LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS

They pa.s.sed through a village when Xing felt like Shengli was there. Is it because I want to meet him I have a feeling he is so close? Xing wondered but stopped the carriage nonetheless.

Xing wanted to get down and Xu mama put that big hat with the veil on her but Xing wore the cape Shengli gave her and got down from the carriage. Saying that she wants to stretch her legs as an excuse she walked and somehow found that familiar footprints and followed it by stepping on it.

Xing followed the footprints to a small shed behind a house and suddenly she got grabbed by the wrist and was pulled in and she felt warm and suffocated by the tight hug and the familiar scent she missed for a month. Shengli hugged her for a while and took a deep whiff of her scent, "How did you know I"m here?", he asked in a deep sultry voice.

"I followed your footprints", Xing answered and Shengli was surprised and looked out to see hundreds of footprints on the ground similar to his. He had the habit of wearing the most common type of shoes whenever he"s out so that he won"t stand out any more than he already is and to make it more difficult to have someone stalking him. So how did she found his footprints among the hundreds of other footprints? Only she would know.. Or probably not.

"Why didn"t you inform me you"d be here?" Xing asked looking at that perfect face of her man. She could not help but admire the perfect specimen of the human realm looking at her with such love and pa.s.sion. His green eyes were sparkling and looking at her just the way she wanted to and his lips were smiling and his entire aura emitted tenderness.

Shengli was hugging her by her waist looked at Xing who looked much much prettier than ever. Was it because he didn"t see her for a month or is she getting more alluring each pa.s.sing day? Yes, she has changed... at least physically.. The softness he felt pressing against his firm chest is a proof!

"That didn"t stop you from meeting me!", he said. She had grown a little taller too. Her beautiful cherry lips seemed closer to his and easily accessible without him not bending much as she was looking up and her eyes were fixed on his lips too.

Before Xing realised she was ogling his lips that emitted blossom fragrance, his lips covered hers and Xing naturally wrapped her hands around his shoulders and let him take the lead. Oh! How much she missed this!

Xing came to her senses only when she realised his hands were fondling her chest and she suddenly remembered that letter he wrote and felt embarra.s.sed. She hit him hard in the head and he released her with a yelp.

"You rascal Prince! You are getting more and more perverted each day", she pointed at him. Shengli leaned on the wall and gave a smirk. Her entire face was red and her lips were much redder and slightly swollen by the kiss from earlier and she only looked much more adorable and alluring.

"You taught me everything, my moon!" he said and Xing didn"t even know how to reply him.

"How can you blame me? You were the one who first said all those adorable things on that day on my bed. I want to.."

"Shut up!", Xing closed her ears. It was true that day she initiated things and why is this guy bringing that up again! Gos.h.!.+ I used to be so forward! Now I"m a mess!

"You! What was that letter about, huh? I don"t write poems about such stuff for others to read right? You nasty, nasty scoundrel! " , she retorted and this time it was his turn to be fl.u.s.tered.

That night as soon as he got news about her disappearing, he forgot about the letter Seiren had and when he tried to find him afterwards Seiren had disappeared from the face of the earth for almost ten days.

So that darn peac.o.c.k did send that letter to her! See if I let him live!

"Xing!", his confidence he had till this time was halved, "I didn"t write that for you to read. It was for my private..", he tried hard to explain. Xing knew she had to leave now if she had to regain her dignity. She cannot be this little shy girl forever!

Xing didn"t feel weird about that letter, she herself has those thoughts anyway but what annoyed her was letting others get possession of it! He is the lone wolf for heavens sake! How can he be this careless?

"Don"t try to explain yourself", Xing faked anger and tried to leave the shed when she noted a conspicuous young man on the streets.

"Milord!", Seiren bowed in front of Xing not noticing Shengli inside the shed, "Save me!", he held her hands and his peach blossom eyes filled with tears immediately. Xing felt compa.s.sion towards this beautiful young man even though she knew they were crocodile tears.

Who would like to see a beauty suffer?

Shengli heard his voice and dashed out with his swords drawn creating a slight panic in the streets.

Seiren hid behind her as Xing stopped Shengli,

"Did you read it?", she asked. Seiren was her enemy but he is not someone she wanted dead and she respected him even. Also he is that old man"s favourite son. He cannot die for now unless he had read that letter. If he did, he must die!

