ShuîYuê was staring at herself in the mirror. She had just finished bathing and had worn her clothes, but she had pulled her clothes from the back down to apply medicine on them. 'How ugly I neglected the bruises for weeks, most of them don't hurt anymore but they'll not leave the marks on my skin so easily.' she thought as she turned her head to look in the mirror, she tried to reach it but her hand couldn't, she gritted her teeth in frustration as she tried to stretch her hand back to reach the bruises.

Ghost King walked in on her, trying to do something with her hand. As she turned around, her eyes widened. "What are you- get out!" She snapped covering herself.

"You shouldn't use your hands to apply medicine on bruises like these, use an applicator." he chided as he wiped off the medicine from her finger.

"It had medicine on it!" She sighed as she watched him discard it with a towel.

"My money vault isn't broke." he deadpanned.

"You shouldn't waste things," she said back.

"I'll call a maid to help you," he replied walking away.

"No!" she said suddenly. "Don't call anyone," she spoke shaking her head.

'Is she insecure about her bruises?' He thought before walking back to her. "You'll need help."

"I don't need anyone's help." she refused stubbornly.

"Yeah, right, like you were trying to apply the medicine with the help of your finger, which might have many germs and bacteria on it," he said.

"I washed my hands just now," she argued.

"Yeah, which is still not disinfected properly," he argued back crossing his arms.

"I don't need any help, I can do it alone." she insisted stubbornly.

He sighed. 'Stubbornness,' he thought shaking his head.

He turned her around suddenly, lowering her hanfu. "What are you doing?" She questioned panicked as she tried to cover herself.

He pushed her hand away. "I am applying medicine, nothing else."

'My moon shield is activated, why isn't it attacking him?' She thought confused. 'It injured Crown Prince badly why isn't it hitting him?' She thought as she felt his cold fingers touch her gently, shivers ran down her spine as she felt him applying the medicine with an applicator. She was holding her robes tightly so they wouldn't flash anything by mistake; he applied the medicine slowly but gently, and his other hand was holding the medicine box as he concentrated on being gentle.

'Why don't I feel disgusted like I do when the Crown Prince touches me, do I still like him? No, I never felt bad when he touched me, even when I hadn't fallen for him. Do I like his way of touching me? It never makes me feel anything bad but caring and gentle all the time.' she thought confused.

Ghost King stole a glance at her; his cheeks were dusted pink as she gripped her clothes tightly, her knuckles turning white from the grip; his eyes landed on the silver chain in her neck; he could see her face in the mirror. Her eyes were shut as her body trembled from the cold. 'I should hurry up. She's feeling cold.' he thought as he accidentally pressed a little too hard; she hissed before biting the inside of her cheek. "Sorry," he apologised before he moved to her arm, she straightened up nervously.

He quickly applied it on her arm as she was nervous and insecure about it; he could see the fading scars of a long stitch across her right arm. He washed his hand before pulling her clothes up to her shoulder, but they didn't move as she clutched them tightly. "It's done," he said softly; she opened her eyes as she locked with his in the mirror; he pulled up her robes. They covered her bare shoulders.

"T- thank you." she thanked stuttering from embarrassment.

He walked to the cupboard, opened it, and looked around for something; she tightened her clothes quickly before he came holding a warm robe, and he put it on her. "You had to suffer so much just so you could figure out if it was me who set the ghost fire or not," he stated, tying the string; she looked at him, her eyes wide before she composed her reaction.

"What nonsense." she scoffed.

"You got all these bruises from carrying logs on your shoulders, the straps of the basket leave these kinds of bruises," he remarked.

"Spouting rubbish from early morning." she sassed.

"If I am talking nonsense, then why did I find this?" he asked, waving a piece of the hair chain in front of her eyes. "In the forest two days ago; you have been here for some time now and never left your room," he added, showing her all the broken pieces.

"It's someone else's."

"Where's yours then?" He asked calmly.

"Wudu Palace," she said biting her lips.

"Lie, I found out from my informants belatedly, but still that you were sent here to find out who lit the ghost fire; you had no reaction when you saw my wife and daughter either, so it must be because you knew about it beforehand. Wind Master didn't tell you either; after she showed up as Wind Master, I kept a close eye on her; she never wrote any letters, so she couldn't tell you; who is left?" He asked tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Ah right! The maid who pretended to be mute it was you!" He added trying to sound surprised.

"Complete nonsense," she said, feigning annoyance when she was shocked to the core.

