Sheng, I hurt your feelings and regret for not marrying you in the last life. You died in my arms and cried in tears but you have come back from the dead and avenged my death but I couldn't forget the sadness in your eyes where you held my body as your tears fell. I realize you're the person I trust the most...

Xiao Sheng was stunned to hear her word, "What did you say?" He asked and felt his heart tremble with happiness. He want to listen her words again.

"I also fell in love with you... " I said and wanted to express the word for him, "All these years, we always spend time together and I thought of you as brother but my heart told me something and realized I fell in love with you. I wanted to express my feelings for you but you're a prince and you should marry the princess from land or the woman from the noble so I kept my feelings quiet." I know Sheng has rejected the marriage from the princesses from the land in the past because of me and I thought he would be happy to marry them but he didn't.

He only wanted me to be his wife, "So that's a reason you kept a feeling from me?"

" Yes... But now I'm happy to hear that you have feelings for me all these years." I smile, "I... I wanted to say... I love you Xiao Sheng..."

The 3rd prince never felt so happy... Song Xue confesses her feelings to him with joy in his heart as he smiles. Both of them slowly embraced each other with their arms, "I love you too Song Xue." He whispered and feel her arms.

The wind blew the leaf through the garden and showed a good sign for the couple as they were being watched by Song Shun, Li Qin and Xu Jeng spying at them with joy.

"I can't believe my daughter confessed her love to the prince." He whispered with tears of joy as Li Qin nodded.

"I can't wait to see them at the wedding but Miss needs a special wedding dress for marriage... A very special wedding dress..." She whispered as her head turned to Xu Jeng. Their faces were very close as they began to blush. Song Shun looks at them as they quickly move their face.

Xu Jeng's face filled with embarrassment as he spoke, "Indeed, she needs a special wedding dress for marriage but she can find it in the famous shop." He replied, while coughing as Song Shun smirk. He remembered his beloved wife made a special dress for their wedding and she would give this dress for their child when she's older enough.

(The wedding dress)

"It's nothing to worry about... Let's leave them alone..." They nodded and left. Song Shun went to his studies, walked towards his antique box and opened it where the beautiful wedding dress was inside the box as he looked at the portrait of his wife, "Ling'er, our daughter is getting married. I wish you were here to see our child getting married." He whispered as tears fell, "I make sure she will save and become the happiest woman in the kingdom... I promised..."

Meanwhile, the royal carriage is ready to leave, "I wanted to give something for you." He pulled something out of his pocket as I recognized. The white jade bracelet, he put it on my wrist.

In my last life, someone has stolen the bracelet from my room as I was desperate to find the thief who stole it and later Li Qin has found the bracelet but it was smashed into piece. I suspect Qui Yue is behind this because she's only person who works with Qiao Lian.

"It's a very beautiful bracelet..." I said with a smile.

"Now you're mine... And one day we will be married and have children together. I always dream, having a family with you. What do you think?" He said with a smile.

"Sure, sure, sure... In this life, I, Song Xue, will only like Sheng. I will not marry anyone other than Sheng. Are you satisfied?

"Yes..." He's happy to hear.

"I will see you at the palace." I gave him a wink to tease him.

He frowned because the royal messenger came and told the prince that he needs to go back to the palace, "Ah... Yes, but I wanted to spend time together with you."

"You will have a chance to spend time with me, Sheng." I smile. He nodded and gently kissed my forehead as he moved to my ear and whispered.

"I will see you soon." He left as the carriage moved and waved at me.

In 2 weeks, I'm going to face my enemies and humiliate them. Xiao Wen... Qiao Lian... You will suffer with my wrath.

@@@@

When the 3rd prince left the Song mansion and went to the palace with the smile on his face that his childhood friend accepted the marriage proposal between him and her. Her eyes filled with happiness and joy.

"I can't believe Miss Xue has confessed her feelings for you, your majesty." Xu Jeng said as the carriage carried them and rode to the palace.

"Yes, it feels like my dream has come true. Song Xue is finally mine..." He smiles and remembers they embrace their body. He never forgot how beautiful she was in the dress and felt like he was possessed by her beauty.

Something flew inside the carriage and landed on the carriage was the pigeon with the paper attached on the leg as Xu Jeng grabbed it and unfold the paper. He read the message as his face turned grim.