"No! Milord! I didn"t. I swear on my ancestors grave", he swore solemnly. Xing looked deep into his eyes and he was looking at her as he usually would and if he had read that letter there is no way he could look at her that naturally.

Xing turned to look at Shengli who was burning with rage, "You cannot kill him",she stressed each word, "Uncle is waiting for me. I"ll leave. Meet you back home", she said and gave a mysterious smile at Seiren which confused him.

"Fine, I won"t KILL him", Shengli smirked and only then Seiren realised that she haven"t forgiven him but just saved his life. So what kind of punishment will he get?

Shengli left leaving Seiren troubled. Not only I won"t know what they"ll do but also I won"t know when I"ll get retribution? Cruel duo! Seiren cursed himself for unnecessarily involving in their private business.

On the way to the city her uncle joined her in the carriage and Xing was looking out lifting the curtains. As they crossed near the river Xing noticed General Huojin and Huang MingXue by the banks of the river and Huojin seemed to be fis.h.i.+ng while MingXue was cheering him. Xing who always liked love was happy seeing them together but closed the curtains immediately as she knew these old people always stand against young love.

Of course Zedong saw his niece with Huojin and his lips curled into a frown. He had known of this for at least a year and every time he brings this up with Lord Zhong he blatantly rejected the idea. This had always made Zedong wonder but Lord Zhong who never refuses the Huang family had bad opinions about MingXue and was not willing to accept her in his Zhong family. This is going to bring a lot of trouble, Zedong knew.

Xing entered her Manor and was welcomed by everyone. Rijun came and the first thing he did was check her height, "I knew it! You grew taller... Why are you the same height as me? You are like a tree! You won"t find a man..", he started rambling when AoTian stopped him and asked Xing to get to her courtyard to rest and asked Zedong to follow him to his study.

"Big brother! You put my daughter"s life in danger. Even my son hid it from me", AoTian was angry and shouted at Zedong.

"Your daughter? Danger? She made the chief leave his tent for her to stay! And what would you have done other than spreading the news that a Huang daughter stayed in a Tribal tent for a night?", Zedong fumed and AoTian shut up.

"I"d say arrange for her wedding. The sooner the better. Only that wolf can handle your willful daughter! She is just like our mother in getting lost and hard to handle than a two year old! She forgets to eat... Xiao Tian.. To eat.. I honestly wonder how she survived till now! ", Zedong sighed.

"That wolf! Why isn"t he here today?", AoTian asked surprised. How come he didn"t come here to welcome her?

"He met her this morning on the way here", Zedong said and AoTian sighed. He must be the first every time!

On the following days Xing usually wore female outfits surprising everyone and even Xing as she found it more pleasing these days. She didn"t use that dark face powder and hair colour changing oil and stayed home mostly letting out her natural beauty that only increased with each day pa.s.sing.

Shengli visited her in the mornings for sword practice and other times she stayed inside her courtyard doing something making Shengli worried. It must be because of her reading the letter, right? She"s being bashful like before and hiding from him, right?

Only Xu mama knew that she was trying to make a hand embroidered pouch for Shengli for his upcoming birthday.

Xing was wondering what kind of gift she should get him when Xu mama who had swore to make her young miss learn embroidery had put that idea in her head that men love things hand-made by their women.

Xing who had read the romance books Lady Zhong had given her knew what Xu mama told was true and put her entire efforts in making a perfectly embroidered pouch for her prince"s birthday.

Days pa.s.sed peacefully as the Martial arts tournaments were announced and the capital city was once again buzzing with activities.

Xing didn"t care about much of the happenings outside as she concentrated on making the gift and she helped her brother as usual too. She told him about her conversations with Chief Batuhan but Rijun had the same opinion as her. The returning of their lands for them to rule by themselves is impossible.

With the new government and a young Emperor, giving in to their demands would only make him look weak and pave way for other enemies to attack the country.

Xing visited the Zhong Manor once in a while and would make tea as usual for Lord Zhong and he"ll try to force her to learn war strategies and Xing refused vehemently. War is something she would never partic.i.p.ate and even if she did, she"ll be in the front lines fighting rather than staying behind in the tent planning.

Too much brain work!