"Wondering how I knew?" He asked calmly. "That mute maid made the same bitter tea you served me at Wudu Palace from your own hands; even though it was mint lavender, she unconsciously added more lavenders, making the tea bitter; that's a first," he said, taking a step forward. "The second was when I felt care for a mere maid who kept her face covered; that's two," he said, taking another step forward.

"The third is your silver chain. It shined the same way yours does; that's three," he said with another step. "And lastly, you think I can't tell your eyes apart from someone else's?" he asked as ShuîYuê's body touched the mirror; she stared at him with an expressionless face, and he leaned his face close to hers. "Your eyes, I can differentiate them among a thousand others," he spoke, staring into her eyes.

"My eyes are ordinary dark brown ones; more than half the population has it," she stated, turning her face away.

He turned it towards him back, his hand lifting her face, thumb resting against her cheek as his hand held her head up.

"They shine a light brown colour in the sun, they twinkle with curiosity when you find something interesting, you flutter your lashes frequently, you genuinely smile when that small dimple appears right under your left eye, that tiny mole which isn't visible if I don't come this close disappears in the folds, your eyes are red from staying up late working but they are more bright when you spent your time reading a book, you think I can't tell if you have your face covered? I have always read your eyes...like an open book," he whispered, ShuîYuê stared at his left eye before pushing him away.

"I still don't believe any of your nonsense." she denied turning away from him.

"You were at Southwestern mainlands and then disappeared suddenly, but then Wind Master and you came here trying to catch that ghost boy and to find out who lit the ghost fire, worked as maids undercover, found out the truth, fought Jin, but he escaped." he summarised pulling her back.

"So Jin came begging to you asking you to save his life!" she snapped sharply.

"He, of course, recognised it was you when you fought him, and then you even stabbed his leg; he can no longer ever walk without support," he informed, his hand firmly on her waist as he pulled her closer.
She didn't say anything back as she looked down. 'Here she is feeling guilty for making him a limp.' he thought.

"Can't he be treated?" She asked looking up at him.

He smiled. "You didn't believe any of the things I told you, but you feel guilty for making him a limp when he's supposed to be dead for four years; you see him alive, figure out he's the one who lit the fire, and you care about if he can be treated or not?" He asked truly speechless.

"You ordered him to do it," she stated looking up at him.

"Yes,"

"You don't care about innocent lives?" She asked quietly.

"I made the peace treaty, one of the reasons is saving lives," he answered softly.

"Emperor won't be happy," she replied as her eyes moved around.

"Who cares about that?" He asked calmly.

"Tell me your informant's name she's very intelligent," ShuîYuê said, looking into his eyes as he looked back at her, the slight smirk from his face gone. "It's Zìrán, isn't it?" She asked carefully, Ghost King didn't say a word. "My informant is also equally smart. Your wife Chéng Jídù, her daughter isn't yours as well."

"She worked as a handmaid to Jīnyú's mother until the Emperor saw her, and then she got pregnant with XiǎoÀi; she left the palace immediately and came to you for whatever reasons I don't know; I won't ask if you fell for her or not," she said tracing his jawline. "If it was pity or lust, she's quite beautiful, honestly, but her daughter isn't your own."

"She was incredibly disturbed just hearing the Emperor's name, she had that panic attack because of the same reason, she thought Crown Prince was Jun Wu so she ran to him but she was heartbroken when it wasn't who she hoped for, she's also not looking for someone who has similar looks to the Emperor because then she would have went after Crown Prince who looks exactly like his father except for his nature." she said pushing his hand, "I won't tell about this to anyone its none of my business. I can swear to assure you your precious wife's secret remains safe, I Bài ShuîYuê swear t-"

"Shut up!" he snapped covering her mouth, as ShuîYuê raised her hand to swear. "You think you know everything by just observing others." he fumed putting her hand down as ShuîYuê bit her lips.

"I don't. I had my suspicions, but I had my informant work hard to confirm it," she said simply.

"XiǎoÀi is my daughter, she looks exactly like me and my wife." he insisted.

"Sure, she's your daughter if you say so; she's your wife if you say so, but you think I," she said, walking away. "Won't be able to tell XiǎoÀi isn't your biological child? I have raised Jīnyú for four years; his older brother is my fiancé, who I have known for four years; I have worked under their father for four years," she added, looking back at him from the window. "I won't be able to catch XiǎoÀi's behaviour and habits?"

"She's only a child, and people have similar behaviours when they are even enemies. Take you and Zìxìn, for example. Both of you hate going shopping; both have an extreme fascination for torture weapons." he countered, leaning against the wall casually.

