LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS

As they reached the Manor they were welcomed by their Uncle who was all smiles seeing her, "My niece is really good at being stupid. Who in their right mind would start a commotion in the Heavenly Flowers Palace? You must be really lucky to get back alive", he continued on to chide her and Xing rolled her eyes. Why do people even bother shouting at me? It"s not like I"ll stop doing it in the future!

That night Xing had dinner in her room and Shengli visited her with his usual smile and some sweet buns that he used to buy from an old man in a stall near the Imperial Palace. He noticed that she hadn"t eaten much and only some vegetables and less than half bowl of rice.

And so she was lectured by him for several minutes and then he fed her until she finished every thing in her bowl. Xu mama complained that her young miss does not care for her health and Shengli gave another lecture making Xing wonder that after her mother pa.s.sed away, her role of scolding has been pa.s.sed to many people and everyone thinks they can scold her for some reason. Do I look that weak?

Xing just shrugged off their scolding saying that she is strong and had never gotten sick before and she"ll never be sick making Shengli sigh. She never learns!

Shengli prepared the milk for her as usual and told her how he might leave for days to have a look at the Eastern Province, especially the lands owned by her for a.s.sessment. Even though he got reports that Lord Chu is not doing anything weird than cleaning his rafters and bursting firecrackers to scare off the birds, he would be relieved only when he looks for himself.

"You are always leaving! Take me with you! ", Xing pouted. She does not like the idea of him leaving even though he had explained everything.

"Your father won"t allow you to leave here! Also it would be inconvenient for you to travel for long distances. It"s a boring job that needs to be done so secretly and patiently. It won"t suit you", Shengli explained. Stalking and observing is never her forte. She"d do well when you just have to barge in and attack. And with s.h.i.+hong losing against her, he"d be like a provoked snake and will attack any time. It is better if she stays inside the capital where it is safe for her.

Xing thought about it too. She really cannot sit in a place and watch what a single person is doing for hours. That would be boring. So let"s leave the boring jobs to Shengli. But, won"t my sickness act up if he is not here? What should I do?

"Are you feeling fine? You look a bit pale", Shengli asked placing his hand on her forehead. Seeing his concerned look with furrowed brows wanted to make Xing, tease him.

"I"m not fine", Xing sniffed, "Everyone"s scolding me these days and even you", she rubbed her eyes and covered her face with her hands and made sobbing noise and even her pet.i.te shoulders were shaking.

Shengli knew she was acting but still he cannot hold still and he tried to look at her face but she lied to her side on the bed and continued to sob making his heart go to mush.

"Don"t cry, Xing", he spoke with his voice trembling, "I won"t scold you again... It"s just I was worried you are not eating healthy.. You only eat sweets and won"t eat meat and...", in his panic he had started to lecture again.

Xing who was acting realised he had started his lecture again and started to sob more loudly, " You *sniff* broke your *sniff* promise already..."*sniff*, she continued to act and Shengli could not bear anymore as he felt thousand knives were stabbing his heart. She"d been acting weird lately, is crying another thing she"d learned recently? She never cried before! I must have really hurt her!

Shengli knelt beside her on the bed and forcibly pried her hands open to see her biting her lips trying to hold her laughter. Her entire face was red as she had pressed hard with her hands and she looked so... adorable.

"You, sly kitten!", Shengli held her hands above her head and she tried to wriggle out of his clasp but couldn"t.

Xing saw the deep clear emerald eyes looking unwavering at her and she felt her strength all gone and her heart was beating like it would burst any moment," Let go", she said meekly and it was barely audible even to her.

"Sly kittens should be punished!", he gave a flirty grin and straddled on her so that she won"t be able to move.

"Shengli, don"t", she tried to speak but it only came out as a whisper making his eyes grow more intent.

"Don"t what?", he asked interlocking her fingers with his and held her hands firm over her head pressed on the pillow.

Xing could feel the warm sensations that started from her fingers and palms spread throughout her body. His face that was close to hers had an evil grin that said he was pleased and wanted more and his warm breath that intertwined with her breath made her face become hot and she wanted more too. With the little strength she had, she tried to shake him off but his grip didn"t loosen.

"I"ll shout", she protested and he just smiled slyly. Xing who had lost to him completely wondered how he can make her surrender to him like this? But she did not hate this feeling at all.

Seeing her flushed, Shengli gently kissed her lips making her flinch.

Xing felt a mixture of emotions she couldn"t understand but one thing she was sure of was that she did not want this to continue as it is dangerous as she may not be able to hold back and break the promise she made to her father.

Xing tried to shout to call for Xu mama but before she opened her mouth, his lips crashed on hers and he kissed her deeply.

Xing got completely immersed in that kiss and didn"t even know when he had released her hands but when she came to she was holding his defined jaws and he had wrapped one of his hand around her slender neck and another around her waist and she felt like all the air was sucked out and her chest felt heavy.

