Amm De could not believe it. If he was one of the two- the left or right general- he could take the news, but very slowly. But not the general himself! Not the fifth prince!
He slammed his hand hard at the table, cracks could be seen on it, even he did not train his martial arts nowadays, he was still an excellent man in his youth.
"Y-you...did you scheme at me?!!"
Ren Shou just smirked. It didn't matter his opinion anyway.
"Why would I? Why would I scheme at you? Is there any reason for me to stoop low and scheme at you?" Ren Shou said with cold eyes.
Amm De stopped breathing. His eyes were wide. He could not help but remember the bitter years that passed when he was assisting the current emperor to his throne. And the big mistake he had that gave him heavy shackles that he was wearing until now. Seeing this man, reminding him of those bitter memories.
"Even you scheme at me or not, I will not let you marry my daughter! Shadow guards!" Again, those black-clothed men appeared.
Ren Shou was silently sipping at his tea. He did not even care he was surrounded by these men. After sipping, he chuckled.
"So you cannot wait to assassinate me in some desolate place with a perfect time. Now, you want to implicate your household. Tell me, did uncle emperor really cannot wait?" Ren Shou stands up. He had no sword with him. Before they let him enter, many servants check him and put out his belongings. But it did not matter. There are many weapons in this room that he could use.
"Do you really think that by having these twenty men who are only slightly average than normal can harm me?" He stepped forward to Amm De. The twenty men surrounded him in close proximity. Ren Shou just smiled coldly at them.
"I don't mind to taint your floors with blood. However, would Lady Li be happy after our exercise? My future wife will scold me for bullying his father."
Amm De's jaw tightened. He was right. This general in front of him could protect himself even against hundreds of men.
"What do you want? If you want revenge to what happened to your father years ago, then harm me! Not my family! Not my daughter!"
Ren Shou got pissed. He did not like to think that he would bring harm to the girl. The moment he saw the girl there was a feeling from his heart deepest from his soul to protect her and never leave her. If not, he would not do something crazy like finding the girl. It was just... A feeling...a feeling that he lost something important without finding the girl.
"Hmph...why would I hurt her?She's not part of this. But since you are his father, I'll give you mercy. If you pledge your loyalty to me and exposed the current emperor's crime against my father and the scheme of the empress and emperor to execute my mother, I'll promise you I will not destroy the De residence. You will retire and pay for your crimes by exiling you to the north."
This mercy was very hard for him to give. He hated this man. His father trusted this man, but in the end, this man betrayed his father and side to that despicable man! But he would give him a chance. Since he was the father of his future wife.
Amm De was dumbfounded. He knew his sins could only be paid by his life and his family's lives. But this young man, who was the mixture of his former friend that he betrayed and the kind consort whom they schemed against, unexpectedly gave him this kind of mercy after he implicated him with so much pain.
He might not be the prime integrator of the scheme in the past, but he still participate, that was his mistake. But he was a man who had deepest respect and promise an oath to that old man. That he would protect and stay at his heir, his son's side no matter what happened in the future. Hence, he was loyal to his son, the current emperor. Until now, his promised to that old man still rooted in his heart. He could not break it. He could not betray his son.
"I-I can't..." Amm De said dejectedly.
The emperor was a good man...at first. But when the former emperor, his father, the old man, died, he became restless. The emperor became suspicious of everything, even to his own younger brother.
The emperor's younger brother, Ren Shou's father, was currently the general at that time. He was like his son, unmatched on the battlefield. Because of his prowess, he gained a lot of respect and good reputation from people. Every time he reported to the palace, he always brought good news, success of protecting their land and the success of conquering another land. And all of it, made the emperor doubt his younger brother more.
Amm De closed his eyes at the same time shutting the memories that want to resurface. He was ashamed of what he did before. But he was already walking on the wrong path, he just need to continue even with the heaviness of every step.
"You can't?" The surroundings got darker and the pressure was heavier.
"Are you saying you did not repent of what you've done before? Are you still siding the emperor?" Every question, Ren Shou took a step forward toward Amm De.
Green veins bulged on Ren Shou's forehead, he was clenching his hands that blood poured out. However, he did not notice this. He just wanted to snap this man's neck. He was so angry. How could they...how could they not repent! Nor ask forgiveness! Shameless! So shameless!
