Chapter 90
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Shengli didn't return home the whole night and was guarding Xing's courtyard and the next morning Rijun who came early to get her help in finishing the documents using his hurt hand as an excuse gasped in surprise seeing the ghastly figure by her door.
"What... When... Why .. ", Rijun tried to find the right words to ask him but failed to, seeing his desolate eyes and those dark circles and his dishevelled hair. In all the years he had known Shengli, this is the first time Rijun saw him this shabby. He always looked prim and proper.
Will I end up like this if I fall in love too? Rijun wondered.
"I'm going in. You are not coming?", Rijun asked Shengli and not getting a reaction from him, "Are you two fighting?", he tried to probe.
Shengli had a slight reaction in his face that encouraged him to further interrogate him,
"Cousin Shengli, My sister must know you are here till last night, still she is not letting you in? She is cruel! Why is she this heartless.. "
"It's my fault", Shengli interjected him and his eyes got a bit cold.
Rijun shuddered slightly, 'So he defends Mingxia even now? Well! That's good, I suppose..?', Rijun thought.
"Did you speak with her? What happened between you two anyway? Just apologise, she'll forgive if it's you! ", Rijun gave his advice.
Shengli gave a sorrowful glance at Rijun making him uncomfortable, " I feel like she won't be honest with me now!". Shengli knew if he apologised now she'll accept it superficially but it won't be from her heart. She is really mad at him now for him to coax her with just an apology and he had to find out the root cause of the problem.
"Oh!", Rijun didn't know what to say and walked in.
Are relationships this complicated? No! It must be because it is her, everything is complicated! Good thing she is my sister and I don't have to worry! Rijun patted his chest to calm himself.
Xing came to the study as her brother's arrival was announced and saw him with a beaming smile and immediately knew what he was upto.
"I'm in no mood to help you!", Xing said bluntly sitting on the chair by the table and poured her tea. Her stomach cramps have been acting up and her usual mood which was down by Shengli has become abnormally gloomier, evident from her drooping eyelids and her slumped shoulders.
" It's fine sister. This caring big brother, only wished to have a look at my only adorable, smart and lovely sister who is sick", Rijun started smooth-talking Xing making her squirmy.
"I'm not sick and the one who is unaccountably solicitous is hiding evil intentions", she cut Rijun off.
"How are you not sick? See! Even your hands are cold. How can you say I'm unaccountably solicitous when I am really worried about you? ", he grabbed her hands and started rubbing it inside his hands.
Xing who had decided to not trust her overly dramatic brother ever since he kidnapped her to write the court exams, knew he was upto something and pulled her hands out of his hands.
"Okay..! That is enough, dear brother! What do you really want?", she gave a scary grin making Rijun flinch in fear.
"Mingxia! It is for the sake of the kingdom", Rijun became serious knowing he cannot blandish his sister.
Xing let out a mocking laugh, Turns out Huangs really cannot keep their nose out of serving the kingdom like Shengli said.
"Brother!" she patted his shoulder, " You should only work for the salary you receive. Otherwise it is not good for your body" and stood up to leave.
"Mingxia! Experts are predicting severe draught in the Eastern Province in five years as there are no rainfall for some years. You know the implications, right?", he held her hands and looked at her pleading and Xing sat back.
Of course Xing knew of the implications, without water, there will be less yeilds and the food supply chain will be damged that will lead to starvation and starvation will be the root cause of all chaos. Stealing, robbery, prostitution, riots, diseases and the list will go on and once it's impact reaches the capital, even the Emperor won't be spared of it's repercussions. Throughout history the major reason for the fall of many dynasties was because of their failure to feed their people.
"So..?", she said and her indifferent tone made Rijun astonished, "Mingxia! How can you be this apathetic? Shouldn't you help where you can? "
Xing who had turned to leave to her bed chambers, turned and gave a snort, " Brother, why should I care? And even if I give a damn, I'm not a god to bring rainfall! ", she shook her head in annoyance and turned to leave.
