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2024-10-29 19:42:56JUNGPI - CHU RESIDENCE
"Daughter, is that all that really occured? Are you compromised? Did he hurt you? Did the crown prince see your face? How much danger has been caused by this incident" Official Chu put his hands over his face in horror as his eyes couldn't believe that his daughter was alive and before him.
"Yes Father." They were in a secret room where only they were present in an underground area of the house. Bingquing was not surprised that such trapping were available for her faher here in Jungpi too. "Ning Ren is a surprising honorable man. I did not think I would escape without becoming his concubine. I thought of you every single day so I would not be slipped away in the net that was drawn tightly around me. But he did not force any such arrangement on me as I did not want to do anything without my father's approval. I wanted to be there only with you." Bingquing had changed some details of the encounter with Ning Zhuo as it would have enraged her father to seek revenge against someone who did no wrong in her eyes.
"I was aware of Ning Zhuo's behavior. But it cannot be inferred simply that he was both the assassin who massacred our people and the same who came to murder Ning Ren."
"Father will you help Ning Ren? I feel that he could bring something very special if he was allowed to stop hiding in the shadows of others. There is both a softness and a intelligence that I have found to be profound." Bingquing removed the imperial decree from her dress and handed it to her father.
"Have you read it?" Official Chu asked as he checked the contents and looked at the burned piece with some horror.
Bingquing nodded.
"This is actually one of the decoys. There are several hidden in different places. The emperor therefore can change his successor."
Bingquing's brow furrowed, "Why is there even a crown prince then?"
"The emperor thinks it will lesson his killing sprees. He is still trying to temper the prince's military tactics to benefit who it is who will sit on the throne. Each prince lacks in something which is why there is no chosen heir yet. The emperor has tasked them to try to improve upon these. Of this plan I am only aware of Jungpi. Not of Wei or Yan. Or of what is planned for the crown prince."
"Father, I would like to serve you to learn to sift through these plots without disturbing them."
Official Chu's voice rose in warning. "Bingquing."
"Father I do not wish to depend on men. Not all of them are good. I know you have kept me safe inside private quarters, but I wish to learn more so I may be self sufficient if you are no longer with me."
Official Chu considered his daughter's words carefully. "I have always wished for you to have a carefree life with a noble or scholar with a smaller profile. I do not wish for you to join the harem or participate with the throne's competition. To learn these things so you will be able to survive, will take some thought. I have some ideas, but implementation will take some time and preparation."
Bingquing bowed, "As always father, your knowledge is correct."
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Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall 17
Later in the afternoon, Bingquing was sewing in her room, when a maid of the manor came to gossip."You are the daughter of Official Chu who was thought to be dead, but was rescued and brought back to him? The whole palace harem is buzzing with the news of such a strange miracle to brighten up our days. Such a legend has heavenly implications so it is thought that you are a divine being who has come to earth. Since you are here in the harem it is throught that you are bringing a light to the palace."Bingquing was embroidering a sleeping black cat on a white background. The imaging was calming to her, as she would often a black cat that she would feed in her previous manor. She smiled wryly. "A family reunion is always joyous. But how do you know of such things inside the palace?"The maid was known as Du Ni and was the daughter of her old nanny so the two had played together and been tutored together as children.
Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall 18
At dinner, Bingquing was unusually quiet. Official Chu set down his chopsticks for a second and glared at her. He sighed, before picking up a piece of meat and placed it on top of her bowl with a defeated expression."Ah, you spent a month at some strange place without me. You need to put on some weight so that I can start to feel like my daughter is coming back to me.""Why are you presenting me at the Jungpi court instead of the Caiwong court? Haven't you said that one of the most traits in a men is his dedication to the country of his birth? What happened with this truth which you made me memorize? What is the point of memorizing morals if no one bothers to follow them?""Who said that?" Official Chu looked at Bingquing's long face with some amusement. "Sometimes for survival there must be some sacrifices. The dynasty has continued in Caiwong, this is much more important than there to be continue to be an
Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall 19
"Your majesty," A eunuch kneeled low in front of the queen of Jungpi as her maids buzzed around her. Her hair was done half up so that the hair hung down in cascades of shine so whoever stood behind her would be looking at a scenic waterfall. The scene was punctuated with four phoenix hairpins which were arranged in the four cardinal directions. In front, right abover her forehead was a small nest replete with a phoenix couple and a nest of eggs. It was a haven reprieve from the business of the golden array of clouds and valleys. Her eyes were winged with setting clouds made of shadows of purple, orange, and yellow. The sun itself set red in a painted mark between her delicate eyebrows. The scene was set so it would appeal to the court, but she was under no illusions about her looks.She was by no means beautiful. Her own mother, the former queen, had always referred to her as having the misfortune of her father's brutish face.&
Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall 20
