LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS
/ LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS 113 Affliction of the Zhong Household
The one who delivered letters this time was another subordinate of Shengli who was stone-faced and he even refused to tell her his name entirely opposite to the talkative Lin Mubai. She considered him as a mute until he expressed his displeasure delivering her thick letters, "Hmpf! Another book!", he snorted one day.
"Well! What's your problem?", Xing asked. How could he talk to his boss' wife in this tone?
"Do you want our big brother to waste his time reading your letters?", he asked back. What a rude one! Xing got furious.
"Right! If you people were actually competent, he'd be here with me now, Not wasting time there", she lashed out and he never spoke to her again. Jealous boy! Xing murmured. But Shengli gathering this much loyal subordinates is commendable.
Three weeks passed and the day of Shengli's birthday came and he haven't returned yet. He didn't mention when he'll return in the Letters either. Xing's mood was sour and she went to the Zhong Manor.
She's been going there once every two days in the past month. Lady Zhong found her adorable as always and Lord Zhong was happy he was getting his tea. Seiren will find new ways to lose to her as always and General Zhong will give a glare everytime she was there.
Well, Xing didn't care since her usual practice partner had left for work, she used the training ground of the Zhong Manor as hers and trained with the men there. But she really missed Shengli and Haru who are on par with her in skills. Everyone else were a level or two below her and it was boring. She'd spend time reading those novels Lady Zhong had collected over time for passing time there.
As usual on the day of Shengli's birthday, Xing was sitting in Lord Zhong's study and was making tea for him with him pestering her to learn War Strategies. She was pestering him back to accept the marriage between General Zhong and Huang MingXue. Seiren who was free that day was sitting in the study watching how those two were keen on making the other person listen to them but no one was actually listening to the other. He found his entertainment for the day.
It was evening and as Xing poured the tea for him Lord Zhong became silent immediately and immersed in savouring the tea. Drinking her tea has become a ritual for him.
"Hey brat!", he said somberly after drinking the tea, "The Emperor tried to announce Consort Shu as the Empress", he said and looked at her. Her family wouldn't have told her this, he knew. But she must know. Ignorance is not bliss!
"Good! The second Empress from the Shu family", Xing said happily. If the Emperor wanted to make her Empress, he must like her, right? Good for him!
Lord Zhong patted her head and asked her to be seated and continued, " She almost died while he was writing the edict to make her Empress . The Emperor postponed the idea and now she is gravely ill. So he wrapped up the idea of announcing her as the Empress altogether", he said it all in one breath and watched her getting pale. He felt sorry for her but It is better for her to know than being kept in the dark.
Xing's heart skipped a beat. Those gods won't let her and Shengli get together and they are interfering with the Emperor too?
Xing could understand why the Emperor had given up the idea of announcing the Empress. That guy refused Poison tasters because they died for him. How would he let a woman he likes be affected?
Just as she was in deep thoughts General Zhong entered in a hurry.
"Father! Important news. The..", he paused seeing Xing there.
Xing understood it must be some of their family affair and stood up to leave. She definitely won't intrude in other people's privacy.
"Stay, Milord!", Seiren stood up and blocked her path making Xing uncomfortable. Dude! Your brother clearly does not want me here, why don't you let me leave?
She looked at Lord Zhong to help her and he looked somber and a bit flustered. "Stay, brat ", he said and Seiren smirked at his brother who had a incredulous look and went back to his seat.
Xing who was put on a spot by those two just sat back. She didn't like this situation when brothers are at odds with each other and somehow she's in the middle of it. But Lord Zhong didn't seem fine, so she stayed for him.
"Father, the Qui family is planning to frame our family for embezzling military funds. They had already planted lot of gold from the treasury in our Guest Manor. A double agent we had working for us in the Qui family informed it now", General Zhong said having no other way than to speak about his family affairs in front of this Shady person.
Wow! This is actually a grave matter! Xing knew and every one's face paled too. Embezzlement is a capital crime and with the public impression of the Zhong family with the strongest army at their disposal being a liability to the throne, even if they find a single bag of unaccounted coins, they'll be immediately charged of treason and arrested.