Seriously! What is this brother of mine thinking? The reason I helped those people in the East was because I wanted to give a good place as dowry for my Prince! I wouldn't have bothered otherwise. And now everyone things I am the goddess of mercy?
"But you know a God! That too The God of Wind! You are close enough to call him by his name even! You can ask him for help! "
Rijun's persistent voice made Xing halt her steps. She took a deep breath suppressing the urge to hit her brother and turned and sat back in the chair,
" Did 'he' ask you for it?", Xing asked, her eyes were burning with rage and her face was red. Obviously the 'he' she mentioned is the Emperor and she seriously wondered if her decision to speak the truth to him was wrong.
"No", Rijun shook his head and Xing noticed his eyes were honest, "I'm the one asking".
"Brother", she patted his hands, "Listen to me well.... Never, and I mean never make a deal with a God... Ever!!! It never ends well... Ever!!! A rooster has more chance laying eggs than a deal with a God has chances to work out in your favour, entirely! ", Xing said and her serious expression perplexed Rijun.
" You are pretty serious about it. Had bad experiences yourself ? ", Rijun asked.
"I've never tried to get something from them. I was warned not to",Xing poured herself some tea and started drinking. She tried to remember who made her promise that... Her master? Or the one who taught the double sword technique in the cave? She was not sure but he made her promise three things.. Not to spill blood unnecessarily especially family's, To try and avoid war as much as possible and the important rule, he said.. Don't make a deal for any reason with a god. She had tried to follow each rule this long for some reason too.
"Brother! You don't know much about how those gods are right? Imagine, just because you know our Emperor, he cannot ask the Earth kingdom's Emperor for favours for you, right? Even though both are Emperors, they have their own domains they rule and cannot interfere with each other and if they interfere, it would lead to war. Similarly the Gods have their own domains and will have little or no authority over others and they are not friendly beings also. So even if I know Fei Lian, he won't ask the God of Rain to do his duty as it would be him interfering in other's domain", Xing paused seeing her brother understood her.
"And get this, I know my place. Just because those gods are nice to me, I can't think of myself as something. It's like you find an ant interesting and you play with it for a while and forget about it after some time. The ant cannot think of itself as someone important to you just because of your momentary interest in it, right? The Gods are immortals with rather longer lifespan and they get bored and take interest in mortals they think are different from the rest and play with them for a while and that doesn't mean they would move even a finger for their sake", Xing pursed her lips and her eyes were sharp as she meant every word of it.
"An ant, huh?", Rijun was skeptical. No one comes to meet someone they think of an ant and give them medicines for their health, right? He even looked at Mingxia as if he was looking at a loved one!
"Also", Xing continued, "To make a deal with a god one have to give up something of equal value of what they are asking. I'm never making that mistake as I only have one thing precious to me and I won't get myself to such situations as to lose him for anything".
Rijun understood what she was saying and stood up to leave, "I understand and I won't bother you anymore regarding this. But, Your precious thing has become the door deity on front of your courtyard thinking you hate him since last night"
"Mmm!", Xing nodded, "I will love him always even if he did whatever but I cannot accept everything he do to me. Let him figure it out!", She said and went to her bed chambers and just lied on her bed.
Xing's stomach hurt a lot and she remembered his warm hands over her belly that would soothe the pain. But too bad his eyes had gone cold and his hands won't be warm anymore too!
'What's that got to do with you? ', he asked.. How could he? He said everything of his is mine, does that not include his burdens? Do I look that superficial to him? I can tell him all my sorrows but he won't.. How is that fair?
Am I expecting too much by asking him to be open with me? Even that Oldman shares everything with his wife. Does he think I'm incapable to handle it or does he not trust me?
I really cannot hate him. Even if he says that he killed a suckling baby plucking it right from it's mother's chest and killed it right in front of it's mother, l'll still love him and I really love babies. I'm stupid, aren't I? I'm trash! But I'll be a stupid and a scum with him rather than a Sage without him.
Rijun was confused by her answer, ' Can do whatever but not everything..? What does that even mean? Are women this confusing? Is this a puzzle?', he sighed and dragged Shengli who was out of it to his courtyard and helped him change himself as AoTian wanted to meet him.
