I don't know how long I've fell asleep, but when I woke up the room was filled with lanterns shining around. Unable to move, my eyes scans the room for my maids. Realization came; A'Li must have left to go meet the maid who claimed to know about the poison. I automatically got up as I grunt in pain. Suddenly, at the same time my maids from outside my room rushes in with worried expressions at the noise I've made.

"Crown Princess" a few of them stopped at the front while two higher ranked maids approached to help me lay back down.

"Where's A'Li?" I ask, refused their help and sat up completely while one of the maid fetches my robe.

"She's on errands outside of the palace" one of them answers as the other wraps the robe around me from my thin undergarment.

"How long has she been out?" I ask, standing up.

"Crown Princess should rest" they both said, tried to make me sit but I continued to refuse.

"If you girls keep trying to make me sit, I swear I'll punish you" I threatened as they all stepped back from me, "Now, how long has A'Li been out?" I repeated.

"She's been gone ever since the sunset" one of the maids answered.

My cringed face with concern glances to the windows to gaze at the moonlight shining down brightly upon my face; I sigh apprehensively and crumbles downward when I tried to walk.

"Crown Princess!" All the maids dashes forward reaching their arms for me.

"Stay away!" I demanded, "Anyone who tries to stop me will be punished" I threatened again as I stood up with complications while the maids paved ways for me to pass by.

Falling down a couple of times, I still forced myself to walk out of my bedroom. I sensed something terrible like A'Li is in trouble. I couldn't maintain being calm if I know she's in danger and risked herself to find out the truth behind the poison incident. Plus, in her condition she wouldn't be able to fight off any enemies who approaches her. I swung the doors open as a gush of chilly wind blew past me while hissing into my ears. The wind tonight appeared fierce and powerful as if trying to defend itself; I stepped out and fell again at the doorstep.

"Crown Princess!" All the maids dash to me again and stopped when noticed Crown Prince Yan's appearance.

"Greetings, Crown Prince Yan" they all bowed.

"What are you doing?" He asks me, standing in front of me as I sat on the ground weak and helpless while wearing thin clothing on such a breezy night. I ignored him and pushed myself off the ground. Halfway through, I lost my balance as he immediately grasp my arm to keep me from falling. I stare and shoved him away from me while maintaining my stance.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asks, blocking my way.

"I don't need to tell you" I rudely answered.

"Sneaking off to see the drunk man?" he referring to the incident in the e house.

I scoff, "Get lost" I said as I pushed him away.

He automatically lifts me up and brought me back to my bed as I pound powerless against his chest to let me down.

"Yan Shen Qing!" I raised my voice as he plants me down on the bed and blocked my way of escaping.

"You're not going anywhere" he orders, glared at me intensely.

I heave breathlessly and realize how improper I'm dressed at the moment. He signals his hand to dismiss the maids. They left us alone as they close the door on their way out. He angles his head back to me as I grasp my robe to hide my bare upper chest since I was only wearing my white undergarment robe. He stares at me again while I lowered my eyes unable to look at him.

"You seemed to have a lot of energy to be able to move out of your bed already" he sounded amused.

"Why are you here?"

"I wasn't planning, but Consort Xue persuaded me to come check on you"

I scoff irritably, "How sincere of you" I spoke sarcastically.

"You," he suddenly sat next to me, "Sleep. I'm tired" he took off his shoes and lied down.

"You!" my eyes startled and jerk away, "What are you-" I looked at him perplex.

"I'm sleeping here for the night" he said, closes his eyes.

"Yan Shen Qing!" I retort, "This is my bed! At least take off your robe"

"You want me to undress?" his tone of voice continues to sound entertained.

"You-" I was about to retort back but didn't, "go ahead and sleep" I climbed off my bed, but fell backwards onto his chest when he roughly yanked me by the arm causing pain to my raw back again.

"You're not leaving to go anywhere. You're accompanying me tonight" his eyes beamed into mine.

"What?" I looked at him confused, "You're joking"

"I'm not" he rolls me over to his side so that I'm closer to the wall, "Don't even think of escaping" he adds. I laid beside him, heard my heart racing as he closes his eyes again.