FENG LIQIN'S POV
Going home, I thought I would relax and think through what happened with father and brother. Unfortunately, it was the opposite of what I thought would happen with both of them. Once we sat together along with our beast, I started explaining what happened. Both of them were shocked at what occurred in the palace between me and the crown prince.
Ying, brother's beast and Xiaoli looked at one another as if they were talking telepathically. My father was in a dazed and my brother, being the over exaggerated big brother, fainted. I was at a lost. Looking towards the beasts, my eyes sent a questioning and a helpless look.
After Ying managed to wake my brother up, he started the talk. "Feng Liqin, I think that you should go and live in the palace. You don't have to worry about the children as Xiaoli would come back home to watch over the children. As for the poor people, the Emperor has already given his permission on letting you tag along. So, it should be much of a worry. What are you still scared of?"
"WHAT!?" Big brother shouted at Ying. "You want him TO GO!? I'm not letting my little brother get eaten alive by that beast of an Emperor! He won't be able to live!"
"Oh, shush. The Emperor won't touch him." Ying said, making me feel relieved. "Yet." I looked wide-eyed at the blue fox.
"Oh, what are all of you so worried about? So what if the stupid human were to be eaten alive? At the very least he would finally lose his virginity rather than keep it as a woman." Xiaoli retorted. I watched Xiaoli menacingly with small tears at the corner of my eyes.
"Xiaoli, how can you be so cruel towards your owner. I fed you, gave you your freedom, groom you, let you sleep on my bed and this is how you repay me?" I started crying while my brother held me. Xiaoli just rolled her eyes and murmured something under her breath.
"Don't worry little brother. Big brother won't let anything happen to you." Big brother tried to coax me.
"Can you two stop the stupid act and start using your brains?" Ying spoke again. "Even though I don't agree with how Xiaoli said her words but, I know there is an underlying meaning that she wishes to say. Xiaoli, would you please explain what you are trying to say?" Ying asked the cruel tiger.
Xiaoli and I stared at each other and after a few minutes of silence, she sighs. Standing up, Xiaoli went over to me, sat down beside me and started explaining. "Feng Liqin should go and be with the Emperor. That is the right step to take. At first, I did not want to agree to it as I know that he would be in danger. The palace is dangerous for someone as soft and kind-hearted as him. He would be killed easily if not watched properly. But, as I watched the Emperor and felt the power lying within his grasp along with the pattern of his roots, I found that the pattern was unusually the same as Feng Liqin's roots pattern."
With those words, it immediately caught everyone's attention.
"It was unexplainable to me at first. Then, I remembered that before, during mine and Ying's early years as beasts which was hundreds of years ago, there were cultivators that only married other cultivators with the same root pattern as theirs. This was because if cultivators with the same root pattern mated not only would they automatically increase their level of cultivation, they would also give birth to strong children with incredible powers. That was what happened but, as the years' pass, none of what used to happened before happen again as the new generation of those years married the people with the same root pattern as theirs with no love between them. When they mated, there was no love between them and their hearts were not entwined together. As a result, their level of cultivation did not increase and the child born we're not as strong."
Once Xiaoli finished, everyone finally understood why the Emperor wanted me and why Ying and her wanted me to be with the Emperor. The only question left is if the Emperor would be able to love me or not. Brother still objected with me going to the palace. He was frightened that I might get hurt by the Emperor. After all, the Emperor was known for being ruthless. Even when he had concubines, he never once touched nor went to see them. He only accepted them into the palace as concubines to stop his Minister's from pressing the matter of concubines during the morning court.
I looked at father who was eerily quiet the whole time. âFather, is everything alright? You are eerily quiet during the whole conversation."
My father looked at me and sighs. He had a worried look. He watched me with guilty eyes and finally said, "My dearest son, Feng Liqin. I know that my time with you is never long when I'm home but know that I love you very much the same as your brother. Even though I don't want you to stay in the palace as it is full of scheming people that would do anything to obtain power, I must say this as it is the right choice. You must go to the palace and take your place as the Imperial Consort."
As father said those words with determined eyes, my heart tightened. "Why would you insist that I go, father?" I asked him before I made any assumptions about my father's decision.