"What else?", Lord Zhong asked Huojin sharply seeing him fidgeting.
"There were people who saw Young master Qui secretly meeting with Huang Rijun a week ago and Huang Rijun is in charge of the treasury these days", Zhong Huojin answered sparing a sideway glance at Xing.
Wow! Just as I predicted! Xing thought. Xing knew Shihong had planned to frame Zhong family because Qui family is a branch family of the Ran family. They don't know about the double agent. But they know if the case is investigated, her brother's name would surface and that would definitely bring a rift between the Zhong and the Huang families.
If the allegations on the Zhong family are proved, the Zhong family would be destroyed and if they are acquitted somehow, Huang family will be blamed for trying to frame the Zhong family. A sure win plan for them but too bad they didn't know about the 'double agent'. Kudos to whoever planned to plant a spy inside the Qui family in advance.
"Is this 'double agent' you are so proud of planted by Huang Shengli months back?", Seiren asked Huojin and his silence proved Seiren's conjecture.
"Hmpf!", Seiren snorted, "Too bad you had to aggravate Huang Shengli for a woman. If he still supported our family, we wouldn't even have this problem now. Nice going brother", he slow clapped.
What! Shengli does not work for the Zhong family anymore? Xing wondered. Was it really because of MingXue? Wow! His gentleness is surely only for me and he didn't even give face to Lord Zhong. Xing didn't know what to make of it.
"Didn't he do it for a woman too?", Huojin glared at Xing.
"Yeah! Now who's in trouble?", Seiren retorted.
Lord Zhong didn't even try to stop both of them and Xing could see he was devastated. Then she rembered that Elder Shu's words that she'll end the four noble families. Am I responsible for this? She was confused. She was not narcissistic but judging by everything happening around her, she could not stop to think that way.
Lord Zhong who already was preparing for the end of his family predicted bu the elder Shu, knew it was his elder son's stupidity that brought this problem upon his family.
His sickness has become a bit severe now and the medicine Xing gave him was the only thing that is keeping him standing. He didn't have the ability to think deeply like before. And when Shengli politely asked him to free him from working for him, he knew the end of his family is near. But he still has a sliver of hope now that the one who is the foretold 'Divine Ruler' is with them right at this moment.
"What are you proposing?", Lord Zhong asked Huojin and the entire room went silent. Usually during these situations, Lord Zhong will be the one giving orders to solve the problem.
"Hmm...Father...That... I think Rijun has nothing to do with it and they are trying to make us pit against the Huang family", Huojin said scrunching his face and rubbing his temples.
Well, at least you trust my family! Xing thought.
Lord Zhong nodded for him to continue,
"So if we get our spy to confess about the Qui family in front of the magistrate, this problem will be solved and Qui family will be investigated", Huojin said.
"Hmm", Lord Zhong was still in deep thoughts.
"But..", Xing started to speak but shut up immediately. This is not her place to speak,probably. She found Huojin's solution to be a white washing effort and won't protect the Zhong family from future troubles and now they have a good opportunity present itself to crush their enemies so that they cannot stand again. If she says that now, she'll be hated more by him as if she was trying to belittle him in front of his father. But surely the Oldman knows that too. But why is he silent?
"What do you think?", Lord Zhong asked Seiren.
So that's why! Xing thought, the Oldman wants to see how his sons will deal with problems. He'll have to chose the next head of his family!
Seiren let out a deep breath and stood up. Xing knew this guy figured it out. Seiren is smart and has a lot of common sense being out in the world... Almost smart as her... That's why he has the guts to compete with her constantly. Even though she wins everytime, Xing actually has to use her brain to defeat this guy everytime. There were certain instances when she won by sheer luck.
"Father! What brother suggested is utter foolishness. Brother's thoughts have become much stupider by associating with stupid people ", he patted his brother's head with his fan.
Yeah! He is extremely inconsiderate sometimes! Xing laughed secretly seeing Huojin gritting his teeth trying to control his temper in front of his father.
Chapter end
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