LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS
/ LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS 117 Stay in the Prison
Xing just rolled her eyes and continued drinking her milk. How can he complain about this place?
This prison is called 'Iron Gates Prison' and is the one meant for violent crimes and is heavily guarded and they were taken to the underground cell that was the most secure place and there were two separate beds with neat, clean blankets set. We'll, they aren't bed per se but oversized benches and that does not matter for a one night stay, right? Especially considering this is a PRISON!
The captain even apologised for not able to prepare warm bath for them since that place being a prison. Xing and Seiren who were in no mood for baths magnanimously forgave the captain. They were given dinner delivered from Seiren's restaurant and warm milk to top it off.
Kudos to Shengli for making prison stay this comfortable!
"Why do you get silk sheets while I get these.... These... Rough ones?", Seiren frowned pinching the sheets provided for him, they were new and clean but not something he's used to.
"Well, that's because Shengli is my husband, not yours!", Xing snorted. How hard is it for him to understand?
Seiren just made a face at her and reluctantly made his bed.
"Do you have a woman in your heart?", Xing asked Seiren after he settled. He really got mad when she said that she'll take his wife. Even though they spewed profanities at each other, she didn't mean to offend him purposely. Even though she didn't want to apologise she didn't want him to misunderstand either.
Seiren looked at Xing confused at first and then he realised why she asked that, "I don't, not yet... But I don't know why I got that mad before", he answered.
"Aww! Your wife is so lucky to have a man like you!", Xing smiled and Seiren just rolled his eyes.
"Never thought we'd work well together like this.... But in the past, even though I thought of you as an enemy, I never hated you", Seiren said sincerely. He knew today's success has her contribution the most. He must thank her but he felt awkward to do so after years of standing against her.
"I know", Xing said, " I never hated you either. You were one of the very few who never called me 'Nameless Bastard' even behind my back", she bowed her head trying to hide her sadness. Even though she used to not care about that word, it hurt nonetheless.
"Hmm", Seiren took a deep breath, "I don't believe that word. I only care about the individual. Not his father's or family name. Honestly speaking, who can even compare to you in swords and other skills? That name given by those useless, empty-brained, jealous imbeciles should not be considered seriously. My brother is also one of them", he said somberly. That's his true belief.
Xing snorted, "Your brother is really good and talented in leading people. Didn't you see how he lead those men stealthily and finished the task? He is really skilled in martial arts and covert operations. He really is the great general's son! If it were me, I could have never been covert and spoiled the entire plan", Xing chuckled.
Seiren just looked at her with admiration, this one really does not hold her praises even for the one who belittled her!
Both of them didn't know that General Zhong Huojin was listening to their conversation from outside their prison cell. Huojin felt ashamed when he heard Xing genuinely praising him and he left immediately after giving instructions to not let anyone to visit them tonight and guard them safely.
Xing continued , " I never guessed my father would be the Prime Minister, the one next to the Emperor in power. You know what? When I was five, I asked my mother to tell me my father's name because the kids in the village were mocking me for not knowing even the name of my father . She cried and refused to tell me. So I tried every means there is. I wailed, rolled on the ground, refused to eat, threatened to hold my breath... Everything.. But my mother refused. So I got mad at her and ran away from home. Then the Tiger God got me and took me to his Palace for days and I stayed there with his maids taking care of me. I told him I won't go back to my bad mother and he agreed and will always take me on rides. I'll be sitting on him and he, in his tiger form will fly above the mountains... Like an Eagle! I forgot all about my anger towards my mother soon and so that God sent me back home. My mother.... She spanked me hard that day even though I was gone only for hours in the human realm. Time passes differently in these realms. She cried and cried and I decided not to ask about my father to her anymore. Till the day she died, she didn't mention my father's name once! ", Xing sighed.
She didn't know why she was telling this story to Seiren now. Was it because she missed her mother or because she missed that tiger god? Every time she missed her father, he'd be there for her, taking her on rides and many places in the realm of gods and would lift her spirit without her saying a single word. He didn't talk much but he'd always stay by her side and he was always warm. But was all that concern she thought was genuine were all fake? Why are they trying to separate her and Shengli now?
"You got a weird father now", Seiren saw her in deep thoughts and tried to lighten up her mood.
"Yes", Xing got out from her thoughts and laughed, "But l love Him. He is the best! ". Truly her father is amazing! A good father!
