Empress Of The Lost Kingdom

As per Jiang Junhai's suggestions, Bai Yu Yue waited in the sacred grove in the outskirts of the capital city.

Bai Yu Yue stood next to a giant tree, with her gaze fixed on the Tu mountains. 

She came to the Qi Kingdom to check whether the new king would help the Yu Kingdom from others. However the moment Bai Yu Yue talked to Xue Feng she lost her hope.

He is greedy for power. If he gets to know about the truth about the Yu Kingdom and it's treasure troves, he will turn into their biggest enemy.

Looking at the Bai Yu Yue's silent figure, Huo Jin felt something amiss.

He could easily understand that she is having trouble to make a decision. The way he understood Bai Yu Yue, even though she appeared cold and aloof, she did care about others.

He has witnessed how Bai Yu Yue treated Xue Lian, he thought she came for the princess, but she refused to meet the princess. 

"Yue," He called her,

She turned towards him with a surprised face.

"Is there anything troubling you?"

She slowly nodded her head,

"The princess, you should meet her," Huo Jin suggested,

"I don't want to create any more trouble for her."

"Everything in this place is so messed up. If you can help the princess, it would be great."

"I want to help her but it won't be easy as it seems." Bai Yu Yue appeared distressed. "The crown prince used to treat her as an enemy. He would've killed her. Since the emperor has taken an interest in the princess, he won't do anything to her." She sighed and continued,

"I am sure that she is not happy with this decision. But I can't think of any way to help her," 

"If you want any help, you can ask me," Huo Jin assured her, "You are my junior and it is my duty to help you," He said with a smile.

Bai Yu Yue's face lit with a faint smile,

Once the moon has risen over the sky, Jing Junhai came to the sacred grove with a soldier.

"Major Jing," she walked towards him, "What do you-"

Jing Junhai signalled her to stop and moved away to reveal the short figure who was tailing him.

The fair soldier who stood next to Jing Junhai seems too familiar,

"Princess," Bai Yu Yue uttered in disbelief,

Without any hesitation, Xue Lian ran into Bai Yu Yue's arms and broke into tears,

"I thought I lost you, warrior Bai," She said in between her weeps, tightly hugged the man before her.

Bai Yu Yue was left speechless due to Xue Lian's actions. She didn't know how to console the little girl who is clenching to her body.

"I thought you died saving me,"

"It is alright, I'm here," Bai Yu Yue patted Xue Lian's shoulder. "please don't cry,"

Jing Junhai stared at the couple with the tear-stricken face. He always cherished the kind and gentle princess. Unlike her brothers, Xue Lian never worried about the power disputes happening in the royal family. She only cared about the people who loved her and Bai Yu Yue was one among them. 

Xue Lian liked Bai Yu Yue- It was a hidden truth among the people in the palace. 

"Warrior Bai, the princess told me everything. I wish you would take her with you," Jing Junhai requested.

"What?" Huo Jin was the one who reacted to Jing Junhai's request,

"Major Jing, what are you saying?"

"Once you are done with your training period, Majesty wished to make you as his son-in-law."

Huo Jin almost choked upon Jing Junhai's words.

Didn't they know that the warrior Bai standing in front of them is a woman?

"But major Jing, I am a-" Bai Yu Yue tried to explain,

Marriage- what is it? She never thought about such a thing.

"I know both of you like each other," 

Bai Yu Yue glanced at Xue Lian who stood next to her,

Her almond-shaped eyes were filled with anticipation,

"Princess," Bai Yu Yue hesitated to speak, "I never saw you as-" she looked at Huo Jin in worry. Her big eyes held helpfulness.

"Is it because of my title as a princess?" Xue Lian asked in an agitated voice. "I don't care about it. Other than my father no man has treated me well, you were the first one-,"

"Princess, please listen to me," Bai Yu Yue held her shoulders and stopped her, "don't make any decisions at whim,"

Looking at Bai Yu Yue's troubled face, Xue Lian was in confusion,

"Are you going to reject me?" 

"Princess, I am not in a situation to take you with me,"

"Why is that so? You don't like me?" Xue Lian bombarded her with questions,

"I like you, but it is not the way you think," Bai Yu Yue stated,

"You are like my little sister,"

"No, I don't believe you," Xue Lian refused to believe Bai Yu Yue's words.

She huffed and held Xue Lian's shoulders gazing into her moist eyes.

"Look at me carefully, do I look like a boy?" Bai Yu Yue asked in a raspy voice.

"I am a woman,"

Xue Lian looked at the man who stood in front of her eyes,

He didn't have any masculine features,

The slender figure, the charming face, the husky voice everything had a feminine appeal.

