Chapter 13

Zheng Wei Jian watched as the throne room doors opened with a smile. In the doorway stood Li Qiang, Li Xiu YIng, Li Na, and Li Jie, in that order. They walked into the throne room calmly, hands on their swords, forcing everyone suck in a breath. The man who suggested torturing her shivered slightly, making Li Xiu Ying glance at him. She turned her head back towards Zheng Wei Jian and smirked. Zheng Wei Jian gave her a little nod as everyone's attention was still on her group.

Li Xiu Ying's group stopped at the base of the stairs leading to Zheng Wei Jian's throne. "We are here Jian," Li Xiu Ying announced as she walked towards him leaving the rest at the stairs. She finally reached the throne and sat beside him in the future queen's seat. Raising her voice to make sure everyone heard she said, "Put those idiotic thoughts to rest, you will not get any information from me. I will not allow you to lay a single hand upon me and if you so happen to do," she paused, "I will be the last thing you touch."

The men quietly started to murmur, "She is a demon look at her forehead." Another started to tremble, "Look at her eyes, they are red."

Li Xiu Ying smiled at their comments and said, "Just because I am a woman does not mean that I don't kill. The Centaurea Clan also thought the same, but sadly," she lifted her hand and looked at her nails as though talking about what color to choose, "The also met their demise." She then looked towards her group standing at the bottom of the stairs and nodded towards them.

They simultaneously smiled an evil smile and began to dramatically transform into their original forms. Three giant animals stood in their place, Li Jie stood in his fox form, his white and blue fur glistened as he shook his hair. Li Na was in her phoenix form, her beautiful blue tipped wings opened wide as she stretched them Li Qiang was in his snow leopard form, his fur was beautifully shiny with his grey and black spots. All were standing taller than the men in the room, "You want to touch our Master, you will die by us," announced Li Jie.

Zheng Wei Jian stood up and held out his hand towards Li Xiu Ying, "This is to be my wife and you will not harm a single hair on her head or else I will personally feed you to her Contractual Spirits. Now leave."

The men scattered as though fleeing for their lives. Li Xiu Ying grabbed the still extended hand and turned towards Zheng Wei Jian with a smile, "Lets go." They walked down from the thrones and past the already changed group, "Grab our things and bring them to Cala Lily Courtyard." She then walked out of the throne room hand in hand with Zheng Wei Jian. They walked towards the Water Lily Courtyard, where the Empress Dowager resides. Li Xiu Ying kept smiling brightly and said without thinking, "When we get back to our courtyard, can I have sweet dumplings?"

He turned to look at her bright smiling face and thought before answering, "Of course." They continued to walk in silence until they reached the gates, "Inform mother that I would like to see her," he said to a guard. The guard went to inform the Empress Dowager and returned, the others opened the gate and stood guard.

Silently entered the courtyard and went to Empress Dowager's tea room. "What have you come to my courtyard for," Wang Fang Mei asked. She watched they sat down side by side sill holding hands making her squeal inside. Wang Fang Mei felt that she is achieving her goal of finding her son a wife that he would agree with. She hid her excitement on her face watch the two interact with each other.

"Mother, I feel as though we need you to place an Imperial Edict demanding I get married to Li Xiu Ying, only if she wants to," he looked from his mother to the beautiful girl with the chrysanthemum still glowing on her forehead. Zheng Wei Jian wanted to see her reaction as he suggested this but noticing that she had no reaction he felt a sense of relief. Li Xiu Ying looked towards the Empress Dowager and nodded as though giving her permission.

Wang Fang Mei saw this and felt like the happiest woman on earth, her son found someone that he was willing to marry. "I see," she said as though thinking. She knew that this girl was not like any other girl that she met, especially seeing the flower on her forehead and that her eyes had gotten redder since their last meeting. Wang Fang Mei closed her eyes in thought, "She would make a fine wife and she is willing to marry him. This is good. This girl would make our entire Empire change probably for the good." Opening her eyes she came to a decision, "When would you like to marry."