Empress Of The Lost Kingdom

It was a busy night for the people in Yu palace.

After decades of staying dormant and secluded, the Yu clan has finally decided to resume their quest to find the lost land of Yu kingdom,

The usual silence of Yu palace has replaced with the excited voices of the members of the mining team and the expedition experts of the Yu clan.

No matter, how settled they feel at Yun city, the feeling of the homeland was irreplaceable.

Who doesn't want to go home?

In the discussion room, everyone's eyes were on the young archaeologist who came from the Jing city. In the beginning, the team members thought that she was another overconfident researcher who claims that she has found the location of Jade Land.

However, the moment Li Juan started to present her findings with precise and credible details regarding the location, they were impressed by her skills.

Liang stood in the corner of the room, silently observing the girl who has switched into a workaholic mode, 

The black thick-framed glasses and her calm yet earnest expressions imparted a nerd vibe to Li Juan. When was the last time he saw her like this?

No one will believe that this confident and enthusiastic young lady appeared vulnerable and weak a few hours ago,

People indeed appear happy when they do what they love,

Li Juan's happiness lies in her constant efforts for finding the whereabouts of the Queen,

Logically speaking, it doesn't make any sense- to search for something saw in a dream, giving Li Juan's anxious and troubled mind it was easy to convince that those vivid dreams are the results of her traumatic life.

It was easy to tag it as lunatic's twaddle,

However, her tenacious beliefs and resolute efforts proved everyone wrong,

She found the links which connected her to the queen in her dream.

"Dr Liang, do you need anything?" Zhang Zhi Jun's deep voice pulled Liang from his thoughts,

"Do you need anything?" He repeated the question,

"Hmm, We need to run quick medical check-up on Li Juan," Liang casually said,

"Let's do that, we do have an infirmary nearby, I will inform them that you guys will drop by," Zhang Zhi Jun immediately took his cell phone and informed his aunt.

"Ah Chuan," Zhang Zhi Jun called out for Bai Mu Chuan who aimlessly roamed outside the discussion room,

"Yes," Li Juan who was in the middle of the discussion immediately responded to his call,

Zhang Zhi Jun turned and smiled in surprise, he actually called Bai Mu Chuan, but it was Li Juan who responded to his call, 

"Come here for a moment," he demanded. 

She walked towards them with a smile, 

The moment Zhang Zhi Jun stood up for Li Juan, the squabble between them has vanished without any trace.

"Researcher Li, we need to do a medical check-up," Liang informed her,

When Li Juan heard the term "medical check-up," the happiness in her face faded,

It was one of the things which made her anxious, especially right before going for an expedition.

"You don't have to worry, I am just checking your blood pressure," Liang explained as if he understood her concern.

"Mu Chuan, can you take them-"

"Why are calling him?" Bai Yu who remained idle in the room meddled into the conversation, "Grandpa, said Bai Yu,"

"That's me who is in charge of Jie and brother Liang," Bai Yu said in haughty tone and shoved his brother away,

"sorry sophomore students are not allowed here,"

Bai Yu declared and held on to Li Juan,

"Second brother, stop being a jerk," Bai Mu Chuan said with a straight face. "You just finished university," 

"I work in the Bai corporations," Bai Yu corrected,

"Then go and work in the corporation, I will go with them for the expedition,"

"Grandpa said, Bai Yu," Bai Yu was reluctant to give up,

"I will tell him that someone named "Bai Yu" pushed his precious Ah Juan into the water," Bai Mu Chuan threatened, "not only once, but twice,"

"You traitor,"

"If I am traitor, then you should be called a bully,"

"Enough," Zhang Zhi Jun stopped both of them with a word.

"I just wanted Ah Chuan to accompany princess and Dr Liang towards the infirmary,"

"Why are they going to the infirmary?" Bai Yu narrowed his eyes.

