LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS

But he felt stupid for trying to help her after he got reprimanded heavily by Xing for leaving her vulnerable in the bath and wondered since when a mere human could shout at the Prince of the Fox Clan but accepted her criticisms and he was sent to silently guard the Emperor.

Su Yunxi walking with Xing seemed to be in a agitated state as if she wanted to know something but was feeling hesitant to ask. Xing saw her opening and closing her mouth without saying anything with her eyes darting and her thoughts elsewhere, from the corner of her eyes and decided to clear the air.

" Your husband thought I was a man and walked inside the tent while I was bathing and he wants you to not know" ,Xing told the truth as she didn"t want to be misunderstood. Only after telling her did she remember she kind of promised her husband that she will keep it a secret.

But... Screw him!

" It"s an accident... That man with us said the Divine Ruler is a man. But I"m sorry that my husband still didn"t realise you were a female after watching you... You are clearly a woman!", Su Yunxi spoke hurriedly in behalf of her husband as she knew what a big trouble he put himself into, all the while resting her eyes on Xing"s chest. Xing could sense a little longing in her eyes and realised that Su Yunxi is flat-chested and Xing got reminded her of her old days of being flat-chested and she grimaced.

What should I do to comfort her.... ? Nothing, right..? And why did Chenglei told them that I am a man? Xing wondered. That guy is always a mystery and why did he bring him here, if he came to kill his brother?

"How long are you married?", Xing wanted to know if they are just married recently judging by their interactions.

"Two and a half years....", she replied and that surprised Xing. But she thought there might be a legitimate reason for that Prince Kang to keep her at a distance. He seemed to be someone who think twice before acting but he is stupid too.

Xing realised Yunxi"s mood has dropped and was willing to drop that topic., "He really loves you a lot", she said and Su Yunxi paused her steps.

"He hates women!", she said in a low tone. She seemed like she needed a friend.

"I.... Don"t think so...", Xing chuckled. That guy will devour her if he wants to, judging by the way he looked at his wife. Xing was familiar with that kind of look of a man that contained love and l.u.s.t mixed together.

"He didn"t want me... Su family is a disgraced family in our kingdom... I was forced on him by our Emperor to show his power. No man can accept that... A strong-willed man like him,never will... He"ll never accept me... ", her eyes were on the ground and her thick lashes hid her eyes and her emotions. But Xing could tell she was about to cry and she didn"t know what to do.

That idiotic man! Letting his wife cry! He doesn"t deserve a wife! Will he die if he revealed his heart to his legally married wife? Stupid! Xing cursed Prince Kang in her heart.

" Look at me", Xing grabbed her shoulders and made her look at her and her clouded eyes looked at Xing, "He loves you. Trust me, I can tell these things. Just be patient, he will treat you really well", she said and before she knew it, Yunxi hugged Xing burying her head in her chest and Xing hugged her back while she sobbed for a while.

"Thank you", she said after composing herself and Xing nodded with a smile. She was ecstatic that these days she could have more and more women who don"t mind to be friends with her.

But Xing could not help but think that the brother she read about in her fate didn"t have any woman by his side and as far as she read, he didn"t marry and only fought in wars and played those game of the court politics. So has the fate of everyone really changed? If so, it is a good thing!

Xing reached Seiren"s tent to see Maya calmed down and gotten cleaned up with Seiren serving her porridge to eat. She asked Su Yunxi to stay outside the tent for a moment as she felt like Maya would spew hateful words at her for destroying her father"s legacy like a sand castle being washed up by the waves.

Still she decided to face the music.

But contrary to her expectations, Maya knelt in front of her and thanked her.

"Your highness, thank you! You protected my father"s legacy!". Her reaction perplexed Xing as she felt like it was wrong.

Okay! Care to explain? Xing thought.

" He... That filthy person... He changed everything my father built... He ruined my father"s legacy. My father"s legacy was not just the lion in the bow of the s.h.i.+ps but the honour, dignity, integrity and courage he taught the soldiers and the ones who he served with. My father definitely wouldn"t allow the unlawful and demeaning acts against women of the nations he captured much less the women of the nation he was on ceasefire with! But that sc.u.m and those who plotted with him to bring down my father... They... ", Maya"s dark eyes looking at Xing who was perplexed had a mixture of emotions.

" You saved my father"s legacy, your highness! ", she gave a kowtow, " By destroying that abomination of a Navy that still bore just the Arsalan name yet didn"t follow the principles of Marvan Arsalan, you have actually saved my father"s legacy! "

Xing"s heart skipped a beat by Maya"s outlook. There are people who strive hard to protect their family by any means necessary and in that fight to protect the name of their family, they lose the principles their ancestors tried to protect. But Maya...she is someone who stands on principle! She doesn"t even mind the destruction of her family when their core principles are compromised.

