Weilong's move came as a surprise to Xiuying. She thought that the Ling King wouldn't want to consummate the marriage. He wouldn't want his firstborn to be half Ying. But what is he really up to now? What's the reason behind this sudden move? Her mind was filled with questions now. She also thought about what Lixian did. Is Weilong testing her? The Ying Meili that the other clans have heard about is bold and arrogant. Xiuying really wanted to push him away, but she couldn't blow her cover. She slowly ran her hands up his chest. Weilong noticed this intimate movement.
"Now tell me, Meili, don't you want to make an heir with me? Isn't it what your father asked you to do?" he said and pushed her away.
That's it. This is the behaviour Xiuying was expecting.
"What does this mean, your highness?" Xiuying asked.
"Oh, come on now. You don't have to pretend anymore" he said.
"I don't understand you, your highness" Xiuying said.
"Listen to me carefully, Ying Meili. Your father managed to make you enter Ling for now. But never dream of destroying my kingdom or using your arrogant evil behaviour inside my palace. I won't spare you and I will be watching you", he said angrily, and stormed out of the wedding chamber.
Xiuying was relieved. She can't even get what happened with Lixian, she couldn't be intimate with Weilong. She is here to protect him from becoming the Ying clan's pawn. She has to somehow find the Soul fort.
Meanwhile, outside the Peach blossom pavilion....
"Princess Xiuying has managed for now to deceive everyone into thinking that she is Ying Meili. I hope she will be safe in the future too", Taiji said as he walked with his comrades.
"Huh? Don't you know Princess Xiuying? She is very smart. If she volunteered to take up this mission, even when our King, her father, was against it, she would definitely achieve her goal", General Zhan said.
"Hey look, here comes that guy again, the one who asked me a lot about us during the banquet" said Bingji.
Chenxi walked towards them, he was accompanied by Eunuch Hong.
"Comrades from Ying, you are not supposed to walk this path. No men are allowed to pass by the walls of the Peach blossom pavilion at night", he said.
"So, you are not a Man!? You are a Eunuch!!", said Yitian.
"What??? No! How can you.... do I.... do I look like one?" Chenxi said.
"No, you don't! I'm sorry Brother, please forgive me. You said that no man could pass by this path at night. That's, why I implied... that's why I was surprised. How could such a handsome general like you be a Eunuch? ", Yitian giggled.
"You mean Eunuchs cannot be handsome? " Eunuch Hong said.
"No I... I didn't mean..."
"Enough. It's just a misunderstanding. I will rephrase what I said. No man except those who have the permission can walk this path at night. This is to avoid illicit affairs between soldiers and women of the harem who work in this pavilion. It's okay this time... I hope you won't repeat it. Let us take our leave now " Chenxi said, and he walked away.
"Yitian, don't always use that tongue of yours to annoy people here. You may get in trouble. It could put the princess in danger", Zhan scolded Yitian.
"Forgive me big brother. I just don't like this one. He looks down upon us", Yitian said, and they exited the path.
Next Morning...
Xiuying explored throughout the palace complex. She stood by a small pond inside near to her pavilion. General Zhan and the other guards were also present.
"We can't ask anyone from the royal family about the soul fort right away. They will suspect us and won't be willing to help. We need to ask someone else. Maybe a guard?" Xiuying looked at Zhan.
"I will Your highness" Zhan replied. She heard sounds of stones dropping into the pond now and turned around to find a man in about his sixties trying to skip stones. All his attempts were unsuccessful.
"Who is that?" Xiuying asked.
"He is not a guard" Yitian said.
"I can see that Yitian!" Xiuying replied. She walked towards the man.
She reached closer and picked up a stone. She threw it into the pond. The stone skipped through the water about 5 times.
"Woah!! Your highness, you are so good!" Bingji said.
"Who are you?" she asked. The man smiled and got back to trying.
"Why should I answer you?" he asked.
"Old man! Do you not know who you are speaking to? She is princess Ying Meili, the king's consort" Zhan said.
The man laughed.
"Lie!" he said.
Xiuying was alert now.
"Why do you say that?" Xiuying asked.
"I have travelled through all the three clans of Shanling. I can say that you are not a Ying princess." he said.
Xiuying was confused about what to say next. She stared at him.
"I see that now you are really curious. I like to satisfy extremely curious minds. People here call me Chef Zhao" he replied.
"so, you are the head chef of the royal kitchen people at the banquet were praising yesterday. You are just a chef; how dare you question consort Meili. I loved the braised turkey though" Yitian said.
"Shut up! Yitian" Xiuying said. The man laughed again.
"Looks like you are still curious" he said.
"Yes! Maybe you can help me" she said.
"I like it that you are not trying to defend cover anymore. What can this mere chef do for you?" he asked.
