LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS

Xing was in deep thoughts as she went back from the temple not having any idea what those two powerful people - one god and one demon were discussing and the implications that it would bring in her life in the near future. How she had such powerful people by her side because of the same person who brought her all the troubles she is in too.

Shengli was holding her hands as usual with the Emperor walking on the other side of him. Somehow that made Shengli realise he is currently surrounded by the two people who love him unconditionally and most dearly in this entire world. He knew how much Xing loves him always but he realised how much his brother loved him only when he saw him pushing Xing when she stabbed him to break his spell thinking that she hurt him.

This little brother of his never shied away in telling him how much he admired him even when he was a boy. He proved his point when he was willing to give up his throne to him - something one can never expect from a person of Imperial blood or anyone else too. Seriously! Who’d give up the chance to be the highest authority of the land, right?

When Shengli learned his brother fell for his Xing, he knew it is how it would go down.... Them standing against each other. He knew Xing was fated to be with Junjie and no one can break the shackles of fate... Of course Xing is the exception... But his brother surprised him by backing off...

Shengli thought maybe his brother was faking it until he saw that night how worried his brother was for him and as a reflex came to his aid by pushing away the woman he’s supposed to be in love with by fate who he believed to be pregnant at that time. Unexpected moments like those would bring out the true feelings in people and his brother proved his heart. If it was someone else who pushed her, they’d have lost their hand by now... But his brother can be forgiven for a moment of lapse in judgment for almost hitting his woman.

My brother clearly loves me more!

So that’s why he had the guts to talk to his brother openly that day about her and he get to know clearly that his brother has no romantic feelings towards her. And that’s why he is willing to let her stay here for as long as it is needed for her to do whatever that she has to do. But he has to make sure it won’t be for too long and so he’ll be with Shihong, working against him so to help them attain their goals as soon as possible.

Xing dragged Shengli in the wrong direction and Shengli knew where she is going might not be a good place to be. There were many rumours about the ’Light Wind Courtyard’ which was built for Empress Shu by the Tianshi Emperor, explicitly for her with extraordinary brilliance in architecture. The first courtyard in the new Palace built by the Tianshi Emperor and the only courtyard in the inner palace during his time. It was said a thousand workers worked for day and night for a month to build this place close to the temple as the Empress preferred, with expensive and exotic materials and a lot of gold. The Palace of Love built by the Warlord for his only woman!

So after the Tianshi Emperor’s time, many consorts tried to take this lavish courtyard but were essentially driven off by ’The Ghost of Empress Shu’ or some other supernatural forces . At least that was the talk.

Shengli in his time in the inner palace wasn’t an avid believer of ghosts and anything supernatural but this courtyard gave him this eerie feeling that makes one’s scalp go numb out of fear. There will be camellias growing in the gardens all year long even though no one tends to it and people have talked about weird noises and occurances around this courtyard and this is one of the most mysterious places in the Inner Palace as people have been physically harmed trying to get inside this place.

And of course, she has to go in that direction!

"Xing! You are going in the wrong direction", Shengli tried to stop her. If she knows the Scarlet Tiger’s one true love’s courtyard is here, she’ll go nuts and he won’t be able to hear the end of it!