LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS 81 The Lonely Soul that Shines Bright!

Xing who knew to maintain authority, the Emperor must be deified, did not have any idea about the power of the Emperor and because these people knew his power they are being humble now especially when he is angry. After all the words of the Emperor have the weight of the nine tripod cauldrons and cannot be taken back. Even if he says something in a fit of anger, it will be taken into account and will be followed.

Rijun realised the situation is not in their favour and decided to take preventive measures to appease the Emperor. It was his fault to bring her here anyway and also he hid the fact that he is her brother to the Emperor too. He remembered she put her life in the line for him previously in the Heavenly Flowers Palace and came to a decision. He decided to tell the Emperor it was his fault and to accept the punishment himself. May be there is a possibility that the Emperor to be lenient to him on the basis that they are friends.

As Xing who knew nothing about the palace rules was wondering about the reaction of everyone, was confused by the Emperor's sudden burst of anger and she noticed her brother about to kneel before the Emperor and she snapped.

"Do Not Kneel, Brother!", Xing held Rijun by the sleeves and pulled him behind her and looked at the Emperor with her dark sharp eyes and smirked making everyone nervous for her,

"Punishment, your Majesty? For what?", her lips curved mockingly making AoTian go numb.

"What are you doing, Mingxia?", AoTian shushed Xing and looked at the Emperor, "Forgive my daughter's impudence, your Majesty! It's my fault for not raising her right", AoTian bowed.

"Ha", Xing snorted, "You never raised me, father! So it is not your fault and you don't have to apologise! ", Xing told AoTian off for needlessly apologising. What did my brother and father do wrong? Wasn't I the one who forced them to hide my identity?

"What is going on?", the Emperor asked knitting his brows. He thought AoTian had purposely hidden his daughter for the reason he had recently found out. And he was pretty sure Táng JiaXing and Huang Mingxia are sisters because the commotion in the Zhong Manor AoTian created had reached his ears and the Emperor had come to the conclusion that Táng JiaXing must be AoTian's daughter. He even thought his childhood dream of him and his brother marrying sisters will be fulfilled. He had always thought of AoTian as his father and It would be his blessing to marry his daughter and that's why he tried to get to marry his daughter. Now everything is not as what he thought?

"Xing, calm down", Shengli whispered in her ears realising her anger level raising and held her hand that calmed down Xing and her tone become softer,

" What is going on, your majesty? You insist on meeting me and everytime end up insulting me. And you get angry for not telling you my secret I keep for my protection. Why must I tell you everything? And did Lord Táng or Mingxia ever do anything against the throne? Why must I or my family be punished? And what are you feeling guilty of, your Majesty?", Xing asked in a concerning tone making the Emperor come out of his thoughts.

What am I guilty of? Wanting to have a family? Liking my brother's woman even if it was unintentional? Trying to feel less lonely?

The emperor remembered his past when he had lost his mother really early and since he had no support in the palace he was always bullied and his imperial father never even acknowledged his presence. He had always wondered what it is like to have a mother back then. But he's yet to know.

At one of his lowest days on a windy day when he was covered in dirt and wounds, he met his Third brother when he was hiding in a secret place he had found near the temple of the Wind God . The Third Prince was very famous in the palace since he excelled in everything and had a strong family backing on his mother's side. He was too happy to see him but for a moment he thought he was going to beat him too like his other brothers since he looked ragged but he didn't feel any pain and when he opened his eyes, he realised that his third brother had just left him alone. From then on he followed him everywhere silently. At first his brother didn't care but after some time he started to talk to him. They met in that secret place and he would teach him many things from literature to sword skill, he taught him all and he was really patient with him. Since he was with the third prince others didn't bully him anymore and he wanted his third brother to become the Emperor because in his eyes, he only was worthy. But soon three years passed and just when he had been adjusted to this life, his life overturned when an edict was passed to send his third brother out of the palace. He didn't understand much since he was only eight years old that year, only that he didn't wanted his brother to leave. He fell sick and that night his brother visited him and made him promise that he will live well even if he is not there and promised that even if he left he will find ways to protect him, so he has to hold on. Then he left too with no news about him.

So his days of hiding began. He never raised his head or complained about anything and made his presence almost non-existent and had no interest in those power struggles . He read all the books in the library, since no one bothered him there and patiently waited hoping his Third Brother will come back. All he did apart from reading books was watching people from a distance and observing their behaviours and how they can act differently with each person. So he could always tell what people were thinking even when they act differently before him. After all their intentions are more important than the way they act.

When he was thirteen, his imperial father fell sick and the ultimate struggle for the throne began. But he kept a low profile and never met anyone and at those times it was Eunuch Xin who always took care of him. That's the reason he gave certain previliges to that Eunuch for taking care of him when he had nothing.

But suddenly one day he found himself in AoTian's Manor and people called him young master and he was confused but went along with it. He had seen AoTian meeting the Emperor and knew he was some higher official. So he didn't mind much and didn't even care if he was being used or not. He felt free there. He got along with Rijun who was the same age as him pretty well as they shared the same views over things and he was really happy with his stay there. They got along well as good friends and they would wander around the city and it was always funny when Rijun lost his way and pretended he wasn't lost with AoTian's men following them in secret. It was the first time he was living out of the palace and he felt like even the air he breathed was refreshing. Even though Rijun was oblivious to it, he always saw that love in AoTian's eyes whenever he looked at Rijun and he wondered if that's the love of a father is supposed to be and kind of felt jealous towards Rijun. AoTian treated him well too and brought everything in even numbers for both Rijun and Him,be it clothes or snacks or other things and he treated both of them similarly. Somehow he felt home, when he lived in the Prime Minister's Manor as he felt happy when he was with his third brother. AoTian would try to talk to him about the political situations, but he really didn't care and would say to find his third brother which angered AoTian greatly. But he could see that AoTian didn't hate him or had any interest to use him for his political ambitions and AoTian actually liked him and he started to tease him by doing things he didn't want him to do when he accidentally learned that AoTian is actually his cousin. Even so, For him AoTian is the closest thing he had to a father and Rijun is his friend who would stay with him no matter what. His life was really peaceful in the Manor where he was referred to as young master.

