Lihua laid in Takeshi's arms, the pearl necklace had long been discarded as their naked bodies intertwined with each other.  Takeshi's hand has been drawing circles on her lower back for the past ten minutes.  Their love making had been passionate and fierce with words to reaffirm their feelings for one another. 

"Tell me what you're thinking?"  Takshi's tired raspy voice asked her.  

Lihua nuzzled her face between his neck and shoulders before resting her head on his chest.  

"I'm just thinking how I can accomplish cutting down Prime Minister Lei's last leg of power.  All of his beloved children are dead.  He no longer has other sources of income except his Prime Minister position.  His whole household is poisoned and they are slowly dying.  As long as he keeps fighting with Minister Zeng and they keep pulling the left party into two, Prime Minster Lei would have his position as Prime Minster threatened.  If I can find some way to support Minister Zeng in stealing the Prime Minster position away from my father, that would cause their down fall immediately.  They would no longer have any source of income and would be forced to sell the Lei Estate to survive."  Lihua said as she yawned.  

"I'll can help you with that."  Takeshi said.  "I have access to the royal palace and the court hall.  I can help send word to Minister Zeng that I support him on their stance and we can push him out of his seat of power.  Minister Zeng will then be Prime Minster Zeng and he'll owe me for the rest of his life for giving him the seat of Prime Minister."  

Lihua's head lifted up and stared at Takeshi, her heart sighed and she kissed his chest.  

"Thank you."  Lihua tells him as she lays her head back down on his chest.  

"I can think of other ways for you to thank me."  Takeshi lowly moaned as he rolled her over so he would be on top of her.  

"Rouge!"  Lihua giggled as Takeshi attacked her neck with kisses.  

"Vixen!"  Takeshi whispered by her ear before nipping them with his teeth.  

"Fiend!"  Lihua whispered back.  

"Shameless!"  Takeshi said right before he kissed her.  

Their lips touch as their bodies responded to their skin touching each other.  A fire lit within them and words soon died on their tongues.  The only thing on their mind at the moment was the person they held in their arms that night.  

---------

When Lihua woke up Takeshi was already gone for the day.  Her plans were to visit her family and Prince Haneul before they leave in a few days.  Prince Haneul's injuries have healed nicely however he decided to stay for a few more days as a precaution. 

Lihua met her family at Winter Rain Tea House and as she entered, they all talked at her at the same time before Thorin took over and lead the conversation away from his children and nepehw.  

"When will you be visiting Bido Kingdom?"  Thorin asked.  

"My business here is almost concluded.  Takeshi's helping me with it.  When that is settled, we will then make our way to Bido Kingdom.  I'll keep you posted on our timeline."  Lihua told them.  

Lihua sat next to Chiyo, with Chiyo holding onto Lihua's hand.  Her head leaning on Lihua's arms and kept quiet the whole time.  

"Is everything okay my dear girl?"  Lihua asks Chiyo.  

"It just that I'll miss you."  Chiyo said. 

"I'm here and alive.  I have the rest of my life to live with you.  And besides, did you forget that your Grandma is now younger than you!"  Lihua teased Chiyo.  

"Grandma!"  Chiyo squealed as she sat up and laughed.  She did forget that her grandma is younger than her!  Life isn't fair!  

"Didn't Grandma always tell you that Grandma has always have better luck than everyone else?"  Lihua tells them.  "That this luck is passed on to you guys as well?  With Grandma here, you're luck will be ten fold!  So don't miss Grandma so much.  Grandma is and will always be here for you.  Just send word and Grandma will make Hell King fly us over to come visit you."  

Chiyo smiled and nodded her head before leaning her head back onto Lihua's shoulder.  

"Then it's settled then?"  Thorin asked.  "I'll tell Prince Haneul that we grew close due to our life and death situation in the Phantom Mirage. That you and Hell King have been invited to Bido Kingdom as guests of Master Teacher Thorin." 

"Sound like a plan!"  Lihua tells them.  "Are you able to contact my Master, Master Du Hongmo?" 

"She has left me a way to contact her."  Thorin tells Lihua.  "Do you want to meet her?"  

"Yes.  Maybe she has some answers to my questions."  Lihua tells them.  

"I'll send word to her once you and Hell King send word to us.  Then that way, when you guys get to Bido Kingdom, Master Du Hongmo will be there as well."  

"Thank you--"  Lihua started to say but was cut off by Thorin.  

"No need to say thank you when we are family."   Thorin tells her. 

"Em.  We are family."  Lihua confirms.  

-----------

A couple of weeks after the Bido Kingdom citizens left Cara Country, Prime Minster Lei was accused of stealing from the royal treasury.  During the full investigation of the theft, Prime Minister Leo Lei was under house arrest until the investigation was completed.  While he stayed home during those days, he found himself weaker and weaker.  His hair started falling off in chunks and his skin would develop red sores, making his skin sensitive.   He thought his sudden illness was due to stress.  

Leo took money that was meant for disaster relief and put the money in his pocket.  He covered his tracks and paid off those who needed to be paid off to keep their mouths shut, so he wasn't too worried if they would talk.  Should they confess to his crimes, they would also be confessing to their crimes.  

So when the investigations turned into two weeks, he knew he something was wrong and that he was going to be caught for his crime.  Those that he called friends, no longer associated with him and didn't want to help him in any way.  He had already called in all the favors he held in his hands and now he and his family is in debt.  How he fell so far from his high perch in nobility, he didn't know nor did he understand how or when it started.  

It was if a breeze of bad luck blew his way and stayed in his home and family.  His children were all dead.  His wives are all sick.  His one son in law was getting more sick by the day.  He had no savings.  No valuables to sell.  Nothing!  The one daughter he still held hopes for living, he no longer wished to find her.  She had nothing to come back to.  No matter where she was taken to, it was a far better place to be than the Lei Clan Estate.  

Leo sighed heavily at his life and he wanted to cry.  Now he would be loosing his source of power.  The reason why he kept on fighting all these years.  The reason for him to live.  His seat as Prime Minister will be taken from him.  All because of Minister Zeng.  

If the court found him guilty, the worst case scenario would be his beheading.  The best case scenario would be to take all of his property and banish him and his family to the country side.  Resigning him to his fate, he promised to drink all the wine in his wine cellar before he would be called to court.