28 The Talk with FeiHong |Part 2| (1/2)
XieRong laughed. She laughed and cackled like a maniac.
”Fa MeiLien, being the empress must have been hard on your brain if you think my sister has come here to save me. Why would she save me? I have betrayed her countless times!”
”Oh, little sister. You're still so stupid. That sister of yours loves you, she thinks of you as her sister whom she failed to protect . Tell me, hasn't she come for you time and time again even after you used and betrayed her? Today, I will show you what a fool you have been.”
XieRong felt a tear slip down her cheek.
Fa MeiLien needn't show her. She had herself realised what a blind fool she had been.
The sun was right above their heads when XieRong had been dragged out.
She was dress in a white gown that had turned a dirty brown along with her. Not a speck of her previous white and smooth skin remained, instead filth covered rough scaly skin was stretched over her bones, her lips chapped with dried blood on them and her eyes bulging from their sockets.
”Wife, don't go. That woman has betrayed you time and time again. Why do still insist? Why are you behaving like a fool?”
XieRong looked up. Near the palace gates stood a well dressed couple. She knew they were her sister and brother in law, but she couldn't see them. Her eyes were dry and vision blurred.
”Husband, I will behave like a fool if it means I can save the people I love. If my sister has betrayed me it was because I had failed to make her believe in me. I had promised mother to protect her, and I will keep my promise.”
XieRong felt the last of tear roll down her cheek. She had not been a fool. She had been an ignorant scum that deserved to be be punished in hell. She had eliminated and betrayed the people who had loved her with her very own hands and supported those who wanted her gone with all her blood, sweat and tears.
Fa MeiLien held a sword to her throat.
”Fa MeiLien, I demand you release my sister at once!”
”It is 'empress' to you, big sister XieRong.”
”Bullshit! You are no sister of this lady and definitely no empress. My sister, the rightful empress is the one at the end of your sword. This lady will not show you mercy if you do not release my sister at once!”
XieRong felt a strong murderous intent approach slowly. She didn't have to look up to tell it was her sister's.
”Fa MeiLien, this lady should have gotten rid of you sooner.”
”Do you think this empress is that easy to get rid of?”
”No, just like all other pests in the world, but all pests can be gotten rid of. You just need the right method.”
”Hahaha! How very amusing. What method can you use to get rid of this empress?”
”Don't you think your Fa family has been very quiet lately?”
”You dare threaten this empress?”
”This isn't a threat,” the murderous aura grew,”it's a promise. One this lady will gladly fulfill.”
Fa MeiLien screamed furiously, but then stopped thinking of her palace, her jewellery, her treasures, her cultivation tools, the power to have any thing she wanted, the looks of envy with which the people stared upon her with.
”Hm, okay. Get rid of them. How will this empress be implicated anyway?”
XieRong heard a derisive scoff.
”Do you think your husband will want a woman who has no power or support?”
”Husband!” Fa MeiLien whined, wanting her husband's support in the matter.
The emperor, however, had already retreated, being the coward that he is. That woman and her husband were people the emperor dare not offend if he wanted to keep his throne. He had been stupid to believe that the Fa family would be able to take care of the couple. The emperor knew that he had no hope of redeeming himself, however he wouldn't dig himself a deeper grave because of a wretched woman.
”Your husband won't save you. Face it Fa MeiLien, you have no power. Never had, never will.”
”Shut up!” She screamed as she raised her sword to bring it down on XieRong's neck.
XieRong had already closed her eyes in acceptance, but the sword never came.
It had been knocked out of Fa MeiLien's hands.
XieRong felt herself lose balance from where was kneeling at the top of the stair case.
”No, FeiHong!” She heard her sister scream as she rushed over to save her.
XieRong felt her sisters arms around her. She had stopped her from falling.
”Jie...”
”Shh, FeiHong, Jie is here. No one will bully you anymore.”
XieRong's eyes could not shed a tear. Not for the happiness she felt after a long time, not for the guilt, pain and grief that had been let out from it's cage. She just stayed in her sister's embrace, feeling her warmth. It reminded her of mother's.
XieRong saw Fa MeiLien come for her sister with a sword.
”Wife!”
”No, Jie!” XieRong used the last of her strength to grap the sword, but she still couldn't stop it from piercing her sister. She gripped the sword with her life.
”FeiHong, let go of the sword.”
”No, Jie! You must live!”
”FeiHong, you have already fought very hard in this world. I was lucky to find my husband but I can't watch my sister like this. Jie is guilty for not being able to protect you FeiHong, for not being there when you needed me, for not being able to protect mother's family. So let Jie follow you to mother. Let go.”
XieRong felt her heart twist in pain.
Why had she been unable to see the truth? Why was she so weak and pathetic?
She could feel her strength draining quickly as Fa MeiLien used more of her energy.
”I-I'm sorry, Jie,” she said as she let go of the sword that pierced both of them.
She vowed as she heard Fa MeiLien's laughter that in her next life she would return to have her revenge. That she would protect and love this sister who foolishly gave her life for her.
XieRong opened her eyes.
She was confused as to who she was.
She felt bile rise up her throat as she remembered everything she had been through.
”Jie? Are you okay?”
”How?” she asked, her lips quivering and body shaking,”how are you still able to remain sane?”
XieRong rubbed her shoulders furiously as though she had become dirty.
She felt dirty.
”Jie, listen to me, that was not real,” FeiHong said, steadying her sister,”That was a memory from my past life, the worst one.”
”The worst one? There are more?”
FeiHong looked away in shame.