Huo Jin turned to look at her and asked her if she wanted anything. Yin Na had stood up and was fidgeting with her fingers.

Huo Jin stepped towards her and halted in front of her.

Yin Na lifted her gaze to peer into his eyes. She was a little nervous too.

"Huo Jin,

" she called his name in her soft tone.

"Hmm?

"

"I-I like you,

" Yin Na said.

"I like you, Huo Jin,

" she repeated this time with a clearer voice.

The smile from Huo Jin's lips disappeared. He had not expected this from her.

"You know that I love someone,

" Huo Jin said.

"I know. But she is no more. I think I can make a space in your heart,

" Yin Na said with a confident tone.

"Yin Na, I told you that I am not a nice man. I do not deserve to be with you or any other woman. I cannot forget Xinyue. Forgive me, if I have hurt you but this is the truth,

" Huo Jin stated and furrowed his brows together.

Huo Jin turned to leave when Yin Na grasped his wrist. She came in front of him.

"What if I make you forget her? You told me that she never returned your feelings. What if I show you what love is! Will you allow me to do that?

" She asked him.

"I know what is love. You don't need to show me. I will pretend that I never heard it,

" Huo Jin replied to her coldly, and let go of her hand from his wrist.

Yin Na's eyes filled with tears.

"Why can't you forget her? Can't you give chance to yourself?

" She queried him.

Huo Jin did not answer her questions and left the pavilion. Yin Na started to cry. She had not expected that Huo Jin would talk this coldly to her. She wiped the tears from her eyes and clutched the edge of her High waist skirt tightly.

"I cannot give up on my feelings,

" she mumbled to herself.

Huo Jin stopped outside his room and took a deep breath.

"Why?

" He muttered.

"How could she like 'a no one' like me? She knows my heart, yet she--

" he paused as saw a servant walking past him. Somewhere he felt bad too. He made General Wang's sister cry. Pinching the skin of the middle of his forehead, he walked inside the room.

Yin Na, oppositely, reached her room. Her personal servant noticed that she was a little low.

"I don't want to talk. I am a little tired, so I will sleep,

" Yin Na told her and went to the bed.

"Yes, Miss.

" The servant walked out of the room.

Yin Na closed her eyes as the tears kept flowing down her eyes. She was well aware of the fact that Huo Jin would reject her, but she did know that it would hurt her badly.

~~~~~~

Xue Yu-Yan came to the bed after removing the headgear and the jewelry.

"Brother Sheng has solved the matter. His spy had informed him about this incident. So, you do not need to worry anymore,

" Jian Guozhi informed her as he removed the overcoat and handed it to the maidservant.

"Leave,

" he ordered her.

"Really? Did His Majesty not get angry at me?

" She asked. Jian Guozhi came to the bed and sat down.

"He said that he will punish you. But don't worry. I won't let you get punished,

" Jian Guozhi told her and grasped her both hands in his.

"I will accept the punishment, Jian Ge. I think the Emperor has already forgiven me numerous times. So, if by getting punished, I can reduce the burden of my sins, then I will do that,

" Xue Yu-Yan stated.

"Then, I should also lessen the burden from my head of the sins that I have committed,

" Jian Guozhi pronounced and brought Xue Yu-Yan's right hand near his lips. He planted a kiss on the back of her palm and put it down.

"Xue, you were looking beautiful today,

" Jian Guozhi told her and his compliment made her blush.

"The entire evening at the pavilion was hard for me to keep away eyes from you,

" He said and grinned.

"Jian Ge is acting strange,

" Xue Yu-Yan said and lowered her gaze. A hue of red was visible on her cheeks.

"I am telling the truth,

" Jian Guozhi replied and tucked her hair strands behind her ear. He grazed her left cheek from the back of his index finger and then traced her lips with his thumb. Xue Yu-Yan gripped the fabric of her dress and looked into his eyes.

Jian Guozhi leaned down and kissed her lips. Xue Yu-Yan took a deep breath as her lips quivered. He again kissed them, gently and placed his hand on her side face while his other hand moved behind her back. He drew her closer to him, closing the distance between them.

Xue Yu-Yan let him delve his tongue inside her mouth. Their tongues tangled with each other. Xue Yu-Yan locked her hands around his neck and leaned backward on the mattress. They did not break the kiss while doing so.

They both withdrew from the kiss, gasping for the air. Jian Guozhi's hands were now on the knot of Xue Yu-Yan's dress. Opening the knot, he yanked the upper jacket away and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

He showered kisses on her neck and shoulder. He nipped the skin near her collarbone, thus yearning a moan from her. Xue Yu-Yan pulled him up by placing her hands on his nape. They again kissed. This time it was an intense one.

"Xue,

" Jian Guozhi whispered her name as they again pulled away. He kissed her cheek, her jaw, her ear while she giggled.

He kissed her nose tip and she giggled again. They nuzzled their noses. Jian Guozhi laid beside her and outstretched his arm. Xue Yu-Yan rested her head on his arm and placed her hand on his chest.. Jian Guozhi had pulled the blanket up, thus covering them from it.