Lu shi was nervous as Zhao Ming forgot to greet him first. It was the basic curtsey to greet the Emperor but she forgot that step.

Now she could only hope that Ji Cheng won't notice this.

She slightly sighed.

And as she wanted, Ji Cheng didn't bother with the greetings. He was already in daze seeing her in front of him. He was slightly embarrassed when Zhao Ming said that she was not cold. Because by then he also realized that stupid he was.

' Who will feel cold in summer?'

In embarrassment, he coughed tightly. He then looked at Zhao Ming and a crease appeared on his forehead.

Suddenly his expressions became dark. He wanted to say something but held his words back.

Seeing the sudden change in his expression both Lu shi and Zhao Ming looked at each other. They were confused about why he became like this out of the blue.

He looked at Zhao Ming and said in a distant tone, " Are you ready? Can we go now?" he asked with a cold expression on his face.

Zhao Ming blinked her eyes. She cannot decipher what this man was thinking.

She looked at him and unable to hold her curiosity, she said outright, " Your highness, is there something bothering you?"

Hearing Zhao Ming's question he looked at her and sighed, " Ahem, Nothing. I.. It was just that this dress looks good on you." he said while avoiding eye contact with her.

Zhao Ming felt that he was behaving weirdly. Why was he avoiding her gaze. Then she looked down on her dress and remembered that he also sent a dress earlier.

And he must have noticed that she was not wearing the dress he has gifted her. Thinking this she started to feel a headache.

She completely forgot about him. She didn't even prepare any excuse to give him. She forgot that she has to convince him also.

She looked at him with her awkward smile and said, " Ahem. This dress is nothing in comparison to the dress that you sent. It just a normal piece of clothing whereas what you sent was the real art." she tried to flatter him.

He raised his eyebrows at her words. He was indeed wondering why she didn't wear the dress.

' Does she not like the dress that he sent?' he was wondering about it. But cannot say it loud. He doesn't want to look petty just because she didn't wear the dress.

When Zhao Ming praised the dress he sent, his mood got better. He looked at her and asked casually, " Then why didn't you wear that dress? That dress is specially made for you." he said the words that he wanted to ask.

But he was worried about her reply. He doesn't want to create more misunderstandings between them.

And after Zhao Ming woke up from the coma, she changed a lot. But he was also worried as she became more aloof from him.

Zhao Ming looked at him and tried to come with an answer. Suddenly an idea came into her mind.

She looked at him and said, " Your highness. How could I wear such a dress at Mother's Banquet. That dress was so beautiful and if I would have worn it, then everyone's attention will be on me."

"And today's Banquet is for Mother. It's her birthday. And it's not good for me to wear such an extravagant dress at this event. So I chose this simple dress." she relaxed seeing hearing her words his mood has lightened.

And before he could say anything, she hurriedly explained," I have asked Lu shi to keep the dress with care. I will wear it on a later occasion when I see fit. It's such a beautiful dress, I can't just possibly reject your kindness." she said with a smile.

Ji Cheng looked at her and smiled.

After seeing that he was happy with her answer, she heaved a sigh of relief.

' I have to keep a good relationship with this Emperor. I don't want to die one more time.' she thought inwardly.

Then Ji Cheng looked at Zhao Ming and said, " let's go. The Banquet has already started. Everyone is waiting for us." he said with a smile, gesturing her to show the way.

Zhao Ming nodded and held on his arm to climb down from the stairs. She was wearing a long robe, and she was not wearing any heels either.

If she climbed down herself then she would fall and embarrass herself.

And it was normal for her in modern times. In the past, she held on Liwei whenever they went outside.

Though he does not like this, but he was a gentleman, he knows that it will be tough for her to walk down the stairs alone and that too in heels.

It was a way of curtesy.

She thought that it was normal to hold hands and moreover he was Zhao Ming's husband. He must have done more than holding her hands, then this must be okay.

As she held his hand and ready to move, but the other person was stood frozen on the same spot.

Just as Zhao Ming held his hand, he froze right away. In ancient times, it was not appropriate for women to touch the man in open even if he was her husband.

But here she held like nothing happened. But it was a great deal for him. All the guards, Feng Ju and even Lu shi was shocked.

Ji Cheng stared at Zhao Ming without saying anything, he does not know what to say.

Because he doesn't hate this kind of skinship. Instead, he loved it. As the Emperor, he never experienced the feeling of Love.

But now Zhao Ming or say Xie Ming was making his heart flutter. His ears became all red.

Seeing the reaction of Ji Cheng, Zhao Ming felt awkward. She looked at Lu shi to know if she has done something wrong.

Lu shi pointed at the hand that she held with her eyes. Zhao Ming looked at the hand that she held and furrowed her brows.

She thought, ' These people are so weird. Is holding hands, such a big deal?'.

Then she looked at the few stairs, which looked like climbing down the mountain in this dress without heels. The dress was quite long and will disrupt walking by getting into her steps. And there were no heels either which will help to manage the dress.

She took a deep breath and unwillingly loosened her grip on his hand.

She said apologetically, " Ahem, I am sor.." before she could complete her words, her words were cut in between by his next action.