Ayane continued," I tried to fix it.. I asked for forgiveness and he looked at me like I am a n.o.body and told me to be continue as my role as the Emperor fearing when the secret will be outed or when I"ll be killed by someone... "That will be your atonement" , he said and he proclaimed himself as the head eunuch to spend more time with his woman. I... Since then I let him do whatever he wanted.... ", she looked at Xing," I was jealous of you today... The way brother smiled at you... He used to smile at me like that too... But not anymore... I ruined everything... All I have to do is go through my atonement as far as my brother wants... ", she was staring blankly at the floor.
Xing dried Ayane"s head that was still dripping wet fearing she might get sick. She knew if you are mentally weak, it is easy to get sick.
" Shall I tell you something, Ayane... Surely what you did is an awful act... But, As an outsider, I noticed one thing. Your brother should not have kept everything from you and should have talked to you about your father. What he thought was a consideration towards you had made you act against him. There is a high chance you"d have believed your brother if he told you the truth but he chose not to.. Well, even though it was well intended, he should have trusted you to handle the truth. But sure, you did an awful thing.... You shouldn"t have married his lover after knowing you are a woman... That"s awful! But still, what"s done is done and the best way to have a better future is to learn to forgive... Forgive yourself first! That"s the first step... Forgive yourself and love yourself... I can a.s.sure, You are not the worst person there is... ", Xing spoke in a considerate tone even though the words she spoke weren"t that all that considerate. She never knew to sugar coat things anyway..!
" Ahh! That"s not the way to comfort someone right? "Ayane hit Xing playfully and Xing could see her eyes had become more clear now.
Talking does help!
Ayane stood up and faced Xing,
" I wanted to tell you all this is because I needed a friend first and foremost but there is one more reason too... I know for a chosen Divine Ruler like yourself it would seem abhorrent to leave this kingdom in the bloodied hands like mine. So I will gladly abdicate my throne to you. My brother Jung wants that too. He mentions this time to tile ever since he met you in the battlefield seven years ago. So.. "
" Wait... What the... Just wait... ", Xing waved her hands to stop her.
What is going on here? Chosen one...? Handing over the kingdom to me? Do I look like a fool? Why would I want a kingdom for no reason?
Noticing her confused look, Ayane continued,
"We all knew this day will soon come for you to claim what you owe. Now I understand that sign in the sky on the day of formation of our kingdoms... It clearly said that Mingxia is the Golden Tiger, isn"t it? It all makes sense. So just like brother Jung said, we will comply to your... "
" Stop", Xing screamed pressing her palms over her ears, "What nonsense are you spouting? I don"t want to rule kingdoms.... Who in their right mind will want more land under them... Do you even know how many memorials we get each day? If we expand our lands, who will take care of all those memorials...? Why are you cursing me...? I know you want to escape and you are using me as a boat... I ain"t biting.... No no no... Never... I"m not sailing in a River filled with crocodiles for you.... Nope... Nope.... ", Xing almost lost her mind.
Wasn"t everything fine till now? Why bring this up now? d.a.m.n G.o.ds! Making signs everywhere.. Trouble... Trouble.... Trouble everywhere!
" But the prophesies all say.... "
" F*ck prophesies And G.o.ds! ", Xing gritted her teeth. Seeing Ayane shocked, Xing took a deep breath and stood up,
"Look, I don"t care about the prophesies. Why would I try to take a nation properly governed from their rulers..? Am I crazy? You pay for the damages your elephant made with your private funds...! You know which Emperor does that? No one...! That"s who... So do what you do. What I need is trade agreements and proper trade routes between the two nations and good relations.h.i.+ps between us... That"s it! ", Xing made her point.
However she might be as a person, she is a good Emperor! So why disturb their empire for stupid prophesies, right? It would only cause unnecessary problems.
" Do you mean what you say? ", Ayane was shocked. All she had heard from those prophesies was that the chosen one will come and claim their lands and unite it to its former glory and then their blood will rule the entire continent. But why is the chosen one in front of them different? Could she be not the chosen one? No way... Brother Jung was sure of it and she actually talks to animals... She should be the one...
"Yes, I promise", Xm8plaxed her hand on her heart.
"Then there is someone else you should meet. You really are here at the right time", she smirked.
"Who?", Xing was curious.
"It is a surprise", Ayane teased, "I"ve arranged the guest room in my courtyard for your stay. I"ve asked for dinner at my courtyard with everyone too. So go get ready", she pushed her out.
Xing wondered who the person she is supposed to meet and she reached her room that was next door to Ayane"s room. She wondered where the Emperor is staying but she knew Ayane would have arranged separate room for him.
Xing wore the purple silk clothes Ayane chose for her and wondered if it is okay for her to wear female clothes here. Whatever!
Xing looked around that s.p.a.cious room and saw a seemingly old notebook on the study table and went there and picked it up.
She was shocked to see the familiar handwriting,the handwriting she copied as her own with the t.i.tle "The Journal of Empress Shu".
Is this really what I think it is? If it is, why is it here? Oh, right! Master Yuan.
Xing tried to look around to find out if she is sensing someone but failed.
Coward! He hid again!
Xing was about to open the notebook when there was a knock in the room,
"Empress Huang, dinner is ready"
Xing was now in the biggest conflict in her life. She knew this notebook will contain juicy details of the love story between the Tians.h.i.+ Emperor and Empress Shu and she just wanted to dig in that book immediately.
But she is here for a Misson and to fulfil that she has to attend the dinner!
AAAHHHH!
Xing screamed in her mind before reaching to a decision. She picked up the notebook and placed in inside her pocket and left for the dinner.
Mission comes first! Books can be read anytime!
She was crying in her heart but her face had a beautiful smile as she remembered to pick a couple of the little jars she had prepared specially for this visit.
Let"s make a deal!