20; To Protect

Love is but a double-edged sword, one side sharp and the other dull.

The emperor sat upon his jade throne displeased. That fire, he feels displeasure. It didn't stop until the mansion was burned to nothing, nothing survived, everything in that yard burned for the past three days and after eating everything it finally Vanished as if never there.

“Tell me, who did it?”

“We haven't found any leads,” the guard bows before the emperor.

The emperor tilts his head, “really now?”

“This servant is sorry for his incompetence, your imperial majesty, but the fire took whatever evidence of this great crime.” the guard.

The emperor rises, “Are you stupid?”

“your imperial majesty?” The guard was left in utter confusion.

The emperor stoops down, his head towards the guard’s ear. “The evidence Is the fire itself.”

The guard froze realizing he messed up but it was too late, the emperor dragged his sword out beheading him on the spot. As blood splashes all over the emperor's robes, he looks at the back of his hand that was smeared with blood.

Soon the emperor raises his hand closer, putting it To his mouth to taste it, and as soon as he does, he spits It aside.

“Nasty!” He soon shakes off the blood off his palm.

“Get me new investigators,”

He said stepping back To take his throne Flapping down, soon there was a bang of the brass gong as the eunuch Announced the Arrival of the Honourable Consort Jia. The emperor soon smiles, fixing His posture.

“Huihui,” he said softly.

Jia Hui Liang looked aside to see the servants carrying a headless cadaver, and blood was all over the floor.

“Imperial husband?” He said seemingly upset.

“I have a good reason, Huihui excuse Me this once, eh? I'm trying to figure out the culprit” he said defensively.

Jia Hui Liang frowns sadly, he holds his chest. “Is it because I gave you a healthy child?”

The Emperor became quiet as if angered by his words, “Huihui,”

As if on cue, Consort Chi enters the room with the first prince, she gently bows Greeting the emperor as Jia Hui Liang looks at her child. Jia Hui Liang's eyes grew darker.

“What brings you here?” The Emperor said as his eyes traveled to the young boy.

Imperial Noble Consort Chi looked at the side and then at the emperor, “we were only paying a visit to his imperial Majesty,” she said almost point blankly.

“Okay, You can go now.” He said, crossing his legs.

Noble Consort Chi wanted to tsk But she held it in, she felt bitter. Jia Hui Liang looks at the child smiling,  he wants to pat his fluffy hair but as he is about to. The emperor who noticed this looked at him, “Is there something the matter, Huihui?”

Noble Consort turns quickly pulling Jia Hui Liang away from Jia Hui Liang quickly picking him up and clutching him protectively. For a second the noble Consort felt that her child was exposed to danger, so she acted on instinct, and for a second Jia Hui Liang's eyes… were… were… terrifying.

“A–ah, right.” She said, holding her child protectively.

“Mother?” The confused prince said.

Jia Hui Liang's eyes reflected confusion, “sister Chi?”

Noble Consort Chi blinks and then breathes for a second there, but now it's different. Soon Jia Hui Liang touches the back of the child smiling warmly. “You best make him happy or you might not know.”

“Huh?” she is confused, was that a threat? On her son's life?

“HuiHui?” The Emperor inquires.

“Hm?” He tilts His head.

“Are you not aware of your words?”

“Me? Is it not true? My child could have lost his life due to the fire.”

The emperor feels a hit to his pride, “I'll find the culprit, you best believe it.”

Jia Hui Liang slightly bows, “May blessings befall the rising sun.”

The emperor tsk as he sees the retreating figure of Jia Hui Liang. As he leaves the emperor touches his lips for some irritating reason Jia Hui Liang's movements seem very purposeful. He looks at the Noble Consort, “You know what, You'll serve me tonight.”

He gets up off the throne, and walks down To the Noble Consort. She looks at him as his towering figure forms over her grasping her jaw tightly, her pupils strank feeling a sense of despair consume her.

=♡=First Life=♡=

Niao is Looking around, “Xia! Xia! Where are you”

Niao is looking for Xia playing hide and seek, but it seems Xia is hiding too well! Niao was almost ready to leave when she heard a cough in the bushes. “Ha! There!”

She rummaged Through the leafy blushes in hopes of finding Xia but only stumbled Upon a pale boy coughing a bit, “Oh” she said disappointed.

“You're Not Xia,” she said, sadly.

The boy looks at her, it is difficult to breathe right now. He sits back trying to relax. “Hey, big brother are you okay?”

The nods, but Niao pouts. “No, you not! Niao isn't a stupid bird!”

The boy hopes the child will go away, but she only Picks up his hand. “Big Brother seems to have difficulty breathing. In hales follow little birdy, after all, birdy is a princess!”

The boy was annoyed he pushed her to the floor causing her to be scratched from the fall.

“Ow! Ow!” She shouts.

The boy instantly felt regret as he towers over, “Are you okay?”

She pouts but then stands quickly, her knee trembles a bit but she smiles. “Niao er is fine!”

She smiles happily, and the boy sighs in relief if is hurt. He knows his father will hurt him.

“Brother is breathing normally, brother is better!” she smiles.

Seeing her soft Smile covering Her face he can't help but feel a small sense of warmth in his heart. Soon he takes the small palm but the gentle child in front of him.

“Let's go eat cookies. Okay, big brother?”

To Zhuang Cheung, she was a candle that blown Out would make her world dark.

“Little Zhúzhú”