Shengli still wasn"t satisfied as he traced his lips through her chin and down to her neck making Xing alert. "Enough!", she shouted and pushed him away.

Shengli who had got deeply invested in kissing her jolted back to his senses by her shout and let her go. This really was dangerous!

Xing got down from the bed and drank some water to compose herself, "Let"s not meet inside anymore", she said clearing her throat.

Shengli still had an accomplished smile on him seeing her face still red, "Let"s not", he chuckled. He really didn"t want to ruin his chances to get on the good side of her father now.

"Zhong family", Xing said suddenly making Shengli confused, "He"ll come for the Zhong family next. Ask Seiren to be alert" she continued.

Shengli knew the "he" she mentioned is s.h.i.+hong and his smile froze on his face. Why is she remembering him now?

Shengli stood up and walked towards her and hugged her, "My moon! Don"t think too much about him. Just eat well and be happy, OK? I"ll take care of everything and update you. It might take a week or more for my return. Wait for me", he kissed her hair.

"Just be safe, Shengli! No matter what, be safe. I"ll wait for your return", Xing hugged his waist and placed her head on his chest listening to his hear beat. This is the best sound in the whole world,she thought.

...

Rijun only met the Emperor the next day after court and he could see he was really tired.

"Your Majesty, this lowly.."

Before he continued the tired voice of the Emperor interrupted him, "Oh! Cut this childish behaviour, Rijun. I"m too tired to even fight with you", he slumped on the table.

"But this lowly one is only following the protocols of this place, your majesty", Rijun answered bowing. He still was angry at the Emperor.

"Fine", the Emperor banged on the table, "It"s your win! I won"t mention your sister again", he glared at him.

Rijun smiled at the Emperor only then and he walked closer to the table, "Here", he placed a white jade belt and a fine silk handkerchief embroidered with a beautiful dragon.

"What?", the Emperor asked confused.

" My father made a belt for me and so as usual made one for you too. Honestly I don"t understand why I have to share everything with you even though I am an only son", he sighed but he was really happy to share with him.

"The kerchief was made by mother for you"

"Mother?", he asked surprised.

Rijun bit his tongue knowing he slipped up, " Actually it was Táng Jia Xing"s mother. Apparently your brother talked a lot about you, so she made one for you too. She made your brother a robe", he added.

The Emperor happily received those gifts and immediately his tiredness dissipated. Having a mother wouldn"t be bad he thought, he don"t even remember his mother. This Rijun has it all, a loving father and a family! Even my brother found a woman to spend the rest of his life with! He sighed.

"So how is the situation in the West?", the Emperor asked.

Rijun explained how everything is going according to the reports and the n.o.bles are fearing the laws and are trying to be honest.

He then explained in detail his adventures in the biggest brothel of the Kingdom and the "words of wisdom" of Seiren.

"I almost got picked up by a Fox", Rijun bragged, "But that Lord Táng interrupted"

"Really? An actual Fox Demon? You saw one?", the Emperor asked surprised and Rijun nodded.

Rijun looked around, "What happened to your Eunuch Xun?", he asked. He never leaves the Emperor"s side unless he was pushed away.

"I punished him!", the Emperor replied nonchalantly making a s.h.i.+ver run through Rijun"s spine. The Emperor never let anyone harm that Eunuch till now as he had been taking care of him for long. So what made him punish him suddenly? Emperors really are scary and no one can know what"s in their heart. So even though he thinks me as a friend it would be better for me to keep a distance from him.,Rijun thought.

"By the way, find a way to get Lord Táng to write the court exams", the Emperor said making Rijun sigh. Didn"t he say just now that he won"t speak about my sister?

"Why? She is a girl and she cannot attend court even if she wants to. What use is it to make her write the exams?", Rijun asked. What has he planned now?

"It does not matter", the Emperor looked at Rijun firmly, "She promised me and she"ll have to keep it"

"But didn"t she asked to be excused from that promise before?", Rijun asked. He really didn"t want to talk to his sister about it.

"Yes, but I didn"t agree. So get on it", the Emperor spoke his piece and started to look at the doc.u.ments making Rijun freeze on his spot.

Ever since he had decided to be the Emperor, he is doing this sometimes, forcing others! Mingxia has no interest in writing the exams or meeting the Emperor. The Emperor has no idea of letting her go! This is a big problem! But why am I in the middle of their squabbles?

.....

It"s been five days since Shengli had left for the Eastern province and Xing was bored to death. Thankfully their trip to Caijing had made work pile up and her brother brought it home for Xing to help.

