Chapter 43 The Empress' Scheme

"Where's Her Majesty?" Xiu Xin asked as she entered Qiwu Palace. She seemed to be in a hurry.

"In the Buddhist Prayer Room, " answered a servant.

Hearing that, Xiu Xin nodded and went straight to the prayer room. A thread of smoke coiled around the room. The Empress knelt in front of a shrine as she mumbled sutras with her eyes closed.

Footsteps broke the silence of the room. But the Empress did not move, and continued tapping the Temple Block*.

(*TN: The temple block is a percussion instrument which is used in religious ceremonies.).

"Your Majesty, Princess Hui Guo returned to her Palace." blurted Xiu Xin.

At the news, the Empress missed a beat and the Block trembled off-tune. A heartbeat later, the Temple Block hummed again, rhythmically. "Didn't she leave for treatment? Why has she returned now? "

"I followed a eunuch from Qingxin Palace. Then I saw Qin Meng on a stretcher, " continued Xiu Xin. "Later, I heard that Prince Jing had her legs broken for being a trespasser."

A thump echoed off the walls before the Temple Block went silent. After a long pause, the Empress asked, "What? He broke her legs? "

"That is correct, Your Majesty. The servants at Qingxin Palace said so, " answered Xiu Xin.

"Damn it!" In her rage, the Empress threw the wooden mallet to the ground. Then she jumped up, and fulminated. "Get to the bottom of this incident! It took me so many years to arrange these things. How can my efforts be in vain?"

Xiu Xin nodded and left hurriedly.

Silence returned to the room. After a few minutes, the Empress thought aloud. "I have nothing against you, but you always spoil m

Where have you been?" asked Yun Shang.

She didn't answer, but the Empress spoke up. "Actually, this is what I wanted to talk about with you." She glanced at Yun Shang before sitting.

Yun Shang sat near the Empress. "You came to talk about...her?" asked the Princess.

"Yes, " nodded the Empress. "I was walking along the lake when I saw her trying to kill herself. I saved her, and then she told me what happened. She feels guilty as she got you into trouble. When she learned that she would never serve you because of her broken legs, she wanted to die."

Yun Shang was astonished. She went to Qin Meng, and held her hand. "I told you that I wouldn't give you up. Please don't worry."

A stream of tears rolled down Qin Meng's face. "It's all my fault. I'm too ashamed. How can I face you."

As Yun Shang shook her head, the Empress spoke up. "This maid is affectionate and faithful, but you need a working maid. I'll send you another girl. In the meanwhile, I will take Qin Meng back to Qiwu Palace, where I can give her something easier to do. And if she heals, I'll send her back."