LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS

Shuang tried to walk to the front, to try and stop their mother but she was held back by her husband Feifei. His mother is always right in their household according to their father and he didn"t want to interfere when his father was sitting still.

Mizuki was worried seeing the bow string being stretched and the arrow was ready to leave the bow any moment. She looked at her husband who was dusting his hands so hard, his veins were popping out. That is his favourite sister his mother is trying to shoot.

"Mother, No!" Lian Lian walked towards Xing, holding out his hand trying to stop her. He knows, his mother"s eyes being determinant means, she is serious.

"Li Shusai!" Chenglei stopped his son, his voice cold. Lianlian froze in his spot seeing his father with his calm expression and he was holding his teacup. Oddly it sent him s.h.i.+vers down his spine. His father never, not even once his life, has addressed him by his given name and this is the first time he did and it was scary.

"What"s with our parents? " he wondered. His mother acts like a hooligan and his father doesn"t care and even doesn"t stop her when she is about to shoot their daughter.

"And what"s with the threatening aura he is emitting? He"s always caring towards me... So, even I, their son, cannot speak against mother even if she is wrong?"

Xing released the arrow and maybe it was because of Lian Lian"s alert that both Little Yu and Long Junting noticed the arrow. Or maybe the timing was perfect because, Xing waited for them to notice her before she released the arrow.

The arrow was swift as it travelled towards Little Yu. As Xing watched the arrow, she noticed, Junting, holding Little Yu"s hand, pushed her behind him while slicing the arrow and it lost momentum and fell on the floor. As the soldiers saw their mistress directly getting involved, they backed off.

Xing"s lips curved up a bit seeing the fire in Junting"s eyes. He looked at Xing as if he was looking at an enemy. His hands were rightly clenching his sword as if he was holding back from screaming at her.

"He is angry I directed the arrow towards my own daughter... Just like Chenglei, he doesn"t care who tried to hurt his woman", she felt pleased.

"Even so, He is trying to hold back. Is it because I"m about to become his mother-in-law or is it because his father advised him not to speak against me? So, dear boy, let"s see how much patience you have!"

Xing looked at her daughter popping her head out from behind his back. She had no intention to get to the front and fight and just stood there like a damsel in distress.

" This is interesting! She knows my archery skills are worse and I won"t be able to hit my target and might hit someone else. And she has this nasty habit of wanting to do everything herself and she rarely let"s others do her work, especially fighting. She goes around picking fights and she never let go of a fight. Yet, She is willing to stand still and let the boy protect her. Also she is not getting angry at me and screech at me for endangering her man? That"s not like her, is it?"

Lianlian sighed in relief seeing his sister safe but even before he let out his breath, his heart skipped a beat seeing his mother raining arrows at him. The quiver filled with sixty arrows was emptied in four minutes as the Crown Prince of Fire Kingdom deflected it one by one and his sister...

Why is she just standing behind him with a grin and not fighting herself? That"s not like her!

He looked at the Fire Emperor scared that this would cause an issue since his mother is shooting arrows at his son but he walked up to Xing with his hands folded behind and stood by her side. He wasn"t even a least bit worried that an arrow might hurt his son.

Xing shot the last arrow and without much expression in her face, looked at the couple in front of her. The broken arrows were all scattered on the ground and it looked like Junting would start a fire just with his eyes as he stared at Xing.

He was enraged and he opened his moth to say something but seeing his father beside Xing, stopped himself.

"At least he has more patience than Chenglei and is not dark like him. Even so, he is capable to protect my daughter. He will make a good Emperor and also a good husband"

"As for my daughter..."

Xing"s lips curved up slightly and she looked at her daughter poking her head out, with her eyes proud and her tongue was sticking out as if she was mocking her mother for not being able to hit her.

" I was worried she won"t be able to depend on anyone and would to burden herself by doing everything herself. But she let"s him do the work for her and knows to relax. It is important to trust your spouse if you want the marriage to last.

Also, she never believed I would hit her, did she? Good girl"

"I figured out the rules, mother! " she shouted, "We have to fight you together, shouldn"t we? Are you impressed?" she grinned widely and she looked pure and innocent. She is such a straightforward girl.

The Fire Emperor saw the smile in Xing"s face and knew she is convinced.

"So, have you decided?" he raised his eyebrows and Xing didn"t even turn to look at him as her eyes glowed making him a bit tensed.

A bunch of the broken arrows levitated and stood with their sharp ends of the arrowhead pointing at Long JunTing.

Chenglei paused sipping tea as he saw his wife"s deed and resumed his drinking. She almost died giving birth to her daughters and she is ent.i.tled to hand him over to the man she sees fit.

The Fire Emperor instinctively took half as step forward fisting his hands but paused immediately. Relaxing his hands he went back and took his seat. He knew what will happen next.

Xing"s children were all flabbergasted and opened their mouth and their jaws almost fell on the ground.

What is going on?

Why are those arrows floating?

How?

They saw their mother standing tall with the bow on her hand. The sleeves of the scarlet dress she wore , fluttered in the wind along with her let down hair. The sun shone at her, making the gold in her hairpin glitter but her eyes were more golden than the hairpin.

Is this mother"s doing?

Who is our mother?