"Your majesty, it's from Tao... He has returned from his mission." He said as the prince nodded, leaning on the chair as Xu Jeng read the paper, "The village has been attacked by the group of unknown bandits who came out of nowhere and murdered all the village. Women have been raped brutally and killed, children and young maidens were taken and men beaten brutally then they were hanged by the trees to death..." He stopped and felt sick as his memory flashed and he remembered his home was destroyed... His family were slaughtered to death which horrified him when he was rescued by the 3rd prince.

"Xu Jeng..." Xiao Sheng snapped at him, "I know you lost your family because the bandit but you have to be strong... I will not let my men get weak." He said in a stern voice and gave courage as Xu Jeng nodded.

"Thank you, my lord." He couldn't forget his master's courage, "During my investigation, there's only one survivor who was alive. 14 years old, a girl who had been hiding from the unknown bandits and saw everything. She told me everything as fear spoke that they are not alone... The red lotus." He spoke in a low voice as the atmosphere turned deadly.

The red lotus... The group are the most deadly mercenary people in the whole kingdom and led by the leader... Master Lu the demon mask... Rumors said he has dangerous associates who are working with him. Among them are the most dangerous criminals from the other lands and very skillful... Rapists, murders, and killers or assassins but a skillful and cunning. No one has ever defeated them, other people who tried to eliminate them all but were killed so easily.

Xiao Sheng couldn't forget his childhood life, when Song Xue was taken hostage by the red lotus. The only person who was stronger than the red lotus was Song Xue's mother, Hua Ling who desperately tried to rescue her and fought against the leader with her own strength but the demon mask used her weakness by using her daughter as shield.

Hua Ling who struggled to keep her daughter safe as she lay her weapon down which allowed the demon mask killed her with one move. Song Xue witnessed her mother's death as the leader let her live when General Song arrived with his army but it was too late, he saw his Hua Ling was dying which made his heart froze. Song Xue cried in tears and cuddled her mother as she died in her last breath.

After the funeral of Hua Ling's death, Xiao Sheng comfort Song Xue who cried in tears and later she stopped crying. Her eyes turned deadly as he never seen before, she sworn to be strongest and avenge her mother's death by killing her mother's murder.

"Did the survivor say anything?"

"Yes, she saw the children and young maidens were taken by the red lotus and use them as the slavery." Xu Jeng answered as he clenched his fist in anger, "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! ALL THE VILLAGE WERE KILLED AS THE CHILDREN WAS TAKEN BY THE RED LOTUS. NO MATTER, HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO DEFEAT THEM ARE DEAD!" He barked in anger and punched the table with his fist, "Your highness, we have to do something... We can use our men to eliminate them all."

"No..." Xiao Sheng said which surprised Xu Jeng.

"Your highness, think about your family and your people! They desperately need help!" He said as Xiao Sheng glared at him to shut him up.

He sighed and realized his commander was telling the truth but the red lotus has a dangerous ally with them, "I also wanted to eliminate them but the red lotus has the spider clan on their side which makes it difficult to defeat them all. The leader of the spider clan who is a witch. She's cunning, ruthless and disgusted that she drinks young woman's blood to keep her youth forever... She's a very powerful witch and can eliminate our men with only one move to slice them. I will not lose my men."

Xu Jeng looked down on the floor and gritted his teeth, "I understand..." Realize that they can't defeat the witch who has dark magic.

Legend says, the spider clan has dark powerful magic which has witches by their side. Her name is Shi Peipu, the dark witch who was 10000 years old and always obsessive about beauty but nobody knows what she look like?

She kidnapped young girls from their family and sucked their blood as she turned into a young woman at the age of 18 but her youth changed into ugly old woman. She needs more young maidens so she creates a slave town where they cannot be found.

Her clan has symbols of spiders on their wrist and they are more ruthless and dangerous who can kill their victims with wires to slice them apart and use poisonous spiders to kill their victims in silence.

(The spider clan symbol)

No weapon able to cut them or their weapons. They use the wires as the armors around their body to protect themselves.

No one has ever defeated them except the demon mask. He defeats Shi Peipu and offers her a deal to join forces with him. She agreed to join as they made a contract.

"If I'm corrected the witch was defeated by the legendary warrior, the crimson king. It's said that the witch's power was taken and banished in the desert by the crimson king and her warriors. Maybe her descendants can defeat her."

