Xiaomei and ZhangWei immediately packed up to head to the capital. ZhangWei didn't want to part ways with Xiaomei since her time remaining was unknown. Therefore, he assigned Junfeng to stay behind and watch the sect while he went with Xiaomei. A couple of his shadow guards followed him, and Haoyu also followed Xiaomei since he was assigned to be Xiaomei's shadow guard.
During their journey back to the capital, ZhangWei and Xiaomei were inside the carriage, relaxing, snacking, and chatting with each other. When ZhangWei couldn't help but ask, "So...once we reach the capital, the end is near, correct? What will happen?"
Xiaomei was slightly taken back from his question and was silent for a minute before answering, "I...I can't tell since it might change the story, but I can only say that the end is coming soon." She slowly avoided his gaze and looked down at her hands. ZhangWei then placed his hand on her hand before saying, "I'm going to miss you, my stubborn, feisty cat." Xiaomei shot him a glare and said, "Shut it. You annoying, cunning fox."
"Don't you mean MY annoying, cunning fox," he teased, rubbing his thumb against her hands.
"My? Hmm? Maybe I don't want this annoying cunning fox?" she said with a smile.
ZhangWei's eyebrows frowned before saying, "Well, too bad. This annoying, cunning fox is not letting you go."
"Is that so," she continued to tease him. His lips slowly pouted a bit before he pulled her hand to his mouth and took a bite out of irritation.
"Ah!" she was startled and tried to pull her hand away from him. "Y-you," she tried to say.
"I marked you, so you are mine now," he said. She looked at his shallow bite mark. She couldn't help but laugh.
"My my. My annoying, cunning fox has turned into a baby fox," she teased.
"This stubborn, feisty cat is learning too much from this cunning fox," he said with a smile as he lightly grabbed her chin to make her look at him.
"Of course. I learn from the best," she softly laughed. He couldn't help but fall for her smile and laugh. He leaned forward and did a light peak on her lips.
She was a little surprised by his action. "You..," she said in a loss of words.
"Pft, you always get so shy when we kiss. It's not like it's our first time," he chuckled.
"I-I know that! But...you keep doing it without a warning," she said, flustered.
"Of course. I have to kiss you as much as I can before it's too late," he teased before leaning forward. However, this time she was able to stop him.
"Too much. You already kissed me," Xiaomei resisted while trying to push him away.
"One more?" he said with his puppy eyes. She tried to resist, but he continued to stare with his puppy eyes, and she soon couldn't help but give in.
"Just one more," she said. He immediately smiled and gave an illusion of having two fox ears on his head before leaning his face to her and taking her lips.
______
They soon arrived in the capital. Xiaomei wanted to head to her residence and see LiMei and Bao first, but she knew how important it was to enter the palace and meet the Emperor. She got off the carriage with the help of ZhangWei before they both made their way to meet the Emperor.
Upon entering, they noticed that everyone had already arrived. They both bowed and greeted the Emperor.
"Huang Daiyu, please speak," the Emperor spoke.
"Emperor, it is as you have heard from the Crown Prince LiJie. The culprit who did it all was Zhou Haitao. I have witnessed it firsthand and have personally faced significant challenges because of Zhou Haitao," she reported. The Emperor listened quietly with a clenched fist, suppressing his anger towards Zhou Haitao.
"I see. You may raise," the Emperor said. He then looked at ZhangWei, "And who may this be?" he asked.
"Greetings, your majesty. I am Wang ZhangWei, the new leader of the sect descended from Emperor Zhou's people," ZhangWei answered and bowed to the Emperor.
"Ah, I see. You may raise," the Emperor said as he remained quiet for a while before continuing, "I have wronged you people as well. I may not be able to redeem my mistake, but I will leave your sect alone, and I hope you will do the same. If you require any assistance, I will be obliged to help you in any way I can, as I hope to keep the peace between us."