News was received from Rijun that everything went according to plan with the Earth Kingdom and New trade agreements are made with the Earth Kingdom and Water Kingdom. The trade routes through the Quingze river to the Earth Kingdom, through the NanCheng pa.s.s to both kingdoms and also some naval routes through the western sea was also have been decided.On the day of Rijun"s arrival the entire court was in delight and Xing was sitting in the Dragon Throne along with the Emperor to welcome her triumphant brother who had successfully negotiated with those kingdoms and brought more opportunities for their Kingdom.
Xing made it a habit to join the Emperor to court once or twice a week to let the court know that the Emperor and the Empress are in harmony as it would greatly influence the stability of the kingdom. There were talks that the Empress was childless even though married to the Emperor for almost half a year but all of those shut their mouth after their great victory in the war and the biggest display of power by the Empress in the battlefield.
Rijun came in the court and bowed to the Emperor greeting him and then reported every dealings they had made. The Emperor commended Rijun for his efforts and announced the formation of Foreign Affairs Ministry in their kingdom that would solely work for relations.h.i.+ps between the neighbouring countries.
The Emperor also announced he would personally select the person suitable for the Minister of Foreign Affairs and those who will be working in the Ministry. Everyone knew Rijun is going to be appointed as the Minister. Some got jealous how lucky for the Huang Family to be successful especially Huang AoTian. He is the Prime Minister and among his two children one became the Empress and the other is always close with the Emperor and now he is going to become a Minister in such young age too.
Among everything else, Xing noticed her brother slightly unfocused as if he is worried about something. As expected, immediately after the court is finished,he came to meet her as she was waiting for him in the Imperial Study.
"I missed you, Mingxia", he smiled and Xing knew he is hiding something big.
"On the way, I was saved by a pack of wolves! A pack of wolves saved me from bandits who tried to attack! Suddenly they descended from the mountain and surrounded us.. We were worried but only then we realised there were a bunch of bandits trying to ambush us
... ", he raised his eyebrows and explained the Emperor the whole incident.
"That must be Pengpeng"s brother Mengmeng"s pack",Xing answered. The charm she gave him before would enable all the animals recognise him as her person and they will try to treat him as they would treat her. So they must have found out about the danger and come to his aide.
After he explained all the "sufferings" he endured on the way , he gave his devilishly sweet smile to Xing,
"Little sister! I received so much praises today. Even though I am the one who completed the negotiations, you were the one who paved the foundation for this tedious and impossible task. This big brother finds it abhorrent to let your works be unknown. So..."
"Never mind!", Xing was curt. She knew her brother is digging under her feet.
"But.."
"I"m fine"
"I"m not... I just want to..."
"No need"
"Have lunch with me. I have to thank you for this opportunity ..."
"I accept your grat.i.tude. I really don"t mind"
"But I.."
"Nope"
Xing looked at her pretty brother looking so desolate by her rejection. Xing remembered the last time he was this insistent was when he abducted her to write the Court Exams. Who knows what he is planning now?
I won"t fall for the same trick again... Mmmhmmm! Noopee! Never!
"Mingxia!", he held her hands with his eyes glistening with what seemed like tears surprising Xing, "Please, I need you to come with me"
Xing sighed deeply and her heart moved seeing her brother pleading and she changed to the attire of Lord Táng and left the palace.
As usual, she was brought to the private room in Seiren"s restaurant and Xing could sense someone else already in there.
She got alerted if someone is trying to get them both knowing they"d be there and was ready to summon the Divine Sword. But her brother was calm and he opened the door.
"I want you to meet someone", he said and Xing followed him in.
The person who was sitting there immediately stood up and bowed in front of her,
"Greetings, Miss Huang... I"m Kei Takano..."
"WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE, BROTHER?", Xing screamed at Rijun who winced by his sister"s anger towards him.
Xing was extremely mad seeing that sister of that Takans.h.i.+ guy who is the nephew of the dowager of the Water Kingdom, she met back in the Earth Kingdom here.
That filthy guy"s sister!
"Mingxia, she... She wanted to escape her brother.."
"So you brought her HERE?", Xing could not believe her brother would bring that woman who wanted to take Yukino"s t.i.tle of Empress here in her kingdom.
That guy was clearly working with s.h.i.+hong and now his sister is here and she is calling me Miss Huang? Just what is going on here?
Seeing her angry and shouting at her, Takano got frightened and took a step back and she tripped in her skirt and almost fell backwards when Rijun went and supporter her.
Xing saw how her brother is interacting with that woman holding her and helping her sit down and she realised something...
My brother is head over heals in love with that fox with a serpant tongue guy"s sister!
Really brother? You have to fall for this woman? As if there are no other women?
Xing rubbed her temples and did not know what to tell her brother. If he is going to ask her permission, she will deny it. Her brother is a bad person and how can she be trusted? What are her intentions to get close to Rijun now?
If Rijun was some commoner, it won"t matter. But apart from the Emperor, the one who is connected to the throne is her brother. Since Chenglie won"t accept the throne, if anything happens to the Emperor, Rijun would be the next in line for the throne the court will endorse as he is already well-versed in the affairs of the court. Huang family is the only other family with the royal bloodline and her uncles won"t agree to take the throne leaving Rijun as the only candidate. Chenglie was the one who told her that.
Is that why she is here?
Xing wanted to test her drive to escape her brother,
"If she wants to escape her brother, I can help her stay in the Crimson Jade Manor we have opened now, where she could stay and help others there too", Xing gave a suggestion she knew that woman won"t accept if her intention is just to escape her brother.
That girl... she looked pitifully at Rijun, whom answered for her, "How could you suggest she stays in an orphanage? She is a princess.! ", he was not pleased with his sister"s suggestion.
Xing scoffed, "So what? Isn"t she escaping her brother? She should find any place better than being with her brother, right?", she spoke calmly. That should be the case if she actually despised her brother. Gu Lufen did the same. She was willing to stay in a shack because she wanted not to return to her kingdom.
" MINGXIA! "
The angry roar of Rijun surprised Xing and she knew her brother is far gone.
"Is she a stray puppy you want to raise, brother? Are you going to adopt her as your sister then? It is fine by me! ", she scoffed.
"I am going to marry her", Rijun was firm making Xing clench her teeth.
How stupid of him! This cannot be allowed. This will cause many negative impacts.