The Imperial Palace was laid out like a giant C- shape. The massive entrance hall led to two separate wings, North and South. Tigress, Po, and Shifu were staying in the South wing, while the Emperor and his family resided in the North Wing, along with the palace staff. Two other buildings sat behind the main palace, the Library and the Public Offices building. While Po and Shifu went to the North Wing to meet the Emperor in his study, Tigress made her way to the library where Liang was.
The library was just ass she remembered. Once entering the room, she could see at least two story high bookshelves, with a small walkway to get to the upper level. That's where Liang was, back to her, reading a novel.
"I thought I would find you here." She called up. She must have startled him, because he dropped the book and it landed with a resounding thud.
"What did I tell you about startling me, you cheeky thing?" He said. He disappeared for a moment, and came out on the ground floor to her left. "Long time no see." He hugged her tightly and she responded in kind. Liang was one of the few who could elicit a hug from her. Po was another.
"I am sorry it took so long to get here." She sighed, pulling away.
"Don't apologize. I understand." He shrugged. He hadn't changed much since she had seen him last. His eyes were still a light grey and his black hair just as dark. He wore a silky green robe over black pants and a black shirt.
She glanced around, making sure they were alone, before saying "So, what happened?"
He sighed, turning away from her and making his way to sit on a bench on the other side of the room. "Honestly, I do not know where to start."
"Start from the beginning." She prompted, eyebrows raised expectantly.
He gave her a look and then looked down at his hands folded on his lap. "A commonly unknown fact about the Imperial palace is that there is what I can only describe as a bank in the lower levels. I'm talking way underground." She nodded. "Well when my brother and I turned eighteen, we each got a portion of the royal treasure, but it was supposed to be kept in those vaults underground. A few weeks ago, the entire place was robbed. The money from his vault went missing completely. I am talking thousands of yuan."
She frowned. "I didn't hear anything about that. Usually we get Imperial news."
"Nobody heard anything about it. My father ordered it be kept a secret."
"Why?"
"Because, if word that one of the royal vaults went empty got out to China, who knows how many people would try to break into the Imperial Palace. Plus, my father would prefer that the amount of profits the royal family has be kept secret."
"You think it might be related to your brother's disappearance?" Her eyebrows furrowed.
"Yes." He sighed. "This could all be speculation, so forgive me if I end up being wrong, but it just seems too odd to dismiss. The funds just disappeared, no evidence of tampering, nothing. My brother, he wasn't here at the time. He had gone on a trip."
"To where?"
"Who knows?" He shrugged. "He believes that since I am the heir to the throne, there is no reason for him to sit here all day. He has been traveling abroad quite frequently, though. More so in the last year than anything."
She thought for a moment after he had gone quiet. "What happened the night he went missing? I want every detail."
"Well," he sighed, "That night at dinner, he was acting normally. We all ate dinner together, he went to bed at a normal time. The next morning, his room was empty. We found the window wide open and a ransom note on his dresser asking for over five million yuan."
She sucked in a breath.
"Yeah. That's what I said." He replied. "We do not even keep that much money in the vaults. We have sent agents all over China looking for him, but there is no trace. It's like he vanished into thin air."
"And your father? What does he think?"
"He has gone insane. One rumor from a peasant in northern China said that Ni Chang was dragged through Xiongxang in a brown sack. My father went crazy. He has ordered over one million troops to be prepared before the winter solstice."
She sighed, eyes wide and disbelieving. They were going to attack in the winter? Were they insane? Mongolia not only had extremely cold winters, but they had a military that was quite-possibly more vicious than China's. China could lose this war.
"One of the members of the Furious Five went to Xionxang to try and figure out what happened. We will find him." She placed her hand on his reassuringly. He nodded, still uncertain.
"Master Tigress." Announced a voice. Li Tong entered the library and Tigress released the Princes' hand. "The Emperor has asked to see you." She nodded and left Liang's side, throwing him an encouraging look as she did.
Back across the palace she went, and up the stairs in the North Wing. He led her down a couple of hallways, although she probably could have found her own way if she wanted to. When they reached the ornate office doors, They found Po and Shifu talking quietly outside.
"Tigress!" Po called, excitement lighting up his green eyes. That small sparkle seemed to lift the fear right off her shoulders.
"I trust your meeting went well." She asked with a small smile.
"I got to meet the EMPEROR." He did a little happy jig in the hallway, to which Li Tong responded with a chuckle.
"Is he always like this?" he asked, jerking his thumb to the dancing warrior.
"You should see him at dinner time." She responded quietly. She winked playfully.
"Tigress!" said a voice happily and there he was, the Emperor himself. The spitting image of Liang, he had the same dark hair and misty irises. The only thing that set them apart were the grey wisps of hair on his head and the wrinkles on his face.
"You're Majesty." She responded with a small bow of her head.
"Please, come in." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, which startled her slightly, and ushered her into his study. The doors were shut behind them, leaving Po, Shifu, and Li Tong in the corridor.
"Hehe they seem close." Muttered Po, rubbing the back of his head.
"Yes, they are." Li Tong replied, preoccupied. He was scribbling something in his notebook. He looked up to see Po teetering on his heels and the silence got even more awkward.
"Didn't she tell you?" he asked, incredulously.
"Tell me what?" Po turned to give his master an incredulous look, but Shifu was glaring daggers at Li Tong. Li tong was too preoccupied to care. "What?"
"Tigress and Liang were engaged." Li Tong shrugged.
Po could only gape.
A/N: Don't hate me! *hides behind desk*.I wanted to make this chapter longer, but I have to sleep at some point soooo...
Shout out to my fellow college peeps who started classes this week or who start back next week. I feel your pain.
Catchya later ;)