"You know, my father raised me like a girl for long. My brother started training when he was five years old but I wasn't let to touch even a practice sword until I was nine. Then after I grew up, I heard the rumours about my father and your grandmother and came to the conclusion that my father's concern towards me was because of the guilt he had towards my mother as I resemble my mother. But only after getting out of my secure Manor and seeing the world that I realised how much my father loved my mother and he had been showing it awkwardly on me! ", Seiren said and he had a smile in his face talking about his father.
Xing smiled too remembering what Lady Zhong said. She said that the Oldman refused to even touch Seiren when he was born because he had pale skin and he was little than the usual Zhong children who were always a bit tan and big right from birth. That Oldman was afraid of his big burly hands squishing that sweet little bundle of cuteness and he always treated Seiren gently. Also he was almost fifty when Seiren was born and that made him too attached to Seiren too. When he knew the previous emperor might hurt him, his protective feelings towards his younger son became over-protectiveness and Seiren hated his father for that. The Oldman didn't accept that he was a boy despite his pretty looks and both had clashes back then regarding this. But later they got to some common ground and understood each other.
Xing remembered that the Oldman does not have much longer to live, " Yes, having a father is always better than not having a father. So we'll have to spend as much as time with them as we don't know when we'll lose them!", she said it in an ambiguous tone. The Oldman is stubborn to not let his sons know about it. But don't they have the right to?
Seiren is smart and he recognised the ambiguity in her tone. He had noticed the small changes in his father's and mother's mood these days too.
" Did he tell you something?", he asked raising his eyebrows curiously.
"No", Xing shook her head, "I found out myself. I even found some medicines for him but...", she paused and the room got silent for a long time.
"How long...?", Seiren asked and his throat closed in grief, noted by Xing, "How long does he have left?"
"A little more than three months", Xing said softly. She didn't know if she did the right thing by telling him or not.
"Mother?", he asked. Xing noted his eyes were red.
"Lady Zhong knows!", she answered and he nodded in acknowledgement.
"Your arrival really changed the atmosphere in our family, you know! I'm seeing my father laughing heartily these days a lot", he sighed trying to hold back his tears, "Just continue to make him tea. He really loves it. Visit my mother often too. She likes girls", Seiren said and Xing nodded in agreement. She'd planned to do it too.
"Hmm", Seiren took a deep breath, "It's getting late. Let's sleep. It's nice talking to you like this.... I've always wanted a sister", he said and bit his tongue realising what he said.
I told my enemy that I think of her as a sister! He felt embarrassed.
"Yeah! I want a sister too", Xing said without thinking much about what he said. But only after seeing the blushing face of Seiren did she understand what he meant.
Seiren thinks of me as a sister!
But judging by his reaction, he had said it by the slip of his tongue and Xing decided to give him face and decided to not probe into it. It's enough she knows her place in his heart.
Sigh! I'm getting a lot of brothers but I don't even have a single sister or a girl friend! Xing thought and drifted to sleep.
The next morning it was her Uncle Feiye who came to get them both from the prison after paying the fine. Xing and Seiren were watching the city through the curtains in the carriage ride back home and the city looked deserted.
Xing asked her uncle about what happened the previous night and her uncle smiled radiantly ,
"You've done it, kids! The spy did his job and now the entire associates of the Ran family along with the Ran family is implicated. The case is being brought to the Imperial Court today and will be judged by the Emperor himself", he rubbed both Seiren and Xing' s heads.
Seiren was dropped in the Zhong Manor and Xing saw the Manor was thrashed.
"They searched your Manor last night! They found nothing!", Uncle Feiye said and Seiren got out from the carriage and went in.
Xing went to her Manor with her Uncle and was welcomed by her brother, "We were both in prison yesterday! How cool!", Rijun was ecstatic. "Take a bath and have breakfast, I'll take you to the court today", he pushed her. "Hurry!"
"Geez! What's with you today?", Xing was surprised by her over enthusiastic brother. He finds odd things exciting!
AoTian met her too and rubbed her head, "Go get ready", he said and she could see his face was filled with various deep emotions and he was proud of her!
What's with everyone today?
Xing took a nice warm bath and got dressed and had her breakfast when her brother and Shengli entered her room. Rijun gave her a set of clothes,
"The Emperor asked to give the official's uniform to you as a honorary gift for being the secret topper of the exams", he said. It's with him for ages. Time to use it!
Xing touched the silk robes that are hard to touch and cringed, " Not wearing this! "
She has class! She cannot wear whatever!
Chapter end
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