They knew their mother is different. She is a genius and knows a lot. She has read a lot of books and remember what she read and no one could beat her in GO. And above all, she has awesome sword skills. Everyone respects her, young or old, those with higher status or lower status and people fear to cross her.

But, their father adores her and she acts just like any woman would with their husband. At home she was a wife and a mother. And that"s how they saw her as.

But really! Who is she?

They looked at their father who was still calm and silent. He showed no surprise as he saw the arrows floating.

Father! They are not hummingbirds to stay that high above the ground as if someone invisible is holding them to his face! Why are you not surprised?

Xing saw the rage in JunTing"s eyes getting replaced by fear and her daughter"s grin disappearing. She could feel the surprised gazes of her sons and daughter-in-law, at her.

"Long JunTing!" her commanding voice echoed in that open s.p.a.ce.

"If you ever hurt my Little Yu in the future, you must know that I need not be there to pay you in kind"

"Yes, your highness"

JunTing fell on the ground kneeling as he kowtowed. He flinched a bit seeing all the arrowheads falling back in the ground.

"Address me as "Mother" from now on, " Xing added and placed the bow in the ground and turned to look at her husband.

Her children watchrd as her countenance change from an authoritative Lord to that of a lovely wife in mere seconds.

No, she was not acting. The moment her eyes met with their father"s, her expression changed by itself.

Her daughter-in-laws could now see why their mother is pampered that much by their father. She could be a ruler with her att.i.tude but she takes care of her husband like he is her everything and she is nothing. She serves him and he in turn serves her. Such a lovely relations.h.i.+p.

Which man wouldn"t love such a woman and grant all her wishes?

"You want me to brew some tea?" Xing asked as she walked towards Chenglei and the Fire Emperor was the one who held out his cup.

"Yeah, more please"

Xing didn"t care for the Fire Emperor and brewed some tea and served the first cup to Chenglei.

"Send the Betrothal gifts. Let"s announce the engagement and have the wedding after she turns eighteen, " Chenglei poured tea for the Fire Emperor and said.

"I already have eight s.h.i.+ps a bit farther. Let"s announce the engagement in ten days and have the wedding on the day you fix, " the Fire Emperor replied.

"Eight s.h.i.+ps?" Xing asked.

"You sent three s.h.i.+ps of gifts for your daughter-in-laws. I"m the Emperor. Shouldn"t I give more?" he smirked. These gifts are mostly to show their power and wealth and they should abide by the societal norms.

"Hmm, yes, " Xing didn"t refuse, "My daughters are worth the world."

The Fire Emperor returned to his kingdom with his son through sea. And Chenglei"s family returned back to the capital city. The Fire Emperor had arranged everything properly and Little Yu"s engagement with the Crown Prince of Fire Kingdom was announced.

Little Yu was happy and she learned everything to be learnt about the workings of the inner palace from her Sister-in-laws and also her cousin Huang Ruoxin. She got a glow in her face that only would belong to a girl fallen deeply in love and Xing was happy.

But Little Zhu worried her more. The Emperor announced Little Zai, the second Prince"s engagement with Fa Donghai"s second daughter and Little Zhu got heartbroken.

Xing tried her best to get her compose herself and she was a good girl and so she didn"t let her heart slide to darkness and accepted the fact.

"I"ve already decided to not think about him but it hurts, mother, " she cried hugging her mother. She never expected him to be his cousin by blood and wanted to change her heart but it hurt a lot.

"He has someone else in his heart and it is no good to pine over him still. Unrequited love is painful to get over. But you"ll be fine. You are strong, " Xing stayed by her side and soon she tried to get better.

As expected, Ayane visited them with her son a couple months after Little Yu"s engagement was announced. Her son Yi Kyong, resembled a lot like Yi Kwan.

Xing didn"t hide anything and told Ayane the truth about Little Zhu since she thought Ayane would back off.

"Which one of us didn"t have a crush on someone other than their husband?" she dismissed.

"You didn"t look at anyone other than Yi Kwan. I didn"t look at anyone else too, " Xing added.

"Ah come on! We are the exceptions. Also I don"t think she fell in love. What she had was just a crush. She"ll get over it!" Ayane truly bieced that. She loved Little Zhu, the moment she saw her. Her son did too and he expressed it to her and she was happy.

But she agreed it has to be handled properly and they cannot force Little Zhu.

Both of them stayed in the Jin Manor for a month and in that time Yi Kyong successfully moved Little Zhu"s heart.

Xing was moved by Yi Kyong too. He had the t.i.tle of a honour Prince since no one knew of him as Ayane"s son. Like his name, he was bright and cheery with a pleasant and polite smile, lifting the mood of everyone around him. Like a sun, he brightened everyone and the place he was in, always filled with laughter and happiness.

Xing tested him too and found out he could be ruthless if his happiness is threatened. For Little Zhu, who is around men, her father and brothers who measure their words, Yi Kyong was attractive and she truly fell in love.

Xing was happy to see both her daughters glowing with love and were happy. Her daughters are the best.

Chenglei was busy preparing everything for their daughter"s weddings. Arranging a wedding is hard and arranging two weddings is ten times hard.

Since both of their daughters are to be sent to different kingdoms for marriage, they decided to make the weddings three months apart.

There were a lot of opposition to their marriage from the court but the Emperor dismissed them.