"The test will be over soon," Fan Lanying stretched her body. "I will be going now. See you someday in the future. It's sad that I won't be going to the academy anymore, but I'm sure that you're going to be alright. Learn in your residence well. I hope we can meet again in the future."
'Jun Hua' nodded before walking towards the carriage and changed her appearance. Xia was standing outside and she was about to leave when Jun Min came over.
"Young Master."
"You should return first, tell grandfather that I will return late."
"Yes."
Jun Hua who was still dressed as Jun Min walked away after telling Xia that. She used her movement technique and soon left the academy. Not long after that, she arrived at the Restaurant Han Yan. The servants there had been used to her and they soon guided her to the usual room. Inside, Soujin already arrived.
"You're quick," Jun Hua said.
Soujin nodded. "You're not bad too."
"So, what do you want to discuss with me?"
"Have you ever thought about what made us try to get close to you?" Soujin took his cup. The way he drank was elegant, totally unlike a general, but instead a scholar.
Jun Hua stared at the handsome face before her. Has she ever thought about it? Yes, she did feel that it was weird. The first time they had met was in the hall and she wasn't even doing anything to purposely catch his attention. But after a while, she came to her own conclusion.
"Is it because we have the same enemy?"
Jun Hua's answer caused a momentary pause in Soujin's movements. He stared back at the pair of clear eyes in front of him. That look in his eyes was truly similar to the lady he met, especially in their calmness.
That calm gaze truly reminded him of himself and the other two. Whenever they were faced with dangerous things, their eyes will instead become calmer. The only time their eyes showed any other expression was when they were joking around and bantering with each other. At that time, their eyes had shined with warmth.
"You are really sharp."
The only time they had met before interacting was in the hall when they were meeting the emperor. Given that Jun Hua had stared at that man on the throne with cold eyes for a split second, there might be some hidden relation. The Nanglong family was neither close nor far to the emperor, at most only warm on the surface. Because of that, Jun Hua made her assumptions, but she only guessed and it still needed confirmation.
Now that Soujin had said it, she came to know that her guess was true. She wanted to know more about it, but it was likely not possible since she too doesn't want to divulge her secret. Her biggest secret was her gender which she had always hid in order to have the power to suppress the emperor since her family was a military family.
Besides, she doesn't want to use her charm to bewitch that old man. She would prefer to plant a knife in that old man's heart rather than try to charm him.
"So, it's true."
Soujin nodded. "I don't know why you hate the emperor, but from your cold eyes, I guess it's something bad."
"You hate the emperor too?"
"Partly, he once tried to suppress us," Soujin answered. His calm face didn't change at all, but the tone in his voice turned colder.
Jun Hua looked at the man before her and a strange feeling arose. Somehow, she could feel from his tone that there was more than only suppressing, but she will not ask. If he doesn't want to tell her, then she won't probe any further.
"How come the two of you came even earlier than us who used horses?" Yan peered into the room with a gloomy face.
Ming Hui pushed her brother inside. "They can use the shortcut. Don't block the way."
"So, what have you told him, Soujin?"
"The reason of our approach," Soujin answered.
Yan nodded. "Then, it must be true that you have some grudge with the emperor."
"Who among us doesn't?" Ming Hui smiled, but this smile was filled with coldness. Her usual charming and playful image had gone completely.
Soujin looked at Jun Min. "Now, what we want to ask for is your cooperation."
Jun Hua looked at the three of them. Does the emperor know that two of his children are actually plotting for his demise? She does not know what the emperor had done to incur the wrath of these three, with her as the addition. Whatever it is, she was sure that this emperor was truly awesome. Four talented people were offended by him.
"Tell me."
...
After the proposal from them and discussion for a bit, their conversation turned normal again. This time, the atmosphere was warmer than usual.
"Now that the academy has finished their test, you're going to get your bodyguard," Yan nudged Ming Hui.
Ming Hui drank her drink. She stared daggers at Yan. "You're jealous?"
"Nope, I don't like straightforward women like that," answered Yan. If he were to have a wife, he would never want to have a person whose speech was demonic too. Given that he has a playful character, he wanted the lady to be a smooth talker and most of all, pretty!
"I bet your criteria for a wife only has one word," Ming Hui jeered at her brother. "Pretty."
Yan rolled his eyes. Does she need to blurt it out so frankly? He does want the girl to be pretty and if possible, as pretty as a fairy. Speaking of a lady that pretty, he soon remembered Jun Hua, but then his eyes met with Jun Min's.
Jun Hua smiled evilly, "Don't you dare think about my sister."
"I would never!" Yan hurriedly vowed. For the sake of his life, it is better to not chase after Jun Hua. Besides, there is no one who has ever seen her real face.
"You better keep your promise."
Ming Hui nodded. "And, you are not allowed to look at my new guard."
"I'm not interested in her. Why are you protecting her so much?" Yan snorted. "Don't tell me you want her as your bride?"
"I do."
Yan almost choked on his wine while Jun Hua and Soujin sighed. Jun Hua looked towards Ming Hui. "It's good to declare your interest, but you need to return to your original appearance as a man before saying that or you will make Yan choke again."