LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS

When he reached there he saw all the kitchen workers outside and his anger rose to a dangerous level. Now what kind of thing are they doing inside the kitchen.... Alone ?

AoTian sent all the servants away to see Xu mama standing near the door and she was closing her mouth with her hands. As he got near, he could hear the sounds coming out from the kitchen and he didn"t know what to do either.

"Xing, Don"t cut the vegetables with the sword"

"Why not? This sword will be proud being used by me"

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"Don"t touch your face, Xing, .. Stop.. Wipe your hands first.. You were just cutting onions.. Wait"

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"Shengli, Why does onions have to sting this much? I cannot open my eyes...! "

What followed was the sound of water splas.h.i.+ng and some utensils rolling down.

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" Be good, Xing! Just sit and watch. I don"t need your help"

"I used to help mother before. Why can"t I?"

"You are still asking? You almost burned the entire kitchen. Go... Just sit and watch me cook. Be good! "

AoTian smiled uncontrollably , "Looks like my daughter only knows how to use a sword and writing brush and kind of... doltish in other skills! Good thing I"m rich and can afford as many servants as I wish for her! If not she"ll end up starving! "

Then AoTian realised the one cooking for her is the one raised as a Prince and someone with many secrets. If the one Zedong mentions is him, he is rich too. Did he really used various ident.i.ties to protect Mingxia as Rijun said? Li ChengNuo must be him considering he took her to the black market freely, right?

Then AoTian wondered how a Prince knows how to cook while a girl raised with no maids doesn"t. He had never heard about Shengli cooking before. So he does this only for her too? Judging by everything, it does seem like he loves her, doesn"t it?

AoTian sighed, no matter what, there is no one else who could handle his daughter than that Shengli. Who else would be this patient with his daughter who obviously cannot be cla.s.sified as a regular lady.

Inside the kitchen, Xing was sitting on a stool pouting because she was refused to help. Then she remembered everything happened at the banquet, her expression changed, "A lot happened today. A lot could have gone wrong. But I didn"t think women could be this scary", she said hugging herself.

Although Xing was fine in there while talking to them, after getting out she could not help but feel a little uneasy. She could handle even three hundred men with swords, but three women with their tongues had caused more damage to her. She had never fought with women before or slapped them either. Also accusing her of immoral relations.h.i.+p with her brother... Speaking rude words about her mother... she still shuddered thinking those words as it was all new to her and it was evident in her face.

Shengli looked at her, obviously scared and came and hugged her from the back. He placed his chin on her shoulder and waited till she calmed down, "Xing, never mind them. Those kind are like that. Whenever they see an impressive woman, as they never can be like her, they go straight to attacking her character trying to put her down as it is easier. Some men are like that too. You should never ever listen to those people or try to change yourself for them. They are the sc.u.ms and filth of the society with no morals or redeemable qualities and just self-satisfying morons who only can wag their tongues with other like-minded garbage like themselves "

Xing laughed at his explanation as her mood lightened , she had never heard him talking bad about someone with such vigor and negative words. Seeing her mood lightened Shengli was relieved and he went back to the stove and continued,

"You are not feeling bad that I did not help you today?"

Xing smiled, "I"m glad you didn"t, if you did those women would have talked more bad things about you and me. I would never want them to talk about our relations.h.i.+p with those filthy mouth of theirs", she cleared her throat, "Also with what relations.h.i.+p will you defend me? You are not my husband"

Shengli froze for a moment, this girl! She seems slow at times but other times she nails the truth right on the head! , but he immediately composed himself, "Yet", he said looking straight at her eyes. Xing just sneered and turned her face knowing she had hit his sore spot. Who told him to make needless promises to my mother?

AoTian who was eavesdropping from outside got curious when she asked him about today"s event. AoTian wanted to know his answer. He could not believe it how Shengli could let her alone defending for herself even when Rijun could not sit still.

AoTian thought his reply would be the usual "I trust you" or "Be careful in the future so others won"t find fault". But his answer shocked him. It would take a lifelong trust for a man to say that. He clearly said he would trust her even if everyone accuse her and she did not have to change, right?

AoTian wondered if he would be able to say this to his woman if such situation arrives. Also seems like Shengli kept quiet because it will only worsen the attacks on her.. So these kids are more mature than him like his brother said. AoTian contemplated for a while and decided to leave as he didn"t want to disturb them. He didn"t even know what to think anymore. But one thing he was sure of... Shengli is the only one who can be patient with her even after knowing everything about her.

Xing was smelling the food he was making and it was nostalgic. It smelled exactly the same way her mother used to make. Just as she was indulging in the smell, Shengli asked her,

"You are not jealous that I will be staying with Huang MingXue?"

"What"s there to be jealous of? Isn"t she your sister?"

