsu's concerned gaze.

"Only a couple of hours? You need to go back and rest, Lieutenant Yun."

"No, it's alright. I've survived with less." Xi Chen replied before swiftly changing the subject. "Are you here to deliver the ointment for His Imperial Majesty?"

Remembering what she was here for, Governess Hsu said, "Ah, yes. That's the ointment you're holding and I have the medicine here."

"Governess Hsu, His Imperial Majesty actually asked me to send you to her once you're here."

"Oh. Did she?"

Xi Chen noticed the troubled look in the governess's eyes so he suggested, "Shall we go together?"

"Yes, yes. Let's." Governess Hsu immediately agreed without looking at the lieutenant as Xi Chen accompanied her to Ye An's door.

Xi Chen knocked on the door softly and said, "Your Imperial Majesty, Governess Hsu is here."

There was a moment of silence before both of them heard Ye An's reply. "Come in."

Unlike the previous morning, the emperor was already dressed when they entered and the court maids were already leaving the room. Xi Chen promptly excused himself as well after he placed the ointment on the table. "I'll leave both of you to it."

He looked at both of the silent figures worriedly as he closed the door behind him.

In the room, unease marked the silent air between the women as they both averted their gazes, trying to delay a conversation that must be had sooner or later.

It was the first time in her entire life that Ye An didn't know how to start a conversation with the governess. While she was still wracking her brains on how she should address what was on her mind, Governess Hsu already sat down on a stool and spoke. "Your Imperial Majesty, I need to change the dressing of your wound."

"Oh. Yes. Yes, sure." Ye An stuttered as she took her robes off and sat on another stool by Governess Hsu.

As the governess unwrapped the bandage that was over Ye An's chest, she asked Ye An a question without meeting her eyes. "Are you feeling better now?"

Ye An knew that the governess wasn't talking about her wound. "Yes."

"I'm glad." Governess Hsu's soft reply was followed by more silence as the bandage was taken off Ye An's chest. The governess was starting to re-apply the ointment when she broke the silence. "I didn't mean to keep it a secret."

Ye An sighed, finally letting her guard down as she felt the governess's guilt that was hanging heavy in the air. "I know. I know that you kept it a secret for my sake. If I knew about it when I was younger, the burden of that secret might've been too much for me."

"Your Imperial Majesty.." Governess Hsu finally met Ye An's understanding gaze.

"Now quit with the sappy look. I need to be re-bandaged properly so that I could get along with the busy day ahead." Ye An said as she passed the bandage to the governess.

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty." Governess Hsu replied gratefully with mist in her eyes.

*******

After reconciling with Governess Hsu and having her wound redressed, Ye An went about her day as usual with her heart lighter than yesterday. The court meeting had resumed after a day's rest and she was on her way to the Throne Hall with Xi Chen by her side and the rest of her convoy trailing behind her.

"What did you do last night?" Ye An asked when she noted that Xi Chen was trying to suppress his fifth yawn during their short trip to the hall.

Xi Chen quickly put his hand down. "Uh, nothing."

Ye An looked at him sideways with a facial expression that clearly said that she didn't believe that at all as she stepped into the Throne Hall.

"Long live, Your Imperial Majesty!" The ministers bellowed and bowed the moment Ye An laid a foot into the room. This scene had become a routine since the day she dramatically took off all of her veils.

Ye An settled herself down on the throne while Xi Chen stood at his spot at the bottom of the platform.

"Good morning, gentlemen. Let's begin."

"Your Imperial Majesty. Before that, I have to point out something concerning."

"What is it, Minister Zhan?" Minister Zhan was from an old noble family and one of Minister Hu's cronies as well. He was a stubby man in his late fifties who resembled a chubby mouse Ye An had encountered when she hid in the kitchens when she was younger. But unlike the adorable mouse, he was the type of person who saw faults in anything and anyone. So whenever he spoke up, Ye An always wished that she was born deaf.

"I bumped into a Northerner around the residence area when I entered the palace."

Ye An frowned. "Why were you at that part of the Southern Wing, Minister Zhan? Aren't you only here to attend the court meeting? Isn't that area out of the way?"

"Oh. Um. I came earlier than expected so I decided to take a walk."

"To the residence area?"

Minister Zhan stuttered under Ye An's intense gaze but couldn't get anything out.

Ye An turned her attention to the general audience. "Need I remind you all like one reminds small children when they enter someone else's house to not pop your head into places that you don't have a business to be in?"

"No, Your Imperial Majesty." The ministers replied collectively.

Minister Zhan didn't answer but asked timidly. "Shouldn't we know who it is? I'm just thinking of your safety, Your Imperial Majesty."

Ye An gave out a dry laugh that was only heard by Xi Chen. "If you must know, it is Prince Adlai, the heir of the North. He is my guest."

Before the ministers could respond, Ye An continued with a dangerous gaze to the ministers. "And I do not want to hear any objections."

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