LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS 455 A Promise Made

Chenglei was a bit surprised by the question he asked and he was a little offended by the way he asked it.

"Why not?", he asked with a menacing smirk.

But then it dawned in him, in a way, the Water Emperor is right to think of him as who is incapable of loving someone dearly who is not of his blood. He has gained such a name in the past. Only his Xing, his brother and select few like Lin Mubai, Aunty Ling, looked at him like a human being. Others always considered him as a notorious beast and he was one, still is.

Chenglei couldn't pinpoint exactly his source of attraction on one thing. It's a lot of things, actually.

"He is such a cute little boy... Who wouldn't love him? And...", he paused as the image of Xing emerging the carriage holding Xinxin came to his memory. And when those little, soft fingers clasped his fingers, he wanted to protect him. But the most important thing...

" Li WeiXin... She named him", Chenglei smiled...

" We were separated then... My wife, named him with my surname. She wanted to raise him as ours. And so I will", Chenglei's face had the gentleness that he rarely let's out when he is with others.

Little Xinxin who saw sand for the first time, wanted to get down and play and the Water Emperor let him down and watched him play clumsily. He couldn't walk properly and in the sand his walking got more worse and it was funny to watch for the adults. Seeing sand for the first time, little Xinxin was excited.

After placing his hand in the sand and playing for a while, Little Xinxin found sand sticking his hands and his face went all contorted. He didn't like that gritty feeling in his hands.

"Dada", he complained to Chenglei, holding his hand towards him. As Chenglei got Little Xinxin's one hand wiping the sand off, the Water Emperor got his other hand.

"Oh, you really don't like sand on your hands, huh?", with a smile the water Emperor patted the sand of his little pink hand.

"My hands used to be covered with wood dust as long as I remember, since I helped my father with wood work and I didn't mind. Your mother too had her hands covered with mud since she picked herbs. Guess you live the pampered life, huh?", he smiled. His son looks happy where he is growing up kind of like when he was growing up. He didn't have much wealth and didn't have the softest silk to wear but he was happy.

'If only I stayed content where I was and didn't accept my role as the Emperor, then... '

Little Xinxin looked at the two men resembling each other and felt both their love. His mother told him this other man is also his father.

" Dada", he said pointing at Chenglei and then he pointed at the Water Emperor, "Dada", he said, giggling gleefully.

Guess Xinxin has two dadas! Lucky!

The little boy didn't mind the two men blinking speechless and went behind a crab that came out of its hole, trying to catch it. Adults have everything complicated while for children everything was simple.

"If only I was content with my hands that were dirty with sawdust....", the Water Emperor scoffed, "Now my hands are dirty with blood"

"'If only'... It's utterly useless to think 'if only'", Chenglei said watching little Xinxin tottering in the sand.

"You have a good brother. Even with your Empire in the state as it is now and with the Ying family behind him, he is not trying to get the throne and is getting help for you. Set everything right. Or else, we will have no choice but to annex the Water Kingdom with ours. I, myself can do it with no war or bloodshed. I know the former Prince, Lee of Earth Kingdom, is not pleased by the way his sister died", Chenglei spoke softly.

His wife wanted him to inform him of her plans but he was never going to promise this man that he will send his son to him once that place is safe.

The Water Emperor heard what Chenglei said that incorporated everything from encouragement to threat. He knew that their relations.h.i.+p with the Earth Kingdom is strained now that their princess is dead because of his incompetence. And he knew there is still way to turn everything around. As he said, he still has his brother.

Chenglei got to Xinxin and picked him up and walked towards the Water Emperor.
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"Little Xinxin, bid farewell to your Imperial father. Father will take you to mother. She'll be waiting for us", Chenglei said with his lips curving up not to scare the little child, but his eyes were cold and he looked at the Water Emperor as if he was a thief.

"Hiroyuki, it's not farewell but a short goodbye. Your Imperial father will set everything right in my place for you to come and stay with me. Until then be good with your father and mother", his eyes looked at Xinxin as his fingers gently pinched that chubby cheek of his.

"I'll be eagerly waiting for your failure", Chenglei spat out dryly. This one really had the guts to make a promise to come and get back his son even after he never mentioned it? How dare he? What's with him? He couldn't even protect his wife and with what face will he ask for his son? Will he be able to protect him? Shouldn't he be just happy that his son would be safe with us? Why is he trying to risk his son's life? Selfis.h.!.+ Pathetic!

" I'll take care of all formalities. You are raising the Crown Prince of Water Empire, right? It would be necessary for the future", the Water Emperor spoke with a chuckle knowing the man in front of him would have sliced him to pieces now if only he was not holding his son now.

"Yeah, because his father Emperor is an imbecile", Chenglei growled.

"Please take care of my son until I get him back. He's all I got left of her. I hope you understand", the Water Emperor bowed to Chenglei and only then Chenglei could have a slight understanding as to why he would want his son back. For him, his son is the only one left as a tie to his late wife.

"I know", Chenglei said and strode away from the sh.o.r.e while Little Xinxin waved his little hand happily at his father who stood there with tears streaming down his face.

'Yukiko, you did change your mind before you left me, didn't you? You didn't die hating me, right? Isn't that why your friend is willing to give our son back to me? I'm glad... I'm glad... You loved me till the end and I was the one who failed you... I won't ruin your faith in me. I promise I will protect our son. I promise!'

After sending off Ryuga and the Water Emperor, Chenglei entered their courtyard where Xing was waiting for him. She had already gave dinner to Xinxin and helped him take a bath. By the time Chenglei went there, he was already half-asleep.

"Join me for a bath?", Xing asked raising her eyebrows and Chenglei whose mood was sour after dealing with his son's father, lifted immediately. His wife was his everything.

Scrubbing his back, Xing was filled with mixed emotions.

"I'm happy that you didn't blame me, Chenglei. I half expected you to say that I'm willing to give up Xinxin because I'm pregnant",sensing him stressing up, she continued immediately, c"I know you'll never believe that but, I thought you'd say that out of anger but you didn't ", she hugged him and her soft mounds pressing in his back made Chenglei calm down.

" You were always consistent. I'm not going to say such cruel words to you just put if anger, Xing. I would never ", he patted her hand.

" I know... ", she said as she kissed him along his spine, "Don't worry, he repeatedly promised to protect his wife too. But he didn't. How would he then suddenly keep his word for his son? We just gave him a chance and I know he won't utilise it", she spoke confidently.

She won't keep a father from meeting his son but that doesn't mean she'd just s.h.i.+p the child off to his father just because he is his father when there are serpents and scorpions everywhere around him.

"Hmm", Chenglei felt heated up by her caresses and kisses. She might be right but he looked different. Once a man almost loses everything, he'd try to hold the one thing precious to him with everything he's got. He could see the resolve in the Water Emperor's eyes. He could sense he was absolutely serious.

But who knows what the future holds. He just wished what his wife said comes to pa.s.s and they get to keep Xinxin with them forever.

Chenglei turned and placed his lips over her seductive lips. These days it has become rare that she takes the initiative herself. He is not going to miss this chance. He still had his loving wife with him and he will love her with all he got.