"So where do we go,Young lady?"

Zhi Rui looked up at Julius beside her."You take me on to show me the city and the first thing you do is ask where I want to go?"

"Julius sweated a little "I-I'm sorry H-how about the square near the church the slums it has a great fountain." Julius frowned internally he expected she would be the stubborn type as her lifestyle until now was so rigid, but he did not expect such assertive person.

Zhi Rui observed his twitching eyes 'Aman who get a lot of women learn to keep his emotions together, but spoiled as this prince is; his bottom line must be pretty easy to hit.

Taking a deep breath Zhi Rui's shoulders drooped a little and she sighed looking at the people around.

Julius looked at the people unconscious in the alley and remembered her fervor and disappointment for the light sect.

"It's sad, isn't it? the people suffering here. It makes you wonder if there's really a god."

Zhi Rui turned to him with vicious look on her eyes

"The light god is very real, your very existence is due to him, don't ever doubt god beside me again!

Julius took a step back, glad he had baited her, he retorted

"But it's true I mean look at the people lying around, all homeless all victims of some tragedy."

Zhi Rui looked up " the light saves, only people hurt each other. look at that person for example " Zhi Rui stopped to point a young man unconscious under the shade of a tree

"look at his teeth they are obviously marks caused by drugs, they are baited then hooked it's their fault for getting baited, but once hooked they don't have ways to come back from it again. can you say that's gods fault too? these are obvious doing of greedy nobles to gain their gold acost the people's suffering!"

"L-lady Zhi Rui you shouldn't say this kind of thing out loud, people might start talking. besides, these drugs are made by renegade alchemists"

"Alchemists? They live exalted lives at sects around the world, how come they are making drugs for mortals? They have pledged a pact to not interfere with mortals."

Julius looked at her in wonder, 'Is it possible for someone to know so little about the world?'

"Renegade Alchemists, they are the bottom of the food chain they are rejects of sects and alchemists organizations they kind of formed an a group, they gather their scarce knowledge and abilities to create these vile pallets, with this they gain status and crystals, it's not enough to gain real power but most of them are at a level one and the successful are around level two and three in cultivation."

"But can you deny, that the ones protecting and allowing these animals here are not the nobles and the powerful?!

you're the prince for god sake, have you no awareness of your own country?!"

Julius felt his eyebrow twich.

Zhi Rui face turned serious, "If I had your power I'de already have changed things."

Julius dejectedly spoke. "I tried to help people too, I just couldn't"

Zhi Rui looked this eyes and spoke through clenched teeth "You want to help? if so why I only heard rumors of prince Julius'sstories with women instead of actually helping someone? you know what prince? I'm done for today!"

Zhi Rui brusquely walked to the servants that silently followed her through the walk.

prince Julius looked at the blonde knight behind him and gave her a little smile

"I knew this one was gonna be a challenge" he spoke.

"Why did you trigger her though, also why did you took it and did not retort? I never saw you showing weakness to get a woman before."

Julius shook his head looking at Zhi Rui's back "she's different from others Shizu, she's passionate and has principles she won't compromise. I can't conquer her on one date alone, first I have to plant myself on her head, to make her think about me."

Shizu looked at Zhi Rui walking away and turned back to the prince's look.

She understands this was all just an act from Julius, and as far as objective goes they he reached them the girl is being led by him.

But the feeling she still got in her gut does not match the facts.

-------------------

Getting off the carriage Zhi Rui saw lady Xue, the woman who raised the old Zhi Rui waiting in the front gates.

With a small smile she embraced the woman, lady Xue was flustered.

With a sobbing voice, Zhi Rui spoke

"Aunt, I'm sorry I should have gone to the funeral with you, it's just, I couldn't; it was too hard for me."

Lady Xue took a deep breath and hugged her tightly, "It's alright young miss, it's alright, We can talk later the General wants to see you as soon as possible."

'the General?' Zhi Rui thought,

Leting go of the woman, Zhi Rui trembly nodded her head and went to the main quarters.

The little servant boy saw everything from far away he looked at the emotional Xue.

He felt his chest tighten a little and his eyes got red. lady Xue turned and sighted him, he was surprised and turned to run

lady Xue looked at him go, 'isn't he the boy who warned us of the fire, the day Arthur was assassinated?' she stared at where the boy was.

"He must feel guilty I'm gonna talk to him later, poor boy."

---------------------

"Dear father, what matter brings me here?" Zhi Rui entered smiling like a fox

Cheng Feng lift his head from the table and saw her entering

the corner of his mouth went up.

"Daring are we? stealing from the prince, walking around the city loudly questioning the nobles and the way this country is ruled. As if there was no consequence on this world."

Zhi Rui smiled "whatever I did have the family's interest in mind."

Cheng Feng laughed "You don't need to tell me that, after all without this family, you're just a woman with no one to protect you.

It doesn't matter how many brothels you buy under your brother's name, you won't be rich enough to become independent. so, let's make a deal. you do me some favors. In exchange, I'll get you cultivation resources."

Zhi Rui examined the man she sat down across from him and reached for the teapot pot and slowly filled her cup. as the vapor of the tea reached her nostril she thought

'He knows I'm approaching prince Julius, and he has a connection with crown prince Robert. ...He wants to use me to manipulate young prince Julius. but for what end?

Bring him on Robert's side, dig information out of him or just plainly kill him? Whatever it is I can't refuse this, he must be afraid I'm gonna do the extreme and make both sides lose; so he came with this calm 'deal' approach, this calm is also a facade, the nobles might be talking about the general letting his daughter run her mouth in public at this very moment. and there's also the prince issue that he must've to take the blame, what kind of general put blame on his daughter?'

Suddenly it came to her mind "He must be using my relations with Julius as compensation to the crown prince."

She put her teacup down.

"Good, I was in need of some things, how about this. As you said I questioned the high class of the empire in public this morning, and if you do not give me some kind of punishment it'll look bad.

so I'll take this week to be on my room again as punishment.

Zhi Rui got up walked to the door and turned to look at her father.

"As for favors, I'm in need of cores and beast meat. The most basic will do.

Then I'll hear what favor I can do for father."

She opened the door and went away.

General Feng stood rooted, it went half as he planned but he definitely did not lead her into it; rather, it was like she knew what to say before entering the room.'I'm still underestimating her.'

He knew it, he understood it, he cannot forcefully control her so he has to negotiate, but the feeling of being in such position make his stomach turn

He looked intensely at the door. A rank four general of a three-nation empire cannot control his daughter. The thought of it makes his blood boil in rage, but excitement filled his heart to know his daughter is a beast like him. Feeling the conflict within, he sighed.

"Children, these days are so difficult."