When he was about to reach out his hands to the man's neck, the twenty men jumped at him, however, he was fast. In one swift, the nearby shadow guard got knocked off and his sword was stolen away by Ren Shou. He then swung the sword around, blood spattered and open wound could bee seen in every shadow guard's chest. The shadow guards took a step back out of shock. In just a second....all of them got wounded.
Good thing no one died. But Ren Shou raised the sword and pointed it towards Amm De. His hands were trembling because of anger. But he knew it was not yet the time. Besides, there was someone listening to their conversation for a while. He put down his sword and stared hard at the startled Amm De.
"For the sake of Li Amm, I'll give you time until the banquet. If your answer is not satisfying. I'll make sure your household would have no home to return to." He then strode off.
Amm De stared dumbly at the door where the young man had gone to . This general was so powerful...could he complete the mission? No, the question is, how should he report this to the emperor?
****
Li amm was pressing her ears hard to the door. Every bit of the conversation in the room, she tried to caught up. Some were clear some were vague.
After hearing some time, the revelation of Ren Shou and the mystery of her father's involvement make Li Amm excited.
'Oh my...I should not be surprised. This is the ancient era after all. Scheming is usual. But this... Between the general and my father! Oh not only that! If the general and me was in love and the general wants revenge against my father, then love comes in the way! Really! Did I really not transmigrated in the novel where I'm the female lead? Oh what to do...what to do....what will father will do? More importantly , what general Ren would do?!Oh me too! I'm involved! How should I act?'
Li amm put her hands in her grinning face.
'Gosh I'm so excited!'
Li amm considered herself as a bystander only. Like an audience waiting for the next performance.
Suddenly the door opened and since she was leaning on the door her figure crashed to the person who opened the door.
Li Amm's eyes went wide when she saw Ren Shou there.
'Did he caught me eavesdropping to them?'
Then quickly she stands up and smiled.
"I...." 'What?? What should I say?'
"I miss you " 'What the heck, why did I say that? That's cheesy! I need a reason!'
"And I--" she continued. 'A reason!'
"I was thirsty." 'A plausible reason!'
"And I miss you--" 'Why I'm going in circles here!'
"And I got hungry." 'I think I should shut up.'
So Li amm shut up with a smile. Oh don't blame her. It was her first time she was caught eavesdropping, for her it was the same as peeping someone in their bath. Besides she was a good girl last lifetime.
Ren Shou stared at Li Am. Examining her reaction. Did she got shocked from earlier? Maybe, that's the reason why she was muddle-headed. Since he was going to spend his life with her, there's no need to hide this from her. Better she knows it before they got married.
"Everything you heard earlier, is true. Ask your father if your not convince. But remember this, since I met you, this is the first time I knew you are his daughter. If I knew--" he trailed off. If he knew what he would do? Not pursue the girl? He did not know the answer. But he knew that if he did not find her, it would make his mind unease. So he concluded that it was better that he found her.
Li Amm just raised her hands. Truthfully, even she was excited with all this drama, it has nothing to do with her. Really, she just came into this world for one purpose. To find her regrets. Since she did not know what it was exactly, she must do trial and error. This drama, let it evolve in its own world. She would act if this hinders her plans and goals.
Besides, she thought that this Ren Shou was not really bad. He would not kill her father. She was sure of that. Why did she say so? Just a hunch.
"Its OK. I believe you. But no matter what your problem with my father has nothing to do with me ,right? You will not exact your revenge on me, right?" Li Amm asked. It's not going to be cliché right? She was worried she would wake up in her marriage days being choke in her sleep. That would be embarrassing in front of Jack and Jill
"No. It has nothing to do with you. Did you not listened earlier?"
"Oh. I can't quite hear it. Your voice was low--" 'ohh did I just sell myself?'
Li Amm put her hands in her mouth to stop it from saying anymore. Her eyes were a bit wide. Like a rabbit who got caught.
Ren Shou could not help but laugh. His future wangfei was so cute. His heaviness and frown was gone. Really, he felt warm and comfortable around her. He caressed her head gently and said.
"I'll be going now, let's meet again at my welcome banquet. I will send my servant later to deliver the invitation letter." After saying that he walked away and not even glance at his in-laws.