"Tell me where the soul fort is" she said.
"Interesting! The new consort believes in legends and myths. Something we both have in common" he said.
"Do you believe in the legend of Shanling?" she asked.
"I do. That's what brought this traveller to Ling kingdom. Just like you, I came in search for the forgotten past" he said.
"Why is that? Why are you a chef now if you were a traveller who came in search of the legend?" she asked.
"I have always had a passion for cooking. My experiences during my journeys even made me familiar with a lot of cuisines. I thought that it's the perfect job that will let me stay inside the Ling palace" he said.
"Why are you telling me all this?" she asked.
"Because I believe that the past should not be forgotten. Don't be among the foolish people who discard their own history as false stories. If you notice carefully the land of Shanling, the sound of the wind that flows through it, tells you about the mysteries Shanling holds. I have studied various accounts of what different clans, tribes of Heishan has to say about the legend of Shanling. If you are looking for what I am looking for, the scroll left by Goro, you must wait. Remember only when the second balance breaks, the signs will be revealed, and the scroll is a sign of the upcoming danger" he said and walked away.
"Wait…" Xiuying shouted but he didn't stop.
"Princess! How can we trust him?" Zhan said.
"Maybe we can't but we will have to be careful and wait. Zhan, keep an eye on him" Xiying said.
"Yes your highness" he replied.
Xiuying was invited to the dowager's pavilion to welcome her into the Harem.
Xinli and Qinyue sat together as always.
"She is evil and corrupt. It's so obvious" Xinli said.
"We can't judge a book by its cover", Qinyue said.
"Qinyue! Don't you dare be polite to her. She stole your chance to be queen. I know you love my brother. He respects you too. I'm sure that this evil witch performed some kind of black magic." Xinli said.
"Xinli, it's true that your brother respects me. But I am just his favourite general's daughter and his sister's friend. Maybe just his friend. I am not an official member of his harem, " Qinyue said.
"Lady Meili, we welcome you to the harem. But I want you to know that things are different here in Ling. Unlike other clans, equal opportunity is given to all the wives of the King to become Queen and head of Harem. You will undergo various tests and only the one that is capable can manage the harem. Until then, I will be the one managing it" dowager empress said.
"Behold! His majesty sent an order for the harem", it was announced, and a messenger brought in a decree scroll.
"Arise for the decree of his majesty"
The harem bowed.
"His majesty, Jiang Weilong, king of Ling,
hereby orders the dowager empress to appoint
Bai Qinyue, daughter of valiant General Bai,
as his new Noble Lady.
She hereby becomes his majesty's Woman and shall be called Lady Hua."
Xinli smiled. Qinyue was delighted.
Xiuying looked at Qinyue. She smiled at Xiuying. She must be very dear to Weilong, he even gave her a new beautiful name. Xiuying thought.
Later that evening,
Weilong walked into the central garden, which was adorned with beautiful flowers, hoping to find Qinyue.
Suddenly, they heard someone shouting.
"Help! Lady Hua has fallen down the stairs"
Weilong rushed to the other side to find Qinyue in Xinli's arms.
"How did this happen?" Weilong asked.
"Brother, she was taking Imperial Consort Meili and suddenly...." Xinli said.
Weilong looked at the top of the stairs to find Xiuying!
"Ying Meili!!!" Weilong yelled.
Xiuying came down the stairs.
"Brother, it was her who approached Lady Li. She is not happy about Qinyue being a concubine," Xinli said.
"Queen Meili, did you dare to do it in my palace?" asked Weilong.
"I am fine... It was I who accidentally fell down ....." Qinyue said faintly.
"Qinyue, why are you trying to protect her?", Xinli asked.
"Qinyue you are injured. Guards, why isn't the physician here yet?" Weilong was worried.
"I am speaking the truth, my foot slipped as I was climbing down the stairs" Qinyue said.
"Let me take you inside," Weilong said, and started walking towards her.
But suddenly there was a huge thunder sound. Strong lightning started striking the ground. There was a strong wind. Weilong ran towards Qinyue. Trying to protect her. Everyone was taken aback by the sudden change in the climate.... A strong lightning struck the centre garden of the Ling Palace. It cracked the huge Ling Pillar rock.
The winds ceased, so did the lightning and the thunder.
Everyone fixed their attention on the rock that had now been cracked.
Xiuying knew exactly what was happening. It's about to begin. Soon signs will appear…
Weilong now carried Qinyue in his arms and carried her inside. The physician came in and started checking her.
Xiuying stood by them. So did Xinli and Chenxi. The Queen dowager came in suddenly.
"My king! This is not good! The Ling pillar rock has cracked. The second balance is broken! The legend of Shanling predicted this. May the heavens protect us from the danger and evil that is yet to come" She cried…