28. An Unforgettable Scene
Oh no, something's gone wrong!
Xia Yi was caught off guard when Xia Lulu woke up at the very last moment.
It was so close, just a little bit more!
She tried to launch a sneak attack, but was caught red-handed.
Xia Yi felt utterly embarrassed and wanted to find somewhere to hide.
"Why are you silent? Xia Yi."
Xia Lulu grabbed Xia Yi's wrist, and now, there was no escape.
Xia Yi was faced with two choices:
1. To uphold the honor of being a Sword Saint, to never yield to the might of the Silver Dragon Queen, and to resist to the end, proving the purity of her sword heart.
2. To compromise just a tiny bit, to show some weakness, to lower Xia Lulu's guard and to obtain a strand of her hair.
Of course, Xia Yi wanted to choose the first option. She didn't want to self-destruct from sheer embarrassment!
But if she took a step back, choosing the second path was also for her to be able to change back. She had already decided before that she would make the transformation potion no matter what. Monet had already proved that this path was feasible. Could it be that she was going to give up this future just for the sake of saving face for a moment?
The little princess's thoughts were in turmoil, but she ultimately decided to follow her heart.
Let's go!
Xia Yi looked up at Xia Lulu, feeling a bit ashamed, and then, to her own surprise, she chose to throw herself into her mother's embrace, feeling the warmth she hadn't experienced in a while.
"Mother… I, I… want to spend some time with you…" Xia Yi said softly, her face flushed.
This was the choice she made, following her heart.
It must be for the sake of changing back that she had to compromise and wait for Xia Lulu to show a flaw.
Yes, that's it, definitely.
It's definitely not because she's felt lonely not being close to her mother for several days.
Right.
I haven't abandoned the honor of being a Sword Saint; I've just made the most rational choice under the circumstances.
The little princess kept convincing herself.
But strangely, when Xia Lulu held her, Xia Yi didn't feel that averse to it.
Xia Lulu glanced back and saw her daughter's tail wagging non-stop, as adorable as a little puppy.
"Xia Yi really doesn't like being alone, does she?" Xia Lulu said with a smile.
The shy and soft Dragon Clan princess clung to the Silver Dragon Queen and weakly retorted, "Not at all, it's just… a little bit."
"Do you want to nap with me?"
"Mhm." Xia Yi nodded.
Then, Xia Lulu lay down with Xia Yi in her arms.
In the vast garden, the two silver dragon loli cuddled together affectionately.
Xia Yi sneakily stretched out her tail, subconsciously trying to entwine it with the other's, but as soon as it touched Xia Lulu's tail, she retracted it out of shyness.
"Ugh…"
Xia Yi buried her face in Xia Lulu's chest, too embarrassed to look up, her head steaming.
Xia Lulu smiled softly and began to hum a tune.
It was the song she used to hum when putting her daughter to sleep.
Listening to the familiar melody, Xia Yi felt as if she had returned to the past. She relaxed, the pressure seemed to fly away, and she closed her eyes, falling asleep in the arms of someone important.
…
…
Young Xia Yi, hiding behind a pillar, witnessed an unforgettable scene.
"Xia Lulu!! You dragon worse than a demon!!"
"Has power completely blinded you?"
"In your quest for the throne, you've slain your own siblings! And now, to consolidate your power, you're even willing to kill me, who watched over you as you grew up?"
"You're beyond redemption! From this day forth, no one will treat you with a true heart. You'll be surrounded only by flattery and deceit!"
A dragon prince, shackled in chains, roared at Xia Lulu.
"If you choose to rebel, then you must be prepared to face death."
Xia Lulu's expression was colder than ever as she faced her uncle, waving her hand dismissively.
"Take him away. Execute him as a warning to all."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
The guards responded, seizing the dragon prince.
"Don't you see? You won't be able to sit on that throne for much longer! Xia Lulu, you will eventually pay with your life, just like those kin you've killed. I'll be waiting for you in hell!"
The dragon prince, who had watched Xia Lulu grow up, was led away by the guards under the silent gaze of all the dragons, out of the royal hall, to a fate that was all too clear.
Defiance against the Silver Dragon Queen never ended well.
"What are you staring at? Dismissed!" Xia Lulu's face remained impassive, showing no sign of weakness or faltering.
The dragons, filled with fear and awe for the Silver Dragon Queen, quickly dispersed.
Once everyone had left the palace, Xia Lulu's expression changed; it became somber and despondent. The icy dominance in her silver eyes was replaced with sheer exhaustion.
The queen lowered her head, her silver bangs covering her eyes. Alone on the dragon throne, she seemed very lonely.
"Mother…"
Little Xia Yi ran out from behind the pillar and jumped onto Xia Lulu's lap.
Xia Lulu's eyes regained some luster, "…Xia Yi?"
"Mother, don't cry!"
Little Xia Yi showed a pure smile, raising her little hand to wipe away the tear at the corner of her mother's eye.
Xia Lulu's face softened, "I'm not crying, Xia Yi. You saw wrong."
"Ah? Really, I must have been mistaken," muttered little Xia Yi.
"Why are you here?"
Xia Lulu picked up little Xia Yi and placed her on her lap.
"I came to play with mother, but everyone looked so serious, so I didn't come out. I hid over there," Xia Yi blinked, "Mother, is uncle going to die?"
"He wasn't content with the land I gave him, secretly raised troops to rebel, and got caught. He must die."
"Mother, do you hate uncle?"
Xia Lulu just gave a wistful smile and said nothing.
Little Xia Yi couldn't understand; the world of adults seemed so complicated.
But she didn't care about these things; she just hoped her mother would be a little happier and not look so troubled.
After all, it was the uncle who did something bad, not her mother!
Thinking it over, she lifted her head, moved close to Xia Lulu, and kissed her mother's cheek.
"No matter what happens, I'll always stand by your side, mother. I won't be like the others!"
Little Xia Yi's radiant smile seemed to dispel the gloom in Xia Lulu's heart.
"Really?"
"Really! I swear it, for a lifetime!" said little Xia Yi.
Sweet
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