She is better than me! Xing thought. I used to have principles... Just three and I broke it all...!

Xing gave her hand to her and made her stand up, "Maya! Oh, Maya! You are amazing! ", she hugged her.

Oldman! We won another war and Seiren found himself an awesome woman! Won"t you like her to be the next lady of your Zhong family? I know you would... Your son chose well!

Xing closed her eyes and patted Maya"s back," You are a strong woman!", she said. Xing really believed that.

"More than you?", Maya asked surprised. The one who sank hundreds of s.h.i.+ps just like that is telling me that I am strong?

"Absolutely!", Xing smiled. Xing knew she was no where as mentally strong as her. Even after she lost everything, she held onto her principles. Now, that is strength!

"So...", Maya bit her lips and contemplated how to speak her decision while Xing looked at Seiren for information but he was as clueless as she was.

"I"ve decided to leave..."

"What?", Seiren who was silent till now, voiced his shock interjecting Maya.

"Where?", Xing thought may be she will return back to her kingdom possibly to rescue her sister, in case she was willing to provide a.s.sistance.

"Somewhere... Anywhere... I"m used to being alone this past year. I"ll continue to.."

"Not allowed!", Xing looked at Seiren, "Bind her for all I care. She should be brought to our capital city"

"Mingxia... ", Maya was reluctant to speak.

"If you want to rescue your sister...", Xing offered to help.

"No!", she raised her voice, "Never contact her! She sold me to that old perverted Emperor to protect the Arsalan name and to help that sc.u.m. She will definitely try to get back at your country for killing her beloved. Let them think that I am dead! ", Maya was sure if it. She won"t put those who helped her in danger.

"Then do you feel like you are betraying your kingdom by accepting our invitation?", Xing wanted to know the reason.

"No... My loyalty was with my father and with him gone, I"m not bound to serve that kingdom that repayed my father"s loyalty with betrayal. I don"t consider myself a citizen of the Sky Kingdom anymore especially after the punishment they gave me".

Xing could see the clarity in Maya"s eyes and could say that she is extremely honest.

"So, you"ll belong to our kingdom then.... If you are worried that you"ll be treated differently in our kingdom for your appearance, I have a solution for that. That"s it! No more discussion!", Xing proclaimed and looked at Seiren, "Guess, you"ll have to convince her more!", she shook her head.

He still haven"t convinced her to marry her? What a sluggard! To be the second best playboy in the country unable to make a woman totslly fall for him... What a waste!

"But...", Maya looked down and Xing saw tears dripping down her eyes, "I have no value for you anymore...". She now has nothing to her name... How could she be worthy of being the bride of the Lord of the most prominent family of the wind kingdom?

"Okay, what? What is she saying?", Xing asked confused." What value...? Aren"t we all humans? And listen!", she grabbed her shoulders and made her look at her, "A respected Oldman once told me... You know, it was his father actually", Xing raised her chin at Seiren and Maya looked at him with his eyes filled with love and care for her. For some reason now, she could not face him. He has seen the worst of her and still tried to act like he didn"t see it or he didn"t care. Won"t he doubt her credibility and her loyalty in the future?

"Maya, that Oldman, the greatest warrior I"ve had the honour to know, told me to go to battle and fight with all my might if need arises. And after the battle is finished, he told me to forget everything that happened in the battlefields and go home and be happy! He was right! You"ve finished your battle and now it is time for you to go home and have a happy life forgetting the past. So come home with us!",Xing smiled at her and Maya broke down in tears. She felt like she"s gotten a second chance in life and she decided to utilise it for her happiness.

Xing who advised her realised the wisdom in those words too. She is in the verge of finis.h.i.+ng her battle. Once she finishes it and wins, she will forget all the troubles and the bad decisions she made in the past and start a new life with her prince just like she had always wished for!

Soon Su Yunxi joined them too and the three women started to drink wine together. Seiren was skeptical of Su Yunxi but seeing Xing acting chummy with her, he felt relieved and left the women alone with their talks about men and other feminine stuff he wanted no part of and left the tent..

When he left, they were discussing how the Emperor of the Wind Kingdom is the youngest and the most handsome Emperor they had seen and then it went to various other things.

Seiren was happy that Xing could convince Maya this easily when he couldn"t make her to open up to him. He was a bit jealous that this woman stealer is too close to his woman but felt happy that Maya has a strong support in their kingdom in her. He knows Maya"s life as Lady Zhong in their kingdom won"t be that easy but since Xing said she has a plan for her, he trusted her and wished for the best.