Xing was staring out when a figure clad in crimson hooded cape and a tiger mask covering his eyes was seen approaching the small warehouse. The emperor let out a sly smile and whispered, " Guess he is searching for me. Wait here, I'll go and see what he's going to do".
Noticing her not confident enough to let him go alone, he continued, " Don't worry, I know the value of my life, also my sword is not only for decorative purposes ", saying this he jumped out of the window and walked towards that figure. Xing hid herself behind a tree nearby and watched them.
" Lord Táng, zhen was waiting for you since our meeting back in the western province. But care to explain the recent rumours about you? ", the Emperor addressed him.
"Long live your Majesty", he knelt before the Emperor. Xing rolled her eyes seeing him flat on the ground, something she'll never do in a million years and then continued to observe the surroundings.
"Your Majesty, this servant has come here to expose the plans against you", he got up, while the emperor with his imposing aura was staring at him like a mighty panther.
"Speak", the emperor commanded .
The other one stood and his attitude completely changed. He looked back at the emperor with disdain and removed his mask and threw it on the ground while the emperor was unmoved and Xing got more alert.
"You are not going to be the emperor for long. A wimp like you is not comparable to the great Third Prince. I came today to pass a message from the Third Prince to you. He asked me, to warn you to run away if you want to keep your life, for old times sake. Soon he will take back his rightful throne with the help from a prominent household and everyone will bow before him",he said and turned to leave.
Xing heard him say old times sake - so he knows that both brothers were close before, but not knows Shengli had already met the Emperor, she concluded. Also what's with him chatting and not attacking?
But the Emperor was not having any reaction shown on his face.
" Where is my brother? And who are you to him? ", the Emperor enquired.
"Your brother? He is in this city, waiting for his time to take the throne. I have been his right hand man for long. I've already got the Western province under my control and the Third Prince still has supporters in the court. You think your supporters are loyal? We even have the highest official in your court and his adopted son by our side", he snickered.
Xing understood their plot now. They just want to confuse the Emperor with false accusations on the third prince and the Huang family. But why call Lord Táng right hand man of the third prince? Do they know her identity? What is their gain in this?
But the emperor was still looking at him with the same indifferent attitude.
"Tell the one who sent you that Zhen is not giving up the throne and he can come at me anytime"
The Emperor declared and the man was perplexed to see the calm face of the Emperor sensing something was wrong.
Xing saw an owl hooting in the tree she was hiding and she realised someone was standing with a bow and arrow on a farther tree aiming at the Emperor. She can sense him but with the distance, she cannot see him. He must be the one behind the fake Lord Táng.
Is that Shihong?
But he was waiting for someone, was it for the real Lord Táng? She walked towards the Emperor and stood beside him,
" Tell me fake, who sent you?", she pointed her sword at him. He looked at her in fright, but then started laughing, as if everything made sense,
" So you were the one after all. Why are you protecting him? I thought the Third Prince wanted you by his side or have you changed sides? ", he smirked.
Liar!
Xing was annoyed, what sides? Isn't everyone she knows on the same side?
"I won't repeat, who sent you? Is it Shihong? If you answer me truthfully, I'll give you an easy death", she pressed the tip of her sword in his throat and he knelt before her.
His arrogant attitude from before gradually turned to anxiety looking into her eyes. It was like he was waiting to be rescued but his help never came. Xing realised his boss has left him to die. She could feel through the wind that that person has pulled three arrows at the bow pointing the three of them, but still waiting.
"Your boss has abandoned you. Tell me his name, at least you'll die pain free", Xing pressed her sword.
" You will be the one dying miserably. My master promised to be with me always. He won't abandon me", he smiled dryly.
Xing saw Shengli running towards them from a distance through the trees with his silver hair shining in the moonlight and that man in the tree noted him too.
Don't come here! Xing shouted in her mind.
As she was distracted, the three arrows were released and Xing sensed it and she pushed the Emperor to the side and he went a couple of steps to the left and she didn't have time to dodge. One arrow pierced the kneeling person's lungs and another passed right beside the emperor's sleeves and the arrow coming towards Xing was intercepted by the owl and it fell on the ground dead.
Shengli saw three arrows flying towards those three and saw Xing turned to her side pushing the emperor aside not trying to deflect the arrow coming towards her and his heart stopped and he shouted "No", just then an owl flew from somewhere and straight towards the arrow as if protecting her. Only then Shengli was relieved and he entered the open ground and he looked at the direction of the shooter only to see a dark figure receding.
Shihong!
The Emperor was in shock with the sudden pushing and the arrows and Xing was staring at the direction of the shooter and she saw the shooter looking at Shengli and muttered something and then turned and left. The wind carried what he said to Xing, "My dear wolf, so this is the one you were protecting. But soon we'll be together like before", is what he said. Shengli already knows him? But why is he trying to kill his brother? Why does he wants to blame me and the Huang family? Is that the person who gave him the scars?
Thinking about that made her blood boil and she wanted to kill that person, but he was nowhere to be found.
She was enraged and the painful panting of the man down, brought her back. She bent and pulled his collar, "I'll end your pain, tell me his name, you know he shot this arrow", her eyes were glowing and her grip was tight. That man almost lost his consciousness and when she pressed the arrow, he screamed in pain. "Tell me", she gritted her teeth.
But he was not budging and he had a smile in his face. He was muttering something and Xing listened closely and only got bits, "... Won't hate…, like always.. Dear Shihong". She threw him on the ground and he was still muttering in pain. Xing got up with her fists held tight and face full of anger, "Shihong", she mumbled. 'Shihong again'.
Xing's entire thoughts were solely filled with the insatiable urge to kill Shihong and she didn't even hear the Emperor calling for her and he was about to grab her shoulder.
