Empress YuLong

Chapter 9

YuLong closed her eyes as she admired the scenery of the courtyard, XiaoYue was right beside her.

"Sister YuLong!" YiFeng called her name tearfully, "Sister YuLong!"

YuLong turned around to see YiFeng running towards her, "YiFeng?" YiFeng was in tears, and also in white, the color of death. Someone would only wear white in such a manner if they were mourning. YuLong's face paled, could it be? "YiFeng." She barely managed to say, "LiZhu?"

XiaoYue's eyes welled up with tears, "Oh, YuLong." XiaoYue was always the sympathetic one, she would never dream of wishing someone's death. Even if LiZhu did kill her own brother.

YiFeng nodded, "Sister LiZhu hung herself this morning."

YuLong felt a stab of pain, but her expression was cold "Was she properly buried?"

YiFeng nodded, "In the family cemetery." YuLong felt a wave of relief.

"Please, YuLong go visit her." YiFeng pleaded.

YuLong shook her head, "Why should I?"

"No matter what grievances you had in the past, she is still you're sister!"

YuLong shook her head, "That's where you are wrong. LiZhu and I, have nothing between us."

YiFeng got down on his knees, "Please eldest sister." He started banging his head on the ground.

YuLong's eyes widened, "YiFeng! Have you gone crazy?!"

YiFeng wouldn't answer and kept hurting himself.

"Fine! For your sake, I'll go."

XXX

LiZhu's grave was surrounded by food, and flowers. YuLong smiled sadly, this would be what LiZhu wanted.

Attention.

YiFeng knelt by the grave, YuLong didn't want to hear whatever things YiFeng had to say to LiZhu. She walked on into the family cemetery.

YuLong noticed and empty grave, with no name.

"YiFeng!" She called,

YiFeng ran to her, "What's bothering you?"

YuLong pointed to the empty grave emotionlessly, "Who does this one belong to."

As soon as YiFeng saw the empty grave, his face turned pale. "No one's. We should leave."

YuLong sighed, "Tell me YiFeng."

"Sister LiZhu personally dug this grave for you. It was the last thing she did. Before..."

YuLong cut him off, "Before she hung herself."

YiFeng nodded. "Could you-"

YuLong went on, "Because she couldn't deal with the fact I was married to JingLongJun. She destroyed our sisterhood, and tried to kill me over a man." YuLong added bitterly, "A man she never met."

YiFeng furrowed his brow, "Sister YuLong, we should get back. I should never have brought you here."

YuLong smiled, "I'll catch up. I have a few words to say to LiZhu." She said to both XiaoYue and YiFeng.

YuLong waited until they were at the carriage, and knelt in front of LiZhu's grave.

"LiZhu, Isn't this what you've always wanted, attention?" YuLong scoffed, "I remember when we were little, you would always insist on greeting every visitor first. When JingLongJun visited, to choose a bride, you locked me inside my rooms. When I came out, you were crying. I asked you why, but you would not answer. I soon found out that JingLongJun refused to even meet you. Because he had already chose me."

YuLong reached out and touched the plank of wood with LiZhu's name carved on it, "You expect me to say that I forgive you. That I would give anything for you to return right?" YuLong sighed, "But I cannot and will not forgive you."

YuLong stood up, "Remember how mother would always dote on you? She let you do whatever you wanted, but if I made the slightest mistake, I would be punished severely. Now I know it worked for the better. She was teaching me how to survive in court." YuLong started to walk away, "Enjoy your long-awaited attention."

The ride back to the palace was silent. None of them spoke. YiFeng mostly just shifted uncomfortably back and forth.

YuLong got out and went back to her chambers.

"Empress Xue?" a delicate and light voice said behind her.

It was MoLiu'er, JingLangSun's wife.

"Yes?"

"I'm MoLiu'er, Prince LangSun's wife." Liu'er bowed her head, "I was sent to help with the welcome of SongKeYan."

YuLong smiled, "No need to bow, I am not that superior."

Liu'er smiled, "Liu'er thanks your majesty."

"Really, no need, just call me YuLong."

"Alright...err...YuLong."

YuLong and Liu'er spent the entire afternoon planning the welcome. They quickly became friends. Soon after, they were laughing together about practically everything.

"Liu'er, you should get back, your husband probably misses you." YuLong tidied up all the papers.

Liu'ers face fell, "I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"You've seen him, he takes interest in any other woman but me." Liu'er sighed, "Our marriage isn't like yours."

YuLong furrowed her brow, "What do you mean?"

Liu'er shook her head, "My husband is a former rebel. You've heard of his rebellion right?"

YuLong paled, "Yes, one of my brothers fought for him. But we prefer not to mention YiHong."

Liu'er went on, "after the rebellion, as the cousin of JingLongJun, I was given to him, as an offering of peace."

YuLong was surprised, "You're the emperor's cousin?"

Liu'er nodded, "But LangSun hated anything given to him by the throne. Myself included."

"I...I'm sorry." YuLong had no idea of Liu'ers hurt, "But how is mine happy?"

"It is obvious, your affection for each other." Liu'er smiled, "Therefore your marriage is happy. Is it not?"

YuLong shook her head, "No, I can't bring myself to love him."

Liu'er raised her eyebrow, "You mean you can't bring yourself to admit you love him."

"I can't love him."

"Why not? He clearly loves you."

YuLong sighed, "I was raised not to love, but to..." YuLong paused to find the words, "To tame him."

Liu'er was confused, "To tame an Emperor?"

YuLong nodded, "The Emperor was supposed to be wild, out of his mind, crazy. And a womanizer if you will." YuLong shook her head, "But the more I get to know LongJun, the more I don't want him to change. He doesn't need any 'taming' so my job is done. There isn't really any need to interact with him anymore."

"But you want to." Liu'er pointed out.

"I guess," YuLong looked down at her hands, "But I'm afraid I'll change him. Besides, Love isn't really an advantage in court. It is a weak point after all."

Liu'er shook her head, "it doesn't have to be. It's what you make it. If you insist it on being your weakness, then it will be your weakness. If you want it to be an advantage, it will be."

YuLong paused, what Liu'er said did make sense. "I guess you're right. Thank you."

"It's getting late, I should return to my own chambers." Liu'er stood up and left.

YuLong thought, should she confess?

Someone ran up to her and bowed. "Urgent news."

"QianYe?" YuLong furrowed her brow, "What happened?"

"Empress, it's his majesty. He's been badly hurt."