LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS 253 Manipulation

"We need to talk", the Emperor said entering Xing's tent the next morning as she was half-heartedly eating breakfast.

"Oh!", Xing was unenthusiastic in her reply and she pushed the half finished bowl aside. For some reason she could not eat or sleep from the previous day.

"You..", the Emperor was taken aback by her ghastly look completed with the dark circles under her eyes. He has never seen her this desolate before and he felt back for her... Even when she learned that she cannot have children, she wasn't this sorrowful!

"I don't know why I said what I said yesterday but I'm sorry... I...", he didn't know how to explain but he wanted to talk about it and explain to her now he only thinks of her as his friend and sister-in - law. .

Bai Li who was staring intently at the extremely guilty look of him placed his hand over the Emperor's forehead as he was sitting in a stool in front of them and even though the Emperor was weirded out by his gesture he was still focusing on Xing for her reply.

"Why won't you take Chu Weiye in?", was her reply which made him sigh, although he could understand her sentiments on why she is pus.h.i.+ng Weiye forward. She would be the safest bet for the position of the Empress but as his wife, would she be suitable?

" That night I went to meet her and have a talk with her... That's when..", the Emperor explained everything he heard of the conversation between the father - daughter pair.

"So, a girl wants the position of the Empress to improve the status of her family... What about it?", Xing wasn't fazed.

Isn't that how it is always been?

And she could guess at least this much about Weiye. But becoming Empress doesn't automatically improve the status of her family when her father has nothing and no one likes him and when there is Xing herself who'd stop the rise of Chu Yixin and there's her father who is his enemy too. If Chu Yixin could play against her father and could rise in ranks, then she'd say Chu Yixin deserves it! But that's not going to happen.

"Mingxia... , I plan on having children with one woman to my liking and then make her the Empress. I don't want to have the fight between brothers from different mothers for the throne after me since it is an inevitable tradition in our Lu family. So... can't I have a say in choosing the woman I want to have kids with, Mingxia? ", he spoke frankly the plans he had for his future and tried to get her understand his position. He had made these plans after careful considerations.

"How naive are you? A woman who has no liking for the Empress position but willing to have children with you? ", Xing chuckled,

" Haven't you realised yet? There won't be someone like that! You should have known by now anyone approaching you must have some hidden agenda to further their own benefits. Your brother and I... We are no exceptions either...! At least with Weiye you'd know where she stands", Xing shook her head as she was not polite with her words,

"And blood brothers fight too! What if as you said to me previously 'Accidents happen in the Imperial Palace', your sons from one woman got erased? Who'd succeed you then? Isn't that why there are always more women in the Harem and Emperors want to make more sons to make sure at least one survives? "

Bai Li was still holding the Emperor's head with both his bands as if he's looking for something and the Emperor who got the honest reply of Xing got mad.

It is true what she said all makes sense. But can't I have a little hope at least?

"You are a selfish p.r.i.c.k, aren't you?", he patted Bai Li's hands away, "Just to get your wish to be with my brother answered, you won't consider anyone else's predicament. And what did Chu family did to you for you to hate them this much? You want that white lotus on the Phoenix Throne because you know it is made of thorns, don't you? And don't you dare talk about my children! ", he pointed his finger at Xing with his face red of anger.

" So what if I do? ", she scoffed." Her family deserves any punishment I give them! And who is the one who wanted to save the Chu family? Just take her and have kids with her. That's the only way to save the Chu family now. Only then the G.o.ds will let them go! And no one wants you to have many healthy children than me. It serves my purpose..! "

" You.... ", the smug face Xing had made the Emperor really mad. True, he wanted to do something back then with the Chu family but he failed. Must she bring that out now?

"You selfish, arrogant, pompous, self-serving hypocrite! What made you think that I might have some feelings for you? I hate you! I hate your pompous a.s.s! That day at the carriage, you were eating your hair and I was merely trying to help you and yesterday, I don't know what demon possessed me to say those things I regret saying. I have no idea how my awesome brother fell for a conceited person like you! ", he shouted at her and exited the tent angrily. His entire face was flushed with anger and Xing could feel his hate for her at that moment.

The Emperor reached his tent and drank a cup of tea and composed himself. She really riled him up and he realised why she did that only after he calmed down. He rubbed his temples as he contemplated,

Huh! I actually said that I hated her! Would she feel bad? Nah! She'd actually feel better that I said that I hated her! That's how much she loves my brother...! Good for her! And my brother!

The moment the Emperor exited the tent, Xing sighed and sprawled on the bed,

" Bai Li, what should do? I really don't like this! I know I am the reason for his suffering and I don't mind if he hates me as long as he doesn't fall in love with me... "

Her smug tune was replaced by a worried tone. She can accept his hate but not his love. Her love is meant only for Chenglie and only he is allowed to love her in that way, no one else!

" You riled him up to make him hate you? ", Bai Li scoffed," That's not going to happen".

Xing looked at Bai Li and seeing her devastated looks he continued, " Did you by chance think that the 'Trials of Love' are simple? Your life... It is open season for the G.o.ds now. Anyone can do whatever to spoil the love between you and that boy and it will be well within their rights to do so as you've agreed to go through the trials"

"What?", Xing sat up, "Are you saying that the G.o.ds are interfering and that's why these are all happening? Can G.o.ds really manipulate human thoughts?", she was astonished by this. So this is why no one succeeds the trials!

"To some extent... They can twist the feeling one has, a bit but not entirely reverse it. In your case, he loves you but not in love with you. There is only a fine difference between that and they could manipulate it. But I think he is actually jealous of you and can't wait to get rid of you"

"Really?", Xing didn't know what to say. It is fine if that is the case. Or could it be not fine? Will he lose his mind because of these manipulated thoughts and end up doing things that might be regretful?

"Don't worry too much! This Lu boy has an amazing self-control. If not, he'd have forced himself on you or at least tried to..."

"Oh, shut up! Bai Li! How could you say that? ", Xing interjected.

Seeing her uneasy look, he wanted to get his point across to her, "G.o.ds are not that weak, la.s.sy. And if they tried to manipulate thoughts, it won't be that easy not to indulge in it! If only you were not his brother's wife, he'd have taken you for himself. Brute force is not the only way to take a woman, there are other ways too. So if he really wanted you, he'd have found a way to take you"

Xing agreed brute force is not the only way to take a woman.

"Because he loves his brother the most, he could control his thoughts... He is aware of who I am even though he loses it sometimes and doesn't dwell on it. Got it!", Xing smiled.

So the Emperor is not bad as she always knows and he is not really in love with her which is really a good thing!

Xing's mood got elated when Bai Li actually helped her. So the G.o.ds must be trying something along the line too... Let's see what they can do!