16. Thank you..

She turned to leave, but she suddenly felt a strong arm tug at her wrist. She was caught off guard and fell onto a sturdy chest. She felt two arms wrap around her tightly. She recognized the scent of the man. She froze.

" Thank you.. Thank you soo much Chang Chang…", he said in a hoarse voice. She quickly got out of her shock and patted him on the back." Okay.. All right.. You don't need to thank me..", she said in a soft voice and pulled back and smiled at him.

" You two?!!!..", Mo Ting Ting spoke while raising her eyebrows in shock and pointing her fingers at the two of them. Mo Ting Xiao just smiled and said," She is my beautiful consort..". She immediately smiled and said," Brother.. You have got the perfect choice.. You gifted me with the best sister in law"

" All right.. I am sure you guys will have a lot to catch up on.. So I'll just leave you two alone and ask Liu Chen to inform His Majesty and the First Prince..", she said and walked out.

She saw Liu Chen standing outside and walked over towards him." Hey..", she spoke. Liu Chen who was just staring outside got startled by the voice and turned to see it's owner. When he saw Lu Chang Chang, he immediately bowed in respect.

" Do you know when is Mo Ting Xiao's birthday??.", she asked him." Wu Zi Day of the Xin Miao month..", he replied. Lu Chang Chang, was completely confused and asked him," How many more days are left for his birthday??"

" Fifteen days Royal Consort", he said." Hmm.. Thank you", she replied with a slight smile." And can you send a messenger to inform both the Emperor and the First prince regarding the finding of the princess. And also inform them that today we will be taking her to Ting Xiao's residence", she spoke after a few seconds.

Liu Chen bowed and instantly went to complete his task. Lu Chang Chang, just stood there looking outside the bustling city. She could still remember hearing the screams of the young Ting Ting. It felt as if it was yesterday she had saved the life of the little girl.

9 years ago.

A 14 year old Lu Chang Chang, was walking inside a deep forest with her sword on her back looking for the herbs her master had asked for. It had been almost a year since she had been living inside the forest. The only other human she sees is her master, an old man skilled in medicine and martial arts.

She was wearing clothes made out of leather and animal skin. Her hair, though a bit messy, was tied up into a tight bun. Her skin was as clear as jade and was spotless. She had a slightly muscular body, achieved through rigorous training.

Her master had saved her a few months back and she asked him to be her teacher. The man initially disagreed but seeing her persistence, he finally agreed and he considers it the best decision he had ever taken.

She was gifted with sharp senses and unusual strength. He taught her how to control and concentrate her power and within a span of very few months, she had already become an expert.

She was walking through a new path today. She found the herb she was looking for and quickly bent down and picked some of it. While getting up, she suddenly heard the scream of a girl and started walking briskly towards the voice.

She felt the voice getting louder and louder. The girl seemed to be wailing. She saw something that looked like a small encampment and hid behind a bush to observe what was going on. She saw few men trying to grope a girl who was screaming miserably and few others were just sitting aside and laughing.

She felt her blood boil at the sight. She remembered her master's teaching," Always and only use your strength to protect the weak. Never use it to harm others". She carefully squinted behind a tent and pulled her sword out, ready to strike.

And then like the wind she sped and started striking all of them. They were so unprepared that they realised what happened only after they felt a sword tear through their flesh. The people were lying on the ground half lifeless while the others screaming in agony.

There was only one person left and Lu Chang Chang placed her sword at his throat and asked sternly," Who is your master??..". The man appeared to be the leader of the group as he had much more expensive things on him.

" S- Senior leader..", the man stuttered." Who is he??", she asked angrily." I.. I don't know", the man whimpered. The next second a sword slit through his throat and his lifeless body fell and a pool of blood formed around him.

She saw a pendant with a unique design on the guys neck and pulled it out. She decided to ask her master about it as she was unable to recognize it.