Bingquing bowed before the Queen of Jungpi with a care to the position of this strange bow. She had never thought before that someone would change simple things like the way a person should prostrate themselves in a bow had done since she was small. But the book of Jungpi womanly virtues that her tutor had given her was full of strange positions and placements. There were resting positions for hands even which were irritating to hold as her fingers would cramp. But she did them as her father watched. Her head was starting to ache from the metal nest of birds she had been made to wear by her maids with an assurance that it had been granted to her from the palace. It looked absurd, but it was a mirror of what the queen had chosen for herself. She knew her father was relying on her to made a good impression so she was making painsaking efforts to please. Bingquing hoped it would not all go to rot.The queen's look was made to look
Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall 21
Official Chu sighed, "Alright if you are threatening me in front of my daughter, I should really betray my confidences to the fullest as a good example to her. Your highness, you've made me no more promises than the food that fills this table. After this meal, how will I know that I will have my life? I'll gamble that you'll take my life in exchange for keeping my daughter. The imperial house of Caiwong is as simple as you think. Ning Ren is the least influential. Ning Qu is a drunkard. Ning Zhuo is a killer. The weakness of Caiwong is in that it's line of succession is weak. None of the princes despite their training are ready or set for the crown. None of them has the right temperment as all are young and spoiled by their mothers who are slowly going mad in the imperial city. I'm assuming Ning Yu has not offered because he is a child who has yet even to ride a horse."The king nodded, "Then my source was corr
Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall 22
"Nothing." Queen Langhua stood in front of Bingquing as she looked longingly in the direction of her father's retreating carriage. Tears poured down her face as her arm was jerked by the queen's hand. Langhua's nails were sharp against her forearm as she turned Bingquing to face her.Bingquing feeling the aforementioned nails claw into her arm turned to face the queen. Her clothing now was much more simple than before, but the odd bird nest in the center of her hair remained. Bingquing on the other hand wore a simple set of hydrangea pins that had come as a gift after the letter had been sent to the palace. She was adamant as she tried to wave to the retreating carriage. "Why can't I say goodbye? If this is the last time that I will be allowed to see him, why are the rules changing so quickly? It's not fair for it to be different when I know no one or nothing about anything. Who decided that things were going to be l
Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall 23
It was darker and colder inside than the outside she had just left.Bingquing felt around the box and could feel objects protruding out of every side of the box. It was strange to have her sense of proprioception be highened over her other senses. It was strange to think that it wasn't something that she could see, but she still knew where everything was. Some were smooth and knobbed. Other things were sharp and would toggle as the carriers of the box shifted the weight on their shoulders. It was a precarious exploration as she couldn't see much and her body was completely exposed. She could feel the air from outside filtering in through some imperceivable gaps in the box. She shivered as the outside air was cold on her bare skin.She felt around the floor of the box and found two opposing knobs that were widely spaced. If she bumped into one it would jostle the other kind of like they were meant to be moved. She pu
Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall 24
"Announcing completion of the first trial by the candidate." A palace eunuch shouted shrilly as the box was held sideways as it went up a pair of steps. Bingquing was pushed back as the box was shifted downward and the clock face opened to reveal a door.Bingquing blinked in the brilliant light before her eyes adjusted to a change in scenery where it was indoors and well lit. It was a few moments before she could open her eyes widely and she could see. The box had been placed inside of a bathing chamber where everyone was standing stiffly and waiting for her. She got out slowly and was surprised to see that all of the maids bowed to her. There was a lone monk who did as well, he averted his eyes with a solemn hand as he gestured her in a respectful manner.Bingquing looked around the room and was surprised to see Langhua bathing in a pool of white fluid. She got up when Bingquing made eye contact. The liquid streamed down
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Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall march 29
“Who dares to disturb the emperor after the court session? That’s bold of whatever minister can even bear the thought of death for his point. This is not the time to keep pushing a point that has died through discussion. Tell that courtier that I will execute him if he persists with his petition. I am not in the mood to entertain anybody under any circumstances. I will not be forced into doing more things that I have no care for.” Ning Zhuo nursed his head as his head was spinning after reading so many memorials. Even though the pile to the left of finished memorials was more in height than the one on the right, he knew there was a whole pile of them that his eunuchs had hidden behind a pot to encourage him to continue. It was incredibly annoying as work now was never ending. He already knew all the sides to the argument so he was irked that some small person was still trying to push after being re
Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall march 28
Langhua, the queen of Jungpi, put her arms around Yan Sha tightly and started to cry as Yan Sha was too shell shocked to move or react. “You’re healthy. My daughter has finally returned to me the way that she does in my dreams. To see such a beautiful sight is beyond what I have hoped for so many years. I am so happy. You’re healthy finally. I have felt such guilt as your mother for sacrificing so much just to stabilize the reign of the incumbent. I searched so hard for an answer to my question of how to stabilize what I had put up for slaughter.” “Mother I—“ Yan Sha didn’t know what to say as she was so used to the brutality of the ruler. To be even here to see the tears and true joy in her return to a better state of health made Yan Sha realize that her aunt really did love her even if she preferred her own daughter above Yan Sha.
Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall march 27
Yan Sha was led to an unmarked carriage on the side gate of the Jungpi palace. It was odd at this time of day and she tensed when she saw it. This was out of her usual routine. No one had left her a note or explained why there was such a deviation so she was instantly alert. Her daggers were with her and she brandished them quickly in a way that would disarm the people around her. But as her movement was swift, there was a clothed man in animal skins who was silent and unexpected to Yan Sha such that she had not thought that such a person would be waiting for her. She couldn’t remember what happened after as the disgusting taste of medicine filled her mouth and she slipped out of consciousness. Her body was dragged into the carriage and the wild man drove off in a huff as all the servants scattered.
Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall march 26
Yan Sha looked at Ning Zhuo with a sigh as she could feel the world around her come crashing down. Her breath came in harsh strokes as she tried not to breathe at all, if this was a dream she had to fight hard to make sure that she didn’t wake up. But reality was quick to set in. The bath house behind them was abruptly searched. They could hear the sounds of the maid explaining that there were people just here. “Don’t you feel bad for them?” Yan Sha said with a forlorn expression as she could see their panic and expressions. “They work for me. They are all paid well and even if they are taken into the Prefecture Penitentiary. I will take care of their families and make sure that their descendants are well.”
Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall march 25
The black melange was moving up her body which as her clothing disintegrated covered all of her up to her neck. All below the water was pitch black and pulsating. He dropped the torch and there was a hiss as the fire went out. “Crown prince you cannot. I have burned many people. Everyone gets burned as they come close to me. You should not. You cannot. I am poison to everyone. Crown prince, please.” He picked up her body and the black color dripped down onto his hands. He moved swiftly out of the lake. Yan Sha touched his face and bounced back as she remembered what was wrong with her. “Crown prince? Since when have you called me that? If I truly am the cause of this, then I will search day and nig
Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall march 24
Yan Sha laughed as she heard this. “Sister, I can’t believe that I hear you say this that you want to share me with others and even outsiders. If the Duke would hear of this I’m sure he would be positively shocked. He would say that someone has stolen away his beloved concubine sun and replaced her with a pious monk. He would look all around the moon for you until he found you right at home where he left you. But truthfully, sister, business is not for me. I could never keep all of the older matrons happy with tinctures. It would be a lot more talking than simply giving medicine.” “Well then you can be in all of their good graces and then they will want to invite us to all of the good gatherings and food tastings. Who is to know what nice things that they will share with us then?” “
Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall march 23
“What kind of school are we talking about, your highness. I have definitely never heard of it. Whom is this legendary teacher? But on second thought I would say he has been brutal to you. Your back is full of burns and scars and marks. It doesn't sound like a place where a delicate princess should be sent, even if you are the spare.” “I am not one who has been confined to private quarters like my sister all of her life. One sibling must learn of the outside world to keep the other safe while ruling. It is my duty to protect her and guard the line in front of our house. But these is explained in the words of men, I guard the land so I may have a place to go home to and a bed to sleep on and a sister whom I know will raise my children if I am to die first.” “If you say it in this way
Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall march 22
The person was walking upside down now and Yan Sha wondered how that could be. Then she realized that the ground was by her face. She struggled listlessly as the person dragged her away and out of sight. The scene that she had left behind was strange as there was just cloth and bones that were swept away by the morning sweepers as they wondered why this area of town had gotten so dusty. The local magistrates guessed all that ash had come from fires. Not knowing the whole area was hallowed with human remains. =\\= Yan Sha spat up black phlegm again and she coughed to clear her throat. No matter how much she coughed her throat continued to burn until she just gave up that she had gotten used to it that there was no point trying anymore.
Cat Who Walks Thru The Wall march 21
Ning Zhuo then turned and saw a shadow in his study. He strutted back to find his bookcases trembling. His movements to fix everything were quick. Maids immediately rushed behind him and one poked him, “Crown prince, your man from Jungpi has arrived to see you.” Yan Sha froze as she sat on the roof. There was a good opening to jump over the roofs but she was torn as she knew that it was incredibly difficult to get spies into this manor. She was proud of her former partner but could not stop the lick of nostalgia. She wanted to say that she knew him. Below her, Ning Zhuo replied. “Oh good. Send him into my study. I want to hear what he has to say immediately.”
