Bingquing woke up in pain. Her back had felt extremely tender to the touch as she tried to get up. There were pins and needles in her head and hands as she tried to sit up properly on the bed. There were bandages wrapped around her whole midsection and head that she disturbed as she tried out of habit to find something to pin her hair with. Now she did not really have any hair at all to really even wrap around herself. She touched the bloodied clothes with a wonder for what her skin would look like underneath the work that she was sure the monks had continued on while she was sleeping but Langhua's hovering form stopped her with an expression that looked like the queen was visibly unsettled by Bingquing's presence there. Her word though were as close to kindness as she was sure the queen could manage.
"It's probably better if you don't bend your body for a couple days so the healing will be easier. I'd prefer it actually if you did no
Bingquing and Langhua would spend every minute together that was possible. Not always to Bingquing's delight as this was quite a change from the routine she was used to with the past existance. The queen's obsession with her was a bit much at times for her to deal with. It was so different than living with her own parents who would leave her to her own devices and spend the day as she liked with Du Ni and the small community who resided inside their manor. Now there was a woman breathing down her neck telling her every which movement and way she preferred a young lady to behave. Often there were times when Bingquing felt short.Langhua would carry Bingquing with her to court in a cloth sling wrapped around her body. Sometimes Bingquing would whisper an inconsistency or question in the courtiers reasonings that the queen had not noticed into her ear. The queen would smile before smiting the courtier with a witty remark. The
Outside Zaiyuan was seated in the robes of a eunuch behind a curtain where he knew he would neither be noticed or observed. If someone did find him here, he did have a rebuttal which would neutralize the interest as this was something he did from time to time. He bowed low in respect as the courtiers formed into groups to discuss what they had just seen. His face was low as he smiled knowing that he was being completely ignored largely by people whose opinions he sorely wanted. A spider latched in his web of choice above a bountiful source of open prey and to his continued delight, the discussion started immediately.Zaiyuan was also aware that his wife was going to be irritated that he had done this again. She didn't really care much for the opinion of others as she was the daughter of a warlord who had created his own country out of irritation that his people were persecuted. She had never really cared for political games. He, on th
In the throne room, Langhua cradled Bingquing in the cloth body swing that she had fashioned from white fabric of material that had been set aside for undergarments or for servants. both both uses had been forgotten when the queen had burst into the servants quarters to pry it from the hands of the maids who were about to use it to bandage an injured guard. The guard had simply decided to forget medical attention as he had run back to his post. The two maids had just stood confused at what had just happened. But as he was bound to take care of the royal family, he knew that his tongue could not speak of what he had just seen. It was so strange to him that such a child could be the object of such adoration by their fierce queen.Langhua adjusted this aforementioned fabric so Bingquing's body would be more covered like she preferred it. It was such an exciting time to have a child who had not disappointed her as of yet. She really needed to s
Langhua returned to her quarters where she Bingquing bandaged again with a fresh cloth so the ink that seeped through would be less likely to infect the open wounds there. The queen had disrobed again and was in bed when a maid came in to announce the arrival of her true born daughter. Bingquing began to remove herself from the queen's grip, but Langhua held her fast so she tried to make herself as small as possible. From her limited knowledge of princesses, Bingquing was not excited to meet someone she was really not in competition with as the newly adopted sibling to a definitely unwilling sibling.Yan Ming bowed before her mother, "Mother I greet you. I wish your health will continue onto old age""Yan Ming you may stand. What a silly thing for you to say as your power begins when my life is no longer with you. I am the hurdle to your succession. Such a statement does not feel genuine coming from your mouth, my daughter.&nbs
In this way the seasons changed, the warm summer drifted past and a cool winter began to manifest in soft snows that would cover the stately garden. All the flowers were different and the stiff branches were barren except for a sentimental plum tree that had small green fragrant flowers. It was the only thing that bloomed in the entire garden, but Bingquing would see the blossoms placed in little vases in the queen's quarters. None of the servants did this. Of course, no one else but the queen was allowed to touch them. Bingquing wondered if these were the communications of her with her lover. Who could love the queen more than the husband who was a mystery to all? He wasn't even the official king nor did he have much power other than being the prime whisper in the queen's ear on the affairs of state. Zaiyuan spoke so little, that Bingquing often forgot that he was even there.Everyday Bingquing would sit through c
=//=Ning Ren unfurled the message from his father that had arrived via the imperial stream of messengers. It was odd that his father would not just scribble on some parchment and send it as he usually did to maintain that this son was not favored at all. These changes made his stomach drop as he wondered who had made a move to favor him beyond the scenes. The scroll sat untouched instead of opened as he could not calm his nerves enough to face whatever it was that his father now wanted from him. He was sitting in the Jungpi capital slowly peeling the skin off a young pear. The prince didn't eat it, but just kept peeling them in a growing pile by his desk. The task was relaxing to him after reading for long hours.Ning Fan came over, "I thought cook said he had enough pears? Are you planning on having a party or something with more people than we can fit in this house? Are you going to make some type of desert for a young
The royal hall was silent as the Emperor appraised each of his sons who had come to dine with him for their late night meal. The long hall was set with small tables for each prince to sit while their father sat on a seat elevated above him, along with the queen whose false sincerity was balance with her look of irritation when her son was not praised as she would have liked. The emporer was aghast at how each of them had change so much over these last few years. It had been more than ten years since all of his children had all been in the same room together for a meal."Father, did you know that I have blessed you with a pair of twin granddaughters. I am doing my part to make sure that the imperial family is thriving. These are the addition to the grandchildren I have given to you previously. It's a shame that my brothers too cannot share in the bounty of expanding the descendants of yours." Ning Yu raised his wine glass and emp
In the morning, an amber scroll was sent to him along with a visit from the imperial doctor who pronounced him fit to travel. The doctor looked at the prince with a strange expression as he said this. The doctor immediately started to put his pins away and pack them into the case with his medical supplies. He shook his head with a strange look at his patient."You'd think after all this time you would at least take the liberty to disguise where you gotten the poison. It's such a shame that young men must play games of power when they should be playing with their own age. It would be simple for you to step down to where health could be your priority over this useless power struggle . . . and for what purpose?"Ning Ren rolled up his sleeve. "It's not something that outsiders are bound to understand. These games mean little to those who are not involved in it. Even if I left and ran as far as I could . . . an ar
“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
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. 
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.
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.”
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
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?” “
“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
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. 
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.”