The Ageless Dream

3.2 Second Rank Minister Li (10)

"Miss Hua is fine. Just a minor injury. She does not need any medical prescription." the old doctor said after diagnosing Dong Li Hua. He left the room and only she and Li Si are alone.

"In truth, I have doubts that is what happened in the palace." Li Si spoke up, gazing outside.

"Thank you." Dong Li Hua stared at Li Si, she found comfort since he resembled Dong Chun Wu. "Scholar Li is a smart man anyway. Its understandable to doubt a powerful minister." bitterly smiling, she ignored his hints of asking information from what truly happened.

"Heh." he let out a short laugh. "That white jade earring suits you."

His comment made Dong Li Hua give up. She cant hide anything to such observant person anyway. Li Si does deserve to be one of the three or two most important figures in Chinese history. "His Majesty gave it." she admitted, covering her face with the quilt before turning her back against him.

"Were the rumors true?"

"Hmph! Excessive exaggeration, as a wise scholar, you should know better." Dong Li Hua lowered the quilt, glaring towards the wall but hearing silence from Li Si, she recalled she owed him her life.

"Indeed. Half a lie and half the truth are still a whole illusion." Li Si closed an open window. The winter solstice is overbearing, he had an unexpected guest and its his duty to keep her safe.

"Hey." she suddenly called out, sitting upright on the bed while staring at Li Si's back. He was turning the brazier on before standing up and gazing back on Dong Li Hua. "Actually, Lü Buwei lied this morning. Its just that... If I were to be honest, you will get implicated and there's a chance Lü Buwei will get rid of us."

"Miss Hua can trust me." he faintly smiled. In truth, the reason why he can enter the imperial cabinet is because of Ying Zheng. The thirteen-year-old boy saw his potential and secretly contacted Li Si to cooperate with him. Though Dong Li Hua is Ying Zheng's personal maid like what commoner often spoke of, Li Si is wary around her since her background is still a mystery. Who knows if she is a spy sent by other states or officials of Qin, he needs to hold back some information then?

"What if you get into trouble? Lü Buwei is not a simple man." Dong Li Hua must have missed her family that is starting to worry for Li Si, regarding him as her older brother. Her emotions written on her face that Li Si can easily read her thoughts. He remained silent, stubborn to hear what is really happening. "If you die, its wont be my fault but if I die, that's your fault!"

"No one's going to die. His Majesty treasured you so you'd surely be more safer than me." he shrugged his shoulder, turning sideways to hide his amusement.

"Those were gossips, alright?" Dong Li Hua harrumphed. "Anyway, this is what truly happened. Lü Buwei and Queen Dowager are in cahoots. She and your 'Marquis Wenxin' wants to control His Majesty since he is still young. The two are also... They are in a liaison relationship."

"Well  I had suspected this before. The Queen Dowager is originally Lü Buwei's concubine. King Zhuangxiang trusted Lü Buwei too much since he is one of the late king's greatest supporter." Li Si lifted his head and met Dong Li Hua's gaze. She silently clutched her chest, seeing a cold light flash across his eyes. "Miss Hua, have you not thought of this thoroughly? I accepted you from Lü Buwei which means I am now part of his faction. You trusty my words that much?"

Dong Li Hua was caught off guard. She should have recalled why she ended up under Li Si's authority. "Don't take it seriously. Im just jesting." his words stunned Dong Li Hua, knowing he had fooled her to have clues about her origin.

"His Majesty cared for you this way, huh. Silk woven clothes, even aristocrats can only afford handkerchiefs. White jade earrings are more valuable than green or pink jades."

"I get it, stop." she sighed. "His Majesty gave it to me but I didn't wish for it. My origin may be obscure but I am not a spy nor will I harm His Majesty." Dong Li Hua glanced at her wrist, she didn't expect there would be a day she will place great importance to that bracelet! Its her only way she can return to her real home and without it, she will get stuck here forever.

"Returning to His Majesty's side is possible but it'll be difficult." Li Si read her thoughts. He studied under Xunzi and discerning other people's temperament in one glance is easy. What's more if its Dong Li Hua who is writing her emotions over her face?

"You'll help?" Dong Li Hua's eyes brightened. Seeing him nod, she almost got ecstatic. Going back to the palace is a must since she hadn't inspected the pond where she was found a month ago. She hoped that bracelet is still there.

"Mn." Li Si stood at the open door, holding the doorframe before turning his head sideways but his dark lustrous hair covered his expression. "His Majesty is already a teenager. Besides, living in such family full of schemes and treachery, its not impossible for him to mature in a very young age."

"Hm?" she furrowed her brows, not understanding why he brought out a topic like that. "You mean to say..."

"Not getting it?" he faintly smiled then faced her. "King Zheng is aware of very individual's thought with just one interaction. If you were to have an ulterior motive against him, His Majesty can easily get rid of you."