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Shengli didn't return home the whole night and was guarding Xing's courtyard and the next morning Rijun who came early to get her help in finishing the documents using his hurt hand as an excuse gasped in surprise seeing the ghastly figure by her door.
"What... When... Why .. ", Rijun tried to find the right words to ask him but failed to, seeing his desolate eyes and those dark circles and his dishevelled hair. In all the years he had known Shengli, this is the first time Rijun saw him this shabby. He always looked prim and proper.
Will I end up like this if I fall in love too? Rijun wondered.
"I'm going in. You are not coming?", Rijun asked Shengli and not getting a reaction from him, "Are you two fighting?", he tried to probe.
Shengli had a slight reaction in his face that encouraged him to further interrogate him,
"Cousin Shengli, My sister must know you are here till last night, still she is not letting you in? She is cruel! Why is she this heartless.. "
"It's my fault", Shengli interjected him and his eyes got a bit cold.
Rijun shuddered slightly, 'So he defends Mingxia even now? Well! That's good, I suppose..?', Rijun thought.
"Did you speak with her? What happened between you two anyway? Just apologise, she'll forgive if it's you! ", Rijun gave his advice.
Shengli gave a sorrowful glance at Rijun making him uncomfortable, " I feel like she won't be honest with me now!". Shengli knew if he apologised now she'll accept it superficially but it won't be from her heart. She is really mad at him now for him to coax her with just an apology and he had to find out the root cause of the problem.
"Oh!", Rijun didn't know what to say and walked in.
Are relationships this complicated? No! It must be because it is her, everything is complicated! Good thing she is my sister and I don't have to worry! Rijun patted his chest to calm himself.
Xing came to the study as her brother's arrival was announced and saw him with a beaming smile and immediately knew what he was upto.
"I'm in no mood to help you!", Xing said bluntly sitting on the chair by the table and poured her tea. Her stomach cramps have been acting up and her usual mood which was down by Shengli has become abnormally gloomier, evident from her drooping eyelids and her slumped shoulders.
" It's fine sister. This caring big brother, only wished to have a look at my only adorable, smart and lovely sister who is sick", Rijun started smooth-talking Xing making her squirmy.
"I'm not sick and the one who is unaccountably solicitous is hiding evil intentions", she cut Rijun off.
"How are you not sick? See! Even your hands are cold. How can you say I'm unaccountably solicitous when I am really worried about you? ", he grabbed her hands and started rubbing it inside his hands.
Xing who had decided to not trust her overly dramatic brother ever since he kidnapped her to write the court exams, knew he was upto something and pulled her hands out of his hands.
"Okay..! That is enough, dear brother! What do you really want?", she gave a scary grin making Rijun flinch in fear.
"Mingxia! It is for the sake of the kingdom", Rijun became serious knowing he cannot blandish his sister.
Xing let out a mocking laugh, Turns out Huangs really cannot keep their nose out of serving the kingdom like Shengli said.
"Brother!" she patted his shoulder, " You should only work for the salary you receive. Otherwise it is not good for your body" and stood up to leave.
"Mingxia! Experts are predicting severe draught in the Eastern Province in five years as there are no rainfall for some years. You know the implications, right?", he held her hands and looked at her pleading and Xing sat back.
Of course Xing knew of the implications, without water, there will be less yeilds and the food supply chain will be damged that will lead to starvation and starvation will be the root cause of all chaos. Stealing, robbery, prostitution, riots, diseases and the list will go on and once it's impact reaches the capital, even the Emperor won't be spared of it's repercussions. Throughout history the major reason for the fall of many dynasties was because of their failure to feed their people.
"So..?", she said and her indifferent tone made Rijun astonished, "Mingxia! How can you be this apathetic? Shouldn't you help where you can? "
Xing who had turned to leave to her bed chambers, turned and gave a snort, " Brother, why should I care? And even if I give a damn, I'm not a god to bring rainfall! ", she shook her head in annoyance and turned to leave.
