Xing didn"t care about anything and spoke what was in her mind.. As usual! She remembered her father accepting her with no proof just with a hairpin and a dress while her prince"s father sent him out of the Palace in shame refusing to acknowledge him as his son .But her undiplomatic statement made Lord Zhong perturbed.He had called the previous Emperor worse than this right before his face but her calling a dead father "trash" in front of his son who is the Emperor when he was already not pleased with her family,.... isn"t it trouble? Also Lord Zhong is no fan of these youngsters disrespecting elders and those who had pa.s.sed away! He is still the Great General who had been loyal to the Empire and has served three Emperor"s in his lifetime.
But looking at her who really had a disgusted expression and with her dark eyes s.h.i.+ning and had no fear in them as if the highest place of the land she is standing now is her playground and he realised, "Even if she acts like a docile house cat most times, she is still a tiger"
Lord Zhong looked at the Emperor who had no change in reaction and he decided to change the situation.
"Brat! That was in the past. Now he can accept the t.i.tle, can"t he?", Lord Zhong asked Xing who was ready to leave.
"Oldman! How would he put me and our children through such an ordeal by revealing that he is the exiled Third Prince when his paternity was doubted?", she waved to leave.
"But.. ", Lord Zhong tried to say it had been a long time and people would have forgotten about it but Xing interjected,
"Oldman! People still say my father is your son", and that shut Lord Zhong up and she sighed and turned to leave.
Yes! It"s been more than thirty years and people who gossip, still swing their tongue without conscience. She is right. After all, rumours only have to be interesting and need not have an ounce of truth. And that boy do love her beyond comprehension and it is possible that he would take such decision for her.
Lord Zhong who had noticed the ambiguous glances the Emperor unconsciously had on Xing and felt it would bring more trouble and wrong on many levels,
"Brat!", he called and Xing looked back, "Do not come here alone anymore", he said with an unreadable expression. He knew that the Emperor is aware what of what he does and he just wanted to avoid future meetings of them both so that his feelings may not develop further.
Xing snorted like she was saying "as if I would" making Lord Zhong relieved.
" Come to my Manor and make tea for me before you leave for the South. Lady Zhong misses you too", Lord Zhong waved his hands.
Xing paused her steps, "South?", she asked confused. When did she decide to leave for South again?
"AoTian didn"t tell you? You"ll be leaving to pay respect to your ancestors in Huang ancestral home with your First Uncle. Shengli agreed to those plans too. He didn"t tell you either?", Lord Zhong was confused.
The mention of Shengli knowing this too made Xing"s heart strings tug. She just gave a bow and left the study and walked where her feet took her in deep thoughts.
"Lord Zhong", the Emperor stood and called him, "I consider you as an elder and you can advise me directly in the future. As for that matter, I know I am in the wrong and I will collect myself properly and organise my feelings. I have no intentions of fighting for a woman with my brother", he spoke sincerely.
Lord Zhong understood him and nodded in approval, "Good then! Someone sitting in that throne cannot be muddled!"
Of the two Emperors he had served before this one in front of him is entirely different, he felt.
Lord Zhong then informed him about the reason of his visit was to get his approval on the Martial Arts Tournament that year and both of them discussed about it.
Lord Zhong bowed to leave when the Emperor suddenly asked him,
" Lord Zhong, I recently found some texts about the "Divine Ruler" from seventeen years back..... So, did my father really kill those children who were born seventeen years back?", the Emperor"s voice carried a deep melancholy and his green eyes were looking at him pleadingly. Lord Zhong was shocked at first by the mention of Xing and wondered what he might be planning but soon he observed the Emperor who looked hurt and got relaxed.
This one is different alright! Always wearing his heart on his sleeves. Is this a good thing though? Everything is handed to him and does he know about hards.h.i.+ps? Lord Zhong sighed looking at the "Son of Heavens" who owns everything under the sky looking at him like a hurt little boy, Well! He is a little boy, Lord Zhong thought, He is only a little older than Seiren.
Lord Zhong got closer to the Emperor and spoke in a gentler tone, "Your Majesty! What"s done in the past cannot be changed nor you can be held accountable for what the previous Emperor may or may not have done. It is better to look forward for the future",he looked at the paper lying in the table with words written in the Guyu language and pointed at it,
"So what are you going to do about this, your Majesty?"
The Emperor took the paper and rolled it back neatly,
"I"ve already decided to not follow my father"s footsteps. If this text says I"ll have to kneel before this Divine Ruler, I"ll gladly do it for the sake of this nation. Besides, I don"t want to die miserably like my Imperial father . I mean, I don"t know about public toilets but I bet it would smell like his room did. When I met him, even with all the incense and other fragrances, his room stunk. Disgusting! What"s the point of trying to have everything under your control in life but in your last days you could not even hold your... ", only Lord Zhong"s harrump stopped the Emperor from speaking further and he rubbed his nose in embarra.s.sment that he lost his bearing in front of an elder.
The Emperor bit his tongue in fear that he"ll be lectured by Lord Zhong again but was surprised to see him looking at him with admiration.
For the first time in his life, Lord Zhong bowed with reverence in front of an Emperor and not out of obligation and turned to leave. His lips curled up to give a smile of satisfaction.
If it was some other time or situation, he"d have despised those two who talked about their elders like that and deemed them unfilial and mannerless ingrates. But those two gave him an undeniable hope and feeling of satisfaction. A feeling of new beginning....like Zedong said, the Emperor is surrounded by many impressive people who have similar goals and aspirations and only good things should come out of it.
Lord Zhong felt like with his limited life left, he might not be able to see what amazing things they will do but his heart was pleased knowing he"ll be leaving this world with no regrets or worries about the kingdom he and his ancestors had protected for a thousand years with their blood and sweat.
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Xing who was walking out, felt like her life is not in her control anymore as more people just decide what she must do and she has no other way but to follow.
Since when... Since when did everything change? Xing suddenly remembered what Haru used to say, "the fate of a motherless child".
Xing"s heart clenched with pain, Mother! Why did you leave me alone here? I was happy wandering around when you were still alive, but now..? I don"t even have a say in where I stay.. You know mother, I"ve stayed in three different manors in the past two months with all the luxuries but I miss sleeping in your lap back home...
You know how you used to scold me "You are just a child", mother? Now everyone is saying I"m divine ruler, golden tiger, someone who"ll end the four families, young miss... It"s like I"m not a child anymore, mother! I miss you dearly....
True... There are many people around me who love me genuinely but even hundred of them cannot replace one you,mother! Even you hid a lot from me mother! Why? Why can"t I be normal?
And my Prince... The only one whom I care about dearly, seems to not care about me enough to open his heart to me! It is not a good feeling mother, what should I do? I want to run away...! I want to turn back time...!
Xing who was brooding, reached the gates in her first attempt surprisingly and she could see Shengli at a distance in the teashop. He was reading a letter in his hands and the distance didn"t help Xing in knowing his expressions. She tried to wave at him but he didn"t notice her that surprised her. This was the first time she had seen him this distracted around her.