LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS

The Emperor looked at Xing and joked, "Weren"t you named after the bright red clouds at dawn, Mingxia?"

Xing looked at her father who was having complex emotions on his face and nodded at the Emperor. Somehow her heart felt uneasy.

Just then something more amazing happened. As the sun rose, the clouds formed the shape of a tiger and with the golden rays of the rising autumn sun, the cloud looked like a golden tiger!

"Look at that there is a golden tiger in the sky!", someone shouted and everyone looked at the incredible sight. It was so beautiful and vivid. So incredible that anyone artistic looking at the sky would have an uge to immortalise this event by painting it on a paper. Not that there is anyone who could perfectly reproduce the fabulous art nature had painted!

Tiger has always been a.s.sociated being a "Protector" in their kingdom and gold was a.s.sociated with the Emperor. The people who were already excited that the puzzle have been solved after two centuries were more thrilled to see another beautiful sign on the sky.

"The coming year would be prosperous"

"With the coronation coming, these auspicious signs are proof that our Kingdom will thrive!"

Every one were optimistic and happy and celebratory, except two. Xing looked at the sky and her hands trembled and her eyes moved to see Shengli who was looking up and he didn"t look good either.

Xing felt various emotions when she saw the obvious golden tiger on the sky and it looked like the G.o.ds were mocking her, looking down at her from above saying, "Mortal! Do you have a say in your own life? "

Xing was not stupid as to not realise her life was different from others as she had realised there were many coincidences in her life from her father to her friends. She knew it but she had refused to acknowledge it. She knew the elder who told her about the star wasn"t babbling and the texts that the Emperor showed her were possibly about her and if what Shengli told her about her being able to manipulate wind is true, then is what he wrote in the letters would be true too? Should I really have to stand by the Emperor"s side whoever it may be?

Even now Xing didn"t believe the G.o.ds want her to be the saviour of the Emperor or the Empire. They must have a hidden agenda than the welfare of the kingdom. Otherwise they won"t try to corner her with signs in the sky. Just what do they want?

All these thoughts made Xing completely pale and she didn"t even hear all the celebratory noises out there and her eyes were fixed on Shengli who was as pale as her.

The Emperor was standing by her right and he turned to her and said, "Mingxia is the Golden Tiger... Nice demonstration from the G.o.ds! Such a glaring... "

But seeing her complexion pale and her eyes filled with sorrow he paused his words. She didn"t even seem to listen to him as her eyes were on his brother.

Xing with no other thought than to get to Shengli, jumped down from the stage and walked towards Shengli. Seeing his emerald eyes that had lost it"s l.u.s.tre, Xing could guess that he had the same thoughts as her.

Xing didn"t know what to say and as she stood by his side, he looked at her and she could see his face was aghast. He had nothing to say either.

As they stood looking into each other, the crowd was cheering more and both of them snapped to look at the sky to see the tiger in the sky becoming a phoenix.

Xing felt like she was falling into an abyss that had no bottom - her heart was beating fast, her throat had become dry, she forgot to breath for some time and Shengli was in no better position.

Anyone with half a brain could see what was the intended message from the G.o.ds. They are letting her know her place. Her place is to become the one they want, the golden tiger- to stand by the Emperor"s side as the Empress!

WHY AREN"T THEY LEAVING ME ALONE!!!

Xing wanted to scream and she felt weak in her knees and her entire body went cold. She felt utterly helpless for the first time in her life. Is this going to be my fate?

Xing took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down but it didn"t help. But when she saw the dest.i.tute looking guy by her side - the one who had done so much for her without even thinking about himself, the one who had spent the past ten years to protect her putting himself through h.e.l.l and sinking into darkness, the one for whom she is everything, Xing knew she should be the one comforting him this time.

If she felt this sad, he"d be feeling at least twice her sorrow. She couldn"t even imagine the pain he is in.

Xing pulled herself together and intertwined her fingers with his and she could feel his hands were colder than hers and she flinched a bit touching his cold hands. She held his hand with both her hands and stood on her tiptoes and whispered in his ears,

"My Prince! Remember my promise that I belong to you heart, body and soul? I meant it. This lifetime or in the next lifetimes, I swear you will be the sole holder of my heart, my body and my soul. No one can change that, not even them", she pointed the heavens.

Well! They can lead the horse to the pond but cannot make it drink the water! I will decide my own life!

Shengli looked at her dark eyes s.h.i.+ning with tears in them and the beautiful smile that reached her eyes. Only she could have that mesmerising effect on him.

"I know", he said, holding her hands tighter within his. Now is not the time to be disheartened. He had always had an idea that this would happen. He had been preparing his heart for this for years. Yet when the sign clearly appeared confirming his doubts, he could not help but feel despaired.

She might not have believed everything said about her, but he did. He knew she"ll end up in the palace. He knew the only way for a woman to enter the palace is by becoming the Emperor"s woman. He knew! He knew!

He knew when he saw the mark on her back eleven years ago! He knew when she saved him from the pond! He knew when s.h.i.+hong was searching for her! He knew when she Manipulated wind at the burning library! He knew when he learned she is the Prime Minister"s daughter! He knew when everything she does, connects her to the affairs of the kingdom! He knew everytime she mentioned the Tians.h.i.+ Emperor! Even now when she solved the puzzle, he knew!

Still he let his brother become the Emperor! Still he tried every way to prevent that from happening! Still he tried to change fate! Her fate! His fate! Nothing worked! Nothing!

My moon! I"ll still try! I will not let you become a p.a.w.n of the game these G.o.ds play!

He looked at Xing who was staring at her intently, "What?", he raised his eyebrows.

"Take the throne", she said. From her serious expression, he knew she wasn"t jesting.

"No!", he said curtly. That"s the only thing he will not do even if she asks him. Even if he"ll lose his everything he"ll not take the throne. This decision is for her too! His own decision!

Xing looked at the resolute eyes of Shengli and didn"t force him. He won"t change his mind. Also, Her own blabbering mouth had promised that she"ll serve the Emperor as her Emperor. She cannot break her own promise. If she breaks one of her own promise, then all the promises she had made will become worthless.

While these two were in their own world, the Emperor who was watching the sky gasped and took a step back when he saw the tiger turning into a phoenix. He did want to have her by his side but not like this! He thought he had feelings for her but was it even his own? Or was it the plan of these G.o.ds to make that his fate? He was not so sure anymore. But one thing he can be sure of is, he had already taken the Empire from his brother and he will not take his woman too. That would be the most disgraceful and the most disgusting and inhumane thing he could do. He will not do it nor does he want any part in it! If her becoming his woman is what"s going to save his kingdom, let the kingdom be ruined! He cannot bend to the will of heaven when it is against his own wishes!

While the three of them composed their hearts by deciding to fight against their fates, the elders weren"t that impressed by everything happening around them too. If it was someone they could at least see, they can fight against them but how can one fight against G.o.ds? And fate?