The Vengefull spirit 2

The Empress palace.

Xiang Ziwei did not stay long in the room, he left as soon as Eunuch Zhang began to count his money.

He was not about to watch the man that had cared for him since he was a child count blood money. Especially when said money was gotten from betraying him.

Xiang Ziwei left the building, without paying any attention to his surroundings. He walked blindly lost in the influx of painful memories.

Xiang Ziwei's pace reduced as he arrived at the Empress's palace. He had come here so often that it had become like muscle memory for him. It was permanently inscribed on his memories.

He sighed and shut his eyes, as though a tap was turned on. The memories flooded into his mind. Her palace was his usual stop point during a bad day.

He overlooked a lot of signs, maybe because he did not want to acknowledge the truth. Which was that she did not love him as much as he loved her.

Zhao Ronglei usually made excuses to avoid meeting him and even when they met. She didn't seem to care and just acted dumb that most times he left earlier just to avoid the awkward conversation.

He had never thought much of her behaviour before, maybe that was because he always wanted to see the best in her.

Now that he had a clearer view of things, he began to see her faults. He now understood why she always seemed irritated when he came around. Unlike the other like she wanted to be anywhere else than with him.

The obvious signs that he had initially dismissed became a lot clearer. He stopped just outside the door and looked around, "how odd, why is there no servant in sight? it is nearly lunchtime, there should be servants moving around', he thought.

He put his hand forward to post the door open out of habit but instead tumbled into the room as his body phased through.

He stretched out his hands to steady himself but stopped when he remembered his present situation. He dropped his hand, opting to fall forward and instead covered his face but the pain never came.

He slowly opened his eye, he was held up by someone. "How?" He pulled away and stood, "Who_" he looked up.

Xiang Ziwei jumped back as his gaze fall on a dark-haired cold faced man with flaming eyes. "who are you?" He took a few steps back.

The man looked at him silently for a few seconds before smirking and turning around. "Follow me", the man said, each word sounded like thunder. The strange man placed his hands on his back and walked forward.

"I_", Xiang Ziwei rubbed the back of his neck and swearing below his breath followed the man. He stopped as they walked into the Empress's bedroom.

His face flushed and his hands began to shake at his sides as he came upon his wife and brother kissing passionately.

They were scantly dressed and his wife's hair was down, he clenched and unclenched his fist as he watched her run her hand down his brother's chest.

He unknowingly charged forward but stopped as a warm hand held him back, he blinked as his eyes cleared. "What? How", he stepped back and looked around.

"Restrain yourself. You cannot get to them even if you tried. Reserve your spiritual power until it is time to strike", The man said, unlike his previous words this time his voice was calmer and less erie.

"Who are you?" Xiang Ziwei asked eyes narrowed. The man smiled and placed a hand on Xiang Ziwei's shoulder, "I gave you long enough to adjust to your present condition, now it is time to make a decision".

Xiang Ziwei's nose twitched, "a decision", he let out a dry laugh. He scraped his hair back and said in a quiet tone, "does it even matter, since I am dead".

He glanced at the couple entwined in passion and shook his head, "I deserve this. I should have been more observant".

He turned around and left the room, the man's face darkened as Xiang Ziwei left. He glared at the couple before leaving, Xiang Ziwei sat on the step outside.

He sat beside Xiang Ziwei, "Do you believe that you deserve any of this?"

".....", Xiang Ziwei glared at him silently before looking away.

"Only a fool thinks that they have control over a man's decision."

Xiang Ziwei clenched his teeth and replied, "isn't it widely believed that everyone's life is predestined".

The man chuckled, "you control your life, Ziwei. Everything may be predestined but your decision makes it a reality", He stood, "I don't like reasoning with stubborn men. Call me when you are ready to be reasonable".

The man disappeared as soon as he said that, Xiang Ziwei glanced at the spot the strange man stood for some seconds.

His eyes snapped up to the entrance of the compound at the sound of footsteps. He stood as Grand Chancellor Zhao and his attendant, Bai Jun got closer.

Yi Qiu rushed over as soon as he arrived and fell on her knees, "Grand chancellor Zhao! I am sorry for not escorting you inside", she said in a very loud voice.

Her jittery actions brought up a distant memory from the year he had gotten married to Zhao Ronglei.

Xiang Ziwei immediately remembered that during the first six months of their marriage, his younger brother had lodged in his residence.

His elder brother had cautioned against that but he had dismissed his brother's concern. Xiang Tingfeng had grown up in the Zhao family after his mother's death. He seemed pitiful and Xiang Ziwei did not mind housing him.

Zhao Ronglei was having a hard time adjusting to her life in the capital when he observed that she seemed to be comfortable in Xiang Tingfeng's company.

He had been overjoyed, he even encouraged them to get closet. That was his first of many mistakes because he did not find their relationships strange since they had grown up together. Even when his sister-in-law brought it up, he dismissed it as her being too cautious.

Yi Qiu's jittery actions were familiar because he always remembered her acting that way whenever he came over to his wife's courtyard suddenly.

The first rank maid always reported that his wife was asleep and since they had just gotten married and were yet to get used to each other's company. He always respected her wishes and went back to his room.

Xiang Ziwei glanced at the Pavillion and balled his fist tightly, his eyes narrowed as he pressed his lips into a thin line. He felt stupid as he remembered all the instances that had happened over the years.

Since he was always going on long military campaigns, he wasn't always around. He did not want to imagine all that the two of them did in his absence, bile rose up his throat.

Xiang Ziwei's head snapped back to his former father-in-law, as he heard the Grand Chancellor reply coldly, "Inform them that I am here. They better get dressed as soon as possible".

"Yes", the maid replied in a shaky voice and ran to the door.