"I am a woman who is disguised as a man in order to pursue my dreams." Bai Yu Yue said with a clear voice. The husky voice, which is familiar to Xue Lian's ears replaced with a soulful melodious voice.

Bai Yu Yue took Xue Lian's arm and placed on her chest,

The softness under those robes clearly belonged to a female body.

Xue Lian was taken aback.

"I'm a woman," Bai Yu Yue repeated her words. But Xue Lian's reply left everyone stunned

"So what? What if you are a woman? Xue Lian sounded calm and composed,

"I loved a person named Bai Yu Yue, I don't care about anything else."

"Wow what a declaration, my dear sister, Xue Feng's arrogant voice broke the tranquillity of the night.

In a moment, Xue Feng's towering figure appeared in the entrance of the sacred grave, followed by a troop of ten soldiers.

Did he hear their conversation? Jing Junhai was worried.

"So the rumours were true, my little sister does love warrior Bai." Xue Feng laughed in disdain and walked towards them.

Bai Yu Yue moved Xue Lian to her back.

"Warrior Bai, when you said that you came to say farewell, I didn't expect that you came to say goodbye to the princess"

Bai Yu Yue remained silent and focused on Xue Feng.

"So if you are done saying your farewell, let the princess go,"

Xue Lian clasped into Bai Yu Yue's robes, unwilling to leave her side

"Xue Lian, come here, while I am being nice," Xue Feng demanded,

"Brother, let me go," Xue Lian said with a tear-filled face.

"Brother, who is your brother? I am not your brother. That old man never treated me as his son. He always chose you over me," Xue Feng spat,

"Brother, you can be the king, I don't want to become the princess or anything." Xue Lian said.

"Oh Xue Lian, only you could've said this earlier," Xue Feng faked innocence, "But princess, you are betrothed to the emperor,"

"Brother I love this person," Xue Lian confessed," please let me go with warrior Bai,"

"Say that to the emperor, I am sure that he will listen to you," Xue Feng sneered. 

"Majesty, show some mercy," Jing Junhai kneeled down and requested,

"Major Jing, I am being merciful towards her. She should have died in the attack, instead of that she is getting married to the emperor," Xue Feng said with a haughty smile "Little sister, you must not anger your fiance," he glanced at Bai Yu Yue,

"I know he is a great warrior, but he won't stand chance against the emperor. You saw what he did to the father. Do you wish to see him like that? I hope you are wise enough to understand the situations."

Xue Lian took her hands from Bai Yu Yue's robe.

She was terrified by the hidden threat in Xue Feng's words. 

"Warrior Bai, it's alright. I will leave." Xue Lian left Bai Yu Yue's side, "Major Jing let's go."

"Good," Xue Feng smiled in triumph. 

Suddenly Bai Yu Yue grabbed Xue Lian's slender arms and stopped her. 

"I am taking her with me," Bai Yu Yue said in the determined face. 

"Are you looking for death, warrior Bai?" Xue Feng asked her. 

"I would rather die than hurting the person who believed me."

"Then I don't have any other option than killing you," Xue Feng glanced at his guards and signalled them to attack Bai Yu Yue. 

One of the soldiers rushed towards Bai Yu Yue, suddenly Huo Jin walked in front of Bai Yu Yue and stood like a protective shield. 

"If you want to touch my junior, you have to go through me." His face had an evil smirk.

"Yes, if you want to take the princess away, you need to kill me." Jing Junhai ordered. 

"We trained together and I really don't want to hurt you." Bai Yu Yue looked at the soldiers and warned them.

"I am your ruler," 

"You are a murderer who killed your own father," 

There was a shock in Xue Feng's face.

"Your title has only a life of a fly." Jing Junhai said in a mocking tone,

"The Emperor whom you think mighty, do you think he thinks high of you?"

"You are making a mistake, warrior Bai." Xue Feng ignored Jing Junhai's words and stared at Bai Yu Yue with evil eyes. 

"I don't consider Xue Lian as a mistake," Bai Yu Yue looked at him as if she is challenging him. "I will take her with me if you want to stop me, go ahead." 

"I am not going to stop you, the emperor will," He warned them. "You are taking what belongs to him,"

Bai Yu Yue looked at him in contempt.

"He will hunt you down," 

"I will wait for him then," Bai Yu Yue said with a steady voice and walked towards the entrance of the sacred grove with Xue Lian, 

Huo Jin and Jing Junhai followed them with their head held high.

The woman who led the way was totally won their hearts with her extraordinary charisma and determination.

Looking at Bai Yu Yue's steady steps , Huo Jin was sure about one thing,

Bai Yu Yue, she will be the one who is going to adorn the dragon throne with him.