"I don"t have a sister", he said immediately. He had never considered her a sister. She would always run away from him and only approached him when forced by that WanRou. He had never even looked at her properly. Even now he won"t be able to recognise her if he"d see her in the public with others.

Xing laughed looking at his hateful expression, "Fine, fine. Don"t scare her much. She should stay with her father too, right? "

"When have I scared people? ", he said with a grunt. It"s a bother actually. With a woman in their Manor he cannot come and go as he pleased. He has to find other places to rest. And the reason Xing does not mind MingXue"s stay was because she thinks that I"ll play brother role with her? Silly girl! Why would I care about others?

Xing rolled her eyes looking at his back. Sure, you are not scary! Do you even realise how scary you look for others? Only I am not scared by you!

Just then Rijun made his entry inside the kitchen. Xu mama pulled a stool for him and he sat down.

"Something smells nice!", he was drooling. He didn"t get to eat much in the banquet and he was feeling a bit hungry after the good aroma entered his nose. He originally came to talk to Shengli as he got scared after his uncle scared him. He didn"t want to die suddenly with the last thing he saw being a white flash. But he forgot everything smelling the aromatic porridge in front of him.

Shengli scooped the porridge for both Xing and Rijun and seeing them eat with enjoyment made him feel warm and a smile bloomed in his face. Eh! Since when did I get motherly? He chided himself and resumed his usual cold look.

"This really tastes like mother"s", Xing said with her eyes clouded and Shengli could not say if she was crying remembering her mother or just ate the porridge too hot that made her eyes tear up.

"Xing! Don"t eat too hot", he reminded her.

Rijun didn"t bother with anything and only lifted his head up after he cleaned up his bowl. He, as a rich young master had never skipped a meal and he cannot bear hunger. He felt like his life returned only after the bowl of porridge.

"Marry my sister and stay here forever! Your cooking is too good!", he declared with a grin and was met with Shengli"s icy glare and he immediately shut up and started to look around. Only then he realised that Xing had changed clothes,

"You! Weren"t you wearing different clothes before?", he asked.

"Yes, I had to change so that dress won"t get dirty. I got sick and had to throw up", Xing answered rubbing her full belly.

"Sick? Was it the drug? Are you OK now? Should we call the doctor? Why didn"t you tell me before? Get up.. No, stay here, I"ll call the doctor. That vile woman! I will tear her up", Rijun stood up after rambling and he was panicked.

"Brother,..." Xing called but he was about to run, she shouted, "Brother! I am fine. Aphrodisiacs make me vomit and I"ll be fine afterwards. Women used to drug me a lot back in the Heavenly Flowers Palace before", Xing spoke casually making Rijun go blank.

Wow! Drugged by women? She really had an adventurous life! Having bounties on her, gambling, getting drugged, hunting a.s.sa.s.sins, kissing women, Wow!

Sigh! Xing let out a heavy sigh startling them and no one noticed the glint in Rijun"s eyes that lasted for a second .

"What now?", Shengli asked gently rubbing her head.

"I thought I could be friends with my cousins. But I ended up making them hate me instead. Did you see how MingXue stood up for WanRou? I want a girl friend who would stand up for me too. I thought since women always are nice to me, I can easily make friends with them if I dressed as a girl. But I cannot understand why women hate me for no reason when I dress as a girl! Either they hate me or look at me weirdly like Shurei ", she pouted.

" Silly! That"s because they are jealous of you", Shengli patted her head, "You looked too beautiful today and that made them jealous and Lady Ming admires you! ", he said truthfully. Women are mysterious, they always like handsome men and when they see a beautiful girl, most women"s first instinct would be to hate her.

Xing looked at Shengli who was honestly speaking and sighed. Only he would believe that! Poor guy! His tastes are blinded by love!

" Didn"t I speak for you? ", Rijun questioned. He felt wronged. He even came up with a good retort back there.

"But you are not a woman! ", she said and then examined him from top to bottom, "Too bad! You won"t look good in female attire either. At least Seiren would be prettier"

Rijun covered his chest in response, "Stop clothing me in female clothes in your mind!", he shouted in embarra.s.sment making Shengli chuckle.

"Sigh! The last time I had a girl friend was when I lived in the water kingdom. She and I knew each other for only two months but we got along pretty well. I called her "Hana " because she always wore dresses with pretty flowers embroidery. We played many girlie games too", Xing reminisced. She had almost forgotten about her too!

"You? Girlie games?", Rijun asked surprised. Maybe his sister is actually a girl after all!

"Yes, we played games like, Who slides longer in the snowy slopes? Who stones more fruits? Who climbs higher in the pine tree? And similar other games.. Those days were fun but mother brought me to the wind kingdom. I had to leave even without a goodbye. Wonder what Hana might be doing now! She might have gotten married and have children probably. She was only a year older than me! ", Xing had a beautiful smile on her face reminiscing.

