LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS 107 The Enemy Awaits

Xing and Shengli were holding hands and found solace in each other while the Emperor got out from his shock and announced the commencement of the finals.

Shengli asked Xing if she wanted to leave that place and go somewhere else when he noted her eyes were fixed on the distant group of trees to the south of the tournament grounds and she looked enraged.

"He is here, Shengli. Shihong is watching us!", Xing said with her eyes fixed there.

"What? Can you see him? ", Shengli tried to look closer in the same direction as her but he could not as the distance was greater.

"No..", Xing knitted her brows as she cannot explain how but she had a feeling, the same feeling she had during the Spring Banquet. But if anyone would believe her, it would be him, the man by her side.

"Alright", he patted her back, "I'll take Seiren and other people to take a look there" he said and turned to leave.

Xing suddenly had an idea, "Wait!", she pulled his sleeves, "Leave Seiren with me. With everyone here, security won't be good. Also my father and the Oldman are targets as well along with the Emperor. Seiren would be much helpful in the platform with me as he knows about drugs and poisons".

Shengli agreed with her, if anyone's going to attempt an attack on them, poisoning would be the best way and Seiren would be of help.

"Xing, be safe!", he said holding her hand.

"You too! Not even a scratch!", she squeezed his hands back.

Both of them had a tacit understanding that as for now their enemy is Shihong. If he is eliminated, there is a high chance their fate can be changed.

Xing looked around and saw everyone sitting with their own circles and as this was an open place many women from the brothels in the city were here for their business to accompany those bored and rich nincompoops who only know how to spend their father's money. It is not easy to provide security in such a place and it is mandatory that eachone to protect themselves.

Xing looked at the platform to see only her father and brother and also Lord Zhong there. Lord Zhong had sent Lady Zhong back home and her uncle Feiye got back to drop his daughter back in his Manor. Lord Ran left immediately after the puzzle was solved and none attended from the Shu family.

Xing took a deep breath and channelled in her inner 'Playboy Lord Táng' that she had forgotten about lately to fool Shihong. She got on the platform to see it was filled with men, Well! That's no good!

Also for some reason she felt an unexplainable hate towards the Emperor. She didn't know why but it should be because she is being forced by the Gods to be the Empress.... That should be the reason!

Xing looked around and saw Seiren joining them too. He could see the usual Lord Táng he used to see three months before and not the cross dressing fake she had turned into lately. What's gotten into her suddenly?

There were a group of women below trying to get the attention of the men up on the platform and a particular young girl in a beautiful green hanfu attracted Xing and she called her onto the stage and Seiren snickered seeing her suddenly returning to her old habits.

"Mingxia! You cannot bring those women up here", Rijun whispered and her father glared at her.

"Why not?", Xing asked in a condescending tone, like a spoiled brat, "I solved the puzzle. Now serve me with good wine and women!", she walked down the stage and brought that woman up the stage. Even Lord Zhong was not pleased by her behaviour and asked the guards to stop them.

The Emperor is on the stage and not anyone can be allowed to get close to him.

The Emperor noted something odd in her behaviour and waved off the guards and Xing brought the girl with her and sat on the farthest seat from the Emperor with that girl.

Xing started drinking wine and was flirting shamelessly with the girl with everyone watching.

The tournament was going on and the crowd was cheering watching the many contestants trying to be better than the others. This year, competition was severe and that made it entertaining for the others to watch. The finals usually composed of archery and leading a team as the main theme and everyone was cheering for their favourite person to win.

"Lord AoTian, when are you going to announce your daughter's marriage? ", the Emperor who was spaced out throughout the entire time asked suddenly.

"This month, your majesty! I was waiting for the tournament to be over", AoTian answered.

"That's good! The sooner, the better", the Emperor answered. Good! If they are married, there would be no need for her to enter the palace! Even if she did it would be because, his brother would be the Emperor!

Xing who was feeling angry and helpless till now suddenly felt how stupid and self-centered she had been. If the Gods are playing the game and she is being used as a pawn, then the Emperor is also another pawn in their game who has no control over his own fate.

There is no reason for her to hate him! And she always knew he was a good guy! He would be troubled by the incident today as much as she and Shengli were. Xing realised this and her mood immediately lightened up.

"Lord Táng", the girl who called herself Meimei spoke coquettishly, "Have some more wine"

Xing had a smirk on and she wrapped her arm around her neck and rubbed her cheek with her finger, "Feed me", she said in a sultry voice making everyone uncomfortable.

Their 'intimate' interaction continued and Meimei tried to pour some wine for AoTian who was sitting beside Xing too. But Xing acted like a jealous lover and only let her serve her and didn't let her leave the whole day.

