LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS

What kind of act is he going to pull by looking like he was violated? Xing smirked. This guy easily beats the acts of her father and Lord Zhong just by his looks. No wonder he is untouchable!

She looked at Shengli who had balled his hands into fists and looked dejected. She wanted to hold his hand but it is highly inappropriate here.

Guess, they have no proofs against him and only conjectures! He is going to get out spot free again.

Lord Ran told how he was held hostage in his home by the people of Lord Qui and he was beaten the entire night and only now that he heard that his name was used by them that he rushed here to tell the truth.

He also conveyed his concern for the Emperor and how angry he felt when he heard that they had held the Emperor against his will, threatening the Monarch all using his name.

Lord Ran even banged his head on the floor and asked to send him to the gallows for not able to protect the Emperor and caused him trouble by not choosing his allies properly. He wailed and cursed himself for being foolish for not knowing his allies were traitors.

Just then as if it was cued, a Lotus like girl ran in and held Lord Ran. Xing looked at the Third Young Miss Ran, who is now the "Pure Consort ", acting along with her father and pleading the Emperor to let her father go. She cried pitifully and tears were streaming through her pretty face like streams.

Wow! They put professional actors to shame! Xing thought. She noticed some of the neutral Officials feeling pity for the father and daughter pair.

Xing felt a chill run through her entire body. What kind of place is this? Scary! Abominable! This is where these people should be working hard for the welfare of the people and here they are blaming each other, trying to bring one another down! Despicable! But sadly this is the way to survive here.

"Silence!", the Emperor roared from his throne and the entire audience hall became silent.

"Minister Shen, Report"

"Your Majesty", the Minister of Justice Department stood before the Emperor and bowed, "There are definite proof of Qui, Bai, Liang and Xui families running illegal businesses and the robberies were instigated by them. We found a lot of coins they had hidden in their businesses yesterday. Moreover there are proof that they tried to frame the Zhong family and official Huang Rijun and they even detained your Majesty, last night. They also tried to frame Lord Ran even though there was no proof whatsoever that Lord Ran"s personal army was anywhere near the palace or that they had acted under the advise of Lord Ran", he finished and went back to his place.

So that"s it! Xing was disheartened. They still could not get Lord Ran.

The Emperor was seated in the dragon throne majestically. There was a big dragon statue in gold standing behind him.

"Familial execution for Qui, Bai, Liang and Xui families. Lord Ran, this is the second time your allies are blamed for acting against the Empire. Since your duties as a High n.o.ble had prevented you from protecting the Monarch as agreed by your own words, your family will no longer bear the burden of a High n.o.ble. Zhen depose the Ran family to commoner status and you will not receive any benefits of the High n.o.bles anymore", the Emperor spoke in a cold and imposing tone with no confusion or hesitation,

"As for the Zhong and Huang families who had suffered for being loyal to the throne, zhen will repay it soon with benefits", he said and stood up and stomped out.

The entire audience hall was frozen for a moment before they bowed and gave the usual salutations to the Emperor.

Everyone was still processing the Emperor"s judgement. The Emperor for the first time had pa.s.sed death sentence and that too for four entire families. And he revoked the n.o.bility status of the Ran family? The Ran family? That too for choosing his friends wrong?

"To think that fools thought that the Huang and Zhong families need to steal money to be rebelling against the throne as if they lack money, when they were the ones who helped the Emperor to the throne!!! How pathetic!!! ", Xing"s low and cold mocking voice echoed in the silent hall.

" It"s true"

" Zhong family is rich and they have the biggest army. Why do they have to steal?"

"The Emperor is good to them. Why would they try to rebel?"

"Which fool made this plan?"

"Ran family should be exterminated too. They are the ones always planning against the Huang and Zhong families"

Soon the court started murmuring and those who were once trying to vye for the support of the Ran family started to look at Lord Ran kneeling on the floor mockingly and sneered at them.

"Way of this world! Nothing is permanent... If you are not careful enough, you may have the same fate tomorrow. That"s the Imperial Court for you!", Shengli whispered in Xing"s ears and she nodded in agreement. No wonder he wants to stay away!

Xing admired her father and the Oldman who stayed in this place for this long. They must have good endurance and critical thinking to survive here.

Soon everyone left one by one and Xing noticed Tan Hai mouthing "Thank you" to Shengli,perplexing her. Shengli was looking indifferent as he normally looks at others. Then she realised if only Shengli didn"t plant a spy within the Qui family, they wouldn"t have even known of the plot against the Zhong family.

Wow! My Prince is totally awesome! If anyone can survive in this place, it would be him!

"My wife! My sons! I"ve avenged you", Tan Hai whispered. If not for that silver-haired man who gave him a chance for revenge, this wouldn"t have been possible. His punishment was not given by the Emperor so the magistrate will be taking care of it. He is ready to take it!

