Consumed by Fire (I)

The night had passed and dawn was approaching the kingdom of Xin Li.

In the wedding chambers of the newly wedded couple, a soft rustling sound was heard from the bed.

A muscular figure could be vaguely seen getting up from the bed. Beside him, there was another figure lying on the bed with their back facing him.

There were no candles lit in the room, but his eyes were long adapted to the darkness. As he looked over to the person lying beside him, his eyes could not help but explore her bareback. There were a few places that were slightly darker than the rest, small and pig patches that were over her back.

...Did he go too far? However, he was never like this...

While Emperor Yang Long was lost in his thoughts, his long lashes covered his eyes as they wavered for a brief moment in time.

...In the end, it was she who asked for it.

He finally got up and got dressed. However, deep inside, there was self-doubt that had never deen there before. He could not help but get annoyed of himself for thinking likewise. So, with big strides, Emperor Yang Long was gone.

The door to the wedding chamber was once again closed and this time no one came back in.

Meanwhile, Hui Lan who had been lying on the bed slowly got up weakly. On her small face, there were traces of dried-up tears. She had never felt her body aching this much before and even more, something else was hurting more than her body.

...He was already gone? Where could he go to at this hour?…

For the rest of the time, it was a sleepless night for Hui Lan. Only tears fell from those wonderful pair of round eyes.

Outside the palace…

"Mei Fang!?"

"Mei Fang! Where are you?" The deep voice called out in the darkness. There was a slight hint of fear in the person's voice that had never been there before. The small house was empty and no traces were found anywhere. This place was located in the mountains and hardly anyone came here.

However, just as he thought the person who lived in the small house was gone, a soft pleasant voice called out from behind him, "Bixie?"

Immediately, Emperor Yang Long turned around to the source of the voice. When he could finally see her, he felt all his tension fly away. However, when he saw those pair of eyes, he could not help but think of another pair of eyes that he had seen not many hours ago. Strange…

Nevertheless, he quickly shoved those thoughts to the back of his head and took big strides towards the lady that was dressed in all white. Once he was close to her, his arms wrapped the lady tightly to him, "Where have you been? I thought I lost you."

"I'm sorry bixie, chenqie merely went to get some earl vegetables in the field." Mei Fang spoke tenderly back to the man she loved. However, despite only being a commoner, she had already taken the title and called herself as 'chenqie'. If this was not due to the love towards her, she would have not been able to keep her head intact.

Moreover, the highest ruler was right before her and found no fault in her, hence why should she be scared. There was a small smile placed on the lady's face, a smile that should no signs of harm, but who would know what was underneath it?

The two stood there for a while now and the Emperor did not show any signs of letting her go. Mei Fang could not help but wonder what was going on?

"Bixie, is there something bothering you?"

"Hm…"

"Do you want to share it with chenqie?"

Emperor Yang Long heaved a long sigh from behind his beloved, "Let's go to the palace."

"Hm?" Mei Fang's loosened her arm that had been wrapped around the Emperor and faced him with a confused puppy look.

With that, the Emperor felt a rush of sweetness and gently held her chin, "You know what I mean. Let's go." As if on cue, a carriage was slowly parked outside the small house.

Before the Emperor could lead her to the horse carriage that he had prepared, Mei Fang's delicate hands held him by the shoulders, "Bixie, but the Empress Dowager, how did you get her to agree to all of this?"

Like soothing a puppy, the Emperor slowly patted her head, "It's a long story. Let's head in before dawn."

Mei Fang nodded slightly, "En."

As the next day arrived, a shocking announcement was made to the Royal Palace. It was of nothing bad but rather to be congratulated, however, the timing seemed to be off.

Kunning Palace…

Hui Lan had just got up. However, she could hardly feel anything but pain all over her body. Her personal maid, Su Rong had also followed along with her from father's request. Though Su Rong acted like a maid, in fact, she was from a wealthy merchant's family. For a long time, the Su family, that was close to her family.

However, when they were young, a tragic event happened to Su Rong's parents and now the two pair of Su siblings lived with her. It so happened to be that Su Rong was the same age as her and she and her both got along very well, so well that it was if they were sisters. Su Rong merely followed along because of her father's request and so did Su Jou Ge who was Su Rong's brother. Well, it was definitely nice to have a friend here, but she only hoped that Su Rong would be able to find the matching pair for herself...

