ETERNAL LOVE : A LOVE STORY

Ji Cheng was resting in his tent after his morning training where he needed to supervise the soldier's training and also warm up his body since it's been a long time since he has last picked up the sword. 

He looked at the breakfast prepared by Feng Ju and sighed softly. There were fruits and tea that he had prepared for him. However, seeing the one portion in the breakfast, he started to feel Zhao Ming's absence even more. 

His lips curled into a smile seeing the fruits in front of him when he remembered the time when Zhao Ming had recently woken up from the state of unconsciousness after coming into this world. 

One day when he visited her chamber, he saw her lying on the bed on her side, with her hand under her head for support, and had her eyes closed. 

As she was enjoying her time, Lu shi stood beside her and fed her grapes piece by piece while the other two maids fanned her with the handmade fan. 

The expressions that she was wearing that day were something that he can never forget. There was a satisfactory smile on her face, making her appear even more charming and beautiful. 

At that time he was surprised to witness this scene since Zhao Ming that he used to know will never act like this, however, thinking about it now, he couldn't help but chuckle. 

She knows how to enjoy her life to the fullest in every situation. Even after waking up in a different world which is opposite to where she grew up, she manages to find her place. 

' I wonder if she had breakfast.' A sad smile replaced the smile on his face as he remembered her pale face when he last saw her before leaving the palace. He wants to know how she is doing but there is no way to find out about it when he is so far away. 

" Only if we had the machine 'phone' with us, we wouldn't have missed each other this much." He sighed upon thinking about the phone that he had seen in the other world which allows people to talk to each other, even if they are far away. 

Just as he was thinking about her, Feng Ju entered the tent and greeted him before saying, " King Xiao Ruogang has requested to see Your Majesty. His carriage is waiting at the border, to enter into the territory to meet his Majesty. If you allow, I will let his carriage pass by the security checkpoints."

Ji Cheng raised his brows upon hearing this news as he was not expecting Xiao Ruogang to come and see him this early. He must have received his message yesterday only and he is here already? Impressive!

" Let him come. Also, make the preparations for his welcome," he smirked upon thinking about the gift that he has planned for him. Feng Ju understood and said before leaving, " Yes. I'll get on it."

-

Ji Cheng stared at Xiao Ruogang who was sitting in front of him while wearing dark expressions. 

" Why aren't you taking anything? I have prepared all of this for your welcome." He smiled at him and gestured to him to try the freshly brewed tea and snacks that he has got prepared for him. 

" I would have arranged something better for you if we have met at the palace but it's a shame that we're meeting in this situation." He commented with a disappointed smile. 

Xiao Ruogang pursed his lips and stared at him coldly before saying, " Do you think I came here to have tea with my daughter's murderer? I just want to know what you said in your message."

" What do you want to talk about my daughter?" He asks indifferently. 

He came here to meet him only because of his message in which it was written, [ If you want to know the truth behind your daughter's death, then come and meet me.]

There was nothing else written except this. At first, he was not planning to visit him but he couldn't help but think that there might be something else that he doesn't know. That's why he came to meet him in his territory despite this tense situation. 

Ji Cheng's lips curled upwards as he made himself comfortable by supporting his back against the chair and picked up his teacup and said before sipping on it, " I can't believe that you waged a war on us before doing all the search. You're doing this to get revenge on me but do you know why your daughter was punished?"

" She not only spread rumors about the Empress of Ji Dynasty with a mere bodyguard and tried to ruin the honor of the sacred Empress crown, but almost killed her by poisoning her and pushing her into the pond." His expressions darkened as he started to mention all the deeds done by Xiao Li. 

Xiao Ruogang's lips twitched when he heard all of this. He has heard these rumors but he believed in them. How can his princess do something disgraceful? And why would she? She is the Princess of L country, why would she go to such lengths to ruin her character? 

" Ji Cheng, don't be ridiculous. Stop ruining my daughter's reputation. I know she cannot do something like this, don't try to justify your heinous acts by making such accusations." He clenched his fists as he growled at him.

Ji Cheng nodded and didn't say anything seeing how reluctant he was to admit Xiao Li's wrong deeds. 

" Do you know she even tried to poison Empress Dowager just to put its blame on Zhao Ming. But the plan failed and Zhao Ming's father died because of this false accusation. She has done so many wrong deeds which could have led to serious consequences."

" If we had gone by the protocols, she would have been immediately stripped from her position as the Consort and would have been publicly executed. However, to hold the reputation of the royal family and you, I only sent her to the Cold Palace. It's better than public execution, isn't it?" he said, making Xiao Ruogang fume in anger even more. 

" JI CHENG!! Is this why you called me here? To insult my daughter who is already dead? Do you think I will back out from the war if you say this and try to justify your actions? Never!!"

" I will never forget what you did to my daughter. To get my revenge, I will kill the whole royal family and snatch the power from you. The Ji Dynasty, I will remove its name from the history of this place." Xiao Ruogang gritted his teeth as he looked into his eyes with 

hatred. 

Ji Cheng was surprised at first upon hearing his words but after a moment of silence, he leaned forward and looked at him with a smirk, " And what if I tell you, your daughter is not dead?"

  Will you still go ahead and destroy the Ji Empire? If yes, then go ahead and kill me. This way you will never be able to find your daughter, she is already dead in your eyes anyway." he shrugged his shoulders and leaned back to find a comfortable position and left him standing there, dumbfounded. 

Xiao Ruogang's expressions turned pale when he heard his words, " What...what did you say?"