Empress YuLong

Chapter 16

She shook her head as she ran away from him. YuLong raced past the courtyard to LongJun's chambers.

LongJun was sitting at his desk going over reports. He looked up in surprise, "YuLong?" He set down his reports and rushed to her, "Is everything alright, you look very pale.'

YuLong took a deep breath, "I saw YiHong again. He wants me to be his ally, who knows? maybe he already has allies in court."

LongJun embraced her, "YuLong, I know you were very close to him when you were younger, but he's dead. it might be hard for you to face but-"

She stepped away from him in disbelief, "You don't believe me."

"It's not that-"

"No. I actually saw him LongJun. This might be bigger than just a silly assassination attempt!" Yulong couldn't believe it. How LongJun not believe her?

"Yulong," LongJun said slowly, as if approaching a wild beast, "I think you need some rest. You've been really stressed over the welcoming. It can take a toll on the mind sometimes."

She started walking away from him. "Very well." I guess I'll have to take him down myself.

XXX

YuLong walked all the way back to her chambers. What could she do? LongJun didn't believe her. If he couldn't then no one could.

What if she played both sides?

What if she got YiHong to trust her?

What if betraying her brother was the only way?

No. There had to be another way.

"YuLong?"

YiCheng's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"YiCheng?" She furrowed her brow, "what are you doing here?"

YiCheng smiled sheepishly, "I need to tell you something."

"What is it?" Did YiCheng finally want to confess that he was in love with concubine Wu? Good. That meant YuLong had other things to worry about.

"I'm in love with someone."

I knew it!

"With WuXiLian? I know." The look on YiCheng's face was priceless.

"You know?"

"Yes."

"XiLian told you?"

"Yes."

"Can you help me big sister?" YiCheng was very upset. Yulong could sense the unhappiness. "I mean, she's one of the emperor's concubines. Can you ask your husband to set her free?"

Well,  finally there was something else to talk about.

"Of course YiCheng!"

YuLong could also sense shame. She knew her brother well. She put a hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry for your reputation. After all, most of the other chancellors daughters want but doesn't even have the right to be an emperor's concubine."

"I'm worried about XiLian, what if she receives backlash?"

Yulong grinned, "leave it to your big sister."

YiCheng hugged her, "thank you YuLong."

She smiled and pat her brother one he head.  Don't worry brother, Big sister's got you.

XXX

The foreign ruler's mistress sat down in the courtyard, smelling flowers. QingSiJiang seemed very quiet. She wasn't often seen without her master.

Out of nowhere HuangAn appeared, and tried to punch the woman. Yulong was appalled, how could her cousin do this? Was it because of SongKe Yan?

She quickly ran over to help the mistress, who could do nothing but stand there.

"HuangAn! What are you doing?"

Her cousin looked at her in shock. "Yulong, I can explain."

QingSiJiang looked over at HuangAn with fear, "can you? Why must you attack me?"

"You little-" HuangAn was cut of by YuLong's cold voice.

"HuangAn, did you know, that QingSiJiang has been labeled a diplomat? Hitting her could affect our relationship with the Yan kingdom!" And HuangAn's relationship with it's ruler.

HuangAn looked down in shame. "I'm sorry." She mumbled.

The scared mistress thanked YuLong and scurried off.

"Why?" Yulong asked. "Why would you try to attack her?"

"Yulong!" HuangAn said, "she's not who you think she is!"

"What do you mean?"

"Yulong." HuangAn said gravelly, "she's-"

Flashback

"Yulong, I'd like you to meet XiaoJiang." Yihong proudly announced. "She's the love of my life."

Yulong smiled and took XiaoJiang's hand in hers. "It's good to meet you." She turned to her brother, "How did you two meet?"

YiHong smirked, "I'll tell you all at dinner."

The whole family gathered around to hear YiHong and XiaoJiang's romance. How YiHong "bravely" saved her from falling. And how they fell for each other.

YuLong and XiaoJiang became fast friends.

That night, YuLong and YiHong sat on the roof gazing at the stars.

"XiaoJiang is an amazing girl." Yulong said.

YiHong nodded, "I know. I love her."

"You must treat her right YiHong."

"Yulong?"

"Hmmm?"

"I want to marry her."

Flashback over

"-XiaoJiang? "