"Don't ! ", Shengli shouted at the Emperor as he saw her eyes flashing amber. He hugged her, "You Okay? ", he asked in her ears before resting his forehead in her shoulder shocking the Emperor more.
Seeing her not responding, Shengli then picked her hair coiled around her neck and put it on her back and patted her left and right to check if she is hurt anywhere. His soft voice and his gentle actions brought her back and she smiled at him and said,
"I'm fine..., I'm fine... ". He then got the sword from her hand and put it back in the scabbard after cleaning it. He could sense her still angry and spoke in a soothing voice,
"Xing, Uncle AoTian and Rijun are fine and are waiting for your return", he said kissing her forehead. Only then Xing calmed down and remembered her father's concern for her.
The Emperor was flabbergasted, seeing the intimate exchanges between his brother and another man and was lost for words and no one realised Zhong Huojin approaching them. Huojin saw a man with an arrow on his back breathing his last breath and he ran towards them, "Your Majesty, what happened here? Are you okay?"
"At least you worry about me", the Emperor pouted. He was feeling bad since his brother didn't even care about him and flirting with Lord Táng.
"So what happened here?", Huojin repeated.
"It's Shihong again. He sent this fake", Xing was about to explain but was interrupted.
"The Emperor was here too. He'll explain. Take him to his courtyard and guard him personally. We'll discuss this tomorrow ", Shengli told Huojin and turned at the Emperor, "Just rest well. I'll meet you tomorrow ".
Saying this he didn't even stop for their reply and put his arms around Xing's shoulders and said , " I'll send you home" and started walking. She pulled out of his embrace as she saw the dead owl and picked it up. She pulled the arrow out and buried the owl under a tree. Shengli waited till she finished and pulled her hands and started walking in big paces. She was almost running behind him when they entered the trees.
Shengli couldn't understand his feelings either. He felt a sharp pain in his chest when the Emperor dragged her out of the banquet Hall, the same pain he had when he saw him dragging her to the mountain back in the Western Province. He had to compose himself for a day before meeting her the next day.
Also now, when he saw the arrow coming towards her, he felt helpless. But when she pushed the Emperor and ignored her own safety, he felt the same pain again and a little anger too. He didn't even want to think what would have happened if that owl didn't save her. For some reason he didn't want her attention towards the Emperor even though he is his brother and he loves him. Is this Jealousy?
Xing was still wondering the relationship between Shengli and Shihong. She regretted not letting him talk about him previously. She stopped and pulled her hand out of his grip, " Who is this Shihong and how do you know him? " she questioned him.
Shengli couldn't avoid her questioning eyes, "He is someone bad I got tangled with when I was in the western province. He used to be in a small gang before, but now his criminal empire has expanded . He's a bad person and there are many people who can handle him. You don't have to bother",
But how did you catch his eyes even after I protected you? Now he knows you are important to me and he will target you more... Shengli was brooding.
Xing knew in her heart that he is hiding many details but didn't force him seeing his ghastly expression, like he didn't want to remember the past .She'll know when he decides to open up or it's fine even if she doesn't know too. "It's fine then", she grinned and explained everything that happened since she left the banquet venue.
Shengli's expression was wavering between white and dark as she was telling him her conversation with the emperor.
"Xing, what do you think of the Emperor?", Shengli asked halting his steps.
"What?", she was confused with his sudden question but continued, "Well, he is smart, has.."
"No", she was interrupted, "Your personal take on him", he looked deep into her eyes.
"My pers...", Xing grinned realising something, "Are you jealous, my Prince?"
He turned his face and she could see the slight blush in his cheeks in the moonlight.
How cute!
"Look at me", she cupped his cheeks inside her hands, "He is your little brother, isn't he? So, that's my take on him... My Prince's favourite little brother", she smiled.
Shengli looked at Xing smiling at him with a little mischief in it and he couldn't help but kiss her.
You are mine!
His kiss was gentle and passionate and Xing put her arms around his shoulders and he grabbed her waist and pushed her on the trunk of a nearby tree and pushed his tongue inside and both of their tongues danced passionately while they were interrupted by the sound of twigs snapping and a loud gasp.
...….
The Emperor and Huojin watched Lord Táng leaving in Shengli's embrace and then Lord Táng burying the owl and then being dragged by Shengli into the trees.
The Emperor wondered why that Lord Táng didn't mind his brother dragging him, while he had a uneasy look when he dragged him. He didn't mind when his brother grabbed his hair too! What is going on?
Huojin was wondering even if Shengli said he belonged to him as a subordinate, they were too close by anyone's standards much less Shengli's. That guy won't even smile or say any extra word, much less touching. Surely he treats that Lord Táng differently.
The Emperor was thinking that his brother is definitely much closer to Lord Táng. Maybe that's the reason his brother is refusing the throne because then he'll have to marry women and make heirs, but he is interested in men. He remembered how even he wanted to touch Lord Táng back in the warehouse. Does that mean he is interested in men too? A shiver ran down his spine and he was brought back by the harrumph of Huojin.
"Your Majesty, shall we go? "
" Yes, but inform Lord Táng to meet me tomorrow. Oh! That's right I forgot to give him the white tiger token . Let's follow them and give it"
"The white tiger token? But your Majesty, are you sure, you haven't given it to anyone else till now. And can't it wait till tomorrow? "
"That guy saved my life twice today. I think I can trust him. Now let's go, now! ", he said and started to walk towards the trees.
Just as they entered the trees and walked a little they saw two people passionately kissing. Huojin looked closely to see the peculiar hair color of silver and gold just as he stepped on a twig on the ground while the Emperor gasped loudly in surprise. Even if he guessed they were lovers it was shocking for him to see his brother passionately kissing another man.
Well! What should we do now? This is awkward.....