The Empress

Chapter 16: The Longs, the Xues and the Lengs

Once Hudie has gone, Madame Red then look at the man who, by now, has to stand beside her with his hand still safely securing her slim waist as if she intends to run off to somewhere.

"Yelu... You can let go now. It is not appropriate for us to be acting like this. The Crown Princess and the others are here."

Chancellor Yelu laughs at her words and answers, "Shall we go somewhere else then? Little Red... Lipin... I will be taking away your mother for the time being. Is that permissible?"

Xue Xi Ai look at her handsome foster father and says, "Foster father, you can take her anywhere you wanted too. Both of us will be happy to allow you to spend more times with mother. Isn't that right Lipin?"

Xue Lipin who have been busy playing chess with Xiao Hui Mao1 lifted his head up and nods in agreement before continuing to stare at Xiao Hui Mao who has grown even more blossoming beautiful ever since the last time he saw her. He smiles as he looks at her.

Before they leave, Madame Red then says, "Chancellor Hong... You shall come along too. Together with Nanny Lanhua2. We shall leave the young ones to enjoy their times together."

Nanny Lanhua smiles at her words and says, "Then we will come along too but we have to take the little princess and my child together with us. And, this little fox as well."

Chancellor Yelu smiles and nods his head. Madame Red wanted them to spend times with others so that no one will talk badly about them both. After all, her former husband and his family are here too. Chancellor Hong carries Xiwang3 in his arms while Nanny Lanhua is carrying Regent Princess Bing Mengxiang in her arms. Baobao4 is following them closely behind as the Regent Princess stares at him.

Madame Red saw this interaction in between her and the fox and thought that even after a year after she has last seen this little one, she is still quite attached with the little fox. No wonder Crown Princess Long Fenghuang and General Bing Xiaji sometimes treated the fox with disdain. After all, a spirit beast can transform into a human form. There will be a chance that mistress-servant relationship in between the little one and the fox change into more than that. Just look at Xuan’er and that demon king, they have a daughter together. It is not an impossibility that a relationship between a mortal and a spirit beast can work out too. There is a rumour that the Princess Long Hua’s fiancé is a spirit beast himself. Her adopted son, Xue Lipin, is a spirit beast himself but he is obviously interested with the little maid serving the Crown Princess. According to her daughter, the Crown Princess has a group of spirit beasts as her servants. Knowing the little maid’s name, she knows for sure that she is one of them too. She wonders what kind of grandchildren she will get if Xue Lipin and Xiao Hui Mao wanted to ‘mate’ with one another. For a spirit beast, a ‘mate’ is for life.

Madame Red walk together with Chancellor Yelu with a smile on her face. Chancellor Hong and Nanny Lanhua walk behind the couple while, occasionally, lovingly look into each other eyes with the children and a fox tagging along. They are on their way to Empress Huihuang's palace, Taiyang Palace. When they arrived there, Madame Red smiles even more.

"Hui’er... It seems that you have guests..."

Empress Huihuang look at her and immediately walk towards Madame Red to welcome her. Emperor Long Feng then says, "Beloved wife, you should walk slowly in your condition."

Imperial Noble Consort Mei smiles when she looks at how the empress looks so excited with the arrival of her best friend. She too knows Madame Red quite well. She is one of the infamous group of "gentlemen", Gentleman Lian. But the empress is still the most handsome one out of all the three of them. With that thought, Imperial Noble Consort Mei smiles even more.

She sits at the right side of the emperor and gently pats his hand to calm him down, "Your Majesty, older sister will be just fine. She is quite strong unlike me..."

She gently strokes her belly. Both Empress Huihuang and herself have been confirmed to be pregnant with a month apart from each other, hers being a month earlier. Though the emperor is quite happy when he found out about their pregnancies, he cannot help but to worries because both have passed their prime age for child-bearing. Crown Princess Long Fenghuang seems to be mad at him when she was told about the news as well. But, despite her harsh words to the emperor, she has made Huli stay in the imperial palace to take care of both women. Huli is after all famously known for being a divine doctor and/or healer. Under her care, even those closing into the death door will be saved by her godlike ability.

Empress Huihuang then saw someone behind Madame Red, "Oh, my... Duchess Bing. Look who we have here. Little Meng Meng and her fox. Come to grandmother."

