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"At ease." The Queen Dowager smiled when Joy greeted her.

This morning, Joy was taking a little walk in the palace garden. After listening to Little Choi's nagging about how she should not keep staying in her quarters and should take a walk to take in some fresh air, Joy had no choice but to listen in order to stop her. While walking, Joy saw the Queen Dowager and decided to approach her.

Joy regain her posture and stood up straightly. Suddenly she felt awkward as they shared silence together. Joy looked out afar and spotted a small lake. With a bridge that spread out in the middle of the lake and a small pavilion situated behind, the palace garden looks very picturesque.

"Let's take a walk, shall we?" The Queen Dowager suggested.

"Yes, Mother." Joy replied with a smile politely.

Joy walked beside the Queen Dowager as they take a walk around the palace garden together. They walked down a path and admired the flowers quietly while their attendants walked behind them slowly, giving them space and privacy.

"Are you and the King still fighting?" The Queen Dowager suddenly asked.

Joy quickly turned to look at the Queen Dowager with a surprised expression. She hesitated for a moment before she replied the Queen Dowager softly. "Yes..."

The Queen Dowager nodded slowly as Joy placed her focus on the front again. Joy glanced at the Queen Dowager and realized that she must have learnt what happened. Well, it's no wonder since as the Queen Dowager, she surely has a way to learn everything that had happened on the palace ground. Joy stared at a pot of purple orchids before her as she thinks of something to say.

"Since young, he doesn't really have many people to trust," The Queen Dowager said as she admired the same pot of orchids that Joy is staring. "The palace is a very scary place. It is a place where people are out to get others and drag them down."

Joy turned and looked at the Queen Dowager as she listened to her attentively. 

"Because of that, I want him to always be cautious of his surroundings and people." The Queen Dowager continued. "As a result, he may have become self-centred and maybe a little too cautious." She turned and looked at Joy, reaching out her hand to held Joy's. "So, please forgive him if he does anything wrong." She smiled.

Joy looked stunned for a second before she nodded. "Yes, Mother." She said softly.

Queen Dowager smiled, satisfied with Joy's reply. "Still, you can be angry for a while if you really had to," she said. "I trust you."

"Thank you, Mother." Joy replied. She gave the Queen Dowager a smile. "But the King is a really good person. He had always taken good care of me and he isn't that self-centred."

The Queen Dowager let out a small laugh elegantly. "I know since he is my son."

Joy smiled.

**********

The King looked up and smiled. Before him is his beautiful Queen. Holding a brush in her hand, she lowered her head to practice her calligraphy diligently. Looking at the diligent and hardworking woman before him, he can't help but stare at her. Feeling him staring, she looked up. 

"Stop looking at me and continue." She said with a smile. Unable to control himself, the King reached out his hand, wanting to touch her deep dimples but...