The fated ones

Chapter 35

To say hao de was shocked would be an understatement. After donghua finished, he lost all cognition and reasoning, he kneeled there trembling in fear not for his life this time but at the prospect of being stripped of all his powers and rank. The moment this registered, he kowtowed at donghua's feet begging for mercy.

Donghua ignored his kowtowing but addressed his pleas, "I have never practiced mercy, hao de, and I will definitely not start from you." Then he called for feng jiu, "bai feng jiu."

The whole court sat there amazed and astounded. Not just because of what donghua had said, though that was definitely jarring, this time their source of shock came from the young fox queen they thought they knew but couldn't recognize at that moment. The woman they saw walking through the doors at dijun's command was poles apart from the child queen they knew. The woman opposite them was a fully matured lady with dark ruby red hair falling in perfect waves down to her knees, porcelain skin that shone with power, a beautiful red robe made from qingqui silk that hugged her womanly curves and an aura that rolled with power. The whole court sat in a daze at the beauty of the fox queen. She walked unhurriedly towards the one who had called for her and greeted him with a bow.

"dijun"

"bai feng jiu, the heavenly lord owes you a life debt for saving his kingdom and with that kingdom, he shall pay. You have my permission to collect."

As donghua declared this, hao de began to plead again, his desperation visible to everyone.

"your lordship, have some mercy on me. Please, your lordship, I beg you. Have some mercy, please."

Annoyed, donghua sneered, "that's enough. Have I not made it clear that I do not have any mercy for you. I was never a merciful ruler, hao de and that aspect has not changed. This matter now rests in the hands of the fox queen, haode."

Turning to face feng jiu, he said with a calmer if not softer voice, "it is your choice now how and when you want to collect on your debt. I leave the decision in your capable hands."

Hao de was perplexed, he did not want to kneel and beg to a child queen but with the noose that rested around his neck, he chose to keep kneeling but stayed silent.

Fengjiu bowed and with her rank apparent in her voice, she addressed donghua, "your majesty, you have honored me with your grace. I did what I felt was right as a ruler and as a person. I did nothing that a ruler shouldn't do, I was simply fulfilling my duty. Never did I imagine that your benevolence would shine on me for it. I am gratified that you think me capable of such responsibility. Though I possess no desire for the throne of the heavens but if you feel that I should be enthroned then I must not disappoint you. But if I may, your majesty, a hesitation circles in my mind."

Donghua understood was feng jiu was playing at, amused he decided to play along, "and what hesitation will that be?"

"your majesty as my young brain comprehends, in case of any mishappenings to the current ruler the throne, by law goes to the crown prince or princess chosen beforehand. With the situation as it is now, I cannot intentionally and blindly encroach on the rights of the said crown prince and crown princess which just so happens to be my beloved aunt and uncle. If I were to do this I would not only be encroaching upon their rights but also encumbering upon their happiness. The filial niece in me would not allow me to do such a thing. But since it is your majesties command, my loyalty towards you would not allow me to disregard it. I stand at a fork in the road, with my dilemma before you asking for your guidance."

Donghua wanted to laugh at the words she had twisted and kiss that sassy mouth of hers at the same time but with the situation as it was, he kept his inner self in check. "since you have elaborated your dilemma with such precision, I expect you also have a solution for it. What do you have in mind, fox queen?"