LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS

There were two young men sitting and chatting sipping tea. One was tall, had dark brown hair and deep blue eyes wearing jade green silk clothes with a sword on his waist unsuited for him. He had a scholarly look with deep soft voice and pale skin like he had never seen the sun . Anyone who looks at him will trust him no matter what. But only the other one sitting opposite him knows that he"s a silver- tongued salesman who can even sell ice to the Eskimos. The other one was considered a slightly above average height for a male, had a slightly tanned skin, his long knee length hair had a golden orange hue as that of a tiger"s fur and was loosely braided with his bangs swept to one side. His eyes were bright and his pupils were so deep black as if if one would look deep in those eyes they"ll be sucked in and would lose their soul. He had a playful grin in his slightly pink lips. He was wearing a deep red coloured robe casually with a sword on his waist. At a glance he looked like a player.

The girls in that tea shop were admiring those two gentlemen saying " Lord Táng ( Crimson ) and Young Master Yu ( jade) are really handsome… Those who marry them are really lucky… ". While another one whispered , "Last night someone tried to molest this tea shop owner"s daughter, do you think maybe the owner asked for their help? Is that why they are here?" and they started whispering with themselves about some shady men in the village inn the past couple of days.

But the young men didn"t care about their attention and were engrossed in their conversation.

    The one in red said

" Haru… What do you mean you sent a complaint letter to the emperor about the Ming family.? " to which he replied

" Don"t shout you monkey, Xing ... I didn"t send the letter, I personally delivered it to the emperor.. "

Xing  : " What? Is this what you were busy with last month? Why do you have to do this to your own family? You know I don"t like it when brothers turn against each other. It"s despicable"

Haru : " I know… But it has to be done. Ever since my father got sick, my brothers are doing business everything against my father"s wishes. It is not good for the nation.. "

Xing : " Well, screw the kingdom, d.a.m.n… You are salt merchants. Where is the welfare kingdom coming from.. Huh?" she said angrily.

Haru: " You… You should really change your reading habits and read good books. Now let me explain.. ", he finished his tea and put his cup on the table and started explaining.

" Our family is the only salt merchants in the Wind Kingdom, that"s because we own all the salt beds along the sea. If we start to h.o.a.rd salt or raise the prices everyone will be affected rich or poor. Anyone can find subst.i.tutes for meat or even rice but what can salt be subst.i.tuted with? You know that"s why my family is among the richest in this kingdom along with the Huang family. Also we own the only port in the western province", he said with a grin in his face.

"Really..! " Xing sneered "Is that why you had to steal food when we were young?" she looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

He coughed gently, "You know that"s the fate of a motherless child, rich or poor when your father is busy making money.You should really be happy for having a mother at home and at least try to listen to her", saying this he paid the bill.

"You are right, I am really thankful for my mother and you too" Xing said and they both started walking in the streets towards the mountain.

Haru then started whispering" Also this time my brothers did something really stupid… They are planing with someone to overthrow the current emperor.. ",

"What..? " she said with a shocked face, " but isn"t treason punished with familial execution? Are you trying to die with them? Or did you made a deal with the government?"

Haru smiled, " Really..? I tell you a big thing that would affect the peace of the kingdom like this and you only worry about me..? "

Xing coldly replied " I don"t care a s.h.i.+t about the emperor or empire or politics. Those foxes and snakes in the city could all burn for all I care . I just want those who love me safe.. now tell me how are you escaping this? Or is that a secret too? ",she asked.

Hearing this Haru laughed.. Really she doesn"t know how to behave like a girl. But it"s kind of his own fault. Who asked her to dress like a boy since childhood which made her forget she"s a girl.  As they reached the top of the mountain they sat under a tree. He saw her eating a meat bun they got from the shop before.

" You didn"t answer me", she said with her mouth full. He saw her eating like a squirrel and said

" You really are a pig, even pigs will kill themselves if they know you are called by their name", he chuckled.

She wiped her hands in his sleeves casually and said " Don"t change the topic, answer me, you are planning to change your name and go to the water kingdom to do the silk business you are really fond of don"t you? Even if you only mentioned the h.o.a.rding of salt, if they investigate they"ll know about your brothers" underworld connections. Are you really planning to kill your brothers?"

He shook his head, " I really can"t hide anything from you huh.. Don"t worry, I"ll take you with me..", he stopped, seeing her suddenly changed expression.

"You won"t leave.. You are waiting for him to return.." he sighed, "Speaking of him, do you think the person my brothers are involved is the third prince?".

" No way" she rubbed her forehead with her long fingers, " He did want to be the emperor, but that was to protect his ninth brother. Now that his brother is the emperor I don"t think he"ll try to usurp the throne. I"m sure he is by his brother"s side, after all he asked me to wait for him to protect his brother, didn"t he? ",she said with a wry smile.

       Haru sat silently beside her. That amazing girl beside him had sword skills that are second to none in the entire kingdom, well! maybe in the entire five kingdoms. Even their master was surprised by her skills. She has a beauty envied even by the celestial maidens, if commanded armies she can conquer the entire five kingdoms, if she was a man she would have at least had the Wind Kingdom by now, her intelligence, her ability to get things done, the way she keeps her promise, how even the G.o.ds want to get along with her. Hmmh.. he sighed, but she only wants a normal life with him. He thought about how she learned sword play for him, how she did everything planning to be with him, how she"s waiting for him for ten years just because he said to wait for him. He thought how even the  extraordinary ones become fools for love and he made a decision never to fall in love.