Since the first day she arrived, she was welcomed very warmly indeed, at least there was someone she knew who was around. Her father, mother and brother must have all returned home in rush since last night for they could not leave the borders without them.

Su Rong had gone to the Royal Physician to get some morning tonic and ointment for her bruises while she was sitting in her bed, sipping her hot tea, oblivious of the world. Su Rong should be here at any moment...

However, she could hear come soft whispering sounds coming from outside...it must have been the maids that were given to her when she entered the palace. But what on earth could they be talking about…

"The Emperor has just brought in a lady from outside the palace! They just arrived today."

"What!? You're joking."

"I'm not! I saw it with my two eyes! The lady, sighh, what could I say? As beautiful as the moon, she was wearing all white and her eyes, oh those eyes were as big as a dear."

"Eyyy, that's absurd. The Emperor had never laid eyes on anyone before. Even before the Empress was wedded in, there were no ladies in his harem!"

"Shhh, don't nag to loud! Nevermind, if you don't believe me, just wait till the news comes out. Tch! I'm going to bring the food in for the Empress now."

"Stop right there!" A loud declaring voice stopped the maid that was about to get in.

Not liked being told around, the maid with the food tray quickly turned her head towards the voice, only to quickly bow in reluctance, "Yes, court lady Su?"

"The Empress does not wish to have any food yet, when she wants it, I'll bring it to her. Thank you, but you can put that back now." Su Rong's voice was clear and firm as she spoke with no negotiation the the other maids.

Although they were all maids, Su Rong was the Empress' personal court lady. Before coming into the Empress, they were greeted by this hard and unyielding person. Moreover, they did not know why but they did not like being around her. It was as if she was not a maid like them or had some mysterious background, was she a killer before?

The maid that had the food tray bowed again and quickly left to put the food away.

On the other hand, Su Rong was already making her way inside. However, she stopped just before the door and did not go in. She turned around and spoke again, "Do you not have anything to do?"

"Ah, yes, yes." All of the rest of the maids scrambled away to finish the chores.

When Su Rong got inside, she could finally see her best friend. However, she could not help but sigh when she saw what state her friend was in.

"You did not have to be strict with them and I'm not a baby anymore." Hui Lan's voice spoke first when she saw her friend's worried face.

"Sigh, Hui Lan-ah, if I don't do this, who will? Hm?" Su Rong spoke while giving her friend the tonic, but Hui Lan pushed it away silently, "Sigh, you heard?" If her friend looked this downhearted then it could not be about anyone else.

Hui Lan nodded in silence.

Almost immediately, Su Rong burst out, "That bastard! He just got married and then brings another lady in!? Tut tut, thought he'd be more than that…" She could not help keep her frustration in with the state of how her friend was.

In actuality, her friend did not deserve this kind of person. If only they could turn back time and try to find a way to annul the imperial decree.

"Sigh, what could be done…" Hui Lan then slowly looked at her tummy that had no bumps whatsoever, but her eyes were already soft as she pondered of the life that would arrive…

Meanwhile, Su Rong could not help but shake her head slowly. It seems like there would be more work for her to do to keep this friend safe from this brutal palace.

At the palace's entrance…

"Bixie, since chenqie has entered this palace, I should go visit the Empress and make a good impression of her, hm?" the newly appointed Li Cai Ren (Mei Fang) requested the Emperor with her big round eyes.

The Emperor turned to look at the palace walls and spoke indifferently about the other person, "Why go there for? There's nothing for you to do there."

On the other hand, Li Cai Ren persisted, "Please? It'll only be for a short moment." Li Cai Ren's hands held onto the Emperor's arm as she requested the Emperor.

"Fine, let's go." Emperor Yang Long's face showed nothing but disinterest by meeting his New Empress.

"En." Li Cai Ren shook her head with a gentle smile.

Then, the two headed their way towards the Kunning Palace.

From the outside viewers, everyone could see the deep affections the Emperor had towards this new Cai Ren that had just entered the palace. It seemed, they would have to curry favour to her, but who knew what the new Empress would do either. Maybe, it would be best to watch first.

Then again, the Emperor had brought in the new Cai Ren(concubine rank) right after his marriage with the Empress, so was this not smacking the Empress in the face?

Furthermore, the Empress Dowager had been simply too quiet this morning. If something big happened like this, wouldn't there be some news from the Empress Dowager?

