LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS

Yukiko refused politely and Xing was skeptical to be anywhere near that pervert and refused too. But Ayane didn"t take no for an answer and pulled Xing by her foot and made her fall into the water.

Entirely soaked, Xing decided to have some fun too and Yukiko still stayed outside with only her feet dipped in the water in a slightly cool temperature that was perfect to contrast the hot sun.

"Yukiko is brother Jung"s sister... Half sister exactly. Another one affected by my beloved father. Her mother had to escape my father"s clutches because he didn"t want his brother to have another heir. She settled in Water Kingdom and Yukiko was raised as a commoner there. She is good at medicines. We only knew about her recently and we have met only once before and arranged this meeting then. But surprisingly you are here too", Ayane introduced Yukiko to Xing.

" Yep, I was a commoner, raised as a daughter of a local physician and then I married a son of carpenter in my village, who turned out to be the lost Prince of the Water Kingdom and here I am, the Empress of Water Kingdom ", Yukiko smiled," I"ve seen you with a sword that day when you guys saved those women from a distance. I never would have believed you are a woman if Ryuga didn"t swear on his life. You were breathtakingly astounding that day", she was genuine with her eyes bright.

"Ah! You praise me too much, Empress ", Xing was fl.u.s.tered being praised by an elegant lady like her.

"Please address me as Yukiko. It makes me feel younger even though I am already twenty one when you guys are younger", she smiled closing her mouth with her sleeves and her eyes curved up to beautiful crescents.

"Okay then Yukiko... ", Xing blushed red.

Ayane rolled her eyes at Xing, "Mingxia! Don"t be fooled by her elegant act. She is actually more local than a barn rat. All her elegance is all act... Act... Unlike us, she has a mother-in-law who is the Dowager Empress and she is a monster... Her face is made of stone and her tongue has the venom of serpants and she has the claws of an angry cat that scratches. So she had acted this way for long and she acts everywhere around too. She herself said that to me... Yukiko! Are you acting in front of Mingxia to impress her? You are such a hypocrite! She is my best friend, not yours. She became my friend first. So get lost with your chameleon act! ", Ayane pulled Xing"s right arm," Let"s go there"

"How dare you?", Yukiko"s delicate voice has now become deep and menacing, "She likes me more, she didnt even liked to get to the water, you are the one dragging her. So let go of her!", she gritted her teeth and pulled her left arm.

So Xing was there in waist high water with two women pulling her arms in either side fighting for her and felt like flying in the sky. The scorching sun right above her head felt like a honey dripping moon and the cold water she was in felt comfortably warm.

Finally!!! Finally, I have girl friends!!!

Xing screamed in her head. But unknowing to her there was a pair of eyes watching her.

Yukiko pulling her left arm noticed the bracelet she was wearing and was impressed. "This is really pretty" she said with her eyes widened.

After the fire in her previous courtyard, Xing always wore the bracelet Chenglie gave her and always kept the Dragon hairpin with her.

Xing explained to them how the bracelet the Tians.h.i.+ Emperor used to propose to Empress Shu ended up with her and felt oddly content seeing those slightly jealous reactions of her very new friends.

But hey! I"m the lucky one!

"Hey, Yukiko! Kiss her, kiss her", Ayane held Xing"s head and shouted at Yukiko, "If you kiss her you"ll have a boy within a year. Come on, quick!", she gripped Xing"s head hard.

Yukiko blinked, "Isn"t it supposed to be done the day before the wedding? I"m married for five years and so It won"t work"

Xing who was boasting of her luck moments ago felt dejected being treated like just a lucky charm.

She got out from Ayane" s grip, " Did you try to kiss me for that? If you want a baby you should find a man. You know no matter what I do, I cannot make you pregnant, right? And why are you trying to recruit Yukiko on your crazy boat? Isn"t she already pregnant?", Xing shouted.

I am not a lucky charm! I have feelings, okay! And you are hurting my feelings!

" Are you pregnant ? ", Ayane was happy as she closed her mouth with her hands," It is amazing! "

Yukiko nodded her head blus.h.i.+ng and she was amazed too when Xing continued, " The baby must be almost five months old right? Another five months and you will have a boy! ", Xing was happy. Bringing a new life is awesome!

"How... How did you?", Yukiko was surprised. She was hiding it pretty well till now even from the women in the Harem and the dowager . So how did she?

"I can see your son in your belly", Xing said. Like the time when she could see sound, she could actually see the child inside her belly, "However....", she sniffed her clothes, "There is something wrong with your clothes. Shouldn"t you change them?", she asked. There was a weird smell that Xing could not put her mind on. But it was not a good smell, she was sure.

"My clothes?", Yukiko"s face paled but she composed herself, "I"ll go change it!", she stood up.

"Hey kiss me", Ayane who didnt understand what was happening asked Xing what she wanted.

"Go ask Yi Kwan!"

"He wouldn"t"

"Get naked in front of him. Men usually.."

"Utter failure. He pretended he didn"t see me! "

"Sheer fabric underwear... Partial exposure is more s.e.xier than full.."

" Tried... He covered me with his coat and sent me to bed"

"Wow!", Xing was speechless. " You are not that bad, I"ve seen you naked.... So there is only one reason for that.... He likes men!"

"Come on", Ayane went to despair.

Meanwhile,

The men who went fis.h.i.+ng were on the other side of the water falls and through the cave behind the water falls they heard everything.... Every single thing they were talking.

Yi Kwan, "..."

The two Emperors "..."

But their look clearly said what they were thinking, "Please don"t attack us"

"I like women", Yi Kwan said. Seeing them still not convinced, he continued, "Will you be able to accept someone who you thought as your little brother suddenly became female and told you that they have feelings for you?"

"Oh", both of them said in unison. That does make sense.

They could still hear sounds from the other side,

" I"m going to drug him and I"m going to violate him to my heart"s content"

"No... No...! There is nothing I hate more than making a man take responsibility for something he won"t do sober. No...!"

"Does he really hate me?"

"What did he say?"

"He likes me but not like that... "

"Move on!"

"He almost kissed me one night when I pretended to be asleep"

"What?"

"I got too excited and opened my eyes "

"Drug him.... There are certain drugs that won"t affect the cognitive responses but just give courage.... Drug him!"

"Really!"

.

The two Emperors hearing., "..."

"We don"t try to kiss our brothers", Water Emperor said.

"Well.... I was too drunk...", Yi Kwan was red with embarra.s.sment. That woman can bring shame to me with her shameless behavior! Would it kill her to shut her mouth for once!

"Get to a decision soon! It is not nice to be indecisive in the matters of heart", Kouki said.

"I know!", Yi Kwan agreed.

On the other side,

Yukiko changed her clothes and she was wearing new clothes and came back and joined their discussion.

"Just sit and talk... Everything will be resolved", she advised as the big sister she is.

" He has cotton stuck down his throat. He won"t talk to me about his!", Ayane sighed.

"Just stay away from him for a while. Prove to him you"ll be fine without him. He"ll definitely get jealous and come to you", Xing whispered.

"No way! What if he just leaves knowing I won"t need him?", she was scared.

"He won"t! Trust me!", Xing was sure. Staying by her side has already become a habit for him. How could he suddenly change that?

"Explain your side to him and ask him for his feelings. Just talk to him without resorting to such childish methods.",Yuriko repeated.

The three of them talked for a while and Xing and Ayane went to the place where the water falls while Yukiko was sitting in the side in deep thoughts.

Her green eyes that were bright till then started to become cloudy and she held back the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes,

"Will it happen again? I really wish it doesn"t", she mumbled holding her slightly protruding belly.