LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS
/ LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS 179 The Opposition
There were even complaints speculating that Huang Zedong hired assassins to murder the entire Ran family to take over their businesses. The Ran Family ran a successful chain of medical stores throughout the kingdom. They were so profitable that many merchants were eying on them like vultures. So when the Fox of the Business world--Huang Zedong who wore an Eagle Emblem, snatched all those stores right under their nose, they could not digest it and sent complaints to the Emperor. Their reasoning was that even before the Ran family's corpses went cold, Huang Zedong had gotten hold of all their businesses - some, he bought with half price and others, he just took it for himself as no one claimed it. So how was he sure of the fall of the Ran family if he wasn't the one who arranged it? So investigations on the Huang family were run by the Justice Department on full scale.
While the investigations were going on, Huang family announced the death of Huang Shengli, the adopted son of Huang Feiye because of illness and also the extra information that he was actually the Third Prince who was exiled from the capital eleven years back. That caused a huge uproar in the court that challenged the loyalty of the Huang family once again. Many suggested for Huang AoTian to step down from his post as the Prime Minister and of course AoTian was not willing. The Emperor's stance was 'innocent until proven guilty' and no one dared to talk back to the Emperor.
With only two days for coronation, Minister Sheng, the head of the Finance Ministry along with some other ministers and his supporters staged a demonstration against the instation of Huang Mingxia as the Empress. They kneeled in front of the Emperor's courtyard and asked him to think thrice before making a decision about the Empress.
Minister Sheng belonged to the neutral faction as he never aligned with the Huangs or the Rans. With the sudden shift in power towards the Huang family and with the various investigations going on, he felt the need to do something to stop the Emperor from making a Huang daughter as Empress.
Meanwhile,
Xing who had gotten the courtyard of her favourite person... Her Hero - The Tianshi Emperor, tried to find anything about the details of their legendary love story. Well technically it was his wife's courtyard but as long as she was alive he only stayed here. That's something.
The first thing she did was check all the rafters in the rooms of the courtyard and sadly she wasn't able to find any 'Treasures ' now.
Did all my luck run out? She wondered.
Bai Li who had gone for a stroll came back with all the news happening in the outer court. Xing didn't know if it was the form of the old lady he took but she could see he was actually very gossipy... Really... He was like those old ladies who'd peek in their neighbours' home for stories to share with their other old friends... Eek!
But it made her pass time. Turns out Shengli had really followed her advice and made it seem like the Huang family had abandoned him. All he had to do is find Shihong and act pitiful to join his gang.
Xing was swinging in the swing with backrest and cushions that made it so comfortable to be in. Shengli prompted her to change the curtains to her liking but since she refused, he brought this swing to be hung inside her study since he noted she liked the swing in the other temporary courtyard she stayed. This swing was made with imported White sandalwood that emitted a soothing fragrance that reminded her of home since her brother really loved sandalwood and their home usually smelled of sandal wood. And purple and gold embroidered cushions made it so comfy and Xing felt enveloped by the design of the swing and she'd just end up napping sitting in this swing.
Shengli entered the room to see her sleeping in the swing and his lips curled up with her cute posture of sleeping with both her legs bent and she was hugging a pillow and rested her cheek in it while some stray hairs that fell on her other cheek shined like golden threads. She looked so peaceful and serene and he wanted to paint it to be eternally remembered.
May be someday soon!
Seeing her in deep sleep, It seemed like what that Fox Prince said is true. She seems more relaxed inside this courtyard.
Work of Spells..? Must be... But as long as she is safe and sound...
Shengli kissed her forehead and she smiled with her eyes still closed and her hands searched for his face and when he placed his cheek on her hand she winced,
"Rugged Prince , why didn't you shave?", she spoke in a husky voice and took a deep breath making her chest rose with her eyes still half closed and Shengli's imagination ran wild looking at the pouty lips of hers as it moved.
"Didn't you say I must look pitiful?", he bent and kissed her lips as he cannot hold on anymore.
"Oh!", she looked at his eyes that were merely inches away from her, "You're listening to me now?", she smiled and her cheeks were like peaches.
"Of course, it's my duty", he inched closer and Xing saw his hungry eyes willing to devour her whole.