Nanny Lanhua then says, "Your Majesty, let me carry her. She is quite heavy than she appears to be."

Empress Huihuang laughs and says, "Nonsense, Nanny Lanhua. This empress is quite strong despite being pregnant. There is nothing to worry about. You can spend more times with Chancellor Hong and your daughter and let us take care of her. Isn't that right, younger sister and Duchess Bing.

Imperial Noble Consort Mei and Duchess Bing nod their heads in agreement. After all, Regent Princess Bing Mengxiang is quite a lovable child and loved by the Longs and the Bings. Regent Princess Bing Mengxiang adorably laughs when her imperial grandmother carries her.

With her rather adorable and melodious voice, she then says, "Imperial grandmother, mother said that imperial aunt and aunt should join them too. Uncle Diyu and uncle Ying are waiting for their arrival."

Emperor Leng and his wives watch the little girl in fascination. Never did they thought that the adopted daughter of Crown Princess Long Fenghuang and General Bing Xiaji is this adorable and quite well spoken despite being just a 2-year old.

Nanny Lanhua smiles and further adds, "Her royal highness also said that the princes and princesses from the Kingdom of Lengs are invited too. Sovereign Princess Long Yinyue and Lord Xiao Yu are on their way too."

Emperor Long Feng then says, "Meaning that my brother-in-law and older sister will soon arrive too. Madame Red, my brother-in-law wanted to meet you to discuss about his nephew and your daughter's matter. Seems like Regent Prince Yujinxiang has forced him to."

Madame Red look at Chancellor Yelu before she laughs, "Goodness... That young man is quite rash isn't he."

Chancellor Yelu smiles at her, "Definitely... He told me before that he is afraid someone else will try to win Xi Ai's heart if he is being slow about it."

Madame Red laughs before Empress Huihuang says, "What other guys? Little Red and my daughter are definitely famous for their looks but once those admirers know their real selves, one by one will run away due to fear."

Madame Red further adds, "Definitely. Only General Bing and Yujinxiang are the right persons for each of them. Those girls are quite difficult to be with."

Empress Huihuang nods her head, "True. True. Our daughters are quite a headache..."

"My daughter too... Running away here and there only to come back with a young man by her side. Can you imagine the horror? Stupid Yinyue."

Empress Huihuang and Madame Red immediately turn their heads upon hearing the familiar voice. Senior Princess Long Xuanlu and King Emo are standing behind Chancellor Hong and Nanny Lanhua.

Empress Huihuang, Madame Red and Senior Princess Long Xuanlu stand together and hold onto each others' hands as if lamenting their 'horrible' lives being mothers towards 3 unpredictable and uncontrollable daughters. Emperor Long Feng, King Emo and Chancellor Yelu can only look at those 3 women helplessly. After all, it is true that Crown Princess Long Fenghuang, Sovereign Princess Long Yinyue and Xue Xi Ai are doing things according to their own way without bothering about others. All they can do is making sure that the woman that they love can only live a smooth sailing life even if the girls are acting willfully.

Madame Red then says, "King Emo, you are here. Seems like my daughter hasn't made up her mind just yet..."

King Emo smile at her and says, "Madame, that is what I have been telling my nephew too but that young demon has to fight back and told me that he would not want to be like me to waste so much time..."

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He smiles ever more widely and continue to say, "No worries... I will make sure that the engagement wouldn't materialize this early in their relationship. That young demon should have it the hard way... Isn't that right, Lulu..."

Senior Princess Long Xuanlu smirks and says, "Say that to your own daughter..."

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"To watch her destroy something as someone had done so in the past? I rather not. The Demon Elders will nag the hell out of me as they did years ago."

Madame Red and Empress Huihuang laugh uncontrollably. Of course, they remembered what Senior Princess Long Xuanlu had done when she decided to run away from the Demon Realm in the past. That daughter of hers for sure will do a similar thing too if she is not allowed to be with Xiao Yu.

One by one sits on their respective seats. Empress Huihuang sits next to Emperor Long Feng on the wood-carving bench made from mahogany wood located in middle front of the waiting hall in Taiyang Palace, Regent Princess Bing Mengxiang has been taken by Emperor Long Feng so that she will sit on his lap with the fox sitting next to the emperor's feet.

