Chapter 185 - Cold to The Core

After Yang Xi Ying left the villa Lory strode away to the study room but she didn't find him than the servants told him he is in the west garden lory thanks the servants than she continues to look for him. Zhao Li Xin villa building is not as big as ninjing and Xinjing manor but the courtyard is larger than the two manors so it takes something to find him.

Lory found him play Gu Qin alone inside the pavilion she only see his back while his hair sway from the gentle wind blow and the melodious sound of music is filled the air, people said music is the reflection of the player heart a year before when she hears him play Gu Qin the music sound sharp and cold but now there's a gentleness in it sounds.

"You here" he stops playing.

Lory sits beside him than she rests her head on his shoulder while gazing to the gigantic pond in front of her "Why you stop?" she whines at him.

"So, I can hear your voice," he said calmly.

Lory blushes slightly with a happy smile plastered on her face she must admit is a good answer, she wrapped her hand on his arms "Can I go tomorrow with Yang Xi Ying?"

"Hm….." he grunts without saying yes or no.

"We want to go to Xiling, I think she wants to do something fun so I'm thinking to tag along," Lory said excitedly.

Even though Zhao Li Xin didn't saw her expression but just from her tone he could guess how excited she is but the problem is, she wanted to go to Xiling, that place is famous for young men and women to interact and know each other in short that place is place to look for companion so how could he let his future wife go to that kind of place.

"Can I go, it's tomorrow?" she pleads earnestly.

"Uhm…." His expression as placid as the pond in front of him but his brain is running thousands of miles an hour he looking any kind of plausible reason to stop her to go that place.

"Why you seem reluctant?" she looks dejected, she wants to see how Yang Xi Ying retaliated for Li Mo Zhen.

"Fine I will come with you…" he had no choice but accompany her.

Lory mouth pursed in upset "What? No, you can't!" she reject him strongly.

For someone who never been rejected before he took it hard "Why not?"

"Because I think we need to be lowkey," said Lory.

"I can't be lowkey!" he said confidently.

"Aww, sweetheart…" Lory feel bad for him, she cupped Zhao Li Xin's face with a helpless expression "You can't…."

Zhao Li Xin is someone who is excel in every field, scheming, strategist, cunning, strength, you said it he has it all but the more he spends his time with Lory he realizes theirs's a lot of things he didn't know and so many things he can't do.

"That's why you can't go and after all aren't you busy with Lao Min Na and that lake something…." Lory patted his shoulder.

"Misty lake…" he reminds her.

"Yes, that…tell me how is related with Jin Hao?" she curious about all this connection between Jin Hao, Misty lake and Lao Min Na, Lory always aware how ambitious Lao Min Na could be that woman seems obsessed with power like she needs to prove herself to the world how much her worth.

"It's a common story of a rivalry between brothers," said Zhao Li Xin indifferent "One is wanted so much but lack of talent the other didn't care but blessed with so much talent"

"Let me guess, Jin Hao is the talented one," Lory said with complacent smiles.

Zhao Li Xin stifles, Lory puts a small table between her and Zhao Li Xin than she pours wine for Zhao Li Xin seems like its gonna be a long story "Than what happened?" she shifts the wine cup in front of Zhao Li Xin.

"Even though he didn't want to become the head of Jin clan but unfortunately his talent is hard to ignore, the elders of the clan lean more with Jin Hao other then his stepbrother Jin Kai" Zhao Li Xin lift the wine cup gracefully.

Lory frowned "So he's the brother from different mother?"

I never thought someday I would seriously say this"

Zhao Li Xin halts his wine cup on the air "Their mother is Sisters" he said nonchalantly.

'Oh my God, that's so messed up…'

She can't imagine how awkward when family reunion, Zhao Li Xin didn't know why Lory look so disgust is it because polygamy he knew Lory put loyalty above all especially in a relationship. Lory didn't know is normal in polygamy practice to married sisters especially when the man has high position the Father would gladly give both of his daughters to secure his position.

"Is Jin kai is so bad?" Lory pushes her disgust behind her back.

He sips his wine than gently puts down his wine cup gently on the table "Compare to Jin Hao he quite ordinary" said Zhao Li Xin.

"Why Jin Hao didn't want to be the head of his family?" she asks confusedly.

"The same reason why I didn't want to become Emperor even if I can…..its boring" he make a snort of derision.

"So, he chooses to work for you instead" Lory tilted her head.

"I can give what his family couldn't give to him…a freedom"

Lory nod in understanding, so that's why Jin Hao become Zhao Li Xin subordinated 'Freedom' is not easy to gain especially for someone who lived in influential family like Jin clan, he controlled since the day he was born and even if he becomes the head clan of his family he would be restricted by family rule and everyone expectation and that what make Zhao Li Xin offer is precious.

"Than how about Lao Min Na? how could she relate to Jin Hao's brother? He even personally come to save her" the relationship between Lao Min Na seems close he even gives her that baby phoenix but then "Where is Zhao Yi Chen, do they still engage?" Lory was baffle with the situation, how could the third prince let his fiancée flirt with other man and why he is not there to save his consort?

"Zhao Yi Chen's condition is unwell that's why she is seeking help to the Misty lake," said Zhao Li Xin.

"Third prince is sick and the great alchemist Lao Min Na couldn't heal him?" Lory frowned suspiciously.

Zhao Li Xin smirk "For everyone knowledge Lao Min Na painstakingly looking for a cure for her beloved fiancée"

"Wait, is she give up the Empress title?" Lory flabbergasted.

"Did I told you her ambition is insatiable, maybe eventually she knew that title only restrict her real ambition" Zhao Li Xin twist the empty wine cup on his hand.

"If Zhao Yi Chen dies then Zhao Mu Fan would become the Emperor, I thought their relationship is no good so how could she switch side with him?" Lory feel a shiver down to her spine, she knew she was ambitious and calculative but she never knew Lao Min Na would be that cold.

"Is small price to pay for abetter picture and afterall Zhao Mu Fan is easy to control is not that hard to make him as puppet emperor if you have sufficient power" Zhao Li Xin sneered "Is not a bad plan though, she used Zhao Yi Chen because at that time she was weak she can't handle Zhao Mu fan and her Father at the same time, she needs to cultivate her power but cultivating needs times which she doesn't have"

"So, she used Zhao Yi Chen?" Lory feel bad for Zhao Yi Chen then she questions Zhao Li Xin again "Is she never wanted to be an Empress?"

Zhao Li Xin chuckles "Maybe at first but when her power increased so is her ambition, something look so good before become…too little and she wants more, as simple as that…"

She let out her breath in a long sigh "And now she wants Misty Lake"