Just then,
"The Emperor arrives!"
The shrill voice of an eunuch was heard and Shengli clicked his tongue and sat in the couch.
Xing stretched herself and yawned when the Emperor entered the study and sat in a chair.
"I think you should get up and bow to the Emperor. That's what every other women did", Bai Li spoke to Xing and Xing looked at him like he was speaking some unknown language and Bai Li just gave up. He had been taking his job as Head Maid seriously and been learning all the palace rules and etiquettes while this arrogant mortal doesn't care about any of the rules. She doesn't care about the rules of the heavens or the demon realm or even the human realm as she is supposed to...
What an impudent mortal!
Shengli who was salty that his 'moment' got ruined composed himself and spoke, "Why are you here, now?"
" Those bunch of men just repeat the same words since morning.. My head hurts... Even now I could hear them... Aaah!", he shook his head and rubbed his ears.
"So you came to hide in the inner palace?", Xing asked in a mocking tone.
A bunch of old men repeating the same phrase over and over again must be so annoying!
"What else could I do?", he snorted frustratedly.
"Your father set out horses on those who did the same thing to ask him to depose the empress", Xing raised her eyebrows. She had read it in his journal.
"I saw it. It was terrible. Two officials ended up dead!", the Emperor had a sad expression in his face and Xing felt bad for bringing up his father. Shengli was nonchalant as usual as he is whenever his father was brought up.
" What should we do now? Those officials won't back off. I asked your father but he said ' since you three decided to make my daughter Empress, you find a solution for yourself'. He is not even willing to help us a bit", the Emperor was worried.
"Well, just tell them it was ordained by heavens. I'll take care of the rest",Xing wasn't that worried. But it is a big issue and if she doesn't convince those people, she'll be always scrutinised by them and it would be definitely not be in her better interests.
"How?", the Emperor asked, "Also there will be a wedding ceremony that is supposed to be conducted between the Emperor and Empress. That cannot happen!"
"What?", Xing looked at Shengli and he nodded too. This guy! How could he propose me to be the Empress if he knew these things? Is he an idiot?
"Marriage ceremony is a definite no", Xing had become serious by now. Even as a fake ceremony, she will not get married to another man. It's one thing taking the role of the Empress and another thing becoming the Empress. I'll never become the Empress! Stupid Shengli.... Stupid... How could he do this..!
Xing cursed Shengli in her heart and she suddenly got an idea.
"Bai Li, you can do tricks, right?"
"What kind?", he seemed to be interested.
"Do you have limitations?"
" Lass! I'm the most powerful Crown Prince of the Fox Clan... There is no trick I cannot do", he was proud.
"Fine, I'll depend on you then!", Xing bowed at Bai Li and he bowed back agreeing to her.
"What are you planning?", Shengli asked her surprised.
"Not telling you... Men are useless and stupid!", she was too angry to answer him.
"You'll have to gift him something too", Shengli was upset by her anger towards him. He had already prepared enough support in the court to not let the wedding ceremony to happen. But she seems to have an idea too and he wanted to see what it was.
But how could this silly woman think that I... I would let her participate in a wedding ceremony with another man! Idiot!
"Yeah, I've already prepared a cape for you... Actually Lord Ming gave that cape for you. So it won't be a gift on my part", the Emperor added.
Exchanging gifts? Isn't that childish?
Xing wondered and she got an idea for that too. Shengli who thought that she'd ask him for help felt like he was being abandoned by her and sat on the couch pouting and Xing noted it and laughed in her heart.
Well deserved!
"And how are you this relaxed when your family is being investigated. Brother isn't doing much too!", the Emperor was worried. No matter how clean the Huangs ran businesses., there will be certain oddities here and there. So why isn't she worried?
"As for the business issues, Uncle knows better and the issue with the Ran family, those merchants were right about the Huang family's involvement but they got the wrong Huang", she chuckled., " It was me and Uncle Feiye... They won't find anything on Uncle Zedong. So, why worry unnecessarily?", Xing was nonchalant.
The moment her uncle decide to take the Ran family's businesses, he'd have expected all these to happen and so he must have a plan to get out of this situation too.
Xing was not worried.
Chapter end
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