Rijun wondered which one of that games is even close to girlie... If those are girlie games since he cannot play any one of them, is he the manliest man out there? He wanted to bang his head to even think his sister ever could have acted like a girl.

Shengli chuckled, "Didn"t think there would be another one with similar tastes as you!", he cannot hold his laughter. But later when he knew who that person was he wanted to exterminate them from the face of earth. Well, that"s for him to know only in the distant future.

Just then a maid came and told Xing that little RuYang wants to show her the horses his grandfather had brought here. Xing was ecstatic when she heard that making Shengli go green. Xing happily followed the maid to the stables not before she told Xu mama to send some of that porridge to her father.

Only then Rijun realised Shengli"s jealousy extends even to a six year old boy and he decided to have a talk to save his head from rolling.

The three of them went to the stables and RuYang gleefully welcomed Xing and showed her the three horses his grand father had brought for them. Those were the war horses from the Sima tribe that Lord Huang had brought. He was interested in horses and it is said his stables had different types of horses. And he"d get some horses for his brothers too.

Xing who had greater affinity towards children forgot about everything else and went along with him. He was talking nonstop and Xing was just grinning making Shengli frown.

Xing was appreciating one of the horses that was date coloured as it got her eyes. Just then a black horse got spooked and ran wildly towards RuYang and that little boy in his panic stood frozen. There wasn"t much time to react as the horse was charging in high speed.

Just then,

"CALM DOWN! KNOW YOUR PLACE!",

Xing"s commanding voice was heard as she spoke in the Guyu language and the horse came to an immediate halt as if it was petrified.

Everyone was surprised as they don"t understand the ancient language and wondered how the shout could make the horse become docile.

Shengli smirked proudly as he knew stopping a single horse is nothing for her as he had personally seen her sending thousands of horses away and Rijun just shrugged, "So my sister can speak to animals too!". He had decided not to be surprised of his sister anymore. He would be more surprised if she acted like a mortal!

Xing then coaxed the scared boy and made him ride the same horse that scared him with her riding with him on the back. The boy seemed enjoying the ride and was laughing and talking with his adorable baby voice.

Rijun looked at Shengli who was clearly glaring at the little boy with his arms folded,

"So, you are jealous of a little boy but not going to say a single word to me who caused trouble for Mingxia today?", he asked mustering all the courage he had left.

Shengli looked at him with his jade green eyes focusing for a while and Rijun didn"t waver too as he did no wrong except being thoughtless,

" Why should I? ", he cleared his throat, " I know how you look at her and how she looks at you. If I say anything, even like "I trust you" or " Just be careful in the future", how would it be any different than what those women accused you of?", he said casually and resumed his staring on RuYang.

Rijun understood him. If he said "I trust you" then it would mean that he agrees that Xing and Rijun are not siblings but man and woman, since no one will say "I trust you" to a pair of blood siblings. Also if he asked them to be careful in the future, it might imply that he feels their feelings as siblings might change in the future. So he just let those accused of to deal with it and probably would never mention it in the future.

Wow! This guy! I should salute him for his trust on her!

" You should know I am not going to stop asking for her help in doing those works in the future but I will be careful not to let others speak ill of us. It would be a shame to not use that smart brain of hers and let it rot. I even think, If she agrees we could even make a law to accept her to work as a female official in the court. She is too intelligent to be hidden in a Manor", Rijun spoke openly and honestly. He even forces his additional works on her only to help her learn the workings of the government.

Shengli smirked and Rijun just continued noticing it,

"A strong woman like her... would be too much for me. I mean, I"d proudly proclaim "She is my sister" but I am not that strong or broad-minded to be able to have a woman more impressive than me beside me. I"d be pleased with someone who looks at me with adoration and admiration and thinks of me as the sky. Don"t get me wrong but only someone who has more strength and high self-confidence like you can stand beside an impressive woman like Mingxia and be not able to feel inferior ", Rijun spoke his heart.

Shengli chuckled lightly, " I can see now why Xing became closer to you in such a short time. You are quite similar to Yushen in your outlooks. He used to say the same thing. He also says that even though Xing appears casual, she has walls of defenses around her and anyone can cross those walls only as far as she allows and she never is guardless. Although I never had felt any defence from her but he"s sure of it. Also I am not that strong or confident. You don"t know because you"ve never fallen in love but in love, there is no higher or lower person and there are no status or wealth or intelligence or even fate that would mean a thing. There is only you and her and how much you love, understand and trust each other that would matter. Everything else will become secondary to the person herself once you truly fall in love", Shengli said that solemnly and just walked towards Xing who was dismounting from the horse leaving the perplexed Rijun alone.

Did he give advise to me? He actually spoke this much to me! He is awesome! He can cook, he is rich and he is perfect! Sister did choose a good man for herself! Rijun was happy. He was also relieved that Shengli is not holding anything against him and he can sleep peacefully.

Now it is time to pay a visit to that cousin of his who made his sister sick!