Chapter 4: CHAPTER 3

Shun Rong (Crown Prince) above.

FENG LIQIN'S POV

I'm completely confused. What is going on here? Why would the Emperor want to see me? Is he angry with how I treated him in the forest? It's not like I knew that he was the Emperor. He never even regarded himself as the Emperor when he was speaking to me.

Question after question flew inside my head. I was starting to get scared and worried. Not for myself, but for my father and brother. What if he threatened me with their lives if I don't agree to his whims? I started to panic and both my brother and father tried to console me. It, unfortunately, wasn't helping me and I passed out for the night.

The next morning, people from the palace came to my father's house. They were ordered to bring me to the Emperor. Father had gone to the palace before dawn and brother was left at home to tell the workers that I won't be following them to visit the poor families on the other side of the capital.

As I rode the carriage with Xiaoli, I couldn't help myself to play with my fingers and bit my bottom lip. I was nervous and worried about my family. Questions about the reason the Emperor would want to see me keep on popping out in my head. The worst of it is that its all negative outcomes that made me more nervous.

"Calm yourself, stupid kitten. Nothing bad would happen. The worst thing that could happen is you becoming the Empress." Xiaoli said while licking her fur. Then, she chuckled and said, "Though it would be bad for me, but for you."

I glared at my tiger. "Xiaoli, the Emperor would never want to make me his Empress. So put that thought far away. I'm a man. Not a woman. Besides, nothing good always come my way whenever I get into trouble." I said to her.

"Sure." She mumbled. I was starting to question my tiger. Can she see through people or the future? She always seems to know what would happen ever since I got her as my magical beast. I shook my head and put the thought away.

It's impossible. I shouldn't think too much about these things.

Soon, we arrived at the palace. Xiaoli and I were sent to a terrace looking out at the lake in the palace to wait for the Emperor there. As we sat waiting, I became nervous and Xiaoli was leisurely sitting down minding her own business as if this was something common. Sometimes I wonder why I didn't get a beast that was more gentle and affectionate than her. I sigh.

While waiting, some of the maids brought tea and snacks for us as the Emperor was busy. I just sat there waiting until suddenly, a boy came running in here.

"Who are you? What are you doing in here?" The boy said in an arrogant and angry tone once he saw me. I love children but I don't tolerate them when they are being rude to their elderlies.

"Little boy, is that how you are supposed to speak to someone older than you?" I asked him while pinching his cheeks.

"OWW!!" He yelled in pain.

"Now, what are you supposed to say when you do something wrong?" I asked him again.

"Ow, ow, ow!! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!!" He said while yelling in pain. I smiled and let his cheeks go.

"That wasn't so bad, was it? Next time, be nice and act politely. You are still young to act in an arrogant and rude way" I continued scolding him with a gentle smile on my face. I massage his cheeks to lessen the pain.

"I'm sorry. I won't do it again." He said with a teary-eyed look. He hugged me and I returned the hug while rubbing his back.

I didn't notice the servant following him was looking at me with a bewildered look while the Emperor was watching from behind him. I kept on rubbing the boys back and calming him down. It always makes me sad seeing children upset.

"Well, isn't this a surprise." A commanding and deep voice was heard. When I looked at the person with the said voice, I saw the man I met at the forest standing beside the servant. He wore a black hanfu with golden dragons embroidered on it. Unlike before where he let his hair down, this time he had it tied in a ponytail. You could see his face clearly along with those calculating eyes. He was clearly the Emperor with how he brought himself and the aura around him was intense that I became even more nervous than before.

"FATHER!" The boy yelled at the Emperor and ran into his arms. The Emperor carried him within his arms and went to sit at the table that I was currently standing by at.

I bowed in respect towards him and when he gave me permission to sit, I sat opposite of the Emperor. The little boy sat on his lap with a smile on his face. After a minute of silence, the Emperor finally spoke.

"Shun Rong, shouldn't you be with your teacher? Why are you loitering around the palace?" The Emperor asked the boy named Shun Rong.

"The teacher was sleeping when I went to see him. He even looked a bit drunk, father." The boy said.

"Oh, really? That wasn't what it looks like when went to check on the both of you." Said the Emperor. Shun Rong's expression turned pale and he fidgeted a bit. "Go to your room and stay there. We'll talk later during dinner." Shun Rong just nodded towards his father and left.

