Zhao Ming put a light pink tint on her lips that she made herself and checked herself one last time in the mirror before leaving the chamber.

Followed by Lu shi, when she reached the entrance of the palace, she looked at the guards who were guarding the place without letting anyone come inside without checking their identity.

She frowned seeing the heavy security around the palace. They usually had tight security but today it looked more than that.

Zhao Ming covered her face with the garment that she was using to hide her face. She looked around at the people checking everyone person who was coming in and out of the palace.

" Your Majesty, I think we should forget the idea of leaving the palace. You don't have permission from his Majesty and it will be difficult to leave the palace like this," she said worriedly.

Zhao Ming crossed her hands around her chest and chuckled. " Do you think these minions can stop me from leaving? I am the Empress of Ji Dynasty, I also want to see how they can stop me," she smirked after announcing to Lu shi.

Lu shi who was staring at her in worry wondered why she was acting so daring and rebellious these days.

She sighed weakly and followed Zhao Ming who removed her cloth that she was using earlier to cover herself and confidently walked towards the guards.

The guards who were guarding the palace gates frowned seeing the two women walking towards the gates. They looked at each other and wondered if they had any orders to allow the women from the palace to go outside.

However, when Zhao Ming came closer to them, their eyes widened seeing the Empress walking towards them. They immediately bowed and lowered their eyes, " Your Majesty!!"

Zhao Ming stopped in her steps seeing the guards bowing to her. She pursed her lips and nodded in response to their greeting and tried to casually walk out of the palace. She kept a mild smile on her lips while making her way out but one of the guards stopped her with her hand and said, " Your Majesty, Pardon me for being rude but you can't go out."

" We don't have any orders from His Majesty to let you go out." He said politely while staying in a bowing position.

Zhao Ming frowned and gritted her teeth before saying, " Why would I need anyone's permission to go out of the palace? I am the Empress of Ji Dynasty. Do you think that you have the power to stop me from leaving?" she said sternly making the guard bite his lips in nervousness.

" Your Majesty, We can't let you out without His Majesty's permission. Please return to the palace." The other guard said that made her frown.

Zhao Ming took a deep breath and scoffed seeing them acting meanie towards her. She hated this feeling the most. She was the Empress, yet she can't do anything herself and need Ji Cheng's permission to go anywhere.

This is not a palace but a pretty prison.

She stepped back and stood in the corner, looking at the guards in anger. She was so near to go out but they stopped her. Previously whenever she went out, she was with Ji Cheng and they never managed to stop her. However, it was her first time going by herself and now she realized that she doesn't have the freedom to do whatever she wants to do.

She scoffed as she for granted the hypocrisy of these people. The position of Empress is so high and on top yet she can't do anything without the Emperor's permission. What's the reason for being in the highest position then?

-

She stood on the side for an hour almost and watched the guards from afar, making them uncomfortable.

Her eyes lit up when a horse carriage stopped in front of the gate. The guards opened the gates wide to let the carriage enter the palace, opening an opportunity for her as well.

Her lips curled up as she pulled Lu shi with her, and looked at guards who were checking the carriage and were checking the contents in their luggage, which gave them time to leave the palace sneakily.

-

" Hooo!! Finally!" Zhao Ming sighed in relief as she finally managed to escape the palace with Lu shi following her.

" Why are there so many rules at the palace? We almost missed today's outing." Zhao Ming said while looking at the people walking past her. It's been a long time for her to see so many people and watching them interact with each other.

She pursed her lips as the last time she came out of the palace was with Ji Cheng only. Now she was here with Lu shi only.

" Lu shi, let's go there. Seems like they are selling the sweet buns. I want to try that." Zhao Ming pulled Lu shi to one of the stalls to try the items there.

-

Ji Cheng was sitting in the chamber and was listening to Wen Ru's trade report when Feng Ju asked for his permission.

He frowned and looked at him in disappointment, " Feng Ju, you're here to interrupt me again? What is it this time?" he waited for him to handover some strange note again.

Feng Ju hesitated and said, " It's about Her Majesty."

" What about her?" Ji Cheng eyes him.

" A guard from the entrance gates came to me just now. They told me that Her Majesty was trying to leave the palace without permission and when they did not allow her, she sneakily went out seeing the guards busy, checking the carriage. "

" They also told me that she did not have any guards with her. Only her maid Lu shi has followed her. They tried to find her but couldn't find out where she left." he said while looking down, not daring to see Ji Cheng's expressions.

Ji Cheng's expressions darkened upon hearing his words. She went out without his permission?

" What? She went without any guards? What were they doing when she left the palace? How can they be so lousy letting her out of the palace so easily? Feng Ju, is this how you're taking care of the palace's security?" Ji Cheng shouted, startling Wen Ru.

" Your Majesty, calm down. Everything will be fine. I am sure Her Highness would not have gone much far. She will soon come back, don't worry." Wen Ru tried to handle the situation.

[ Read this novel only on W e b n o v e l . c o m ( remove spaces). If you are reading this elsewhere, other than w e b n o v e l then this novel has been stolen. Support the original author by reading it on w e b n o v e l, not the thieves, and get the latest updates. Follow the author on Instagram for more: kamlyn_love. Regards Kamlyn]