         While both of them are engrossed in their silence a bridal march was seen in the road in the distance.

Xing asked with a smirk,

" Are they coming for you? Your brothers never give up uh..", saying this she covered her hair and mouth with a black veil and put on a mask over her eyes painted with a tiger. Haru said with disgust, " Send them back like the others, I can"t deal with this now with the investigations and all".

Xing refused him, " I sent the others back only because they were not good for you. I"m going to check this one too. You really have to take a wife. You are nineteen already", her voice was filled with mirth.

Saying this she started sliding through the slopes before reaching the front of the bridal parade. Haru followed her after wearing his tiger mask.

 Xing looked at the group, the bridal carriage was decorated moderately, she only had three small boxes of dowry. Guess she was not a favoured daughter. They sent her here even though they knew the young master of the Ming family is an ugly and useless fool.

   She closed in to take a look at the bride. The servants around her tried to stop her. She was about to unsheath her sword when she heard a clear voice "Stop" and the carriage door opened and a girl around sixteen in a red dress with beautiful phoenix embroidered with gold thread stepped out.

" Are you not scared little one? What is your name? Who are you here for? " Xing asked with surprise.

The bride bowed and said "My name is  Hua Shurei. I"m here to wed young master Ming Yushen. As for my courage, I was already informed I"ll be stopped by the Crimson Jade Brothers by my in laws". She was polite and her voice was clear and even though she was small Xing could feel the strength in her heart.

Xing laughed, "Now that you are stopped how are you planning to pa.s.s?", she asked thinking this one is different and interesting. Others had bad mouthed or asked their servants to fight. Of course they were all sent back defeated.

Shurei replied, "I"m promising I"ll take good care of my husband and I will stay by him in sickness and health. So I"m asking to let me pa.s.s" she said with a bow.

Xing looked at Haru near him who was red to his ears. She didn"t know if it was out of embarra.s.sment or anger. He was about to say something when she stopped him by waving her hand and asked Shurei,

" The young master is a useless fool, can you protect him?".

 Haru clenched his fists in anger which was noted by Xing.

So he do like her!

Haru wondered if the one near him is his friend since she is telling his bride he is useless. But he looked at the bride. She did not have a great beauty but she had  clear eyes and a calm face like she could face any situation without panic. That is really admirable,he thought I can live with this woman. Guess not every woman is a monkey like that pig Xing.

   Xing read his thoughts clearly visible by his smile and looked at her. Shurei replied,

"There are no useless person in this world. Only people with pure heart are called useless and foolish by vile people. I will protect my husband"s pure heart and help him in achieving greatness. Also I don"t have a place to return to, so I will live by thinking my husband as the sky", she said with determination.

 Xing really admired this girl and she looked at Haru whose face and even neck was red as a tomato. Xing happily told him

"Come on young master Ming, remove the mask and show your face to her, let"s hope she doesn"t run away".

When Xing said this Shurei realised the one in the green robes looking at her with the mask in his hand is her husband and her face became red. Xing saw the blus.h.i.+ng couple and thought is this really the guy who said he didn"t need a wife five minutes ago?.

Then she held Shurei"s hand and said "I"m leaving our family"s young master in your hands. He has the looks of a scholar but sometimes he acts like a rogue. If he ever even attempts to hurt you tell me. I"ll teach him a lesson he can"t forget. You really can count on me",saying this she gently touched Shurei"s cheek with her index finger that was blushed red.

Haru grabbed Xing by the wrist and said, "That"s enough, Xing! Stop teasing her. You are not allowed to touch her. That"s it! ".

Xing pretended to cry and said, " Come on Haru, what would I do to your precious wife huh , I just wanted to a.s.sure her huh.. You just met her five minutes ago and you are already throwing me, your old friend away like I"m trash….you are horrible. Did you forget all the good times we had already…. "and she started making sobbing noises.

Haru"s face twitched and he grabbed by her shoulders and said, " You.. Stop creating misunderstandings.. You monkey!  Stop acting now or I"ll feed you to the pigs… Even those pigs won"t eat your stinky meat.. Shut up before I punch you or else.. ", he stopped hearing Shurei"s laughter.

For him it felt like a running streams noise, unlike the cow in front of him who only knows how to p.i.s.s him off.

Shurei covered her mouth with her hand and said, "You two are really close like blood brothers huh.. It"s really nice to watch you bicker like five year olds". Hearing this both of them decided to act their age by looking serious.

Haru suddenly remembered the situation he is in and told Shurei, "I"m in a situation where I cannot take you to my home today. I have some things I have to take care of first and I cannot involve you in that for your safety . So I hope you would understand. I"ll find a place for you to stay today. But rest a.s.sured that I have taken you as my wife and I will protect you. We can have a peaceful life",he spoke in a smooth tone that would melt anybody and with all honesty.

Shurei looked at him with teary eyes while Xing said " Oh! My Haru have grown up.. Good for you. Now you only have to keep your promise till death or I"ll make sure you die with my own hands", with a glint in her eyes and Haru nodded in agreement.

Shurei said, " I"ve heard that the Crimson Jade Brothers  are good for their word. I trust you, my husband and I will wait for you to take me home", looking at Haru and her gentle smile made both of them melt.

Xing told Haru to make her stay in Lufen"s house to which Haru agreed after all this village people loved them and everyone owed them one way or another. They will repay them even if it cost their life.