On the sixth day Xing got an invite from the Zhong Manor for her and so she went there in the morning. Lady Zhong wanted to spend some time with her and she complained about her two sons to Xing and wanted Xing to join her for shopping as Lord Zhong never takes her anywhere and how miserable she was without a single daughter! All her complaining ended up reminding her mother for Xing and she was bored and she ended up sleeping beside Lady Zhong.

For some reason, Xing found herself more tired these days and she couldn"t wake up early in the morning like she used to and she feels tired and sluggish most of the time. Is it because I miss my Prince? Xing wondered.

Xing was happily napping on Lady Zhong"s bed when a loud voice and a hard slap on her back woke her up and her head started hurting, "Brat! Wake up! Sleeping this early in the morning. Young people these days... ", the Oldman was rambling on and Xing who was p.i.s.sed by the rude awakening pulled hard on his beard making him shout in pain.

Lady Zhong heard it and entered her room and she started to advice Lord Zhong to treat Xing as a girl and no matter what, he cannot hit a little girl. She even called him a brute making Lord Zhong tongue-tied. Since when did his wife became this honest with him? Wasn"t she always be proper and nice to him?

"If this brat wants to be treated as a girl, let her dress like one", Lord Zhong refuted and soon both of them entered into a verbal battle.

Xing who was the reason those old couple were fighting was still nodding off. Even Lady Zhong found it odd for a perky girl like her being this dull and inactive.

Soon it was time for lunch and Lord Zhong sat beside Xing and filled her bowl with the meat.

"Eat brat! Only if you eat well your mind will work well! Don"t eat like a sparrow!", he kept on topping her bowl with food and Xing ate too much that her stomach felt like bursting.

Xing who was still feeling dizzy felt better only after she made and drank tea as the Oldman pestered her. As she felt a little better, Lord Zhong took her to the training grounds to watch the men training. Xing was surprised by the harsh training those who joined the Zhong army had to go through and knew why the Zhong army is always the best army in the kingdom.

Xing felt a hateful glare at her and looked on that direction to see General Zhong staring at her. She just waved her hands smiling at him and that made him more p.i.s.sed off and he looked away. Of course Lord Zhong noted it and called General Zhong to his side.

"Hey brat, want to have a match with my son?", he asked.

Xing perked up hearing she gets to have a sword match and so the match between Xing and Huojin.

Lord Zhong even asked those who were training to watch the match too. Everyone knew how good Huojin was with sword and when they saw scrawny Xing as his opponent, they thought that the one with the orangish hair has no chance of survival.

But only on the twelfth move Huojin"s sword flew away and Xing had her sword on his neck surprising everyone. Only Lord Zhong was not surprised.

"If this was a battlefield my son would have died how many times over?" Lord Zhong asked the trainees. Xing who was not in the mood to show off tried to sneak out but was caught by the Oldman.

"Three", General Zhong answered a bit ashamed. Not only he had lost to a girl, his father is making it an issue too.

"Nine", another one said surprising everyone.

"How can you say?", Lord Zhong asked that soldier curious. He had already figure it out.

"This... This young master is trained to use the sword in both hands. He even hides hidden weapon in his boots. Even though he didn"t use those weapons, he gestured as if he was using it", he answered.

Even Xing was surprised by that person"s observational skills. She always trained this way with Shengli, not only with the weapon in hand but also the hidden weapons. Xing always uses speed as her technique and to be able to deduct this in the speed she fought , he should be good.

"What is your name, young man? ", Lord Zhong roared.

"This one is called Lin Bingwen" He bowed.

"Fitting name", Lord Zhong was satisfied.

Then Lord Zhong asked her to fight with her left hand with another bunch of soldiers and Xing handled them with ease too making everyone in there wonder what kind of person is the one they are training with.

As this was going on, Xing noticed Shengli arriving towards them and all she wanted was to jump at him. But she was in the middle of other people and dressed as a man and it would be inappropriate, so she held herself back.

" You are back! I thought you"d return only tomorrow",Xing asked Shengli and she could not hide the happiness in her face and her hands were unconsciously holding his.

"Yes, I finished early", he smiled back, "Are you training with a bunch of men?", he asked with undertone. He looked around to see those men in training uniforms and none of them were close to his skills or beauty and so he didn"t feel jealous.

Just then five men with halberds in their hands came and asked to have a match with them. Shengli said that they were the top halberd weilding experts in the Zhong army and Xing got curious and she accepted their challenge.

So Xing stood in the middle with a sword in her hand and the five men with halberds formed a circle around her and the match began. Shengli and Lord Zhong were standing side by side and watching.

Xing skillfully deflected their every move and for those who were watching, her movements looked like dancing.

Xing almost got a hold of their techniques and was about to go on offence when she felt her heart beat raising too much and her breathing became hard and before she could do anything, the world around her darkened suddenly and she began to fall on the ground.

Only the painful shout of Shengli was heard by her, "Xing!".