While the others are seated on their respective seats on the left and right sides of the hall. Emperor Long is seated on the left chair facing with King Emo. Both Empress Jiaohua and Senior Princess Long Xuanlu seated next to their husbands. Imperial Noble Consort Wan and Noble Consort Meili are both seated behind Emperor Leng and Empress Jiaohua. Sitting just next to Senior Princess Long Xuanlu is Madame Red with Chancellor Yelu by her side. Chancellor Hong sits next to him with Nanny Lanhua by his side and Xiwang sitting on his lap. Duchess Bing is sitting next to Empress Jiaohua with Prime Minister Bing by her side.

Madame Red then ask Empress Huihuang, "Hui’er, where is your family?"

Empress Huihuang answers, "They are on their way together with Mudan and her family. My son has been fussing all morning wanting to be with his fiancé, but he has been ordered not to go out from his palace."

Imperial Noble Consort Mei then furthers adds, "It is not like Mudan cannot protect herself... After all, she is a newly appointed general for the imperial city ever since Imperial General Bing has accepted to be in charge of the western border."

Emperor Leng then asks, "A future princess consort coming from the military background and being a general herself? Is that even allowed?"

Emperor Long look at his former friend and says, "What is there for such thing not to be allowed? You are quite familiar with the background of my beloved empress, don't you? She comes from a military family too and even has her own imperial state soldiers, Taiyang Imperial Soldiers. And, I even allowed her to personally holds onto the Kingdom of Long's Dragon Imperial Seal, which makes her in control over the military power of our kingdom. The 4 prominent families that control the 4 borders are under her control too. Having a strong and independent woman by our side is not bad, Re Long... And, I am lucky to have both by my sides. My beloved empress assisted me in the official matters of the kingdom while my beloved concubine is handling the matters of the imperial palace."

Madame Red smiles while she continues to calmly sip on her tea. Emperor Long's sharp words made her former husband's expression to be slightly ugly.

Chancellor Hong then says, "A strong woman can build a nation... Just look at ours. Without our respectful madame and valiant lady, the unification will not happen. Chancellor Yelu played a significant part too."

Prime Minister Bing then says, "I have heard about Madame Red and Lady Red. Such an amazing story indeed. Madame Red is quite well known for her military planning skills and, she is an Eight Stage: Immortal Ancestor rank after all. Same as Chancellor Yelu here. For Lady Red, I've heard a rumour a year ago that she has surpassed to the Ninth Stage: Celestial God rank. Such an achievement is rare..."

Madame Red then further adds, "Prime Minister Bing, you yourself have a son who is of the same rank as my daughter. He is quite amazing as well."

Senior Princess Long Xuanlu then says, "But, then again... Fenghuang seems to be more powerful but no one knows the real cultivation strength and power that she possessed. That daughter of mine sure has reached the Ultimate Demonic Soul rank much to the shock of this hateful man sitting next to me."

King Emo look at her with a pitiful expression on his face, "But, back in my days, I am only able to achieve such rank when I was a 100-year old demon. My nephew was only able to achieve the same rank when he was a 150-year old as a 1/2 demon. To think that our daughter is able to have such a significant breakthrough when she is only a mere 15-year old is something that has been a wave of shocks in my realm..."

Emperor Leng looks at the man with white hair with a shock expression on his face... This man is indeed a demon and a ruler of the Demon Realm. To think that both Kingdom of Long and Kingdom of Xi have made connections with the Demon Realm shocks him to a point of jealousy starts to brew inside his heart.

King Emo further says, "But, Emperor Long is a lucky one for having a daughter with exceptional abilities and I've heard a lot of stories about her from Yinyue. That girl is fawning over her cousin endlessly."

Madame Red then adds, "My daughter too... Crown Princess Long Fenghuang is indeed a charmer to male, female and even beasts. Xi Ai has told me that the Kingdom of Xi will forever an ally for the Kingdom of Long."

Senior Princess Long Xuanlu smiles and says, "Demon Realm will also be an ally to both Kingdoms too."

Emperor Leng glares at his former empress with such hatred thinking that he too deserves to have a share of this significant alliance if she still belongs to his kingdom. Noticing his sharp glare, Madame Red stares condescendingly back at him with a slight smile on her red lips.

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1. *** Little grey cat

2. ** Orchid

3. ** Hope4. ** Baby, darling