Coughed coughed coughed
Li Amm turned her gaze towards the room. Bloods on the floor, the twenty men were tending to their wounds.
Li Amm was shocked. Something big happened here that turned out like this? But I did not hear any thrashing.
Li Amm walked to her father and check if he suffered from any wounds. After confirming that he was safe, Li Amm asked.
"What happened?"
Her father looked at her. With so much sorrow in his eyes.
'Oh forget about that...maybe I will interrogate this man in another day..'
And like that, she did not get any answer after a few more days.
Days had passed since Ren Shou ask Li Amm's hand. Currently, Li Amm was peeking at her father's courtyard. She had a mission today. She just remembered that she need to sneak at her father's bedroom and find the mysterious scroll.
'Where is it?'
Li amm tiptoed and quickly went inside his father's room. She knew there were martial artist everywhere since it was a prime minister's house after all. So even her breathing was very soft and slow. However, she did not notice that not far away from her, on the branch of the tree, two guards were watching her.
"...." Guard 1
"..." Guard 2
"...did our young miss---?" Guard 1 could not continue the words he wanted to say.
"...I think so..." Guard 2 was also speechless.
They were assigned by their master Amm De, as a personal guard in the shadow of their young miss. Since their young miss got 'kidnapped' and introduce a husband, their master Amm De began to take precautions to everything especially the safety of their young miss and young lady.
Since they work from the De manor they heard about their young miss mischievousness and childish habits such as climbing the wall. But this.....they could not believe that their young miss was so mischievous to the extreme that she even sneak in in her father's bedroom!
What they should do? Should they report it?
Fortunately, a shadow appeared behind their back and told them.
"A servant from the fifth prince came. Be cautious." The senior shadow guard that appeared was about to leave when the two stopped him.
"Senior! We are in trouble!" Guard 1 said.
The senior became worried. Did their young miss got kidnapped?
"What is it? Speak!"
"O-our young miss....she.."
"She what?!" The shadow guard became impatient.
"S-she....she sneak-in in master's bedroom..."
"...."
"...."
"...."
After a long silence, the senior guard sighed. A sighed of relief. He then said,
"It's OK. It is a small matter."
"?!" The two guards were bewildered. How it was a small matter?! What if their young miss read an important information or ruined any documents?! Their heads would not be intact anymore!
The senior guard seemed to read their thoughts as he said.
"Don't worry, our young miss did extreme things in the past. Once, when she was eight, she sneaked in the master's bedroom. She wore our master's palace uniform and put a decree in the scroll with the prime minster insignia. She wrote : 'A decree for De's residence. Li Amm De would be the master of the house for a day!' She displayed it in the De manor's central court. When master Amm De found out about it he tried to stop her..but..tsk tsk.." The shadow guard shook his head. A small smile was playing on his lips.
"Our young miss used her charm and master Amm De could only do was agree. I cannot blame master. Even I could not resist."
"..." The two guard was once again speechless. So something like this happened in the past? No wonder their senior said that what their young miss was doing was 'normal'.
"Well, good luck to the two of you. I hope you can last." The senior patted their shoulder and left . But for some reason they did not get courage from what he said, they felt scared instead.
'This. .what kind of extreme things will our young miss will be doing in the future?? Hope..our young miss will not bring more trouble...'
Ohh ..how wrong they were.
Currently, Li Amm was opening each scroll one by one. After she checked all scroll in the desk. She sat on the floor.
'Where is it?? It must be really important...where father hide it?'
She looked around the room. She could not give up. Her curiosity was killing her. If she did not find it in the future, it might cause her to not be reincarnated in the next lifetime. She did not want any additional problem!
Li Amm creative mind imagined that her life in this world gone up and she returned the aboveworld. She imagined Old Meng kicking her off to another world saying, " You did not find the scroll in that life, it became your deepest regret that seeped into your soul. You should find it in another world.' And she fell in the world where cannibals who eat people existed.
'No!! I need to find the scroll!'
Then her gaze landed on the mat. In this room, the floor was made of wood. It was well flourished and the center was covered by a large mat. She noticed that the corner of the mat was folded a little. Then her eyes lit up!
Maybe!!