But soon everything changed when his father died and made AoTian as the Regent with him as the Emperor. He was brought back to the palace and that's when he learned that all of his siblings were no more and he is the only one left of the Royal Bloodline. Although he felt his third brother was still alive, no one knew about his whereabouts. When he entered the palace, most of the powerful clans before had became powerless and those who never even bothered with him previously bowed and kneeled before him praising him and trying to get on his good side. If he can't read people like a book, he would have been fooled by those chameleons who can change colours with each person and situation. What he cannot accept was that soon after that even Rijun started calling him 'Your Majesty' and it was like he had lost his friend and had only loyal subjects. So he closed himself and AoTian and Lord Zhong stabilised the government with most ministers considering him as a stupid. But he didn't mind and decided to wait for his third brother's return.

But two years later, Rijun passed the exams as a topper and he came to visit him. Rijun gave him a hairpin similar design as himself. He said that as usual his father brought two hairpins and had asked Rijun to give it to him. Rijun also advised that if he continued to act nonchalant regarding the civil issues, there might be a rebellion in the palace and even the Zhong and Huang family won't be able to help it then. He also advised that if he really had planned for his brother to be emperor, he has to hold on to the throne until his brother's return and his attitude then was not helping. That made sense to him and he started attending morning courts and started taking care of his duties moderately. Only Rijun knew that it was Shengli who asked to give this advice. Soon after that, almost all the clans wanted their daughter to enter the palace for soon establishing their power in the newly formed government. Only the Huang family even though they had two daughters didn't seem interested in that and also Zhong family since they had no daughters. He remembered back when his father was still well, all his other siblings received various marriage applications while no one even thought of him. But since he became Emperor, he even saw those who previously wanted their daughter to be married to the other princes now wanted to send their daughter to his harem. This act disgusted him and he cleaned the inner palace and left no women there. He had his heart hardened for any women as he remembered how bad it was for him back when he was a child.

And as time passed by, he had an opportunity to find about his third brother and he took it and went to the Western Province and there he met Lord Táng. He remembered the heart clenching feeling he had when he was watching the sunset with Lord Táng back in the Western Province and wanting to have him with him forever even if he is a man. Even in the banquet he was in the verge of asking him to stay with him always. But soon he learned that he was actually a woman and she was his brother's woman and he changed his heart immediately.

But when he heard Huojin talk about Huang Mingxia, he somehow liked her and wanted to know more about her. After all the Prime Minister's daughter and the Emperor is like a match made in heaven and who else would be suitable as an Empress who could stand by his side? But now... Guess his fate is really the worst making him not to get what he likes.

The Emperor sighed deeply and smiled dryly to stop himself from crying. Easy Junjie! Didn't you know it would happen before? The moment you realise you want something is the moment you lose it. It's how it's always been. So what made you think this time would be different? Be happy and don't wear your heart on your sleeves. So what if you can't have a girl? It was your fault to fall in love with someone you didn't even meet. Rijun and brother tried to warn you too. So calm your heart, he let out a deep breath.

Xing noticed the dark aura around the Emperor dissipating with his sigh and his usual bright aura returning. It was actually nice to watch, darkness getting swallowed by light! That's what she admired about the Emperor who can very well control his emotions and think rationally, unlike the bottomless pit of darkness, that is her Prince!

And that is the reason she stays away from the Emperor too, the blinding light that makes her feel lesser than him. If she is the moon that glows, the Emperor is the sun shining brilliantly, banishing the darkness with his warm and bright light.

Shengli noticed Xing's lips curling up looking at his brother and his deep insecurities, fear and jealousy started acting up and he clenched his fists.

Xing realised the darkness emitting from Shengli and looked at him frowning. She held his hand and sighed, 'Why am I attracted to this abyss of darkness this much when there are bright people out there? I must be twisted somehow!', she thought and she smiled a smile that reached her eyes filled with love, making Shengli's eyes wide in astonishment and he smiled back at her.

What are you thinking, Lu Chenglie ? She only smiles at you like this! This smile that would break any curse and darkness!

The Emperor took a gulp of tea and looked at Xing and Shengli looking at each other and his every resentment flew away.

They suit each other!

"Tomorrow", The Emperor stood up and that broke everyone's trance, " I need to talk with you alone",he said to Xing and walked out but he suddenly remembered her getting lost inside the restaurant previously and paused his steps. Guess she and Rijun are alike, he smiled but hid it by clearing his throat,

"I'll send someone to pick you up from the Prime Minister's Manor",he looked at her with his jade eyes clear and sparkling and Xing bowed and acknowledged her acceptance.

"Lord Zhong! Send me back", the Emperor said and left in larger strides. Lord Zhong nodded at them and followed the Emperor while AoTian looked at her worried.

"It's fine father!", Xing assured her father, "He is not just the Emperor, he is family too!", she said with her fingers interlocking Shengli's.

No matter what, the Emperor is the little brother of her prince and someone who really is a good soul. He cannot be abandoned just because of his position as the Emperor.

Xing also felt guilty towards the Emperor because Shengli didn't get him out of the palace and made him Emperor for her sake. So the least they could do for him is to keep him company and listen to him once in a while even though he makes her feel little by his divine shining aura.

Chapter end