Seriously! What is this brother of mine thinking? The reason I helped those people in the East was because I wanted to give a good place as dowry for my Prince! I wouldn't have bothered otherwise. And now everyone things I am the goddess of mercy?
"But you know a God! That too The God of Wind! You are close enough to call him by his name even! You can ask him for help! "
Rijun's persistent voice made Xing halt her steps. She took a deep breath suppressing the urge to hit her brother and turned and sat back in the chair,
" Did 'he' ask you for it?", Xing asked, her eyes were burning with rage and her face was red. Obviously the 'he' she mentioned is the Emperor and she seriously wondered if her decision to speak the truth to him was wrong.
"No", Rijun shook his head and Xing noticed his eyes were honest, "I'm the one asking".
"Brother", she patted his hands, "Listen to me well.... Never, and I mean never make a deal with a God... Ever!!! It never ends well... Ever!!! A rooster has more chance laying eggs than a deal with a God has chances to work out in your favour, entirely! ", Xing said and her serious expression perplexed Rijun.
" You are pretty serious about it. Had bad experiences yourself ? ", Rijun asked.
"I've never tried to get something from them. I was warned not to",Xing poured herself some tea and started drinking. She tried to remember who made her promise that... Her master? Or the one who taught the double sword technique in the cave? She was not sure but he made her promise three things.. Not to spill blood unnecessarily especially family's, To try and avoid war as much as possible and the important rule, he said.. Don't make a deal for any reason with a god. She had tried to follow each rule this long for some reason too.
"Brother! You don't know much about how those gods are right? Imagine, just because you know our Emperor, he cannot ask the Earth kingdom's Emperor for favours for you, right? Even though both are Emperors, they have their own domains they rule and cannot interfere with each other and if they interfere, it would lead to war. Similarly the Gods have their own domains and will have little or no authority over others and they are not friendly beings also. So even if I know Fei Lian, he won't ask the God of Rain to do his duty as it would be him interfering in other's domain", Xing paused seeing her brother understood her.
"And get this, I know my place. Just because those gods are nice to me, I can't think of myself as something. It's like you find an ant interesting and you play with it for a while and forget about it after some time. The ant cannot think of itself as someone important to you just because of your momentary interest in it, right? The Gods are immortals with rather longer lifespan and they get bored and take interest in mortals they think are different from the rest and play with them for a while and that doesn't mean they would move even a finger for their sake", Xing pursed her lips and her eyes were sharp as she meant every word of it.
"An ant, huh?", Rijun was skeptical. No one comes to meet someone they think of an ant and give them medicines for their health, right? He even looked at Mingxia as if he was looking at a loved one!
"Also", Xing continued, "To make a deal with a god one have to give up something of equal value of what they are asking. I'm never making that mistake as I only have one thing precious to me and I won't get myself to such situations as to lose him for anything".
Rijun understood what she was saying and stood up to leave, "I understand and I won't bother you anymore regarding this. But, Your precious thing has become the door deity on front of your courtyard thinking you hate him since last night"
"Mmm!", Xing nodded, "I will love him always even if he did whatever but I cannot accept everything he do to me. Let him figure it out!", She said and went to her bed chambers and just lied on her bed.
Xing's stomach hurt a lot and she remembered his warm hands over her belly that would soothe the pain. But too bad his eyes had gone cold and his hands won't be warm anymore too!
'What's that got to do with you? ', he asked.. How could he? He said everything of his is mine, does that not include his burdens? Do I look that superficial to him? I can tell him all my sorrows but he won't.. How is that fair?
Am I expecting too much by asking him to be open with me? Even that Oldman shares everything with his wife. Does he think I'm incapable to handle it or does he not trust me?
I really cannot hate him. Even if he says that he killed a suckling baby plucking it right from it's mother's chest and killed it right in front of it's mother, l'll still love him and I really love babies. I'm stupid, aren't I? I'm trash! But I'll be a stupid and a scum with him rather than a Sage without him.
Rijun was confused by her answer, ' Can do whatever but not everything..? What does that even mean? Are women this confusing? Is this a puzzle?', he sighed and dragged Shengli who was out of it to his courtyard and helped him change himself as AoTian wanted to meet him.
