LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS 391 The Banquet Honouring Zhu Rong

The next day, Prince Kang and his private personal "accidentally" rescued the Envoys from the Wind Kingdom from a group of bandits and they were given temporary residence in Prince Kang's villa inside the capital city. At least according to the official report.

Xing and Chenglei stayed in the villa for a couple of days and Prince Kang specifically asked them to stay inside and Xing had no other way than to comply. Chenglei was keeping himself busy with some official business and he kept everything under secrecy while Xing was reading the novels from the Fire Kingdom and both of them met each other for meals and stayed in separate rooms.

On the third day, they received an invite for an Imperial Banquet for the yearly Festival honouring G.o.d of Fire, the patron G.o.d of their kingdom.

Apparently that banquet will go on for the entire night and all the guests will be given accommodation inside the Imperial Palace.

"This feels....!", Chenglei mumbled as he read the invite. He still remembered how the G.o.d of fire tried to attack Xing back in the Jin Manor and he didn't want to be somewhere that G.o.d would be honoured.

But he knows they have to attend the Banquet if they want to finish the issue in their hand quickly and return back.

His brother asked him to finish everything without getting out of hand and possibly peacefully especially since she'd be hot-headed and won't care about anything .

"If not, " the Emperor said, "There will be war between the three kingdoms and the Fire Kingdom and we will win if she stands in the front lines without much loss on our side. But still.... Keep her away from war."

Junjie seemed to really care for her and he agreed with him. He also don't want a war right now.... He wanted to get married during peace times.

Xing was getting ready wearing purple palace attires and that dress had many layers to it. The lower part of the skirt had peony embroidered in crimson and gold and her s.h.i.+rt and the collars were embroidered in gold with pearls fixed on them. The gold was subtle as it was embossed and only glimmered when light reflected on it. The dress came with a silk shawl as well.

Since her dress was so gaudy, Xing chose to do her hair in a simple way with a moderately large hairpin and some scattered pearls on her hair that were given by Mazu when she visited her.

As she finished her simple make up, the maids who were helping her stood there rooted to the spot for an entire minute as they admired her beauty and soon their admiring look turned to pity making Xing confused.

Is there something on my face? She wondered and she looked at the mirror to check and that suave face of the man of her heart appeared in the mirror.

"Chenglei", she turned to look and she saw him waving his hand at the maids and they all scurried out of the room leaving the two alone. He paused and trained his l.u.s.t-filled eyes on her from top to bottom.

"You look out-of-the-world-handsome!", Xing who was in her own thoughts filled with impure thoughts drooled at Chenglei who looked dapper in snowy white robes with silver cloud embroidery and his silver hair was held by a silver coronet with half of his waist long hair freely flowing.

"You haven't painted your forehead yet", he walked towards her. "And you are wearing married women's hairstyle with all your hair pulled up", he added.

"Oh?", Xing forgot there are different hairstyles for married and unmarried women and the maids in this villa a.s.sumed she was married since she was old and was travelling with a man. Also, she wore such heavy layered outfits only as the Empress and she pulled all her hair up then and she found nothing different and that added to her forgetfulness.

"Should I change?", she asked puffing up her cheeks. She really didn't want to sit in a place for any longer.

"You smell good", Chenglei's sultry voice, close to her face as he bent to her eye level. He didn't care about her hairstyle. She looked mesmerising and his chest felt heavy just looking at her.

His actions made Xing lean backwards as his blossom scent on her gave her weird sensations. "And you look sooo beautiful. I really don't want us to leave ", he added making Xing's entire face go red.

I want to tie you up in the bed and have my way with you the entire night!

As he was leaning closely to her, a maid got in and announced that their carriage has arrived.

Xing's heart that felt tight with his closeness was relieved but Chenglei planted a kiss on her lips before he stood up straight.

Xing felt a surge of warmth spreading through her body by that small peck but seeing her red rouge on his lips, she laughed. It looked odd on him.

"Wipe it off", he bent once again realising why she was laughing after checking himself in the mirror.

Xing's heart that was fluttering till then by his sudden kiss calmed down after a good laugh and her mischievous side arose. Seeing his lips close to her nose as he bent, she stuck out her tongue and licked the rouge off his lips.

"You!", Chenglei who was attacked suddenly got fl.u.s.tered by her sudden intimate action and he hid his blus.h.i.+ng face from her using his sleeves.

Chenglei then calmed himself down and painted an orchid on her forehead and both of them walked to the carriage. Xing noticed all the servants in the villa mumbling to each other something and all their looks ended up pitying her.

What was that about!

As they reached the Imperial Place, they were greeted by Prince Kang who was wearing a light blue robe and Su Yunxi in a peach coloured Palace attire.

The first thing she noticed with Su Yunxi was her pregnancy. It was really early and Xing could see the heartbeat of the baby and she knew it is possible even Yunxi won't know about it.

Wait! That supposed brother of mine, made his move? He actually accepted her?

Xing was about to ask Yunxi but seeing Prince Kang's indifferent gaze, she stopped herself. They were supposed to act like they don't know each other for now.

There was this other thing too. Why is she dressed in a way to hide her beauty? The colours she chose and the jewellery and makeup she is wearing, why does it look like she is toning down her natural beauty?

Xing could sense the look of displeasure from Prince Kang as he looked at Xing and he looked a little scared too.

What is that about?

Both of the couples gave a bow of equals to each other and Prince of Kang walked in the front without holding his wife's hand and a single pace front of her.

What a tras.h.!.+ Xing cursed him in her heart. But...

Xing found something odd in their relations.h.i.+p and there might be more to it.

Xing could sense Chenglei understanding what Prince Kang is doing and his grip on Xing's hands tightened as he stepped inside the banquet Hall. Xing could see his eyes that were cold and indifferent till then turning sharp and attentive and his darkness he keeps under wraps started to seep out.
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"What is happening", Xing asked him.

"You are too pretty", he mumbled and this time there was no admiration in his eyes but it looked like his protective instincts have been fully awoken.

Whatever!

Xing who smelled the scent of good wine walked through the carpeted floor towards their seat arranged by the Emperor himself.