LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS

The entire court was in disarray knowing of the sudden deaths of the entire Ran family and the plot of Eunuch Xin was revealed and everyone were shocked by the elimination of two of the High n.o.ble families in the past four months. Many wondered if this was the plot by Huang and Zhong families that had led to the extermination of their enemies.

The Emperor had summoned Huang Feiye to meet in his study and after greeting the Emperor, he handled him his resignation and told him his plans to settle in the South after his daughter"s wedding. Feiye was kneeling in front of the Emperor.

"Lord Feiye, so you knew my father was killing children using those secret guards and you didn"t stop them?", the Emperor had a cold expression. Is he any different from my father?

"It was an Imperial command. One us servants cannot break", Feiye answered kneeling. He knew things will come to this when his niece suggested this plan but it had to be done.

" You knew who the prophesied one was and yet you let all those innocent children die", the Emperor spoke in an accusing tone. If he could kill all those secret guards now, he could have done it eighteen years back and those children might have escaped their fate. But then again, he knew Imperial commands cannot be broken and if those men died, his father might have found others to take their place.

Everyone around him have their hands soaked in blood! Even the calm and serene Lord Feiye! The Emperor felt like he was lied to. He couldn"t understand why people carelessly kill others to save themselves or someone close to them.

"She is my niece", Feiye said in a calm tone. Honestly that is the only reason he kept quiet about all of it. She is the daughter of their little brother and she must be protected even if she is an ordinary girl or the divine ruler. As long as his niece was protected he was willing to let any amount of children die. He may be guilty and immoral but he didn"t feel any remorse as he had protected his niece as intended.

As a middle child Feiye was never considered seriously by others. After his mother"s pa.s.sing, His elder brother stayed away from home to take care of business and his younger brother was raised in the Zhong Manor. He learned martial arts and no one even knew about it. Later when his younger brother entered the palace his elder brother was really worried and so he followed his little brother to protect him. That"s when he knew about the secret guards and joined it to know of the previous Emperor"s plans about his family. He secretly helped his elder brother foil the plans of the previous emperor against their family and also protected their little brother who blindly trusted the previous emperor.

Thankfully his secret life helped in saving the life of his niece and that day Mingxia was born, he knew she needs to be protected from the Emperor and he did everything including saying nothing about her to anyone in an attempt to protect her.

He found about Shengli only because he was tracking the wellbeing of his niece and accidentally came across him. He brought him home to know of his plans about her but he was a really smart and private person and he hid his intentions pretty well until he brought her home.

Feiye knew the current Emperor will be furious knowing all about this but his niece was sure coming clean would help him and here he is... Telling the truth. He did everything to save his family!

" Did Mingxia ask you to kill for her? Is she happy that she is safe now because others decided to spill the blood of innocents for her ? ", the Emperor was furious and his words were like sharp knives.

In fact, these questions were the ones he had for himself. Seems like from the moment he and Mingxia were born, others were dying for their sake without even their knowledge. He still could not take in the fact that the Eunuch killed a lot of people thinking that he was protecting him.

Did I want this? And how could my father kill children? Also, Why didn"t Mingxia talk to me directly about the Eunuch?

Feiye didn"t know how to answer the Emperor and was kneeling quietly.

The Emperor took a deep breath and composed himself. It"s no use asking Lord Feiye as he didn"t seem remorseful. He is a Huang who protected his family. It was my Imperial father who gave the order.

"After your daughter"s wedding, leave the city and I don"t want to see your face again", the Emperor said and left the study. Everytime he looks at Lord Feiye, he"ll remember what his father has done. And I cannot kill him for this reason. If I deem Huang Feiye to be punished by death, my brother deserves death too! So sending him away would be the best way.

The Emperor wasn"t in the mood to do any work that day and went back to his courtyard. His brother and Mingxia were staying there and he kept all those who knew about it to a bare minimum. Rumours cannot spread around about how the n.o.ble Consort is with another man on his Dragon bed.

As he entered he saw AoTian waiting for his permission to enter his room and Rijun who was by his side signalled the Emperor that he does not know anything.