The Emperor stayed silent after that. Nothing was said between us and I became even more nervous as the seconds go by. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and spoke.

"Your Majesty, please allow this humble servant of yours to speak," I said while bowing my head a little with clasped hands. The Emperor nodded as a response. "What is the reason for your Majesty to ask for my presence?"

"No reason. I just wanted to have a chat with you." He said nonchalantly. I gulped, not liking where this is going. "I see you managed to get a hold of my son. Usually, he doesn't listen to anyone and creates trouble. But somehow, he managed to listen to you. He even said sorry. A word he never says to anyone but me." The Emperor looked at me with those golden eyes. I look away when our eyes met. "Therefore," he continued while I kept my mouth shut. "I want to make you the Imperial Consort and take in Shun Rong as your son."

I look at him in shock. I was starting to wonder if the Emperor is ill or not.

"I'm sorry, your Majesty. You want me to be the Imperial Consort and take in Shun Rong?" I asked in confirmation. He nodded. "But your Majesty, I'm a man. I can't be your Imperial Consort. Shouldn't it be a woman?"

He nodded again and spoke. "Yes, it should be a woman. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any woman that was able to control my son, Shun Rong. The only that could do it is you. That's why I'm making you the Imperial Consort." He sipped his tea and continued while I was trying to absorb everything that he said. "Of course at first I only planned on making you one of my concubines since I find you interesting after meeting you in the forbidden forest." He smirked. Seeing that smirk made me blush.

"Bu-but, yo-your Majesty -

"Oh, just accept the offer. Stupid kitten." Xiaoli finally spoke and came to sit by my side. "There's no harm in being his consort. You would be able to get stronger with his help and I'll be able to find a better hunting ground." She said as if I was in good hands when actually, the one with benefit is her.

"Xiaoli-

"Don't worry your little head. Yes, you might be eaten by him but look at the bright side, you would be able to increase your level faster and have a child to care for." Xiaoli dragged bluntly. I really wanted to hit her head hard.

What is she thinking!! Suddenly saying all those embarrassing things in front of the Emperor no less. I think my face has become a tomato with how hot it feels.

I thought to myself while biting my bottom lip intensely.

"Stop biting your lip so hard. It'll bleed." The Emperor suddenly spoke up. "And your tiger is right. You would be taken care of if you become my Imperial Consort."

Even though he says that I'm not convinced. I'm not the one that needs to be taken care of. My father and brother are the ones that need to be taken care of. I gasped and looked at the Emperor with wide eyes as I realized something.

THE CHILDREN! THE POOR FAMILIES! Who would take care of them!?

As the realization sets in, I started working again. "Your Majesty, I don't think I can become your Imperial Consort. I have children that I'm teaching at home and people I need to take care of."

"Don't worry about that. I have already asked someone else to go to your home starting tomorrow to teach the children. About the people you were taking care of, I have asked some soldiers to take over. So, you shouldn't worry so much." Said the Emperor.

I still showed a concerned face and when I opened my mouth to say something else, he spoke again.

"If you are still concerned, you can inform the teacher that I sent about the children. I'll give you three days before I send some servants to come and fetch you. Other than that, I'll let you go out of the palace to see for yourself the conditions of the people. You can even bring Shun Rong along and a few guards." Once he was finished he sipped his tea.

I gulped, trying to keep up with the situation. I bit my bottom lip and looked at Xiaoli. Sensing my stare, she looked at me. Then, she nodded as a sign saying everything will be fine. I sigh again, not liking this.

"Can you give me time to think this over?" I asked the Emperor.

He stared at me ask, "Is three days not enough time? Besides, I'm not asking you."

I gulped again and nodded while looking down. "Very well. If that's all, may I take my leave, your Majesty?"

"You may go home and within three days time, you must come back." He looked at me intensely, making me uncomfortable all of a sudden.

"Yes, your Majesty." I bowed in respect and left with Xiaoli tailing behind me.

Ahn! What am I going to do!? I can't be the Imperial Consort! That is completely out of this world! I'm a man!!

*I'm sorry for the late update! 😣 Unfortunately, when I wanted to publish this chapter, I'm not sure if it was wattpad or not, but it wouldn't let me publish this chapter. 😑 It would say its because of the connection when my internet connection is perfectly fine. 😤 I'm really sorry!!🙏*