"I have watched over the Emperor ever since he was born. I was originally a eunuch that was told by the previous Emperor to take care of the current Emperor. I have watched him grow and became the man that he is today. It is because of him that I became his most trusted advisor. Even until today I serve him as a eunuch and an advisor. I know him very well like I know both of you. Since he was young he was treated badly. That is why he became the ruthless Emperor that is feared by all. Seeing how he is interested in you, surprises me. He has never been smitten by anyone but you." Father laughed a bit before continuing. "He always kept on asking me about you even before I left he would ask about you. That's why you should go as you may be the only person that can warm his cold heart and change him a bit. He deserves to have someone that can love him like you. I can say this confidently as I have seen what he has gone through his whole life. He is like my third son in my heart. So, please Feng Liqin, go to the palace and treat him how you would treat any other soul that you see on the streets."
Father had a pleading look in his eyes which shocked me. Father would never plead for anyone like this. He is a proud man. I want to him and hugged him tightly in my arms.
"If that is what you wished, I will oblige to your wishes," I whispered to him. He pushed me away a little and looked at my eyes to confirm what I said. Seeing no lies within my eyes he smiled a bright smile and hugged me again. Afterward, everyone agreed that I should go to the palace with a little disagreement on my brother's side. Then, everyone went to bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day, I had a headache as the tutor from the palace gave me a hard time. Before the children came, I told him where I stopped last and what he should do when teaching them. He barely listened to a word I said acted as if he did.
When the children finally came I told them about the new tutor. When I left to see how they were doing from the side secretly, the tutor did the opposite of what I said treated the children badly! My brother that saw what happened immediately went over and scolded him. I followed my brother and told the tutor to go home after my brother finished scolding him. I took over and taught the children. Once I was done I wrote a letter to the Emperor and ask big brother to send it himself.
The next day, a new tutor came. This time he listened and did as told. He taught and played with the children. I was relieved after seeing as the children were in good hands. Now I'm no longer worried but I still asked Xiaoli to come over every morning to watch the tutor and children.
On the last day, I spent it with the children and the townspeople that I know. Then, I went to the lake in the forbidden forest. Putting my hand inside, I felt the nature of the forbidden forest. Nothing seems amidst and everything is as it should be. I went home after seeing the sky turning orange, a signal that night was coming. I went home with Xiaoli on my tail.
At home, I was surprised seeing so many people gathering inside. When big brother came out of the house, he told me that the townspeople that I knew, the poor families and the children came to celebrate my birthday early this year since I won't be here on the said day. I was really happy that they would do this. I went to each and every one of them to say my thanks.
At the end of the night, I gave everyone a hug before they left and thank them again for the celebration made by them. I was really happy during this celebration because on this night I could see people that I know from both poor and right families mingling together happily without any problems. He wished it would be like that all the time even when during the day. Unfortunately, it can't be with how the power-hungry people are practically destroying other people that they deemed useless in this world. Especially when people of their status were to make allies with them.
It was disgusting in his eyes. To him, everyone is the same, no matter if your poor or rich. If there are people that are in need of help, we must help them. There is no harm in helping others. Everyone is different, that statement is true. But we are all humans that would die at the end of the day. We are all humans that have feelings. We are all humans that deserve the right to eat good food, sleep on a soft bed somewhere safe and live in a house. The only things that make us different are how our mind works and what can we do in our life. That is what makes us dependant on each other.
Not many people thought of it that way. They only think about getting power and money to stay in a luxurious life. Sometimes I ask myself, what is the point of having a luxurious life if you would just leave it all when the time of your death comes. To me, even if you have a lot of money, why not save it? So you can give to your children as well as others that cannot earn as much as you.
I sigh. Thinking too much at this late of our is not good for me. Looking at Xiaoli that is sound asleep beside me, I start to close my eye and fell unconscious.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The day that I go to the palace finally came. The one to escort me there is no other than my father and big brother along with his guards. The people from last night came again this morning to see me off. I bud them all farewell before leaving. I didn't want the Emperor to be upset with my tardiness.
As I was inside the carriage that was on its way to the palace, I started becoming nervous. Father who sat in the opposite of me held my hand tightly as a sign that everything will be alright.
I was scared of the outcome of my arrival. What would happen once I've officially become the Imperial Consort? Would I be targeted? Would the ministers comment on my lack of palace knowledge? Would the Emperor ignore me or would he come and visit me?
So many thoughts ran through my mind that I became dizzy afterward. Before I knew it, we have arrived and I started biting my lip.
*I'm sorry for the late update... ð£
I'm trying to figure out how to continue the story and so far... I don't think it's good. ð
But... If you readers think otherwise, then let me know. It would definitely lift my spirits up and maybe even give me some idea on how to continue the story. ð
Vote and let me know... ð*