LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS 86 Past Beckons

Shengli who followed Xing was waiting in a tea shop watching the gates of the Imperial Palace and waited for her return. He looked like an immortal who had descended to take a look on the mortal realm with his white robes and his silver hair fluttering in the wind and his solemn glance made him look surreal and unapproachable.

Shengli didn't know what his brother wanted to talk to her but it made him uncomfortable. The fact that she might be the divine ruler and his worry that if his father mentioned that to him he must have mentioned it to his brother too. His father was obsessed with the fact after all. If so how will his brother take it?

Also, Even though he knew Xing had no feelings for his brother and he trusted his brother's morals, there was a small part of him that felt uneasy. He tried to put back those feelings but he could not.

Just then a fast carriage pa.s.sed by him and a bamboo tube was thrown at him. Shengli by instinct caught it and the seal on it made his heart skip a beat and he looked at the carriage that had already sped away and there was no way to catch the person now. The seal was the defensive posture of a cobra with it's head fanned out and it's splitted tongue was out - a scary image, the personal seal of s.h.i.+hong and it fitted him.

If I cannot be a dragon, I'd be a snake! Both are similar aren't they? Shengli remembered s.h.i.+hong's words and his face went pale.

Why is he contacting me now? Is he in the city? Should I read the letter?

Shengli's thoughts were muddled and his heart beat fast and perspiration formed on his forehead. After the incident at the Caijing library eight years back, this is the first time s.h.i.+hong has contacted him directly.

For Shengli, s.h.i.+hong is like a shadow - dark, unavoidable, inescapable and also liberating. The brighter the light he faces, the darker and prominent the shadow behind him becomes. The more he looks at Xing - his moon, the more he's haunted by s.h.i.+hong and the darkness a.s.sociated with him. After all he did get acquainted with s.h.i.+hong for her! But she cannot be blamed for his choices and Shengli was sure of that! She is his redemption!

Shengli didn't fear s.h.i.+hong for the darkness he brought out of him but how unshackled and liberated he felt in that darkness as it enticed him the more he indulged in spilling blood. The life of an unrestrained beast with no morals and worries.

If he didn't see Xing's tear filled eyes in that library that day, he'd have sunken more in that quick sand of darkness thinking that he was actually floating in the sky like a cloud.

Shengli's hands that was gripping the tube was shaking and his heart warned him to throw it out without reading what's written in it. But his hands and mind did not cooperate with his heart and in the end his mind won and he read the letter.

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In the Imperial Study, Xing was dragged by Lord Zhong and brought back to the Emperor.

"What are you planning to do about his t.i.tle?", Lord Zhong asked Xing who became utterly confused by his question and it showed on her face while the Emperor was looking at her curiously too.

"Huang Shengli... if he takes back his t.i.tle of Rui w.a.n.g, it would be better for your future, right?", Lord Zhong explained and Xing was still confused.

What is a t.i.tle good for?

Lord Zhong then explained her how in the capital, everything is about the t.i.tle you are holding and how status defines the way of life here.

Xing looked at the Emperor who agreed with Lord Zhong who was actually saying this to her out of his goodwill as she could feel it.

But, why are they interfering between us? Xing was annoyed. She didn't mind if Shengli was a Prince or a pauper and Shengli didn't mind if she is a poor girl or Princess, so why are they bothering? Aren't we the ones who are going to spend the rest of our lives together? And why is the Oldman explaining all this to me while he can talk directly to Shengli?

"He'll listen to you", Xing who had muted most of what Lord Zhong spoke listened his last sentence.

Somehow that sentence felt like a sharp stab in her heart.

He'll listen to me? Will he, really?

I don't even know much about what he did the past ten tears and nothing about his life in the palace. h.e.l.l! I didn't even know he painted exceptionally well. What do I know about him and how do they believe he'll listen to me when even I am kept at a safe distance away from his heart?

And even if I could convince him, do I really want the t.i.tle of Princess Consort?

Xing wondered when her thoughts about his past changed. She was really fine with not knowing his past before. So when did it change? Why does she feel that she should be the one who knows him the best? Is this part of being in love too?

Xing's mood that was already dampened by the texts that the Emperor showed previously sank much more with the thought of her Prince keeping her at a distance. Does he think I cannot understand him? Does he not trust me? I meant it when I said that my love for him won't change no matter what. Did I unknowingly behaved in a way he might doubt me otherwise?

"Hey brat !", Lord Zhong slapped her back hard that brought back Xing to reality.

Lord Zhong immediately rubbed her back where he slapped,

"Oh no, brat! I'm not supposed to hit you. Don't you complain to Lady Zhong, lest she'll.. ", Lord Zhong mumbled and seeing that bear like Oldman getting fl.u.s.tered this much made Xing forget her worries. She really cannot hate this Oldman!

Then it dawned in her, if Shengli won't open up about himself, she can find out about him from other ways. She knew his exile from the palace should be the reason he is still refusing the t.i.tle of Prince.

"Oldman!" She called Lord Zhong and sat in a chair after placing a chair for him, "Why did they exiled him back then?", she asked him.

"My brother wasn't exiled! He was sent outside the palace for further training and he disappeared", the Emperor who witnessed the both of their affection answered. How could she charm everyone like this?

"Ha", Xing snorted, "Is that what the 'official report' says?", she said in a mocking tone and looked at Lord Zhong who became somber.

"That boy was phenomenal! A rare genius excelling in all fields! Many said him to be the reincarnation of the Tians.h.i.+ Emperor and by ten he had almost half of the court's support as the next ruler and his maternal Liang family was powerful too!", Lord Zhong let out a deep sigh, "But sadly, this is a place where being outstanding is a curse. After all, the tree that grows straight gets cut down first!".

Lord Zhong signalled Xing for tea and Xing gave a frown as she realised the Oldman is using her curiosity for his advantage but obediently made him tea and only after savouring three cups of her tea did he start speaking again,

" The Empress didn't like the Third Prince being too impressive and she made various plots to bring him down but failed. His mother was smart and she protected him against the Empress. But in the end it was her carelessness that changed his fate as she was favoured by the Emperor at that time. She was 'caught' with some other man who killed himself immediately and was accused of adultery. But the fact that she was left to leave proves that she was wrongly accused as punishment for adultery is death. Even the Third Prince's birth was scrutinised at that time but was overruled when the Emperor did not take back his t.i.tle and only sent them out of the palace for four years. That boy knelt in front of this study for three whole days before he was forcibly removed from here and the previous Emperor didn't even spare a glance at him. Within a week the Third Prince who strutted around this place as a proud peac.o.c.k had his entire life upturned and had to leave the palace in shame"

Xing felt her entire body getting cold in grief and her hands fisted inside her sleeves.

Did my Prince went through all this? Is that why his mother hated him? He fears being impressive and hides his talents for this reason? He does not even grow out his hair!

He knelt before his father for three days? Three days? And still he refused to change his mind? What kind of father was he?

Xing remembered how in the past Shengli taught both her and Haru not to kneel before anyone unless it was out of respect. He said ' if the person loves you he won't let you kneel for begging and it would be worthless to kneel before a person who doesn't love you and it would only boost that person's ego. It's better to suffer than to kneel and beg. At least you'll have your dignity left'.

That's the reason she had never knelt before anyone, even G.o.ds. Till now she had only knelt before her mother's grave.

Xing stood up to leave, "You see, Oldman! Who'll accept that they are the son of such a trash?"

The entire Imperial Study froze by her words.

Trash? Did she call the previous Emperor a trash in front of the current Emperor?