The maids and eunuchs could not help but wonder among each other.

Not Long, the two pair of lovebirds arrived at the Kunning palace.

The elder Eunuch Wu announced to the hall of Kunning of the Emperor's arrival, "The Emperor arrives…"

Inside the palace, Hui Lan could not help but look at Su Rong for help, "Su Rong, quick, help me up."

"But you're still sick."

"Su Rong, please, quick!" Hui Lan's voice rushed her best friend to lend her a helping hand.

Inside, Hui Lan could not help but feel ecstatic in her heart.

...He came to visit her…

A light smile was drawn on her delicate face. However, the radiation seemed to be lost on her face and now it was slightly pale. Nevertheless, her natural beauty and features were just enough for the nations to fall.

Su Rong quickly stormed in to help her friend when she saw that Hui Lan was already preparing to get up, "Sigh, what can I do with you hm?"

"Tch, just help me up please…" Hui Lan gave a small pout to her friend.

"Fine, fine, you got me on this one."

Soon, the two; one Empress the other court lady got out from the door together. Once she walked past the door, Hui Lan gradually looked up, only to be left with a stunned face.

...It was not just the Emperor?...Who?

"Your highness," Li Cai Ren dropped to her knees beside the Emperor and had her head bowed, "Chenqie greets niang niang."

On the other hand, Hui Lan was too speechless to speak any words. Her lips were slightly parted as her eyes fluttered in disbelief.

Meanwhile, the Emperor's deep black eyes were observing his newly appointed Empress carefully. He became slightly impatient for his lover was bowing for such a long time, wasn't she bullying his woman?

"Empress?" The Emperor's cold voice called out to the other person without any emotions.

Having her head down, Mei Fang's face slowly revealed a small smile. She just wanted to test what the Emperor thought of this new Empress. It seems to her that, this new Empress was simply nothing. Most likely this would be a shock to her, just by looking at those eyes turn like a goose egg made her heart content. Furthermore, the Emperor was also talking her like a stranger...tut...tut, she should not have come here…

"O..oh, you can get up now." Hui Lan's shaky voice finally spoke in the end. Su Rong's face could not help but turn a shade darker.

"Thank you, niang niang." Li Cai Ren's sweet voice rang in Hui Lan's ears.

When the young lady in front of Hui Lan got up, she could not help but feel bitter in her heart.

...No wonder.

This lady was perfect. Her eyes were big and were shining from afar like they were made from the stars. There was a slight flush on her face that made her look like an innocent dear that needed to be protected. However, her body was as charming as a graceful swan figure that excluded a hint of allure to her. No wonder, he fell for this person…

"Who…?" Hui Lan blurted out in a trance.

"Niang Niang, chenqie's name is Li Mei Fang." The lady brushed her baby her behind her ear before continuing, "Chenqie asked the Emperor to come here in hopes niang niang would take care of chenqie. To be honest, Chenqie is new to this palace and all these rules, so I hope you could take care of me. Sorry for bothering niang niang." There was some fear that was mixed in Mei Fang's voice as she spoke to the Empress.

Hui Lan, on the other hand, was still in her trance.

...Li...Mei...Fang...ah, what a beautiful name…

Meanwhile, Su Rong's heart was now boiling for her friend's place and bit her lower lip slightly. This lotus girl! She came here just to show off in front of her friend, huh!? Saying that the Emperor brought you because you asked and asking Hui Lan to take care of her, ha! What a joke.

Before Su Rong could lash out, another person had already taken the lead, "Right, let's go. That's enough for today." Emperor's voice was even more dangerous than he normally was. She said she would not bully his woman, but what is she doing now?

The Empress seemed to have felt those ruthless eyes and was awoken from her thoughts. However, her heart could not help but feel cold as she saw his dark eyes blaming her. Blaming her? For what?

The Emperor was the first to look away. Before he left, he did not forget to take Li Cai Ren by the hand and was about to leave when a small commotion was heard from behind.

He merely turned his face sideways slightly to the commotion but did not stop to react to it and simply walked away with Mei Fang by his side.

...weak, he thought to himself.

"Niang niang, please wake up! Someone, call the royal physician right now!"

Hui Lan had fainted due to all the unexpected things piling up together coupled with her weak body, she felt her head become dizzy before it all turned black.

...What a way to impress him, Hui Lan ah...