"True but the legend said only one person who has a power like her so she or he shall be called the warriors but it never happens in the past 10000 years." Xu Jeng nodded and only wished the legend were true.

As they arrived at the palace gate, the guards opened the gate and let the carriage go in. Eunuch Gao, waiting for the 3rd prince as the carriage stopped, Xiao Sheng stepped out as Eunuch Gao greeted him, "Greeting, your majesty."

"Greeting Eunuch Gao." Xiao Sheng greeted him back, "Where is my father, I wanted to speak with him." He smiled.

Eunuch Gao has never seen the prince smile before but realize something, "The emperor is at the royal garden with your mother, should I tell them?"

"No, I will meet them."

"As you wish, your highness." Eunuch Gao said as the prince left, "The prince seemed so happy... Xu Jeng, what happened at the Song mansion?" He asked with a curious voice.

"Miss Xue accepted to be his wife and I never saw both of them so.... Love or..."

"Romantic?" He said as Xu Jeng nodded, "May the god bless the 3rd prince's happiness."

At the royal garden where the emperor kissed passionately with a beautiful woman in the noble dress was the empress. Empress Ai is the daughter of prime minister, Zhang Ming who was the late emperor's most trusted and loyal friend after he died for saving the late emperor from the 5th prince.

(Emperor Xiao Zhan)

(Empress Ai)

The emperor, Xiao Zhan loved his beautiful empress so much and noticed the servant came, "Your mastery, the 3rd prince has come back from the Song mansion and waited at the throne room to speak with you."

"My son has arrive... Good." The emperor asked as the servant nodded with a smile.

"Yes, he seems quite happy." He answered. The empress knew her son was in love with Song Xue. She and Hua Ling were best friends but they are more like a sister when she heard about her death as her heart broke that she lost someone who is precious to her.

"Zhan, let us meet our son." She said sofly. The emperor nodded as they went to the throne room and saw their son standing.

"Greeting father and mother." He greeted them as the empress held his hands.

"My son, you don't have to greet us after all you are our child..." She smiled as he nodded.

"My son, did Song Xue accept the marriage?" The emperor asked.

"She accepted the marriage." He said as they were happy to hear, "And I want our wedding to start in 3 weeks." The empress frown and didn't like his idea as she turn the emperor.

He nodded at her, "No..." The emperor said sharply as the empress agreed which surprised Xiao Sheng.

"What did you mean no? Didn't you adore Song Xue as your daughter in law." He said in a dark tone as the empress spoke.

"Dear, your father and general Shun agree that Song Xue will marry you until she turns 18. 3 weeks is too rush for her."

"WHAT!?" Xiao Sheng exclaimed and couldn't believe this. He never thought the general would agree with his father, "Why?" He said while gritting his teeth to control his anger.

The emperor sighs and looks at his son's fierce expression, "Because Song Xue is only 17 and you have to wait for 8 months until she turns 18." The 3rd prince looked at his mother.

"Mother, did you agree with father?"

"Yes, we all agreed to wait until she turned 18." She answered.

"MOTHER!" His voice doesn't sound happy.

"Xiao Sheng, don't yell at your mother! I know you don't want others to take her but you have to wait or else I will cancel the wedding." The emperor threatens his son as Xiao Sheng clenches his fist in anger.

"Don't you threaten me, old man. I don't like when the people threaten me with their words." He sneered at him with his dark eyes as also the emperor glared back at him.

"You may be my son but I'm the emperor of the Xia kingdom... I can threaten everyone who disrespect me." The atmosphere changed into the murderous as the maids and servants felt the chill through their spine coming from the throne. Their face went paled as the ghost as soon the empress stare at them with annoying face.

"Enough!" The empress shouted as father and son stopped glaring and looked at her. She glares at them as she smiles innocently, "I don't want my family to fight against each other." She turned to Sheng, "Son, I know you wanted to marry Song Xue but she has returned home from the battle and needed to spend time with her family. You have to wait for 8 months when she turns 18."

Xiao Sheng gulped defeated and nodded, "Yes, mother..."

"And you, don't you dare threaten your son with your words. You may be an emperor but I'm also your empress." Her cold voice shivered him as he nodded nervously.

"Yes, Ai."

She smiled and left them in a cold sweat. They didn't want to anger her, she may look innocent but if you make her angry then she's became the most scary person in the Xia kingdom.