"s.h.i.+hong tried to attack her last night and burned her courtyard. She"s still sleeping", the Emperor explained and walked those three inside.

AoTian was flabbergasted to see Shengli inside and immediately locked the door.

Am I seeing things? Of all the willful deeds my daughter has done, this is the most atrocious one. She dared to bring her lover to her "supposed husband"s" bed when her "supposed husband" is the Emperor and previously wanted to marry her?

"What is going on?", AoTian was panicked. Shengli is back which is good but he didn"t look good. He had the same look when he brought her back from the tournament incident. The same deeply panicked and concerned expression adorned his face and he didn"t seem interested in anything else.

"Your daughter stabbed my brother and went to sleep", the Emperor said bluntly in an accusing tone and all AoTian could do was sigh.

She might have done that! Thankfully Shengli looks fine! But where is she?

Rijun knew from the expression of Shengli that his sister"s situation had not improved. He had asked that physician about the antidotes for that Poison the whole night but was unable to find anything.

Just then, the door was opened forcibly and Consort Shu entered with a loud clatter,

"The G.o.d told me... !", she shouted and paused her steps when she saw AoTian and her att.i.tude changed and she gave a polite bow.

AoTian felt something was wrong with the entire scenario and he pa.s.sed through everyone to have a look at his daughter. Only when he saw her deep in sleep did he feel relieved and he patted her head.

"I wrote the letter for you as you asked", he pulled out a thick stack of papers from his pockets. "Wake up and get it from me. Isn"t tomorrow your birthday?", AoTian"s voice was filled with love and he had a small smile in his lips.

How adorably cute my daughter is while she is sleeping! AoTian felt warm in his heart.

Rijun"s eyes teared up seeing this scene and everyone else were moved too. AoTian believes his daughter is just sleeping when she was actually poisoned and had suffered a heavy loss.

No one knows when she"ll wake up... If she"ll wake up...Rijun felt his heart clenched,

"Father, let"s not disturb her. You know she"ll sleep for days even", Rijun spoke after gathering all the energy he can to conceal his sorrow.

"hmm...", AoTian could not keep his eyes of Xing and gently patted her hair.

"Bring her out, immediately... You disappeared and she came in here and even this place is not safe for her... Is s.h.i.+hong that powerful?", AoTian spoke to Shengli who had a very guilty expression. Previously he haughtily declared to her father that he"ll protect her from everyone, even her father and here she is...

" I"ll find a way", Shengli answered.

"Where did she stab you? Are you okay?....", he asked concerned and soon his expression turned sombre seeing him nodding , "Please, Don"t mind what she did... She only has eyes for you and she wouldn"t have done anything without reason.. Don"t let it get to you... Forgive her... You know how she is... ", AoTian was clearly worried for her as he knew Xing only loved Shengli. He didn"t want his daughter to be abandoned by him. She won"t be able to bear it, so he was willing to plead for her sake.

AoTian knew any decent man would never forgive his woman for staying in another man"s place bearing the name of his wife. Also she had stabbed him too. His daughter really crossed every line there is but still... He must find a way for his daughter to be happy and she"ll be happy only with Shengli.

Shengli felt like he was standing on fire barefoot and he wanted to run away as he didn"t have the guts to face her father, "I know", he forced his words out. He thought AoTian would create a scene seeing her like this but seeing this pleading father in front of him only accentuated his guilt.

"Father! The officials are waiting for you. You cannot let your work pile up. The New year"s banquet needs to be arranged too", Rijun tried to get his father distracted.

"Ah, yes." AoTian stood up from the side of the bed but for some reason he had this weird feeling about his daughter and he had another deep look at Xing.

"Come meet Father after you wake up, ok?", AoTian placed his hand on her forehead and gently pushed her stray hairs back and still had a deep look at her. For some reason, he could not shake this weird feeling.

"Father...", Rijun called again and only then AoTian snapped back to his senses and left with Rijun in tow.

Shengli sat beside her, on the bed with both his hands clutching his head.

" The G.o.d of Wind said that she is stuck in the Netherworld and she has almost given up on her life", Consort Shu announced making everyone freeze.

What is that now?