Chapter Three
The empress sat, drank tea and watched an amusing performance.
The empress was impressed by Ling Fei’s fighting skills. If Ling Fei followed her plan then soon Ling Fei would become her precious daughter-in-law. She believed Ling Fei was someone who could understand her son and also help her control her unruly son. She praised herself for her good secret plan.
Na Lam was angry a commoner like Ling Fei dared to look straight at his eyes.
‘I let you win three moves,’ Na Lam said. ‘I’m not going to hold back anymore!’
Na Lam didn’t believe he would lose to a demoness who wasn’t taller than his shoulders. He wanted to hit Ling Fei’s bottom hard enough for her to cry out her parents’ names to save her.
Ling Fei waved her right hand. ‘Your highness, you can attack first.’
‘Alright, since you’re a courteous girl then I’ll be merciful,’ Na Lam said arrogantly.
Na Lam kicked in the direction of Ling Fei’ bottom but she jumped and dodged his kick. So he decided to aim a kick at her shoulder.
‘Let’s see if you can hide anywhere,’ Na Lam said.
‘Your majesty why are you fighting like a kitten?’ Ling Fei asked.
Ling Fei grabbed Na Lam’s wrist and twisted his arm behind his back. Frustration was clear on his face, he was frustrated he couldn’t free his arm from her hold.
‘How can your majesty boast about learning a kitten’s fighting skills?’ Ling Fei asked.
Na Lam’s face turned into green veins and he gritted his teeth. Since he was born, no dared to forcefully detain him.
‘You daring demoness!’ Na Lam cursed. ‘You dare to treat me this way? I’ll behead you! Someone arrest this demoness and behead her!’
A frightened Xiao Shun Tu ran toward the emperor.
‘What are you doing?’ Xiao Shun Tu asked Ling Fei. ‘Why aren’t you releasing the emperor? If the emperor is injured then you’ll die!’
‘Your majesty, are you admitting defeat?’ Ling Fei asked.
Ling Fei let go of Na Lam’s arm.
Na Lam couldn’t accept he lost to someone like Ling Fei.
‘Earlier I let you win,’ Na Lam lied. ‘So it didn’t count. We can fight again and this time I’ll defeat you.’
‘Alright, if your majesty needs to fight again to accept your loss then I’ll oblige,’ Ling Fei said.
‘This time you need to be careful,’ Na Lam said.
Na Lam believed he wasn’t focused earlier so there was no reason he wouldn’t win the second fight against Ling Fei.
The empress dowager’s eyes didn’t leave Ling Fei. She was impressed how Ling Fei calmly dealt with her son. Ling Fei’s small fast movements were deceptively powerful. She loved to watch Ling Fei fight and she also loved Ling Fei’s humility. Her son and Ling Fei were the same age but she felt ashamed to be a mother of such a stubborn and arrogant son.
Ling Fei moved her head and avoided Na Lam’s kick.
‘Not enough force,’ Ling Fei said.
Na Lam aimed another kick at Ling Fei’s head. ‘You deserve to die!’
Ling Fei easily dodged Na Lam’s kick.
‘Lacks core stability,’ Ling Fei said.
Na Lam was blinded with rage after he heard the demoness’ continuous criticisms of his fighting skills.
‘Your majesty, do you want to appreciate real fighting skills?’ Ling Fei asked.
Na Lam was breathing heavily but he continued to attack Ling Fei. He was determined not to lose to a demoness.
‘Prepare your incense sticks!’ Na Lam said.
Ling Fei smiled and she began to attack Na Lam.
‘Your majesty, this is how you should kick,’ Ling Fei said.
Ling Fei’s kick flowed like a bird flapping its wings and disappeared while her small palm struck Na Lam’s chest.
Ling Fei didn’t use her full strength but Na Lam stumbled three steps back. Luckily Xiao Shun Tu helped steady Na Lam before Na Lam fell onto the ground.
‘Ling Fei, you’re impressive!’ the empress dowager praised. She wasn’t even angry a little bit. She laughed and applauded Ling Fei. ‘Ling Fei, I was right about you. Son, you lost. That means yours and Ling Fei’s betrothal is intact. Half a year from now is yours and Ling Fei’s wedding.’
Na Lam’s eyes reddened with anger. He pushed Xiao Shun Tu away from him.
‘Imperial mother, I refuse to marry this demoness!’ Na Lam said.
‘Son, an emperor’s promise is binding,’ the empress dowager warned.
‘Imperial mother!’ Na Lam protested.
The empress dowager inwardly laughed at her son who was restraining his anger.
‘I should go tell your imperial grandma the good news,’ the empress dowager said. ‘I’m not free to intrude on yours and Ling Fei’s time together. You two should strengthen your bond.’
‘Imperial mother… you’re hateful!’ Na Lam said. ‘Demoness, I don’t care about how you won. But don’t dream about me marrying you!’
Ling Fei was framed. She only entered the palace to grant the empress dowager’s request.
‘Your majesty, don’t worry,’ Ling Fei said. ‘I don’t want to marry someone who lost to me.’
‘Aren’t you scared I’ll behead you?’ Na Lam asked.
‘Of course I believe your majesty can behead anyone and no one would dare to oppose your majesty,’ Ling Fei said. ‘Except if you behead someone innocent then it’ll soil your majesty’s reputation. Your majesty needs to think carefully before you act.’
‘You… demoness you dare to scold me?’ Na Lam asked.
‘I wouldn’t dare,’ Ling Fei said.
Na Lam fisted his hands. ‘Alright! Tomorrow I’ll wait for you here. We’ll fight again. I don’t believe I can’t defeat you.’