Seiren had a doubtful look as if he had a premonition that Xing was doing this on purpose. That Meimei must have evil intentions. He himself was acting drunk and was 'accidentally dropping' dishes and wine as they were endless supply of poison.

The situation in the platform in front of the Emperor was entirely unbecoming as Seiren and Xing started to exchange verbal blows and everything was chaotic. They made it look like the Huang and Zhong families got along only on the surface and in reality, they hate each other.

Xing watched as Meimei excused herself to relieve herself and she noted Meimei was passing information and Seiren realised it too and they continued on their act of dissing each other's families.

Let Shihong think that the Huang and the Zhong families hated each other! That's going to be misleading and help his next plan fail!

AoTian and Lord Zhong were ashamed of their children's behaviour and they tried to contain the situation but failed. They are smart people who failed to note an obvious trap their children were laying because of their embarrassment.

The Emperor on the other hand who is good at reading people, knew these two were faking and the woman with Xing was a spy and he played along to be irked by those two people's behaviour.

Well! The one who was sent to lay a honey-trap is being honey - trapped!

Rijun... Well, he was eating, of course! He knew his sister has a reason to do everything and he had no reason to worry.

Shengli was searching throughout the place along with General Zhong, but he cannot find Shihong anywhere. But he knew he was here and continued to search. He even caught the suspicious person who was in contact with Meimei and before they got him to talk he bit his own tongue and killed himself.

As everything was going on as it should, the tournament ended as evening came and the winner was the one Xing predicted, 'Lin Bingwen' from the Zhong training camp, who had correctly predicted her moves before when she had a match with General Zhong. Seiren who had bet a hundred gold coins that Lin Bingwen will lose, lost his bet... once again to her!

Xing wrapped her arms around Meimei's waist and got ready to leave. Meimei held Xing's waist and she was flabbergasted as she could feel the curves beneath her belt.

Lord Táng is a girl?

That thought was well written in her face. Of course she'll have to run and pass this crucial information to her boss. But before that...

Xing saw Meimei suddenly grabbing AoTian by his collar and pulled to kiss him. AoTian who hadn't expected this, tried to get back but Meimei's grip was too tight and he could not.

Xing wrapped her arm around Meimei's neck and pulled her back and AoTian pried her hands away from his clothes and took a step back.

Xing clicked her tongue, "Oh! Meimei! You bad girl! I gave you ten gold coins and you still tried to get my father? Should I punish you?", She smirked and inched close to her mouth. The smell of poison entered her sharp nose from her mouth. She should have hidden a poison inside her mouth as she had already taken an antidote for it,Xing concluded.

Xing originally planned to kiss the poison pill out of Meimei's mouth but for some reason, she could not kiss her as it felt somewhat wrong. She wondered why... Why did something she used to do on a daily basis without any guilt, suddenly felt like a wrong thing? Then it dawned on her that ever since she kissed Shengli on the rooftop she has yet to kiss a girl!

Amazing! My Prince has changed me to this extent, even I didn't realise how much!

As Xing was distracted thinking about Shengli, Meimei tried to punch her and escape. She has to pass information that Lord Táng is AoTian's daughter.

Xing caught her and the scuffle near the Emperor alerted the guards and they came towards her. Xing could feel Meimei shuddering unconsciously when she saw a group of men approaching and whispered,

" Be good! Or I'll give you to those men", oddly that threat worked and she became docile.

Xing gripped Meimei's jaw as she felt it tightening and looked at Seiren, "Watch the Emperor", she said and he nodded with a smirk. He knew that woman is finished when Xing first revealed any truth before her.

She then looked at the Emperor, "Kouki! I have some dried food that was given to me my the Tribal people. There are that salty kind and spicy kind. Brother likes the spicy kind. If you want, you can have the salty kind. I'll send you some samples", she said with a smile.

The Emperor who was observing the tense situation in front of him was confused by the completely different thing she said, "Okay..?", he said confused.

"Fine! Don't go to bed in an empty stomach", she said with care to the Emperor. She knew most of the time he got poisoned food and he skipped meals. That is no good! He is her Prince's little brother and her brother too!

Xing then turned at her father and Lord Zhong, "Do not follow me!", she said in a commanding tone and those two nodded.

Xing got down from the stage and as she was caressing Meimei, she dislocated her jaw in one perfect push and Meimei grunted in pain.

"Sorry, no offence! I don't want you to bite your tongue off. Nothing personal..! Just call out for your master!", Xing said in an apologetic tone but did not meant a single word. This one tried to kill my father!

She took her to a secluded place wanting to interrogate her and as expected Shengli had noted her and came to her.

Chapter end

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