Tiger Wife, Lion Husband (Love In The Realms) #1

Chapter 2: Xue Liang (2)

Both ate it as they liked it... sort of. They had been staying with the young boys for about a week. Xue Liang then caught the scent of poison in another food. Sniffing around Liu Gang and Peng Lim's food. She caught poison in them with a strong bitter scent.

Knocking the food down, Liu Gang and Peng Lim we're surprised. "Hey! Why did you do that!? Now our food is ruined!" Peng Lim sounded upset but Su Rong growled at him since they just saved their life.

"Wait!" Liu Gang then said, taking out a silver needle from his small pocket. Using the needle, he poked the food with the needle he held in his hand. The needle turned black, his gaze turned cold as Peng Lim was shocked. Liu Gang checked the boiled food also but there were no signs of poison. "Bring the cooks here!" People were afraid, soldiers brought all the cooks with each of them bowing their heads to the ground for forgiveness and begging that they didn't do it.

"Please young general! None of us would do such a thing to poison you." The head cook was in a shaky tone. Xue Liang and Su Rong were surprised they came across a general this young that people feared. They had their mouths slightly open with shock that he would be a general this young. His gaze was filled with a dark scary vibe.

"Clearly this needle had evidence that there was poison and my tiger had sniffed out the poison in it." Xue Liang caught the scent of one cook that had the poison. She launched at the man at the back which was the last and closest to the door.

The man screamed. "Ah!!! Get this thing off me!" He smacked Xue Liang, having her tossed off as she flew awaiting for impact.

Awaiting, she then opened her eyes to see that Liu Gang caught her. "Search for this man!" The soldiers searched for him coming across the poison in his sleeve. "Take him to the cell and we'll interrogate him." The soldiers took him with Liu Gang looking at Xue Liang. She was bleeding a little on her head. Hearing Liu Gang calling Peng Lim to get medicine. "You knew very well. Good girl, you helped me." Xue Liang purred, enjoying the time being with Liu Gang. He made her feel safe and at ease. Su Rong went to Xue Liang looking at her worriedly.

"Miss Liang, we have to leave soon. Our parents will worry about where we went. Your wrist would heal faster than normal humans would. It should be almost done healing. We're felines so your wrist would be healed today." Su Rong reminded her in their beast language.

"I know but I'll miss these two that we've met just for a bit. They've been good to us." Night came around, Liu Gang came back from interrogating the cook.

Peng Lim had stayed behind to watch Xue Liang and Su Rong. Su Rong was being scratched on the head by Peng Lim. Liu Gang came in and started to pet Xue Liang. She meowed lightly, happy to see him.

"What did that secret assassin say?" Peng Lim then asked.

"He works for one of the ministers that works for Prince Ye Ping. He was assigned to assassinate me since I am the Emperor's favored General. From now on we have to be careful with what we eat and do. The main target is me so I must be cautious at all times. This time it was thanks to this girl." Liu Gang rubbed Xue Liang's head and carried her up seeing her tiger symbol mark on her right side of the chest. Soon enough they heard soldiers screaming and panicking.

"Tiger! Kill it!" Xue Liang and Su Rong looked at one another. They heard soldiers screaming in terror and their mothers voice calling them.

"Xue Liang!"

"Su Rong!"

Liu Gang and Peng Lim followed them out, confused why they were running out. Both ran out of the tent seeing their mothers. Kittens meowing to them both with the soldiers holding spears and arrows at them both hands.

"Stop!!!!" All the soldiers stopped slowly having their weapons down. Liu Gang ordered them to stop at the same time the white tiger and cloud leopard stopped seeing Xue Liang and Su Rong. Both kittens went to their mothers greeted with kisses which were licks.

"Mother those two boys over there saved us, Liu Gang and Peng Lim. We fell in a ditch and couldn't get out but they saved us." Xue Liang said to her mother. Madam Ling looked at the two boys knowing immediately who they were.

'They were the youngest and smartest born and the emperor favors them both. Rumors said that he is ruthless and cruel but he saved two kittens. His closest friend is Peng Lim and known to be a great comrade. Why would he save them?' Her mother then thought.

"Alright it's time to go back home. Your father is worried about you. We got the story that your sisters pushed you down." Xue Liang nodded to her mother who was angry.

"Wait!" Xue Liang said, going back to Liu Gang.

"It's time for you to go back home, little one." Liu Gang looked at Xue Liang as he knelt down on one knee looking down at her.

She stood up on his chest and licked his cheek then rubbed against his chest. Liu Gang felt his heart race rapidly like never before. He petted her head watching her walk back to her mother. Su Rong licked Peng Lim's cheek and then went back to her mother.

"Let's go home now." Consort Ling Fe and her maid, Su Lei then carried both of their kittens by the back of their neck using their mouths. Both mothers bowed to thank Liu Gang and Peng Lim. Running to the night of the forest in pitch darkness.

"Those two are gone now. I wonder if we'll ever see them again." Peng Lim then said to Liu Gang.

"I'm sure we will. I'll know which tiger she is." Peng Lim then looked at him as if he didn't understand.

Going back, the girls all shifted back first seeing Xue Liang's wrist had finally healed. "Let's go back. Your father has been worried sick about you. He nearly divorced his other wives cause he found clues that your sisters pushed you both down." Xue Liang could only nod.

She never expected that answer. Going back, Xue Liang and Su Rong were left with dirty clothes and skin as they reached the Xue Palace entrance.

"Liang! How is my little daughter!?" He checked seeing a small cut on her forehead. He rubbed her head as he hugged her. "Father wasn't there to keep you safe."

"It's okay father. Xue Liang is back so she is happy." Duke Xue Cheng was feeling guilty but he only kept hugging Xue Liang. They were about to go inside but Consort Ling Fe soon felt light headed which she slightly fell down being caught by Su Lei.

"Consort Ling!?" Su Lei said holding her. Duke Xue Cheng went with Consort Ling Fe to her palace room. Xue Liang followed with concern and stood waiting for the physician.

"Get the physician!" Duke Xue Cheng said worriedly.