"Of course, there are similarities in everyone, but what about her habit of wanting to cuddle when she's scared?"

"She's five,"

"What about her preference for food? Hates vegetables like Jīnyú, dips broad beans in spicy sauce, is emotionally intelligent at such a young age, worries for others first." she counted.

"I can tell a thousand similarities between you and Zìxìn," he said crossing his arms.

"She's five. You have been Ghost King for seven years already. How do you explain getting your wife pregnant? Because you are a ghost who doesn't have a heart."

"Don't try to be smart with me, Supreme Ghost Kings can retain their original body and even stay fertile after becoming ghosts if they are a powerful cultivator."

"Fine, you win," she grumbled, picking up a hand mirror. "Your eyes are the same as XiǎoÀi's."

"She's my daughter so of course,"

"Will you let me prove my theory with this one last thing?" She asked carefully.

"You couldn't prove anything by now, and I don't want to see your sad face, so I'll let you," he said cockily.

ShuîYuê smirked, 'Here he goes,' she thought. "Then please come and stand here," she spoke, pointing to the window; he walked up to her and stood next to her; she turned his shoulders towards the sun as she stood in front of him. "Look in the mirror," she said, holding it up. He sighed before looking in it; nothing special, just his face; he pushed the mirror away, irritated. "What?" She asked confused.

"What are you trying to do?" He asked drawing in the curtains.

"I was trying to prove something," she said simply.

"Say whatever stupid theory you have, all of them failed like earlier. This one's not gonna pass either," he replied, crossing his arms and leaning against the closed window.

"It's your eye," she said softly. "XiǎoÀi's are obsidian too, but they are completely black even in the shining sun; Jīnyú, the Crown Prince and the Emperor all have the same eye colour and shape."

"Mine is obsidian, too," he sighed, annoyed.

"It is, but it has a hint of red in it when you look at the sun," she remarked softly, "They burn with something intense, I don't know what it is but it's hurt you a lot, your gaze only softens up for Zìxìn, YànQīng, MíngLóng and your daughter," she added as she played with her tassel.

He looked at her. 'Why can she know me so well?' He wondered. "You never proved your theory correct." he pointed out.

"I failed; I knew I was going to," she said, looking at herself in the mirror. "But it cleared my suspicion, you shouted at me that day when I was stubborn to leave you and your wife alone, you are always careful with the way you touch others, always controlling your strength to not hurt them, you have never hurt me physically by holding my hand tightly or roughly, it's firm but it never hurts, but you lose all your calm when it comes to her," she said turning around.

"I have seen you angry, but you never raise your voice until it's extremely necessary; you shouted at me that day," she said, showing her hand up. "And you put my hand down when I was swearing; you never controlled your strength, and it's left another bruise." there was indeed a bruise there, and she pulled her sleeve down.

"I guess she's a really lucky woman, her name means envy but it's always others who are going to envy her," she stated looking back in the mirror as she untied her hair, it fell to her back like a waterfall, "I, Bài ShuîYuê, swear to keep whatever I say in this room a secret. May Heaven punish me with unbearable torture if I go back on my words," she swore quickly as Ghost King tried to reach her, but she had already sworn when he managed to reach her.

"Why do you keep on hurting yourself like this?" He asked upset.

"I am keeping your precious wife's secret, secret," she answered stiffly.

"Water Master-"

"Sorry for always bothering you. I wasted a lot of your time too, and created unnecessary problems between you and your wife. I'll apologise to her sincerely today itself, and I'll also pay for the damages and my and Yìfēi's medication and all those expenses before leaving." she smiled.

"We stayed at your palace." he slumped his shoulders heartbroken.

"You were guests; me and Yìfēi, on the other hand, broke the rules for a peace treaty as we didn't trust you and came here to spy. The Crown Prince also barged in, causing so much damage; that's why it's not the same," she responded, shaking her head. "I need to start packing my things; oh wait, I didn't bring anything; I'll send back the clothes when I reach Wudu Palace, or do you want them now?" She asked simply.

He stared at her his jaw clenched. "I'll only take back necessary clothes." she rambled taking off that warm robe that he had put on her as she shivered in the cold. "I don't have any jewellery on me. It's just my chain," she added, showing her neck chain to him.

"Yìfēi's jewellery, I'll have her take those off, and Crown Prince's clothes also I'll send back a second would you like money instead? Because surely no one would use these clothes as they have been covered in filth, we wore them so of course nobody from Hell would take them. I'll send money back. Instead; that'll be better." she said, picking up the robes from the floor and putting them back on; they were wet, but she didn't seem to mind.

