LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS

Previously when they blamed her with Rijun, it was because of her ignorance. But this time, she was really lost and she herself thought she was being held as a hostage. How could they blame her now? But then again, Gu Lufen was kidnapped too and she refused to go back to her family knowing she"ll be blamed. So this is how this world works - unfavourable to women.

She used to not bother about these things before. But now with Shengli beside her, she felt awkward that she"s being blamed for something she didn"t do, won"t do ever. What if he started to believe these people, think like these people? What if he thinks I"ve lost my reputation too?

Shengli looked at her deep in thoughts and poured her a cup of wine, "You are over- thinking again, aren"t you?"

"I... I thought I was a hostage that day!", she said after taking a sip of the wine, " I slept in the Chief"s tent because uncle was with me. The chief slept in his grandmother, the priestess" tent. Did I write you that? ", she looked at him with her eyebrows wrinkled. She decided to lay it all open and talk it out now rather than being held back that might lead to a bigger misunderstanding later.

Shengli had a confused expression, "Were you scared?", he asked in a gentle tone. Of course he didn"t mind the latter part of her speech as those were minor details. She"s changed these days and thinking that she"d been held hostage might have scared her.

"Why would I be scared?", Xing asked confused.

Yes, why would she be? Shengli contemplated and realised both are thinking different things. He looked at her, and she was all worried biting her lips and then it stuck his brain. Usually when a girl gets lost, she"d be accused of getting tainted in the n.o.ble circles. That would be used to break engagements and it makes even divorces easy.

Shengli sighed deeply and he got mad and flicked her forehead,

"Silly girl! Did you become stupid breathing the air here?"

Did she think I"m dumb not to understand the predicament she was in? It was a fault letting her learn all the abhorrent practices that are followed in the name of "culture" and "etiquettes" that are beyond rationalities here. Did I make her feel insecure somehow? Dumb girl! Since when did she start to care about what others think about her? Shengli chided her in his heart.

Shengli was looking at her angrily and she wondered why. He even called her stupid. He never did that!

"Why are you angry?",she asked.

"Why? You are asking me why?", he looked at her and she was really looking at him blankly, "Are you trading your Intellect for your beauty? One is increasing and the other one is decreasing!... At an alarming rate!... When I heard you were lost and headed in the direction of the Sima Tribe with whom you have a bad blood with, do you think the first thing that came to my mind was your trifling reputation? What do you think of me? Idiot! Dumb girl! And who cares where you slept?... How could you even accuse me like this? I even cut your hair! Listen to me, you moronic kitten.... What I care when I see you are only these things! ", he bent before her as she was sitting and he grabbed her shoulders,

" Are you happy? Are you safe? Are you in love with me?... These are the things I care about... Nothing else! Remember it well! ", Shengli looked at her and Xing could tell from the way his emerald eyes were looking at her that he was really angry and felt betrayed that she did not trust him enough.

Xing saw his nose flaring and eyes a bit red out of anger and as she understood what he meant, she was really happy. As far as she could remember this was the first time he had lashed out on her and what"s with his words... He had implied that she is getting more beautiful and how is that an insult? He is calling her, Moronic kitten? Xing started to laugh out loud and that made him more confused.

She stood up and hugged him and he let out a deep sigh and hugged her back, "My moon! I may get jealous from time to time but I would never doubt you, not even in the corner of my heart or end up believing what others may say about you!", he said kissing her hair.

"I know", she said and, " I"m not sure about me though. I might end up doubting you", she said looking at him and he pursed his lips, "Still I won"t doubt you and if you doubt me, I will prove my loyalty to you!", he smiled. He looked so serene and pure and Xing felt like she was little in front of him, in front of his love.

"You are stupid", she said shaking her head. He always have to love her more making her guilty wondering what has she ever done to deserve this person"s love and what she could do for him in return!

At that time Xu mama informed Rijun was outside and she went out.

