The Prince Is Abolished

Chapter 9

Xi Jiang was still in a dilemma. He had agreed to help the Lu family but, in his heart, his family, was equally important.

He decided to speak to his father first and inform him about Xi Mang's acts.

The prince requested an audience with his father but was promptly denied. He went to see his mother but she didn't grant him permission either.

Worried about the royal family, Xi Jiang went to his brother and was granted an audience. Mostly, because Xi Mang wanted to confront the true Xi Jiang, his competitor, and show him his place.

Xi Mang was sitting in his seat when Xi Jiang came.

'What brings you here?'

'Hi brother. I need to talk to you about the Lu family.'

'So, you are the puppet they sent to talk to me! Interesting!'

'Don't talk like that. I came to only say...'

'...you can say whatever you want but Lu Ran will never get away from me.'

'Then win her over. Win her heart. Cherish her. Why are you forcing her?'

'I can do whatever I want with her. This is a matter between my woman and me. Who are you to meddle in between?'

'Your woman? Did she agree to be your woman at all? Mark my words, all of this will lead to the loss of royal face! Also, Lu family is very powerful...?'

'And I will get their daughter so their power is going to be mine. You are coveting her and her power and are trying to snatch her from my hands and take my rightful place. Did I just lay bare all your plans, my dearest brother?'

'You know I am not interested in...'

'So, you say, and yet, I know your heart. I know your strategies. I know how you play with your common looking face to gel with the common lot, only to make pawns out of them and use them against me?'

Xi Mang was talking in a silky low tone but Xi Jiang knew that a volcano was simmering inside him. He understood that it was futile trying to talk to Xi Mang and got up and went out.

'Stop trying to be a peace emissary. Lu Ran will be mine, dead or alive,' Xi Mang shouted in rage.

Lu Ran was awaiting the days when she could go out and enjoy nature once again.

It was really troubling her that she could not go out.

That pig Xi Mang got me under house arrest and even poor Ji Gang is under house-arrest now! Thankfully Xi Jiang will think of something.

Xi Jiang understood that Xi Mang won't let Lu Ran off his hook. But he had no royal courtiers to back him politically on this matter. Since he never took even basic interest in politics hence, most common folk thought of him as a good-for-nothing idle prince.

I now understand the importance of having power. It is not to benefit oneself, but to protect those who are vulnerable.

It was nearly night when Lu Ran, due to boredom, decided to investigate the deformed pearl Xi Jiang gave her.

She placed it around her pillow and then dozed off.

In the dream, she was walking all along snow covered forest and then she saw a man in grey hair, grey beard, and wearing all white.

The man suddenly opened his eyes, and said:

'Lu Ran, you are the one who can access the divine energy! You are a noble soul. I will protect you.'

Lu Ran woke up and looked around and but there was no one.

For a fleeting second, she thought she saw a ghost or spirit but it was just a regular night.

Just then, the window creaked opened and a dark figure appeared in this lazily lit room. The figure crouched and then got up to its full majestic height. Lu Ran wanted to shout but this dark entity swiftly stifled her.

'Was I not enough that you have to seduce my brother?'

'Who...who are you?'

'How many men have you seduced that you don't even know who I am?'

'Xi MANG!'

Xi Mang had broken inside Lu Ran's room and he was choking her brutally while pinning her on to her own bed.

'Yes. What did you do for Xi Jiang that he spoke for you?'

'Leave me and get out.'

'Not before I teach you to not bring other men in our relation. I should be ENOUGH for you.'

Lu Ran was grasping for breath but she still managed to kick Xi Mang in his loins, and his hold on her neck loosened. He pounced on her again and stuffed her mouth with her own stole and tried to slip his hand inside her dress. Lu Ran was horrified and tried to kick him again, but he caught her leg and twisted it so badly that tears came out of her eyes and she yelped. Somehow, it made Xi Mang get even more excited and he slapped her again and again and then ripped out the stuffed stole and bit her on her lips.

'You like this. Why pretend? Say you like it. SAY IT.'

'I...' 'like it.'

Lu Ran was both scared and in pain. Her mind told her to be obedient in words, if she had to escape from this brute.

She put her arms around Xi Mang's neck, drew him close and closed her eyes as if to kiss him when she took out the brass oil lamp from her bedside and hit him on his head with full force.

'Aaargh...'

Xi Mang shrieked at the force of the blow, and the hot oil that spilled out from the lamp and landed in his eyes and clothes, and fell down on the floor writhing.

'You like to play this way? Then you will pay for every drop of this blood...' Xi Mang got up after cleaning the oil and blood while Lu Ran tried to flee from the room. But then sensing danger from Lu mansion guards he jumped out of the window and went out.

'COWARD,' Lu Ran shouted in anger as she adjusted her dress shaking.

This is the man I liked? Really?

'Miss!'

'Ran...'

Ji Gang and her parents came running at the commotion and saw the lamp on the ground with its oil spilled. Ji Gang doused the fire with water before any damage could be done.

On their quizzical looks at her injuries, Lu Ran said 'Xi Mang came. He is angry because Xi Jiang spoke up for me. Father, mother, we need to find a much higher person to contain this evil.'

Lu Xang came forward and held Lu Ran and said 'I am right here, with you.'

Lu Ran looked up and saw resolve on his father's face.

She knew that the battle was on.