Shengli didn't return home the whole night and was guarding Xing's courtyard and the next morning Rijun who came early to get her help in finishing the documents using his hurt hand as an excuse gasped in surprise seeing the ghastly figure by her door. "What... When... Why .. ", Rijun tried to find the right words to ask him but failed to, seeing his desolate eyes and those dark circles and his dishevelled hair. In all the years he had known Shengli, this is the first time Rijun saw him this shabby. He always looked prim and proper. Will I end up like this if I fall in love too? Rijun wondered. "I'm going in. You are not coming?", Rijun asked Shengli and not getting a reaction from him, "Are you two fighting?", he tried to probe. Shengli had a slight reaction in his face that encouraged him to further interrogate him, "Cousin Shengli, My sister must know you are here till last night, still she is not letting you in? She is cruel! Why is she this heartless.. " "It's my fault", Shengli interjected him and his eyes got a bit cold. Rijun shuddered slightly, 'So he defends Mingxia even now? Well! That's good, I suppose..?', Rijun thought. "Did you speak with her? What happened between you two anyway? Just apologise, she'll forgive if it's you! ", Rijun gave his advice. Shengli gave a sorrowful glance at Rijun making him uncomfortable, " I feel like she won't be honest with me now!". Shengli knew if he apologised now she'll accept it superficially but it won't be from her heart. She is really mad at him now for him to coax her with just an apology and he had to find out the root cause of the problem. "Oh!", Rijun didn't know what to say and walked in. Are relationships this complicated? No! It must be because it is her, everything is complicated! Good thing she is my sister and I don't have to worry! Rijun patted his chest to calm himself. Xing came to the study as her brother's arrival was announced and saw him with a beaming smile and immediately knew what he was upto. "I'm in no mood to help you!", Xing said bluntly sitting on the chair by the table and poured her tea. Her stomach cramps have been acting up and her usual mood which was down by Shengli has become abnormally gloomier, evident from her drooping eyelids and her slumped shoulders. " It's fine sister. This caring big brother, only wished to have a look at my only adorable, smart and lovely sister who is sick", Rijun started smooth-talking Xing making her squirmy. "I'm not sick and the one who is unaccountably solicitous is hiding evil intentions", she cut Rijun off. "How are you not sick? See! Even your hands are cold. How can you say I'm unaccountably solicitous when I am really worried about you? ", he grabbed her hands and started rubbing it inside his hands. Xing who had decided to not trust her overly dramatic brother ever since he kidnapped her to write the court exams, knew he was upto something and pulled her hands out of his hands. "Okay..! That is enough, dear brother! What do you really want?", she gave a scary grin making Rijun flinch in fear. "Mingxia! It is for the sake of the kingdom", Rijun became serious knowing he cannot blandish his sister. Xing let out a mocking laugh, Turns out Huangs really cannot keep their nose out of serving the kingdom like Shengli said. "Brother!" she patted his shoulder, " You should only work for the salary you receive. Otherwise it is not good for your body" and stood up to leave. "Mingxia! Experts are predicting severe draught in the Eastern Province in five years as there are no rainfall for some years. You know the implications, right?", he held her hands and looked at her pleading and Xing sat back. Of course Xing knew of the implications, without water, there will be less yeilds and the food supply chain will be damged that will lead to starvation and starvation will be the root cause of all chaos. Stealing, robbery, prostitution, riots, diseases and the list will go on and once it's impact reaches the capital, even the Emperor won't be spared of it's repercussions. Throughout history the major reason for the fall of many dynasties was because of their failure to feed their people. "So..?", she said and her indifferent tone made Rijun astonished, "Mingxia! How can you be this apathetic? Shouldn't you help where you can? " Xing who had turned to leave to her bed chambers, turned and gave a snort, " Brother, why should I care? And even if I give a damn, I'm not a god to bring rainfall! ", she shook her head in annoyance and turned to leave. Seriously! What is this brother of mine thinking? The reason I helped those people in the East was because I wanted to give a good place as dowry for my Prince! I wouldn't have bothered otherwise. And now everyone things I am the goddess of mercy? "But you know a God! That too The God of