Empress YuLong

Chapter 17

"Wait," YuLong narrowed her eyes at HuangAn, "I still don't get why you would hit her."

HuangAn crossed her arms, "YuLong, I know this sounds crazy," her cousin sighed, "YiHong is alive. And he's planning a rebellion. She is here as his spy!"

YuLong froze, "You know?"

It was HuangAn's turn to narrow her eyes, "He seeks you as an ally doesn't he?"

YuLong nodded and looked down, "So what happens now?"

Her cousin paced back and forth, "Your brother's only weakness is you YuLong." She stopped abruptly, "What if he got a taste of his medicine?"

YuLong furrowed her brow, "As in..." She sighed inwardly, "As in spying on him."

HuangAn nodded, "It's the best way YuLong." She put a hand on her cousin's shoulder, "It may be dangerous, but you know what is best."

"But this would mean," YuLong fought back tears, "This would mean going with YiHong. To war."

HuangAn nodded, "Sometimes," she sighed, "Sometimes we have to sacrifice what we love for the greater good YuLong."

XXX

YuLong stared at her luggage. She had everything she needed. food, water, papers. Everything was neatly in the bag. there was a note also, for LongJun.

All she needed to do was leave.

She wiped a stray tear away and carried her things to the door. she glanced one more time at the room and gave it a silent goodbye.

XXX

"Sister." YiHong's voice was filled with happiness, "I knew you would come to your senses!"

YuLong nodded, "You are correct." She kept herself from crying, "JingLongJun must be forced from his throne."

She had gotten one of the royal horses and rode to the family graveyard.

YiHong started to ride west. "We'll soon be at the camp sister." He embraced her, "You have no idea how happy I am that you have come to me."

"Has SongKeYan arrived?" YiHong asked.

YuLong nodded, "Along with his mistress."

She watched as her brother grind his teeth together, "She isn't his mistress."

"Oh?" YuLong feigned confusion, "How would you know?"

"She's XiaoJiang. YuLong." He smiled, "She's been with me ever since."

She pretended to be shocked. In reality, she hated herself for doing this. But there was no turning back. YuLong nodded, "That's good. We have someone on the inside."

XXX

LongJun returned to his bedchamber tiredly, where was YuLong? No one had seen her around the palace.

And she was right.

Reports of a rebellion had been made. and It was, truly XueYiHong at the root of it all.

He opened the door to his chamber and saw a white piece of paper on the bed. illuminated by the light streaming down from the window.

Confused, he picked it up and read:

LongJun,

YiHong is alive. It doesn't matter if you choose to believe it or not. He's starting a rebellion. And he has asked me to go with him.

And I have agreed.

By the time you've received this, I have already gone.

I cannot stay forever in the palace. With you.

Don't try to find me.

And I will not come back.

I suppose this is goodbye.

But it's for the best.

-YuLong

LongJun read the note over and over. He felt like his heart was torn savagely from his chest.

I cannot stay forever in the palace, with you.

He tried, again and again, to convince himself that it wasn't real. But he knew it was YuLong who wrote it.

How could she be so cruel?

He walked over to his bed and lay down. Glancing, every once in a while, where she would be.

With him.

That's what she couldn't stand.

Did she love him at all?

But what he did know, was that he loved her. So much that it hurt.

LongJun ordered a servant to his chambers.

"I need some wine." He fought all the tears that threatned to spill. But it was no use. He succumbed to the pain. His voice broke, "Quickly. Now!"