Chapter 114 The Empress's Grief (Part One)

Qin Yi and Qian Yin were reluctant to do so. However, as Yun Shang was their master, they had to obey. The maids stood up and said, "Lord, you see..."

Prince Jing smiled and said gently, "As I am an unwelcome guest here, I'd better leave. Anyway, Lady Jin will go to Ning'guo Temple to pray in a couple of days, and I will escort her to the temporary imperial palace. So, Shang'er, we will soon meet again."

Yun Shang was taken by surprise. She had been a little elated when she heard the Prince announce his leave. But her curled lips froze with an embarrassed smile after she caught the latter part of the Prince's words. That was tantamount to a threat, with which, however, Yun Shang had no way to deal. Yun Shang gritted her teeth in anger to squeeze out the following words, "Uncle, you speak as if I am forcing you to leave. If you'd like to stay, be my guest." She withdrew into the inner hall as soon as she had finishing speaking.

Prince Jing felt intrigued as he watched Yun Shang leave in anger. She behaved childishly, and that was normal for a fifteen-year old girl. Although she was charming when calm, and dignified on ordinary days, her beauty was not perfect for lack of vitality. Yun Shang when angry, seemed more natural and prettier than usual.

Even Qin Yi and Qian Yin were startled. They had served Yun Shang for quite a long time, but this was the first time they had seen the Princess behave so willfully.

Then Qin Yi remembered how Lady Jin looked when Lady Jin and His Majesty loved each other heart and soul. Though a little girl then, Qin Yi could still recall the capricious behavior of Lady Jin when she was at odds with His Majesty. How Yun Shang resembled Lady Jin when she was quarreling with the Prince! With Yun Shang's unusual behavior in mind, Qin Yi more or less guessed how the Princess felt about the Prince. In spite of the Princess's cold attitude towards Prince Jing, she must view the Prince differently in her heart of hearts.

So Qin Yi lowered her head in front of the Prince and asked him with a smile, "It is cold here. Why not go to the inner hall to warm yourself, Lord? I will serve you a cup of tea. What's your favorite, Lord?"

Prince Jing lifted his eyes to look at Qin Yi. He nodded, "That would be nice. It's very cold. Please prepare for me a cup of Que She Tea."

Qin Yi nodded with a smile. Then she held Qian Yin's arm, and left with her. Qian Yin almost tripped when Qin Yi pulled her out of the room. She wondered how it was possible for the Prince to feel cold. People who have learned a high level of Kung Fu usually have warmer bodies.

Yun Shang fetched a book after entering the inner hall. She lay on her bed and began reading. After a while, she habitually reached out for the teacup that was usually on the table. However, she felt nothing. Yun Shang was surprised when she realized that nobody was serving in the room as Qin Yi and Qian Yin hadn't followed her. Yun Shang frowned and wondered whether Prince Jing was brazen enough to stay and keep her maids to serve him. With this in mind, Yun Shang stood and walked out of the room. As soon as she stepped out, she saw Prince Jing sitting on the chair. Yun Shang squinted to study the Prince, and could not help but feel upset. What a brazen man he is! He hadn't the slightest intention of leaving even though I have grown impatient with him?

Yun Shang noticed that there was a cup of hot tea by the Prince's side. Judging from the smell, she found it was the Que She Tea that His Majesty had awarded her the year before. Yun Shang felt more agitated at this sight. So she returned to the inner hall in fury, and called aloud, "Qin Yi! Qian Yin!"

In a short while, Qin Yi and Qian Yin ent

still remember how His Majesty left me alone in our wedding chamber on our wedding day. What a stigma for me! I know His Majesty hates me because Lady Jin, his beloved one, cannot be the Empress because of me. For all these years, I have tried my best to be a good wife as well as a good mother. Have I shown any sign of jealousy when young girls are selected as His Majesty's ladies each year? If His Majesty is so cruel to me, what's the significance of my title, Empress?"

Upon hearing those words, the maid standing by the Empress's side said immediately, "Your Majesty, please don't say something like that."

The Empress lay back against the bedhead. Her hair fell over her shoulders, and her eyes were red. She said after a long while, "Why can't I say something like that? Since I am under house arrest in this Palace now, who will have any chance to tell His Majesty what I said? I'm afraid His Majesty is not willing to hear any news about me."

The Empress became so distraught after she finished speaking that she coughed repeatedly. The maid panicked and inquired about the Empress worriedly, "Oh, my! Your Majesty is so sick. But the imperial physicians always make the same prescriptions when they come to check you. It seems as though those medicines won't take any effect."

A bitter smile emerged on the Empress's lips. "What is the use in taking the medicine? I'm afraid His Majesty would be happy if I died immediately."

"No! No! No!" The old maid responded hurriedly. "That's nonsense. Please stop talking about death, Your Majesty. Buddha and Gods, please forgive Her Majesty. Her Majesty is so heartbroken that she has said something out of her mind. Please don't take it seriously."

The Empress leaned forward a little and coughed again. Then she straightened her body and asked, "I ordered you to send a message to the Grand Councilor. Did you do that?"

The maid replied in a hurry, "I have already sent a messenger. Lady Li has found a physician for you, but His Majesty won't allow any other physicians to see you. His Majesty said the imperial physicians from the Imperial Palace are the best in the world. Physicians from outside the Imperial Palace are no match for them. Lady Li is trying to find a way..."

The Empress nodded, and stayed silent. She lay on her bed, sleepless. She just stared at the ceiling until tears welled up in her eyes again.

Seeing the Empress shedding tears on her bed, the maid turned around and sobbed silently, too.