Xing tried to convince the Emperor but failed and he was too tired to argue with her and ended up sleeping in her couch and Mo Chen went out for hunting and Xing showed all her frustration with many words to Bai Li who just wanted to sleep.Xing just missed Shengli a lot that night. If he were here, he"d never stop her from what she wants to do but will find a way for her to do what she wants safely.
My Prince! You really are the man for me and I miss you a lot!
So what if she cannot have permission to leave, she"ll escape here. Once she enters the mountains, who can stop her? She decided to take Bai Li with her in this adventure and he agreed too as he had promised to protect her.
Xing went to sleep peacefully with that thought in mind and she had peaceful dreams. Bai Li got her an incense with some soothing flower fragrances and that brought her the memory of the colourful garden Shengli brought her on a date one day in the capital city"s Flower Festival.
"You are prettier than any flower here", he whispered in her ears with his arms tightly wrapped around her waist and he gently kissed the back of her ear and the hot breath of his on her made her ears go red... And her throat dry...
A pretty common phrase any man would say but when she heard him say with that deep, sultry voice of his, she felt something in the bottom of her abdomen making her entire body go numb... Not in a frightening or bad way but that feeling was so sweet and pleasant as she wished for more.
I miss you... I miss your breath on me... And your gentle voice by my ears...
Night went and morning came and Xing got herself cleaned up when she received another letter from Seiren.
Seiren had contacts with Lee Daejung because of his Zhong name. Lee Daejung was pretty fond of his maternal grandfather General Song and he liked the Zhong family as they were part of the same family who got separated by the split of the Kingdoms.
Seiren had met Lee Daejung in one of his travels and they clicked with each others as good friends. Xing knew of it because Seiren had blabbered it to her in one of his drunken matches they used to have but she never thought it was because of his Zhong name at that time.
Things always work out for her sake anyways!
Seiren had pa.s.sed a note to her with the time and place she could meet Lee Daejung. It was a restaurant in the capital city of Earth Kingdom tomorrow noon.
Xing went to the Imperial Study next day to tell the Emperor her decision as she have to leave tonight if she does not want to miss her chance. She also wanted to meet her father as it has been a while since she had met her father.
As she entered, she saw her father seriously discussing civil matters with the Emperor without even noticing her and sat quietly in a chair until they finished.
The Emperor saw her in deep thoughts and he could not help but feel bad. He was informed by the maids that she is not even eating and sleeping properly these days and keeps on reading the memorials like her life depended on it. Also she even wakes up in the middle of the night as if she had nightmares and never goes back to sleep again.
Bai Li was concerned that he started adding some sleeping drug in her milk and some soothing fragrances each night and it seems to work these past few days as she is resting well.
She really wants to get this over soon and leave this place!
Somehow the thought of her leaving someday gave a sharp pain in his heart but he took a deep breath and composed himself. Everyone must know where their place is to have a good life. She does not belong here even though her presence here comforts him.
The Emperor knew she"d definitely go along with her plans whether if he agrees or not and she is unstoppable once she gets to a decision. He had promised his brother to protect her and so he decided to go with her. Also he was curious as to how other kingdoms will look too. He had never travelled for long before.
Travelling is fun!
"Prime Minister Huang, zhen have decided to visit the battle field to see how the soldiers are doing. I"ll be bringing the Empress with me too", he informed AoTian and Xing could see her father stiffening up and she knew her father is extremely mad.
And does the Emperor just say that he"d be coming too?
"Father! You are here! I wanted to see you and here you are...! ", she gave a bright smile as she patted her father"s back and poured him a cup of tea in the table.
The moment AoTian noticed his daughter was there too, he realised he is going to have a tough day answering the officials of the court. AoTian has lost faith in himself as history has proved, in the battle between his daughter and him, she always wins in being stubborn... He is always knocked out cold... So he had painfully come to the conclusion to not fight with his daughter anymore.
But isn"t going to the battlefield really dangerous? Then again his daughter always looked much in place in training grounds with a sword in her hand than a banquet Hall wearing pretty dresses. And how dare a bunch of tribal women beat our men when his daughter can beat thousand men and women just like that! Screw those petty officials who think women don"t belong in the battlefield! My daughter is more worthy to be in the battlefield than any man there is!!! And let them see for themselves!!!
Xing saw her father"s expression changing and hugged his neck, "Daddy is the best! "
"Be safe!", AoTian stood up and patted her head, "So when are you leaving?"
"Today...?", Xing grinned making her father sigh.
Can"t they tell any sooner?
"I"ll make the preparations and you.... You don"t have any heirs yet! Remember that! ", he said pointing at the Emperor accusingly and left. After all the Emperor"s words are law and there is nothing they could do against him.
Some officials voiced their opinion against the Empress going with the Emperor and soon that was overturned too and the entire maids and servants in the inner palace were preparing for the Empress" departure with the Emperor and some concubines tried to join in the fun too but was blatantly refused by the Emperor.
"What are your plans?", the Emperor asked Xing who was reading memorials in the Imperial Study. She was a bit sad Shengli isn"t sending her messages anymore. But she calmed her heart because it was she who asked him to be careful. This is better!
"We meet brother Lee and then the Earth Emperor and make deals"
"That"s it? No detailed information or planning perhaps ?", the Emperor was confused. Isn"t it like checklist? How can one enter into another country"s territory without planning well?
"Ah, No! Don"t worry though, My plans always work... ", Xing rubbed her temples as she remembered how she lost to s.h.i.+hong before," Well, most of the times! ", she gave an awkward chuckle making the Emperor more nervous.
But she is the only one who can pull it off! It will greatly benefit the kingdom if her plan succeeds.
"What if the Earth Emperor doesn"t agree to our proposal?", he asked.
"Then let"s start a war with them too. Then we can have all their food products for ourselves!",she said nonchalantly. The prophesy said something about uniting the kingdoms as it was back in the days of the Scarlet Tiger anyway! If War is how it would happen, then so be it!
" But are you fine coming with me? There is a reason I don"t want to involve you in this", she asked the Emperor with her expression sombre.
The Emperor knew what she meant with the sadness in her expression, this is the war he was supposed to get hurt and die eventually! But that fate has changed completely and even though she is the Empress she is not his and he still does not have heirs yet. So he won"t die for now, right?
" It"s fine. I want to", he replied.
Xing had already got the jars he had ordered and she had everything set to meet the Earth Emperor too.
No one, not even her father knows the both of them will be going to the Earth Kingdom first before going to the battlefield.
So that evening when two extravagent carriages bearing the Emperor and the Empress left for the South, two casually dressed people, one in black and another in crimson male attires walked through the mountains towards the Earth Kingdom. Bai Li joined them too as he is the one who is supposed to transport them inside the capital city as they had no pa.s.ses to enter.