"Are you okay, Jie?" Bai Mu Chuan tried to touch Li Juan's hand and Bai Yu immediately smacked his hand,

"Big brother, look at this," Bai Mu Chuan complained to his brother, "The second brother has turned covetous, he never allows anyone to come closer to Jie,"

"Uffoo, this jellyfish," Zhang Zhi Jun grabbed Bai Yu's ear moved him away from Li Juan. Sometimes Bai Yu becomes unmanageable than five-year-old kids,

"She is not a toy which you can claim your rights. She is your sister,

She is the one who decides whom to get closer or not,

You are an adult and act like an adult, especially among your brothers." Zhang Zhi Jun said in a serious tone.

He may be clueless when it comes to romantic relationships, but when it comes to his siblings, he was a responsible elder brother.

Bai Mu Chuan utilised the situation and clung to Li Juan, taunting Bai Yu,

"Will you guys stop arguing?" Li Juan asked them, " You don't have to fight with each other, I love everyone equally,"

Bai Yu reluctantly agreed,

"Thank god, you didn't come with us to Jing city," Li Juan sighed,

"Yes, yes. If this jellyfish saw your little brother in Jing city, he would've exploded in jealousy," Zhang Zhi Jun remembered his encounter with Qiao Chu, who was highly protective towards his sister.

"Chu is still manageable; the real jellyfish is someone else," Li Juan grinned.

"Who is that?"

"You will meet him once we reach there," Li Juan ruffled Bai Yu's hair and turned towards Liang," give me ten minutes, I will wrap the meeting,"

Liang nodded in agreement and let her go,

"She seems different," Zhang Zhi Jun commented when he noticed the change in Li Juan," Were she always this cheerful?"

"She has her phases," Liang glanced at Li Juan,

" One day she will be high in spirits and talk non-stop for the whole day. And another day she remains silent and even refuses to come out from the room,"

"When you met her for the first time, how was she?" Zhang Zhi Jun was curious, Li Juan always had a silent and aloof demeanour, but the way she interacts with Liang was totally different.

"Silent, terrified, it took me a while to get closer to her,"

"You does seem really close to her, she used to keep her guard against us," Bai Yu shared his first impression about Li Juan's relationship with Liang.

"My experience is almost the same as yours," Liang's eyes gleamed in affection, "But you just need to be patient with her to open up,"

"I am just curious, why isn't your photo is not on Li Juan's phone," Zhang Zhi Jun promptly asked his doubt. Within these time the awkwardness between them got replaced with familiarity.

"We rarely take photos," Liang took out his cell phone from his pocket and searched in the gallery, " Just don't tell her that I showed you this picture,"

He passed his phone to Zhang Zhi Jun. 

It was a picture of tipsy Li Juan clinging to Liang with a cute expression on her face,

"She gets spoilt whenever she drinks."

When Liang mentioned about getting drunk, the memory of the drinking session he had with Li Juan flashed on Zhang Zhi Jun's mind.

Maybe he knows, 

"Since you guys are really close, you might have known about her ex-boyfriends?" His question was direct and easy to comprehend, but Liang stared back at him with a confused face.

"Ex-boyfriends?"When did she have boyfriends?" He emphasized on the plurality of the question. 

"I mean, didn't she date her high school senior and boss?"

"It's the same person," Liang replied with an expressionless face. 

"Same person?"

"Li Juan's senior from her school is her current boss," Liang explained, "She quit the job, so he should be called as "ex-boss," 

"What about Yang Xiong and Tae Min? What is their relationship with her?"

Liang looked at Zhang Zhi Jun in a daze, Did he really investigate the men around Li Juan?

"I don't know who is Yang Xiong, but Lee Tae Min is her junior and almost adopted brother."

" So he is not her boyfriend?" Zhang Zhi Jun asked to clarify his doubts, "but they appear really close,"

"Actually it is a common misconception. Li Juan has many admirers but as far as I know, Lee Tae Min is not one of them."

" But what I have heard-"

"You cannot believe whatever you heard, especially when it comes to Li Juan."

Zhang Zhi Jun pursed his lips with a troubled look on his face.

" Lee Tae Min is quite close to," Liang stopped for a moment corrected his words, "He is only closer to Li Juan and he is protective towards her. So for a third person, their relation can appear quite ambiguous."

