Xing gave a victorious smile to her brother shaking his head at her knowing these tricks were all done by her somehow.Oh, My dear Sister! What a way of self-preservation! You have managed to turn the hearts of an entire court towards you with over - exaggerated tricks! Now no one would bother to speak against you fearing the retribution of the G.o.ds!
Xing thought all that"s needed for a comfortable, worry free life in the inner palace without having to bother her father each time,
have been met and she could leave this place that made her look down on everyone. She felt it to be extremely uncomfortable seeing her family and even the Oldman looking up on her. Also her body didn"t feel good either.
Being on a pedestal sucks!
" Isn"t this too much of a show?", the Emperor whispered so that only she can hear and she just shrugged,
"To have an easy life, nothing is too much"
Xing didn"t want to get comfortable in her role as the Empress but at the same time didn"t want to be unnecessarily suffering either. After all, she is supposed to help the kingdom somehow, so it is necessary for her to live in peace, right? Those old officials talking against her would bring her headaches... Not happening!
Shengli saw the reaction of everyone in the court and knew everyone will think twice before talking back at her or giving her a hard time.
Then the Emperor gave her the Phoenix Seal that is the authority she has as the Empress. Then a right red Cloak was brought that was the Emperor"s gift to her and everyone in the court gasped in surprise seeing a majestic golden Tiger embroidered in the cloak and not a phoenix or flowers as it would be gifted to women.
This cloak conveyed the Emperor"s intentions very well... Only those who were involved would understand the meaning behind it.
"You are not my phoenix. You are the Tiger who are going to be by my side, aiding me..!"
Xing gladly accepted the cloak.
"This is the second tiger symbol you are giving me, your majesty! ", she smiled. The white tiger token given to her and this cloak... I must keep the promise I made to him, Xing decided.
"Can you top my gift, Mingxia ?", he smirked. He knew she never asked anyone to make anything in the past days and there is no way she could have prepared something better than his gift, right? This is the cloak made with the most expensive, softest and smoothest silk, approved by Lord Ming embroidered by his wife... There is not another one like this anywhere!
"Well...", she shrugged with a mischievous smile in her lips raising her eyebrows. For those who knew the both of them it didn"t look any different than them engaging in some kind of verbal banter but for other onlookers they looked like they were openly flirting with each other in front of the entire court.
The to didn"t knew of the thoughts of others and What the Emperor didn"t know was Xing doesn"t have to look far for whatever she wants....
Xing turned and looked at Shengli who had curious expression in his face too. She didn"t tell him what she was going to give the Emperor either.
Just then everyone gasped and started mumbling among themselves seeing what the Empress" Head maid is bringing in as a gift...
"Seriously....?", the Emperor didn"t know what to say... Is this even allowed? He thought for a moment. Then again I"m the Emperor, I could make that decision if this is allowed or not ...
"Don"t panic! Let"s see how much you trust me!", Xing said in a calm voice. She really wanted to know how the Emperor would react.
Shengli didn"t have much reaction as he was used to her taming animals that aren"t supposed to be tamed even from childhood.
Yep! That"s right..! Untamable animal....! In the Audience Hall...
Bai Li was walking a black panther with a gold collar and no leash to hold it, walking inside the Audience Hall. The majestic cat that stood two and a half feet tall with his emerald green eyes proudly staring ahead, that had the gait of the domineering cat he is, making everyone s.h.i.+ver.
General Huojin got defensive and Seiren rolled his eyes while Lord Zhong just patiently watched everything happening around them. AoTian and the Huang family didn"t show much reaction as they knew of her abilities to control animals.
Some old people in the court felt like fainting as they have been exposed to shock after shock... A little too many for a day or truthfully saying... for a lifetime.
Xing felt an extremely dark aura emanating from the first row and saw her brother looking at her with a deadly glare...
Oops!
Xing remembered how her brother begged her to get him a grey wolf to raise when he was with her in her hometown and she refused saying "Wild animals are to be left in the wild!".
"Sorry brother", she apologised with her eyes. She almost forgot about it. He"d feel like I"d betrayed him!
"Hypocrite!", Xing could hear him shout in his head. How come I cannot have a wild animal but he can? Everyone is partial towards me... Rijun was fuming.
Xing was thankful she was standing with the Emperor on the platform because she was sure that if she was somewhere else, her brother would have split her head open with his trademark knock.
Xing just patted the head of the black Panther and directed him to the Emperor, "Your Majesty! He doesn"t need a leash and he will not hurt humans. I got him for you because it reminded me of you with his dark fur and emerald green eyes... I haven"t named him yet. You can name him whatever you want".
While everyone was looking with their eyes peeled for any misfortune to happen, the panther just rubbed his head around the Emperor"s leg leaving his scent over the Emperor as if he is accepting him and then stood beside him like an obedient little house cat.
"How adorable!"
The Emperor was amused by the panther"s behaviour and he didn"t feel any fear towards it.
"Mo Chen... Let"s call him Mo Chen", he said rubbing the panther"s head with his hands.
"Your Majesty! You cannot have such dangerous animal around you", General Zhong Huojin voiced his disapproval.
As usual that vile woman thinks she can do whatever she wants! Detestable woman!
"Son! The Emperor is protected by the G.o.ds. What could a mere animal do to him?", Lord Zhong stopped his son. If this was someone else he"d have worried as he knew no matter how much you tame, wild animals will only be wild animals. But the one who gave it was that brat! If she cannot be trusted who else can?
Xing could see her brothers face brightening up for a while when Huojin talked against the Emperor having the Panther but darkened when Lord Zhong shot that idea down.
And so Mo Chen, the black panther became a member of the Imperial household. The Emperor at that time didn"t know that the panther would be his loyal companion for years and would stay by his side until he died of old age and give him great comfort.