Taming Tyrants I

Arc 1: Beauty and the Beast (22)

"Why should I? After all, she will be my concubine soon." Nian Xiaoyuan grinned. He had now fulfilled his promise to Hong Cha. That he will avenge her. But most importantly, he owns Zhao Xue now. Lin Xingjin is no longer a threat. He can kill him without lifting a hand. Those generals and soldiers that fought with him in the battlefield trusts him more than Lin Xingjin. Most of the high ranking ministers are also on his side since he helped them with their public reforms by lending men and wealth. They can execute Lin Xingjin even without his need to speak.

"Nian Xiaoyuan! Enough of this!" Zhao Xue struggled when he suddenly forced a kiss on her. Lin Xingjin moved but a shadow guard pressed him down the floor.

"What a good pretender, hm?" he smirked at Zhao Xue and pinched her chin harshly. "You are not obedient. As a punishment, why don't you tell Lin Xingjin how you became a slut under me? If not, I can have his hands chopped off."

"What?" Lin Xingjin froze. He looked up at Zhao Xue who was guilty.

"Lin Xingjin, you don't know women likes skillful men in bed? No wonder Zhao Xue keeps seeing me in secret. You know where it leads? To a room, with only the two of us. She actually enjoys it. Even more than that, we did it more than thrice." Nian Xiaoyuan provoked Lin Xingjin. Zhao Xue cried and stopped her meaningless struggles. Seeing enough, he waved his hand to give orders. "Detain the prince in the city jail. We will execute him after I crown the new empress."

"Nian Xiaoyuan! Don't you dare take her as your empress!" Lin Xingjin shouted as the soldiers pulled him up. Zhao Xue should be his empress, not a traitor's.

"Haha. Guess who is the empress. But I assure you, Zhao Xue is not trustworthy to be one." he chuckled in mockery. The palace door closed with a thud. A girl in silk pink dress appeared from below the throne.

"Im bored." Hong Cha nonchalantly complained. After the successful coup d'etat, Nian Xiaoyuan brought her to the imperial palace to be his empress. She never said no or yes but if she rejects him, who knows if what can he do. "I want to go outside."

"Hm? Have some guards with you then." Nian Xiaoyuan is busy teasing Zhao Xue.

"No need. You already control the capital. Where else can I go and what can I hide from you?" she reasoned out and headed to the door. The soldiers opened it as she went out without Nian Xiaoyuan's agreement.

"Sire, do we need to follow her?" a shadow guard asked. Nian Xiaoyuan shook his head. He trust Hong Cha more than Zhao Xue.

[Host, Im impressed the villain doesn't feel suspicious.]

"See how convenient to earn his trust?" Hong Cha thought and headed to the jail in secret. Since she is the future empress and the soldiers know her identity, they led her in. She found where they took Lin Xingjin with the help of a guard.

Lin Xingjin was wallowing in a cell. He cant believe he lost everything in a blink.  A shadow was casted over him which made him look up. His eyes went cold as soon as he saw Hong Cha.

"You must be here to mock me." he crossed his arms and expected she would curse him. However, Hong Cha didn't saw a word and placed a satchel in the cell. It has exquisite camellia embroidery and Lin Xingjin's name was embroidered there.

"Lin Xingjin, now you know how I felt when you took everything from me. But I cant hate you." Hong Cha smiled bitterly. She wiped her tears that are about to fall. "You're still my Prince Brother, right?"

Her question stunned Lin Xingjin. Hong Cha turned her back to leave. She didn't wait to hear his reaction or how he feels.

"Prince Brother, I'll visit you again tomorrow." she disappeared off his sight. Lin Xingjin stood up and picked the satchel. His name was elegantly written next to the blossoming camellias.

"Cha Hua..." his brows furrowed. He can remember how she got angry with him for so many times. Yet, she was able to forget everything easily. He destroyed her life. Why will she be this persistent?

Hong Cha was stoic every time she sees the luxurious set of jewelries that palace maids presented to her. She sighed in disbelief. This is even much extravagant than when she was Song Yue's daughter. Nian Xiaoyuan is such a good pretender. He wants everyone to believe she will be the empress when in truth, he wants Zhao Xue to be his wife. As for her, she have no place other than becoming his concubine. His heart leaned on Zhao Xue, his body seeks Hong Cha. What a villain.

"Grand General." the maids bowed once Nian Xiaoyuan came unannounced. He have a grim face and with a flick of his sleeve, the palace maids hurriedly went out. Hong Cha looked at him before turning back to the mirror. She can tell he is gloomy because of Zhao Xue again.

"Are you here for a talk or something else?" she calmly asked and stopped drying her hair. Hong Cha reached for a comb. Even though he didn't respond, she continued brushing her hair as if he doesn't exist.

"Tell me, was I good in bed or not?" Nian Xiaoyuan asked after a long silence. He leaned on the bedpost and removed the hairpin holding up his hair.

"Do you want me to be honest?" Hong Cha teased while hiding her cheeky smile. She saw Nian Xiaoyuan's glare from the mirror. "You are good."

"Then why does she keeps rejecting me?" he sounded quite unhappy which doesn't suit his maturity. Hong Cha turned to him with a coaxing gaze.

"Its not about skills. It is about how she feels. Most men believes conquering a woman's body is enough to make her his. You have to respect her wishes for a while and then slowly make her get used with a life with you as her husband." Hong Cha stood up and kissed him shortly. She yawned afterwards from sleepiness.