Standing on the long thin black marble platform, she stared at the ninth prince who was about twenty feet away from her.
After staring the two who were standing on the platform for about five minutes not doing anything, Tao Xiaosheng finally said, "If they don't start fighting, I'm going home. What is this? A staring contest?"
Both of them stared at Tao Xiaosheng who had just made that remark and finally jumped up high in the air. Who made the first hit was unknown and whoever made the last hit was unknown. However, after five seconds up in the air, they finally came down and landed on their own end of the platform peacefully and calmly.
Seeing that, another viewer remarked, "What the hell! I can't even see the fight! Hey! Did anyone see who hit first?"
As though taking a break, both of them just stood there not doing anything and closing their eyes. Despite the number of people that were complaining about how they were not fighting or that there was not enough action, they still just stood there in silence.
In the midst of the silence, Emperor Jie asked Empress Fang, "My empress, were you able to see their moves?"
"Even with years of experience, this empress is unable to see," she answered.
As though they were waiting for the emperor to say that, both of them finally showed their moves, albeit faster than the speed of light. To the viewers, it seemed as though they were just moving back and forth together. But, to the master martial artists, they were able to see and deduce which moves were being used.
Seeing their match that was jumping back and forth, a few of the officials attending the event complimented, "Your Majesty, the ninth prince is indeed the dragon's son."
"Indeed. This official has never seen someone move so fast like the ninth prince."
"This official agrees with everyone, but had it not been for Master Li, we would not get to see such a sight."
"Your Majesty, this match will definitely become famous in the history books."
Emperor Jie hearing all the praises to his son and to Master Li, he felt proud. However, it also made him greedy. Not for his son, but for Master Li.
He had never seen someone able to bring out such prowess or fighting skills from his son. This was the first time.
Since meeting her for the first time, he already liked her. However, he was not greedy to keep her in the empire, knowing that she dealt with multiple international transactions. But now, he wanted to find a way to brand her as a person of the Tang royal family.
Though his face did not show it, he was currently thinking of how to make Master Li the consort of his treasured son. He thought that it was the only way.
If he took her by force, she would become the enemy of the empire. Not only that, but she was also very strong. Her forces were much greater than all the empires in the world combined.
He was unsure how she had been able to equip such a force, but it was no matter to him. Anyhow, the only possible way to make her join the royal family willingly was by having her marry the prince. However, he also knew that she has never had a scandal with either a man or a woman.
Though there were stories of men and women chasing Master Li, he knew that those people were never able to find her. She never left tracks for people to follow. He was unable to form up a plan on how to make her willingly marry into the royal family.
It was only at this thought that his face finally turned wry and the empress who was not only looking at the fight but also at the emperor's face, finally said, "Your Majesty, are you thinking of marrying Wei'er to the young lady?"
Staring at Empress Fang, Emperor Jie answered, "Indeed. Empress, do you not agree with me?"
"This empress was thinking along the lines of Your Majesty also," Empress Fang replied.
Heaving a small sigh, Emperor Jie said, "Even though we have the goal, we have no way to reach it."
"That is not so Your Majesty," Empress Fang told him.
Hearing what the empress said, Emperor Jie's face lighted up almost immediately. With a quiet voice, he asked, "Empress, you have a plan?"
"Your Majesty, do you not think that Wei'er is behaving differently from usual," Empress Fang replied.
Emperor Jie tilted his head to the side, asking, "Different from the usual?"
Shaking her head, Empress Fang said, "Your Majesty, it is the first time Wei'er has willingly agreed to gith with someone. It was also the first time Wei'er called someone by their first name in public. Even with Tao Xiaosheng, he does not call the little man by their first name in public."
Thinking about it, Emperor Jie said, "Empress, those things do-"
"Your Majesty, when you fell in love with this empress, what did you do," Empress Fang asked.
"Huh? Well, this emperor did things that this emperor would not normally do," Emperor Jie answered.
"Then, as his blood father, do you really think your son would be any different from you," Empress questioned. "Even if he was, the only difference would be the flirting style. Probably."
She had never seen her son flirt, so she was quite unsure how their flirting styles were like. But, it does not change the story much.
"Emp-," the emperor started and ended when Empress Fang said, "Your Majesty, this one is sure that Wei'er has fallen in love with Lady Li. It is only that he has yet to realize it. Just like how Your Majesty only knew that you loved me when I stepped a foot in hell's door."
"Empress, do not remind me of that time," Emperor Jie said despairingly.
He was unable to forgive himself nor could he ever go back and save her. He regretted his past decisions. For had he not done those actions, their family would not have been separated for so long.
"Your Majesty, trust this empress," Empress Fang reassured. "Wei'er, I will help him get the wife that we both and he will accept."
Giving a sigh, Emperor Jie said, "Okay then. Empress, make sure that Master Li does not know of you planning to make her your daughter-in-law. This emperor has heard that she is not a fan of the imperial family."
"Do not worry Your Majesty," Empress Fang replied. "This empress will make sure that the person does the actions are Wei'er."
Finishing their conversation, they went back to the competition that had just ended. It seemed that there was no winner in this match. Or at least it seemed like it.
Just when everyone thought that the match was over, and she was the winner, the ninth prince seemed to defy gravity and jump back up, knocking her down from the platform with him. At that moment, her black silk fabric that covered her face was lifted by the wind that was trying to hold them up and he managed to see her face. It was only a short moment, but in the glimpse that he got, he could determine that she was a beauty.
Her white hair, white eyes, and the golden teardrop in the middle of her forehead. He had never seen such a beauty before.
Having been distracted by the glimpse of her appearance, he did not brace himself for the moment she kicked him in the stomach so that he would stop carrying her.
With a grunt, he landed painfully on the floor whereas she landed on the floor gracefully.
Giving a wry laugh, he said, "Lady Li, isn't this unfair?"
"Unfair," she asked. "Then, you dragging me down. Is it not unfair?"
Coughing in embarrassment, he said, "Apologies. This prince just wanted to not lose face."
"Indeed. You did not lose face. You lost reputation," she said.
Giving her a dead and funny stare, he said, "Face and reputation are the same things."
"They are not," she replied. "If you want to lose face, I can show you how to do it."
"Uh… No need," he instantly answered. "This prince has lost fairly and justly."
Hearing him announce his loss, she instantly asked the emperor, "Your Majesty, make sure you son knows his place. My name should never be spoken so lightly nor called so easily."
After saying her piece, she left. Just before leaving though, she called out Tao Xiaosheng's name and ordered him to give the emperor her present for his birthday. She never planned to come, but since Tao Xiaosheng did not have anything good in his hands, he had begged her to give him something well enough for presenting to the emperor. She then found something good however it had no container, so she could only come personally as she was the only person who was able to give the emperor this present.
But, since Tao Xiaosheng betrayed her, she had to make sure he suffered a bit. Anyhow, he was not going to die. At the very least, he was only going to be in a vegetative state.