Chapter 12 (1/2)

Chapter Twelve

Re Her

Her lips were crushed under his suffocating kiss, her senses engulfed with a faint snised as uniquely his Xuanji's heart welled with melancholy and she could not muffle the sobs which escaped her

Fro, he had always forced her, and today, he had forced her to her death Now, she could no longer suppress her desolation, as though having been released after a thousand years

Long Fei-li's heart seized with a sharp ache He held her tighter,to soothe her

He was intelligent and farsighted, ie of seven, he had been forced to ascend the throne But at this moment, the words that left his mouth were incoherent; even he did not know exactly what he was saying

A crease appeared in the corner of Xuanji's eyes as she s forward, she pressed her lips against his once more

Their tongues entangled, and his calhter, trying to engrave every memory of her into his mind

Their desperate eotten about the world which existed beyond the guards surrounding the else mattered but the other

Aardly, Long Zijin turned away, but that uneasy fear continued to gnaw at his heart He did not knohat he was afraid of

She knehat the two of thelimmer of redness appeared in the Ely at the floor

'Xuanji, even if you survived Even if, this ti her head, a wide s features

Qingfeng s in his throat

With the iuards walled around the E close by them could see their embrace Beyond the execution coathered were left confused as to what had happened Yet having witnessed the Ee and abject despair earlier, none dared to make a sound of protest

Zhang Jin's hands were clutched tightly around the fences, the sharp wooden spikes jabbing painfully into his palht eyes were intense as he stared at the circle of guards in the middle of the compound

In his ht: what had the Emperor done to Xuanji? When the Ee, he too had seen the despair and ruthlessness carved onto the man's features

A sudden thought flashed across his mind: if, today, Xuanji were to escape the clutches of death, she would surely be reinstated! The glory and splendour that she would receive would be limitless

Histenderly across hers, he heard the rapid exhalations of breath escaping her Gently, he released her

Her hands eak, so he held her and helped her to sit up She s her hand to wipe the faint smear of spittle at the corner of his lips

'Ah Li, remember, no matter how dependable your memory is, just remember, this is what it feels like when I kiss you'

'Don't say another word I'll bring you back now You need to rest,' he said, his words a soothing murmur in her ears

'I no longer have to die?'

'I granted you a wish Your wish has not been fulfilled' A faint crease appeared between his brows

'Ah Li, who am I? Do you knoho am I?' Xuanji suddenly said

Surprised, he said, 'Xiaoqi?'

A smile blossomed across her face, her eyes transformed with happiness 'Why Xiaoqi?'

'Because you are the seventh child of your family' Warmth crinkled in his eyes

'Mm I am Xuanji, and also Xiaoqi'

Long Fei-li's brows drew together His gaze landed on her hands She bowed her head, and her fingers which were fisted around his sleeves suddenly tightened in their grip

He had always been a calm and collected person It was not in his nature to be flustered, but when the breath of life had left her body, he had been struck with an abject terror and desperation foreign to hiained the semblance of composure

Noith her body still frail from her many days spent in the death row, he did not wish to re at the execution grounds reeking of blood, surrounded by the gawking stares of thousands of commoners

'Letyou home Later, we can speak' He lifted her into his arms

Yet Xuanji said, 'Xuesong Palace… Is she and her child all right?'

'Yes’ His voice was eaze faraway

'That's good… That's good, Ah Li, reet……'

He was about to chide her for struggling to speak even in her exhaustion, yet he felt her fingers, which had been curled tightly around his sleeves, slowly loosen

Her hands, sliding down the curve of his body, fell to her sides

Fear rose within his heart He stared at her, only to see that her eyes were shut once again

His lips twisted into a faint smile

Resurrection pill

Wasn't she already okay?!

He did not say a word, staring blankly at her face

The wall of guards encircling the a path

Everyone stared The sudden turn of events had left the Xu Xi, who lay paralysed on the floor, and Jingying, as struggling to reht in the embrace of her husband

Overhead, the undulating swell of oppressive clouds darkened, bringing with the hich across the co the eyes of the people gathered within the grounds