CONQUERING THE HEART OF THE ENCHANTING BEAUTY

1 - Enough is Enough

" Noble Consort Li, I beg for forgiveness on his behalf have mercy. Please I beg of you to let go of my servant "

Shen Zheqiang kneel down on the floor and cry his heart out loud .

" This filthy and lowly servant have offended this consort. You think your begging and pleading words have weight on me then you're dead wrong . I won't let go of this matter easily . He must be punish"
Li Biyu was not a woman of soft heart and kindness is a foreign word to her. She is cruel,proud and greedy. Humiliating and torturing Shen Zheqiang and his servant Xiaolan everyday had become her habit and everytime she feels bore she will make up some excuses to punish them.
Today was no different.

"Please have mercy Noble Consort Li, don't punish him , punish me instead.
It was I who sent Xiaolan to pick flowers from the imperial garden. We have no knowledge that His Majesty and Noble Consort Li were there spending time together. It wasn't our intention to disturb his majesty and Noble Consort Li's sweet times"

Shen Zheqiang was already tired from kneeling and begging. His voice became hoarse and dry but that evil woman was having fun seeing his sufferings.

"Such deep affections between the master and servant I'm very moved. But it's his majesty's order so I can't go against it.hehe. Guards take this dog servant and punish him with 20 lashes. If he survives then it's his luck and if he don't then find somewhere far away to bury his body"
She pointed out to Xiaolan ..

" No please no don't hurt him please I'm begging you"

Xiaolan the loyal servant of Concubine Shen Zheqiang was punish because he went to the imperial garden to pick up flowers for his master and happen to disturb the Emperor and his noble consort having their sweet and affectionate times.

Actually when Xiaolan saw them , he immediately went back quietly but cause of his bad luck he was seen by Li Biyu and accused him of disturbing them intentionally because of his jealous master who was dislike by the Emperor.

The Emperor, Yu Han , noticing that he was Shen Zheqiang 's servant didn't say anything and let Li Biyu have her way.

Even after receiving 20 lashes, Xiaolan survived and didn't scream or shed a single tears. He and Shen Zheqiang have already used to torture and suffering in the imperial Harem. If it was not Li Biyu then it's the Emperor or other concubines who will always find time to cause troubles to them .

Shen Zheqiang , a nineteen years old 'ger' bastard son of Minister Shen He was never favoured by the Emperor .
His majesty hate the Shen family to the bone . He hated them since he was young. Although Shen Zheqiang was a bastard son but he was treated more like a servant in the Shen's residence.
Due to hatred and jealousy towards Shen Zheqiang , Madam Shen urge her husband to convince his majesty to take Shen Zheqiang as his concubine. Knowing too well that The Emperor hated the Shen family she thought that the best place to make Shen Zheqiang life more miserable was to send him to the imperial palace.

Her wish came true. The treatment of Shen Zheqiang was worser than in the Shen Residence. In the Harem , he was treated more like an animal. Everyday in the palace was like living in hell.
Good thing Shen Zheqiang always wears veil otherwise when those concubines see his heavenly beauty they won't hesitate to find any possible ways to make him ugly.

"Xiaolan , it's A - qiang who fail you. Please forgive me for I couldn't protect you . Please don't leave me alone you're the only family I have left. You're the only one who loves and cares about me . If you leave me how am I supposed to live?"

" Master it's me who fail you . I couldn't protect you from those evil creatures . Everyday master have to suffer, I couldn't do anything to help you. It always hurt to see you get hurt. But don't worry master I won't leave you . I can't die without making sure you're free from those evils."
his voice was low and dry.

The wounds are so painful but I can't die leaving you alone in this hell.

"Its because of me that you're suffering . I should have not ask you to go to the garden . I forgot that they'll find ways to make both of us suffer. I'm sorry Xiaolan"

Shen Zheqiang was crying his heart out it was painful for him to see his only family suffering from pain. 20 lashes were not meant for ger' s body to receive.
" Master , let's forget about it . We could visit Aunt any other day. You want those flowers to pay respect to Aunty . We could have gone to Aunt's burial tomb and come back by now. But it's alright next we'll buy it from the shops . Besides Brother Lu 's medicine is really effective . I don't feel pain anymore now . He also said that the wounds will be healed in a week or two."

Shen Zheqiang was still in kneeling position near the bedside holding Xiaolan's hands and sobbing. He had never cried when he was humiliated by the Emperor or his concubines. He never begged when he was made to starve for a week. He never felt pain nor afraid when he was poisoned many times. But seeing Xiaolan suffering he couldn't help but cry .
He had long cut his ties with the Shen's and the Emperor, his husband doesn't care about him. His majesty hated the Shen's so naturally he hated Shen Zheqiang too.
Although Shen Zheqiang's character and personality was quite different from the Shen's but still he hated him.
In fact whenever Shen Zheqiang and his servant were tortured or humiliated , he won't care or say anything but would rather find amusing and happy .

Before when Shen Zheqiang suffered he didn't hate the Emperor but now seeing Xiaolan in this state he begins to hate everyone who treated them like shit ,including the emperor.
He hates him, he hates the harem and all the people who had made him and Xiaolan suffered . But still he couldn't do anything for them .He and Xiaolan are both gers so their body were physically weak and fragile compare to men's.
It's impossible to avenged themselves and he also doesn't like the idea of revenge so the the only solution is to run away far from the shadow of the damn Emperor and the Imperial palace...
Enough is enough.

This is my first time writing a novel so undoubtedly there are many mistakes or one might feel it boring but I'll appreciate it if vote and comment ....