Wind! You are close enough to call him by his name even! You can ask him for help! " Rijun's persistent voice made Xing halt her steps. She took a deep breath suppressing the urge to hit her brother and turned and sat back in the chair, " Did 'he' ask you for it?", Xing asked, her eyes were burning with rage and her face was red. Obviously the 'he' she mentioned is the Emperor and she seriously wondered if her decision to speak the truth to him was wrong. "No", Rijun shook his head and Xing noticed his eyes were honest, "I'm the one asking". "Brother", she patted his hands, "Listen to me well.... Never, and I mean never make a deal with a God... Ever!!! It never ends well... Ever!!! A rooster has more chance laying eggs than a deal with a God has chances to work out in your favour, entirely! ", Xing said and her serious expression perplexed Rijun. " You are pretty serious about it. Had bad experiences yourself ? ", Rijun asked. "I've never tried to get something from them. I was warned not to",Xing poured herself some tea and started drinking. She tried to remember who made her promise that... Her master? Or the one who taught the double sword technique in the cave? She was not sure but he made her promise three things.. Not to spill blood unnecessarily especially family's, To try and avoid war as much as possible and the important rule, he said.. Don't make a deal for any reason with a god. She had tried to follow each rule this long for some reason too. "Brother! You don't know much about how those gods are right? Imagine, just because you know our Emperor, he cannot ask the Earth kingdom's Emperor for favours for you, right? Even though both are Emperors, they have their own domains they rule and cannot interfere with each other and if they interfere, it would lead to war. Similarly the Gods have their own domains and will have little or no authority over others and they are not friendly beings also. So even if I know Fei Lian, he won't ask the God of Rain to do his duty as it would be him interfering in other's domain", Xing paused seeing her brother understood her. "And get this, I know my place. Just because those gods are nice to me, I can't think of myself as something. It's like you find an ant interesting and you play with it for a while and forget about it after some time. The ant cannot think of itself as someone important to you just because of your momentary interest in it, right? The Gods are immortals with rather longer lifespan and they get bored and take interest in mortals they think are different from the rest and play with them for a while and that doesn't mean they would move even a finger for their sake", Xing pursed her lips and her eyes were sharp as she meant every word of it. "An ant, huh?", Rijun was skeptical. No one comes to meet someone they think of an ant and give them medicines for their health, right? He even looked at Mingxia as if he was looking at a loved one! "Also", Xing continued, "To make a deal with a god one have to give up something of equal value of what they are asking. I'm never making that mistake as I only have one thing precious to me and I won't get myself to such situations as to lose him for anything". Rijun understood what she was saying and stood up to leave, "I understand and I won't bother you anymore regarding this. But, Your precious thing has become the door deity on front of your courtyard thinking you hate him since last night" "Mmm!", Xing nodded, "I will love him always even if he did whatever but I cannot accept everything he do to me. Let him figure it out!", She said and went to her bed chambers and just lied on her bed. Xing's stomach hurt a lot and she remembered his warm hands over her belly that would soothe the pain. But too bad his eyes had gone cold and his hands won't be warm anymore too! 'What's that got to do with you? ', he asked.. How could he? He said everything of his is mine, does that not include his burdens? Do I look that superficial to him? I can tell him all my sorrows but he won't.. How is that fair? Am I expecting too much by asking him to be open with me? Even that Oldman shares everything with his wife. Does he think I'm incapable to handle it or does he not trust me? I really cannot hate him. Even if he says that he killed a suckling baby plucking it right from it's mother's chest and killed it right in front of it's mother, l'll still love him and I really love babies. I'm stupid, aren't I? I'm trash! But I'll be a stupid and a scum with him rather than a Sage without him. Rijun was confused by her answer, ' Can do whatever but not everything..? What does that even mean? Are women this confusing? Is this a puzzle?', he sighed and dragged Shengli who was out of it to his courtyard and helped him change himself as AoTian wanted to meet him.