"Is he rich?" Bai Yu asked suddenly, "The jade ring which Jie used to wear, I was the one designed it. It was the most expensive one in that edition. When we asked about it she said that it was a gift."

"He comes from a well-off family in K country, but buying an expensive ring," Liang dwelled upon the possibility of Lee Tae Min buying expensive goods for Li Juan, "I don't think he would do something like that,"

"The man she dated, why did they break-up" Zhang Zhi Jun hesitantly asked the most intriguing question lingered in his mind.

" The same old story, he is a corporate heir and fell in love with a commoner and getting married to another corporate heir." Liang's words had casual air as if he had seen enough of this "ritual",

" However, he was Li Juan's first love and it took her almost ten years to confess. So it took a while to get over him." 

"Big brother, you don't have to worry Jie likes you a lot," Bai Yu immediately commented when he saw his brother is wearing a doubtful expression. 

"Yes, she likes you a lot," Liang reassured him,

"Yes as a celebrity crush," Zhang Zhi Jun scoffed, "I've wronged her and somehow I feel that she is not going to forgive me. It will remain a mistake forever,"

"Li Juan is not as cold as she appears. She is quite magnanimous. If she likes someone, might ignore one or two mistakes. However, if you take her as granted then that's it, consider it as THE END." Liang warned them, 

As soon as Li Juan came back after ending the discussion with the experts, Bai Mu Chuan led them to the infirmary. After checking her current health condition, Su Yu sat down with Liang to discuss the report with a serious face.

"Since you are a doctor, you might've aware of her medical conditions." Su Yu asked him. She was totally against the idea of taking Li Juan for the expedition.

"Yes," 

"It is going to be a rough journey for her." Su Yu warned him," Are you sure you want to take her for this mountaineering thing?"

"It is her dream," Liang stated with an earnest look.

"Of course, I acknowledge that. But if something happens to her, you won't be able to find a medical facility nearby,"

"We will try our best to protect her,"

" Hmm, make sure to take essential medicines and portable oxygen cylinders, especially for her." Su Yu reminded him,

"Yes, doctor," Liang thanked her and walked towards Li Juan.

"Is it alright?" Li Juan asked him with curious eyes the moment she saw his towering figure getting out of the consultation room.

"It is okay for now. Since we are not climbing the mountains, it won't cause a problem but you need to be careful."

" Have a nice journey, Princess," Su Yu who came out from the consultation room, wished her and accompanied them to Yu palace.

After dinner, Liang accompanied Li Juan to check her medicines and their dosages.

While he was going through the countless tablets, Li Juan's eyes were on Liang's handsome face.

"Do you have anything to ask me?" He asked her without raising his eyes from the medicines, 

"When did you get dimples?" Her unexpected question left Liang in bewilderment and he abruptly raised his gaze at her.

She sat opposite to him, with her face resting on the palm.

"I was born with it." 

"But how come I have never seen it?" 

Liang stared at her with a poker face,

"There is no dimple," Li Juan leaned closer and tried to examine, suddenly Liang pushed her forehead with his finger and stopped her from getting closer.

"You can't see them unless I decide to show it myself." His face appeared serious.

"Oh," Li Juan pouted her lips and looked at him as if she got scolded by him.

In a glimpse, the corners of his lips turned upward and bloomed into a smile, revealing two cute dimples on both sides of the cheeks, 

"Oh my," Li Juan was left bewildered, "I have never noticed it because you always remain stone-faced," 

"Look who is talking," He stood up and kept the medicines in its place," I know you are excited, but please, please try to get some sleep," Liang requested," I will leave then, good night,"

Li Juan walked him towards the door,

"Okay, then good night,"

"Good night,"

" You look cute with dimples," Li Juan said with a childish grin and closed the door without waiting for his reaction.

He was a bit startled by her comment, the last time when someone mentioned his dimples was six years ago,

It was a warning,

"Don't go around smiling and showing your dimples to everyone. I don't like it when other girls call my boyfriend CUTE,"