The Queen In Red

The Queen In Red 38

Thank you all for waiting, I know it's been some time, but it might stretch out to be a little longer for the next chapter. As promised, however, I have a new chapter. I'm trying a different way by capturing the characters POV. I hope you all enjoy it x. 

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Feng Jiu

Cheng Yu warned me of the crowds huddling in Qing Qiu, but I would never have imagined how much attention my declaration made.

Cheng Yu teased that it was more likely that the young men attending were only there to see me.

Since we reunited barely a few minutes ago, Gugu and I had been in fits of laughter. I couldn't help but cuddle Cheng Yu's arm. I missed her glib offensive tongue. She was so good at saying things as they were, without a filter.

Gugu spoke first, "Did you want me to take you directly to court? The family won't say anything in front of others. If not, I want to go back to your home, and you can leave from there first."

Unable to hold my laughter, Gugu had always been good at dodging confrontation. It was because she was the youngest and only girl that grandmother had. She got away with everything.

Everyone but father gave in to her antics, so when she said 'family', I knew she meant my father.

Feeling Uncle Ye Hua wanted to open a telepathic dialogue with me, I tried my best not to turn to him as my body instinctively tried to do because he asked for my attention.

'Feng Jiu, stay close to Tian Shu. We don't know what the people will be like when we get there or who have decided to attend.' The confusion and worry on my face said it all until Cheng Yu nudged me, asking what was going on in my head.

When I realised my face showed precisely how I was feeling, I was surprised again hearing Uncle's voice in my head, scolding me. 'Feng Jiu, please, for the life of me. Keep your expressions in check. Don't allow others to see how words affect you; if you do and make it easy for them to read, they will tear you apart.'

'Oh, Sorry, Uncle, I will do better.' I had to suck my lips in because I had never been called out like that from him before.

Uncle grunted behind me, 'Feng Jiu, you're doing it again.'

'Oh, sorry.' I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin.

It was not my first time in court, but I always had both Grandfather and the old Phoenix. I had no idea if my family would stand with me. Even though I held the Qing Qiu token, they could easily make things difficult if they didn't want to support me.

I had to prepare for any outcome.

"Oh, Your father had to utilise the field Feng Jiu used for her weapon hiding ceremony to house the realm leaders meetings due to the number of people that are attending, so you might not want to land the cloud near the meeting area." Cheng Yu suggested to Gugu, who seemed to have already known it.

During the time I spent in the mortal realm with Gugu, she had not once spoken of what was happening in Qing Qiu. Of course, I wanted to know, but I found it much easier to defer the subject.

By the time our time together was drawing to its end, I realised Gugu had no intention of telling me anything. It seemed I had to find out when I got home.

Growing up with my father's temper, I expected the possibility that I would need to face off against him and my uncles. Hence, I wanted to avoid seeing them alone at all cost.

Gugu cleared my fears with a few simple words as we approached my home. "Clear your mind Xiao Jiu. You are the Queen of Qing Qiu; who should you fear?"