***
End of Chapter Three
Chapter Three
The empress sat, drank tea and watched an amusing performance.
The empress was impressed by Ling Fei’s fighting skills. If Ling Fei followed her plan then soon Ling Fei would become her precious daughter-in-law. She believed Ling Fei was someone who could understand her son and also help her control her unruly son. She praised herself for her good secret plan.
Na Lam was angry a commoner like Ling Fei dared to look straight at his eyes.
‘I let you win three moves,’ Na Lam said. ‘I’m not going to hold back anymore!’
Na Lam didn’t believe he would lose to a demoness who wasn’t taller than his shoulders. He wanted to hit Ling Fei’s bottom hard enough for her to cry out her parents’ names to save her.
Ling Fei waved her right hand. ‘Your highness, you can attack first.’
‘Alright, since you’re a courteous girl then I’ll be merciful,’ Na Lam said arrogantly.
Na Lam kicked in the direction of Ling Fei’ bottom but she jumped and dodged his kick. So he decided to aim a kick at her shoulder.
‘Let’s see if you can hide anywhere,’ Na Lam said.
‘Your majesty why are you fighting like a kitten?’ Ling Fei asked.
Ling Fei grabbed Na Lam’s wrist and twisted his arm behind his back. Frustration was clear on his face, he was frustrated he couldn’t free his arm from her hold.
‘How can your majesty boast about learning a kitten’s fighting skills?’ Ling Fei asked.
Na Lam’s face turned into green veins and he gritted his teeth. Since he was born, no dared to forcefully detain him.
‘You daring demoness!’ Na Lam cursed. ‘You dare to treat me this way? I’ll behead you! Someone arrest this demoness and behead her!’
A frightened Xiao Shun Tu ran toward the emperor.
‘What are you doing?’ Xiao Shun Tu asked Ling Fei. ‘Why aren’t you releasing the emperor? If the emperor is injured then you’ll die!’
‘Your majesty, are you admitting defeat?’ Ling Fei asked.
Ling Fei let go of Na Lam’s arm.
Na Lam couldn’t accept he lost to someone like Ling Fei.
‘Earlier I let you win,’ Na Lam lied. ‘So it didn’t count. We can fight again and this time I’ll defeat you.’
‘Alright, if your majesty needs to fight again to accept your loss then I’ll oblige,’ Ling Fei said.
‘This time you need to be careful,’ Na Lam said.
Na Lam believed he wasn’t focused earlier so there was no reason he wouldn’t win the second fight against Ling Fei.
The empress dowager’s eyes didn’t leave Ling Fei. She was impressed how Ling Fei calmly dealt with her son. Ling Fei’s small fast movements were deceptively powerful. She loved to watch Ling Fei fight and she also loved Ling Fei’s humility. Her son and Ling Fei were the same age but she felt ashamed to be a mother of such a stubborn and arrogant son.
Ling Fei moved her head and avoided Na Lam’s kick.
‘Not enough force,’ Ling Fei said.
Na Lam aimed another kick at Ling Fei’s head. ‘You deserve to die!’
Ling Fei easily dodged Na Lam’s kick.
‘Lacks core stability,’ Ling Fei said.
Na Lam was blinded with rage after he heard the demoness’ continuous criticisms of his fighting skills.
‘Your majesty, do you want to appreciate real fighting skills?’ Ling Fei asked.
Na Lam was breathing heavily but he continued to attack Ling Fei. He was determined not to lose to a demoness.
‘Prepare your incense sticks!’ Na Lam said.
Ling Fei smiled and she began to attack Na Lam.
‘Your majesty, this is how you should kick,’ Ling Fei said.
Ling Fei’s kick flowed like a bird flapping its wings and disappeared while her small palm struck Na Lam’s chest.
Ling Fei didn’t use her full strength but Na Lam stumbled three steps back. Luckily Xiao Shun Tu helped steady Na Lam before Na Lam fell onto the ground.
‘Ling Fei, you’re impressive!’ the empress dowager praised. She wasn’t even angry a little bit. She laughed and applauded Ling Fei. ‘Ling Fei, I was right about you. Son, you lost. That means yours and Ling Fei’s betrothal is intact. Half a year from now is yours and Ling Fei’s wedding.’
Na Lam’s eyes reddened with anger. He pushed Xiao Shun Tu away from him.
‘Imperial mother, I refuse to marry this demoness!’ Na Lam said.
‘Son, an emperor’s promise is binding,’ the empress dowager warned.
‘Imperial mother!’ Na Lam protested.
The empress dowager inwardly laughed at her son who was restraining his anger.
‘I should go tell your imperial grandma the good news,’ the empress dowager said. ‘I’m not free to intrude on yours and Ling Fei’s time together. You two should strengthen your bond.’
‘Imperial mother… you’re hateful!’ Na Lam said. ‘Demoness, I don’t care about how you won. But don’t dream about me marrying you!’
Ling Fei was framed. She only entered the palace to grant the empress dowager’s request.
‘Your majesty, don’t worry,’ Ling Fei said. ‘I don’t want to marry someone who lost to me.’
‘Aren’t you scared I’ll behead you?’ Na Lam asked.
‘Of course I believe your majesty can behead anyone and no one would dare to oppose your majesty,’ Ling Fei said. ‘Except if you behead someone innocent then it’ll soil your majesty’s reputation. Your majesty needs to think carefully before you act.’
‘You… demoness you dare to scold me?’ Na Lam asked.
‘I wouldn’t dare,’ Ling Fei said.
Na Lam fisted his hands. ‘Alright! Tomorrow I’ll wait for you here. We’ll fight again. I don’t believe I can’t defeat you.’
***
End of Chapter Three