He had enough; he threw the broken pieces of hair chain, which he kept safely; they were strewn on the floor. "It's fine if you want it this way!" He snapped walking up to her. "There's no need to humiliate me," he said as he pulled off those wet robes.

'He isn't seriously taking off my clothes is he?' ShuîYuê thought as she put her hand on his chest.

"I love my wife very much, and your Crown Prince loves you a lot, too," he said as he took off the last wet robe. "I'll send gifts for your wedding." he took off his robe before covering ShuîYuê with it.

"Be happy with him." he cupped her face, leaning his head against her forehead; she stared into his eye; it was over; the last straw that she thought would change his heart fired back at her; he did love his wife, she thought as tears slipped her eyes. He leaned back. "Don't ever cry because of me." he took a shaky breath wiping her face as he kissed her forehead, leaving ShuîYuê alone as she broke down.

They were leaving today; ShuîYuê had gotten ready early; she didn't want to stay here for more than a second; Yìfēi looked at Zìxìn as he walked beside her. "Zìxìn, we'll be leaving in less than twenty minutes. Is he not going to stop her?" She asked as Ghost King stood far behind watching them.

"You pretended to faint, then Witch fell sick you told him the truth, and he didn't do anything about it, then Witch fell even more sick then that annoying bitch fucked your best friend's medicines, and then she told him she wanted to leave in all this mess you guys only had one reason to stay here that was Witch but when she wants to leave what can we do?" He asked calmly.

"Is this really how it's going to be?" Yìfēi asked worried.

"I believe so,"

The Crown Prince showed up. He immediately mounted his horse as ShuîYuê sat back in the carriage. Yìfēi looked at Zìxìn one last time before leaving, "Open the gates!" a guard shouted as an arrow shot right past GuānYû's shoulder. Huá's eye went wide, and hundreds of arrows started firing at them.

Zìxìn shouted as Yìfēi stepped out of the carriage to look. "Don't come out," he shouted as an arrow went past her cheek.

ShuîYuê peeked from Yìfēi's shoulder, as arrows hit the ground. GuānYû raised his sword to protect himself, and Ghost King snapped his fingers a protection shield covered the entire Paradise Manor.

"Zìxìn order everyone back to come inside," he commanded as those who were outside rushed in.

"What's happening?" Yìfēi asked worried.

"It's that," Zìxìn realised as Ghost King pushed him back.

"We were leaving!" GuānYû shouted.

"Too bad you can't now." Zìxìn supplied.

"Why not?" Crown Prince asked confused.

"It's the forest of darkness," Zìxìn said as Yìfēi shivered in fear.

"Why would they attack suddenly?" GuānYû asked irritated.

"Don't know." Zìxìn shrugged as he walked around.

"We are leaving." Crown Prince spoke as he grabbed ShuîYuê's hand.

"Go ahead if you want to be tortured," Zìxìn warned.

Ghost Queen pushed past guards as her eyes went wide. "Why are they attacking now?" She asked her tone indicating that whatever was happening outside was scary enough that even her pretentious self shook.

"This isn't when they attack usually," Zìxìn replied unbothered.

"When will this stop?" GuānYû asked worried and impatient.

"Don't know, this arrow shower doesn't stop for days and forget about leaving to Heavens, you can't step out of our Manor itself." Zìxìn scoffed.

"We need to leave." GuānYû said to ShuîYuê.

"Your Highness, she's not well, and this is very dangerous," Yìfēi warned.

GuānYû clenched his jaw as he stormed back to his room. "Go back in everyone!" Zìxìn shouted.

It was only Yìfēi, ShuîYuê, Ghost Queen and Zìxìn who stood there waiting as Ghost King came back, his red robes dripping with blood. Chéng Jídù rushed to his side. "How many days this time?" Zìxìn asked bored.

"A week," Ghost King responded as he looked at ShuîYuê who was looking back at him.

"You heard it; you can go back to your home, bitter home, after a week." Zìxìn waved walking away.

"Let's go back in." Yìfēi urged ShuîYuê gently as she held her hand, taking ShuîYuê back with her.
________________________
A/N: I am with you guys on the confusing behaviour of the characters, I tried to change the scene various times so they'd make more sense but nothing worked so I had no choice but to put this up(the original one)

I am very sorry if the characters are acting out of character. Also, there is just one more chapter to go for this book's volume 1. I hope you'll continue to read the story. it's only getting interesting from here.

Thanks for reading!!
Bye bye

Word count: 3700