"I could hear you shouting at my sister in my courtyard. What was that about? You thought you could bully my sister? ", Rijun asked Shengli with his chin raised as Xing made a crying expression at Rijun as if she was actually bullied by Shengli.

Shengli turned to her side to see her acting and glared at Rijun, "It was all you! Stop teaching those weird customs of the n.o.bles to her. She is getting dumber each day!", he shouted at Rijun and left in a hurry.

Rijun looked at Xing who was laughing and asked, "Is it okay? He is leaving angry", he wondered if he talked too much. He knew Shengli would be the last person who would hurt his sister.

"Leave it, he"ll come around", she shrugged it off. After all for Shengli, she is the one important person and he loves only her. Xing knew that perfectly.

Rijun and Xing were drinking tea and he was casually chatting and Xing could not find any clues as to why he was too happy these days. Her father had asked her to find out if he had someone in his heart as he could not find it by himself and pa.s.sed on that "good deed" onto her and she was intrigued too.

"Are you in love?", Xing asked bluntly as usual and she was met with a pair of eyes that clearly accused her of mental instability.

"Are you crazy?", Rijun asked.

"Father wanted me to find out why you were too happy these days and he thought you might have found a girl to love", Xing pushed all the blame on her father as any good daughter would do.

Rijun then explained about Xing"s mother"s letter explaining his name and also the fact behind his adoption had eradicated his deep rooted worries and he felt light and happy these days. Xing was happy even though she preferred some other big reason. Guess for some, learning about their past can be this liberating. She was glad she had actually helped her brother.

"Brother, with war approaching, has the arrangements for weapons and iron are made?", she asked. Even though these kind of things are confidential, her brother always tells her things.

"Mingxia! Do you know? ", he whispered, "The Emperor has made a vast reserve of weapons in the past four years. The only thing he was interested in from the beginning was collecting enough weapons rather discreetly".

Xing just nodded and she was not that surprised. He is a smart one and of course he predicted the war!

" And First Uncle had arranged for the horses too. And guess what, with the Chu military handed to the Emperor, he had decided to make the winner of the Martial Arts Tournament the Commander of the Imperial Army", Rijun informed.

Guess the preparations for war are going on smoothly, Xing thought. But that brought back what happened at the restaurant that day and she sighed. Rijun asked her why and Xing explained what happened at the restaurant to him.

Rijun snorted, " Both are fools! Can"t our Cousin see how our family is protecting their daughters? With MingXue staying with Shengli, she is naturally protected from s.h.i.+hong. And you... No need to say. As for WanRou, it is said married daughters are splashed waters and once she gets married she"ll be a Sima Tribe member. Even now, the Chief will protect her as she is going to be his wife as it is their culture to do so. And even s.h.i.+hong won"t mess with the Tribal people as their protection is the best. Mingxue is really stupid to see this! "

Even Xing who hadn"t thought about it this way nodded in agreement. This sounds like something her uncle would plan. Shengli definitely won"t protect WanRou so it is best that he found someone else who would protect her without backing out.

And after that Rijun told her how the second young miss of the Ran family went missing and many people are saying that she eloped with a guard or servant. But Lord Ran insists that she is home and is under medication as she had contracted some illness that made her weak.

Rijun said that with Lord Ran"s involvement with s.h.i.+hong and with the martial arts tournament in a few days, it should be the doing of s.h.i.+hong to force Lord Ran to do something. At least Shengli believes so and so the security of the capital city is greatly increased.

Rijun asked if Xing would join the Martial Arts Tournament and Xing refused. She was not looking forward to the Martial Arts Tournament but the coronation so that she could leave the city and go to the west with her prince. He had promised to take her to the sea sh.o.r.e and is building a Manor for them there after all! Who cares about wars or abductions or s.h.i.+hong?

Rijun who chatted as usual wondered why Shengli seemed to think Mingxia had gone dumb. She seems pretty sound to me!