The Emperor's Prisoner
Episode 43

"What are you waiting for? Quickly take them!" li Jihyun's decree made the horde of maids startled.

"Your great concubine cannot do this. You have dared to resist the orders of the emperor's majesty," said Fahrani not to lose. Li Jihyun looked towards him. The corner of his lips lifted.

"Then what's the problem? Why should I be worried? You better think about your own problems and don't take care of my problems" Li Jihyun said. "You guys quickly drag them!" his order again made the four maids approach them.

"Keep away from us! If you dare to take me I will report to the emperor's majesty" Fahrani threatened to make the four maids hesitate. They looked at each other with worry. Li Jihyun clucked.

"Whisper! Quickly take them now!" drive Li Jihyun shaking hands in the air. The four maids immediately pulled Fahrani's arm. The woman rebelled trying to break away. Making both of his arms also held and taken away from before Li Jihyun. So did Bai who was dragged away.

Li Jihyun's gaze turned to look at the crowd of maids. The head of the lady was bowed in. Their bodies were trembling in fear. "Concubine Hai saluted his highness the great concubine," Hai Rong greeted behind Li Jihyun. Just contact Li Jihyun's head. The girl smiled. Hai Rong bowed respectfully to him.

"Concubine Hai raise your head," Li Jihyun said making Hai Rong's head lift. "Am I interrupting your rest?" asked Li Jihyun kindly.

"Not your highness. I'm glad you want to visit my room" Hai Rong said. His eyes glanced at the crowd of maids behind Li Jihyun. "Your Majesty let me invite you into my room. I've prepared a hot tea and a snack for you."

Li Jihyun raised her hand making the hanfu tip cover half of the face. "Thank you for the invitation. It is with great pleasure that I visit" Li Jihyun said.

"Please your highness concubine follow me," Hai Rong took a walk first followed by Li Jihyun. Li Jihyun's head glimpsed backwards before entering Hai Rong's room. "Fen prepare warm tea for his noble concubine. Also a snack," said Hai Rong who was embraced by Fen's obedience. The dayang was as fast as lightning going towards the kitchen.

Li Jihyun watched Hai Rong's room which was quite spacious. There are many furniture arranged neat and clean. There are even many paintings on the wall. Li Jihyun's eyes stared fixedly at the landscape painting. Looks more pampering to the eyes as if they were in a painting. "Are you interested in the painting?" tanya Hai Rong shifted Li Jihyun's attention. The girl shook her head. He looked back at the painting again. The painting somehow felt familiar in his eyes. Feels like a dejavu vibe in his heart.

"Fen greets his highness the great concubine," said Fen to divert his attention. Chief Fen bowed respectfully. "Your noble concubine and concubine Hai tea and snacks are in session" he continued.

"Your highness let's enjoy the tea and snacks," Hai Rong invited Li Jihyun. The two beautiful women went away from where the painting was on display. Fen followed their steps. They headed towards the side of Hai Rong's room by the window. Tea and snacks are on the table. "Please your highness," Hai Rong said thrusting a pastry at Li Jihyun. The girl took it and ate it. Fen poured tea in both. Smelled of jasmine from the puff of tea pot smoke. Making Li Jihyun smile happily.

Li Jihyun picked up the tea glass and sipped it. "Tea and the snacks are very good," praised Li Jihyun who was greeted with a smile by Hai Rong and Fen.

"Thank you for your praise" he said, sipping tea until half was left. Then put the glass back on the table.

"I came here to thank you for your help. Thanks to you I can be free from problems" Li Jihyun said sincerely.

"No need for your majesty. It is fitting that I repay your noble kindness," Hai Rong said in another sip of his tea.

"But what ransom did you give to the emperor? Until the emperor's own majesty gives me freedom and overturns the punishment?" li Jihyun asked raising one eye eyebrow. The breath sounded. Hai Rong put the tea glass on the table.

Not in vain did I make him side with me, his mind. "Then what rewards do you offer the Xu family until they agree? Don't they hate me so much for killing his son?" said Li Jihyun gulping down the remaining tea. Hai Rong twisted the restless fingers.

"That's .." he said doubtfully. He looked at Li Jihyun who had already finished the tea. And put the glass back on the table. Fen who was standing not far from them also poured more tea into an empty glass.

"Why? Do they want me to be their dog?" terka Li Jihyun sipped some tea. Hai Rong and Fen were shocked.

Lothawat! It seems that his highness concubine already knew, Hai Rong's inner worry.

"Is that payment at their request?" li Jihyun asked again making the two people look at each other doubtfully.

"That's .. You don't misunderstand me. I don't mean to sell you to the Xu family. I did it by force, too" Hai Rong said defending himself with a paled face.

"It doesn't matter. You also did it for my own good. It is precisely I who should say thank you," Li Jihyun said with a big smile. Makes them both sigh in relief. His nature has not changed. She thinks I don't know? Huh! I'll make you regret it, Li Jihyun's inner self.

"Thank you for your understanding. I thought you'd be mad."

Does he think I'll just shut up? I will make the Xu family bow before me, Li Jihyun determined inwardly. His brain had already found an idea to deal with the Xu family. "Thank you for the meal. Excuse me first," said Li Jihyun rising from her seat. Li Jihyun stepped out of Hai Rong's room.

"Be careful on the road" Hai Rong said, standing up to take Li Jihyun away at the door. "Almost," Hai Rong muttered softly as the sound of Li Jihyun's shoe tapping away.

"Concubine Hai is it okay to let her noble concubine there?" ask Fen worried. He actually could not bear to see Li Jihyun suffer. Moreover, Li Jihyun had helped him in the past.

"That's it. Don't think about it. He knows the risks involved."

"But ..."

"Ck! Who is your employer, actually? Me or your highness the great concubine?" tanya Hai Rong cut out Fen's sentence.

"That's .. of course concubine Hai," replied Fen who was met with a big smile from Hai Rong.

"good. So stop worrying about it. He should be thanking me. Thanks to me the Xu family is willing to help her," Hai Rong said proudly.

Though only yesterday he insisted on forbidding the noble concubine from going there, Inner Fen exhaled a rough breath.