Feng Jiu
The world still favors me. He kneels, holds his hands together, and bows his head. "Greetings, Empress, Empress Dowager!" he greeted.
"Forgive me for intruding rudely and visiting the palace unannounced. I am here to—" I didn't let him finish his sentence. I shifted my eyes to my mother.
"NING HE."
I know their eyes were on me. I raised my hand and pointed my finger at him. "Mother, I want Ning He to be my husband. HE is the MAN I choose," I assert.
Gasps and murmurs start to fill the room. "My daughter, General Ning isn't part of the selection. He didn't even participate in the test. He's been in the borderland for years. I think you should remember that he..."
I shake my head. I know Mother saw how determined and serious I am. She also knew how stubborn I can be. "Your Majesty...?" he whispers.
I look at Ning He. If my wish was indeed heard that day, I'm blessed. I was about to approach him when he stood up and walked closer to me.
"My daughter, you must think of your marriage seriously! You're already three years older since the day of your coming-of-age ceremony. You must secure an heir to the throne!" Mother exclaimed. I turned my head and stood next to Ning He.
"You heard me, Mother. It's either him, or I'll drink the strongest contraceptives and make sure that I'll never bear a child for the rest of my life. There will be no heir to the throne if you won't listen to me," I assert.
Lele and Mother look at each other. They can't believe what they just heard from me. "Are you serious, my daughter?" Mother mumbles. "I do, Mother," I assert. She looks at General Ning He.
"But his life was on the border. How can he perform his duty as your consort and phoenix lord?" Mother utters.
I look at Ning He and glare at him before he can utter words that might ruin my plans. I lean in and meet his eyes.
"You know what I can do if you defy me, General Ning. I'm your empress, the ruler of this country. If you disagree, I'll castrate you myself and send doctors who will do the same to all of your family's men, whether they are babies, children, adults, or old men."
He steps back, but I step closer, maintaining the distance between us. "In all of Ning's nine generations!" I add.
He looks down at his crotch after I do first and cover it using his palms. I find it cute and funny. "Am I heard?" Our eyes meet again.
"I... The truth is... I'm here to speak with the empress dowager and ask her if I can make a special application and do the tests needed to be part of your harem, Your Majesty..." he whispered.
His ears were in crimson. Ning He also hid and averted his eyes, telling me how serious and embarrassed he was. I raised my hands and cupped his face. I forced him to look at me.
"Are you telling me the truth, or are you just lying to spare your family?" I growled. Ning He placed his hands at the back of my palm and met my eyes. His demeanor shifted into that of a soft and gentle guy. His gaze at me melts my heart.
I gulp. My heart starts to beat faster as if it wishes to jump out of my chest. "Your Majesty... your words... I'll be taking them seriously. I hope Her Majesty honors her words," he whispered.
I don't know what is happening and why he's here. In my past life, he never showed up. Worst, he was framed by the Liu family on the night before my wedding with that scumbag.
I'm glad that I was given the chance to change my fate. This time... I'll love this man unconditionally. More than he ever did to me. My attention landed on my mother. I held Ning He's hand and interlocked our fingers.
"Mother, you must listen to me. Send the verdict to Ning's mansion. General Ning He is the only one I want in my bed and in my LIFE."
Mother sighed and took a deep breath. "You are indeed a stubborn child of mine. Your father had spoiled you so much. He must be smiling from the afterlife. He left a stubborn and lovely gift of our beautiful marriage," Mother says. She looks at Ning He.
"I don't have a choice. After all, you're also here to beg for the chance to be part of her supposed harem. Alright, I'll give my blessing!"
I smiled. "Why is it hard for you to let me win, my daughter?" my mother asks. I laugh.
"I'll let you win next time, Mother. But this one, I won't let you win no matter what. I knew that Ning He and I would produce heirs that the throne needs," I assert.
My mother looks at me intently. She was clearly confused and worried about my decision, but I know I'll never regret this one.
As for those people who betrayed me... They'll taste my wrath! "Mother, please write the verdict and give it to General Ning. I want our wedding to be held in three days. That's an auspicious day for our empire and a blessed day for marriage," I assert.
She shakes her head, sighing. My mother left me no choice but to write down on the scroll. I turned my body and faced General Ning.
He looks away. His ears were red. I smiled and felt like a refreshing breeze brushed my skin. I should have listened to my instinct.
It took a while before Mother finished writing the verdict and used the imperial seal to mark it. She gave the scroll, and her servant rolled it up and tied the ribbon.
"Eunuch Cheng will come with you and give the good news for the Ning family. Your clothes will be sent to your family's manor a day before the wedding. Make sure you won't put my daughter in a situation that will make her cry, General Ning," Mother asserts firmly. Her words behind that calm tone she uses were venomous enough to threaten General Ning.
"Mother, General Ning and I will need to talk. We will excuse ourselves for the meantime," I remarked.
Mother looks at me. It's a warning gaze. He bows his head, and I pay my respects as well and walk out first. My servant and Ning He followed me.
I look at Lele, and she distances herself as soon as we reach the garden. I notice Ning He's gaze was... too much for my heart. I cough and run my fingers on my neck.
I feel like I'll melt through his gaze. "Is there any dirt on my face, General Ning?" I ask.
He shakes his head and smiles. "Nothing, Your Majesty. I'm just mesmerized by your beauty, that's why," he replied.
That made me blush. I look away, trying to hide my embarrassment. "Ning He, what is the real reason why you're here in the capital? If I was right, you're not planning to set your foot in this city again, right?" I ask.
I notice how his reaction changed. He looks nervous and is clearly hiding something from me.
"Yes, indeed. But there's something that I want to change."
He walks closer to me, which makes me nervous. I must admit that Ning He was way better-looking than Liu Shang. His clear brown eyes that shine so brightly were enough to captivate a girl's heart.
His regal nose, plump and heart-shaped lips, thick brows, and long lashes make him undeniably beautiful. "Wait! You're too close!" I roared.
He smirks mischievously. I blink and take a step backward. "What did you mean by wanting to change something?" I ask, confused.
He smiled. "I am choosing to follow my heart this time. Maybe it's not selfishness if I decide to pursue the highest woman of the empire of Fenghuang," he says.
I frowned. I look at him intently and realize how serious he is. There's no hint of jest in them. He lowers his head and leans closer.
"Your Majesty... I'm chasing you," he shamelessly stated.
I was surprised and happy at the same time. Yes. His confession was too sudden, and it's not sweet at all. It's not even my ideal confession, but he... will never betray me.
He loves me so deeply that he stays away after I choose Liu Shang, yet he protects our borders all those years.
"What did you say?" I ask. I just want him to repeat his confession. His eyes look at me with a hint of sadness.
'But why does he look sad? Why is he confessing if he's not even happy?'
He grabs my cheek and waist. I gasp when he pulled me closer. I can smell his breath because the distance was too... close!
"Pardon me, Your Majesty. Forgive me for being rude, but... I know you heard what I just said."
He looks at my eyes, then to my lips, and now meets my gaze once again. "I came back just to chase Her Majesty. I want to be your husband. Your ONLY husband," he asserts. Ning He's voice was so serious that it broke my heart into pieces...