Later Xing learned that Tan Hai died in the prison of illness and his little brother was sponsored by the Zhong family and he became an official two years later.

___________

Everyone left and only the Huang family and Lord Zhong along with Lord Ran and Pure Consort were left inside the audience hall.

" Well, well! Look at that, the big fat racc.o.o.n lost his place in the big stinky midden!", Xing smirked and walked towards Lord Ran.

Everyone was shocked. This girl! Who is she insulting? Is she comparing the court to a midden? This c.o.c.ky brat!

"You!"Lord Ran who was kneeling stood up and his face was filled with rage," I know you had a hand in it. How did you..? ", he tried to hit Xing.

Shengli pulled her back grabbing her belt but what surprised everyone was Consort Ran grabbing her father," Father, don"t hurt him", she was holding Lord Ran"s hand.

"Useless woman! I"m ashamed of raising you. You could not seduce the one you should and drool over other men! ", Lord Ran pushed her and she lost her balance and was about to fall when Xing held her by the waist and stopped her from falling.

For the onlookers it looked like an intimate position between a man and woman and Rijun signalled Xing to let her go but Xing didn"t understand her brother"s actions.

Lord Ran pulled his daughter away from Xing and slapped his daughter , "You b*itch! Are you trying to make the Emperor wear a green hat? Think about your family!"

"I never wanted to enter the palace. I love him", she pointed at Xing and Xing took a couple steps back in confusion. Is she pointing at me?

"Him? Do you know what a trash he is?", Lord Ran shouted back.

"I can change him", Consort Ran looked at Xing with tear filled eyes. A different one from the arrogant look she usually gives.

Xing cringed hard. All because I talked to her for five minutes! She almost spit blood.

"Look Lady, you cannot change me. You are eleven years late and also not of my preferred gender!", Xing was talking but Consort Ran was dragged away by her father.

"I"ll definitely change you, Lord Táng", she exited the audience hall shouting.

Xing let out a sigh and Rijun who was holding his laughter till then let out his laughter and Xing hit him in the head. But he still could not stop himself from laughing.

You made fun of me with the Emperor, now fate made a woman fall for you! How fitting!

Xing looked at Shengli who was biting his lips to stop himself from laughing,

"What a divine love she has for me against all odds! May be I should change", Xing said smirking and that wiped the smile off Shengli"s face immediately.

He held her hands, "I love you more divinely than anyone! Don"t change", he said in a pleading tone.

What a pitiful man I am! I Have to fend off rivals who are men and women away from my wife! Shengli became sad.

"Changing destiny, divine ruler?", a sweet voice was heard and Xing turned to see a beautiful girl in red silk robes walking towards her.

"Gentle Consort Shu ", everyone except Xing bowed to greet her.

"I thought destiny cannot be changed, Consort Shu ", Xing smiled at her. So this is the one the Emperor likes? Not bad! She looks competent and has a good aura. Xing was happy.

The Emperor was walking behind her, " What a lovely drama troupe you are managing, your Majesty! ", Xing asked raising her eyebrows in a slightly mocking tone . She was amazed by the performance of everyone today.

"Mingxia, heard you and Seiren did a much more convincing act yesterday. And I thought you"ll be calling me Kouki", the Emperor grinned.

Yeah! But there are many people here, right? Wait does this mean he trusts Consort Shu? Fine then! Xing realised.

"Consort Shu , what was that about changing destiny you mentioned?", Xing asked her.

"Your star interfered and changed the flow of events greatly last night. Messing with fate. Although my grandfather was responsible for the fall of our family, you still had a hand as it was destined. But about the Huang and Zhong families , you were allowed to change fate itself! ", she spoke mysteriously. She didn"t seem to like Xing much. Xing knew she has her reasons.

" Allowed to? ", Xing asked. She didn"t know much about fate and destinies but she knew even other G.o.ds were a bit scared of the G.o.d of Fate. He is like the story writer and he could change anyone"s fate by the strokes of his brush. Someone who is not strong as other G.o.ds but extremely powerful and revered by others.

So how can a human change the strokes of his brush? If so, can she change her fate of entering the palace too?

Consort Shu just smiled mysteriously and turned to leave.

"Answer me!", Xing shouted at her.

Consort Shu stopped, "Even though my family is the one who are supposed to have good relations.h.i.+p with the G.o.ds and know their plans, ever since one of us became the Empress, our family had lost their ability to be close with the G.o.ds. But... You are! So you should have more idea about this, shouldn"t you..? Divine Ruler? ", she laughed mockingly and left the hall.

" Crazy woman! All Shu are crazy! ", Xing muttered and Shengli held her hands that were cold.

Should I really go and talk to them? What if they refuse to let me and Shengli to be together? What will I do?