She quickly crawled to that place and held up the mat. As she expected there was hidden cabinet there! (A/n: you get what I mean write, cabinet on the floor xD)
She opened it. Scrolls, books, and the insignia were there.
Seeing the insignia, Li Amm winced.
Father must put it there because of the last incident.
She checked the scroll one by one. Then a scroll that was covered by a cloth caught her attention.
The curious Li Amm reached and opened it. After the cloth, it was sealed inside a bamboo container.
So secured! It must be really important!
Li Amm got more excited. She felt like a spy. If it was the modern world, it compared to those spies that was forcing to open a very secured safe.
Since she was doing a lot of things like this in the past few years, Li Amm was a professional. She was prepared. She get her pin from her hair and forcefully opened the bamboo container. When it becomes loose, a golden scroll was seen. Li amm quickly opened it to read.
When she read the contents she stared at it blankly.
'What???'
'It's a big secret....
'But I already know it.'
She was a little disappointed.
'Well, what can I expect? If I didn't hear their argument I'll probably be shocked.'
'But still! Where is the thrill in this?!'
Li Amm tried to read it again. Maybe she could find a shocking information if she read it again. She could not believe that her effort earlier would be rewarded by this.
[A decree from the Emperor]
[For the peace and for the unified kingdom under the rule of Emperor Ren , assassination of the New commander, fifth prince, Ren Shou is necessary. This is the top-secret mission bestowed by the Emperor to Right Prime Minister Amm De. Reward for your loyalty after the mission is done will be given. The confidentiality is a must. If the mission is spread, Prime Minister Amm De and his household will be executed for treason.]
Li Amm rolled the scroll and put it inside the new bamboo container. She broke the original by forcefully opening it. Thankfully, she expected this to happen so she brought another one.
Li Amm went out while in deep thought. She totally forgot to tiptoe and be wary of her surrounding.
'Hmmmm.....if father opposed to this mission, our family will die. But can father kill Ren Shou? My future husband? Father did not expect I will be marrying Ren Shou. And this emperor...why does he not do it?! Why use Father?! He is so lazy!'
Oh....
Li amm stopped walking.
'I know! Ren Shou said father betrayed his father, who is the Emperor's brother. Tskk....I can't hear quite clearly, but I think I heard Ren Shou say that father betrayed his father.'
' 'Betrayed'. So it means that father Amm De was close to Ren Shou's father? How did he betrayed him? Geezzz....this is killing me.'
'But it meant one thing, the Emperor is afraid father will turn his back to him and change side to Ren Shou. So he made this secret decree.'
'Furthermore...'
Li Amm remembered the day when the people warmly welcomed Ren Shou and his army.
If Ren Shou died, the public might rebel or demand justice for their idol's death. Then, father will be a scapegoat and will took the blame for satisfying the public outrage. Result : Execution. Not only him, but also his household. Including me. If that happened, I will be ashamed to show my face in front of Jack and Jill. And that Old Meng might throw me again to gate of regrets! I haven't found it yet. And I haven't completed my list for this life.'
Li Amm bitterly smiled.
'So troublesome...'
She then looked to the direction of the imperial palace. She had this serious expression on her face.
Which made the two shadow guards not far away to break out on cold sweat.
'Please! She's not thinking of doing extreme things in the future right? - guard 1
'Somehow, her serious face make me afraid. Don't tell me...she is planning something? I hope it's normal'. Please let it be 'normal'. -guard 2
"Young miss Li!" Xiao Min was running towards Li Am with a scroll in her hands.
She breathed heavily and handed the scroll to Li Amm.
Li Amm took it and unrolled it.
" 27th of August, Ren Era under the rule of Emperor Ren Xiong Tin, Young Miss Li Amm of De household is invited to come to the new general, fifth prince's welcome banquet in imperial palace."
"Oh. Tomorrow. Xiao Min."
"Yes. Young miss?" Li Amm gave the scroll to Xiao Min.
"Prepare me a dress for the banquet."
"Yes, young miss."
Li Am smiled.
'No matter what. I have to finish the list. And tomorrow is a big opportunity. As for this feud, let it go to the flow.'
Li Am looked again to the direction of the imperial palace. Her eyes showed a tinge of worry.
'I wonder how father is dealing this with the emperor? I hope he still sane.'
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