Chapter 44

Bai Shen Hong
The Dragon Palace

Shen Hong rinsed his mouth with the sweetened water after his large feast. He sighed. At that time, the best way to end his day would be flirting with Li Lian and trying to get her to strip for him.

If only that was the case because reality was, he still needed to deal with the morning's issue. Throughout the day, everyone sought his audience to share their opinions concerning the matter. His mother came, who he refused to see because she was an obvious bias for Li Lian. Consort Wang came, who he also refused to see because she was an obvious bias for the ruin of Li Lian.

He objected to any minister's advice. In their eyes, this was a chance to gain power. Not many could be trusted concerning the issue.

He received the investigation and interrogation results stamped by the Grand Dowager's seal, who stated that he should answer to the drama and she was not sure what to do as this matter involved the concubine he liked and all the evidence offered was here-say. It was everyone's word against the other. Thus the truth was with Li Lian and Cai Wenjin.

"More wine," he instructed the servants clearing his huge dining table. "And Court Lady Nam, have Princess Cai Wenjin meet me in the study room."

"Yes, Your Majesty." She left the dining room.

That morning, he was practising with his generals when Luo Meng reported the drama at the palace garden. As a father, he worried about his daughter's well being. As a lover, he worried about Li Lian's mental health. It was on the previous day that Li Lian showed signs of depression. Could he carry a coherent opinion and judge fairly when he was in a conflict of interest?

Shen Hong sat on the zabuton cushion in the centre of his Dragon Palace study room, when Princess Cai Wenjin entered, being ushered in by Court Lady Nam. His heart softened.

"Princess." His daughter's bruises and welts were vicious on her pale skin even in the dimness of the room lit by candles. He hoped they wouldn't be scars that would ruin his daughter's future marriage negotiations. Anything belonging to him deserved the best, Cai Weinjin deserved the best.

"Fuhuang!" Princess Cai Wenjin ran into her father's arms. "Fuhuang, I missed you!" Her little hands held onto her father's broad shoulders.

"Look at you!" He pulled her back, examining her closely. "All these bruises and lashes." Each one was going to equate to a head rolling on the ground for such irresponsibility. "What happened to my princess?"

Her lips trembled and her head shook, refusing to answer. Tears accumulated in her eyes and threatened to flood her cheeks.

"Princess?" Shen Hong needed names. Only bloodshed could appease his desire for revenge.

"I don't want to die. Don't ask me!"

"Princess may not raise her voice towards His Majesty," Court Lady Nam rebuked without mercy.

Cai Wenjin bit her lips as the first tears flowed on her cheeks. She sniffed and sniveled sadly.

"If you tell me who it was, I will reward you. Didn't you say you wanted a big white horse like mine so that you may learn horse riding?"

She nodded, hesitating.

"Then tell me."

She stayed quiet, not saying anything.

"Cai Wenjin," he encouraged. "You can tell Fuhuang anything." Shen Hong wiped the tears for her.

"It's... it's..."

His eyebrows rose in upliftment.

"It's Li... Li... Li Lian."

Shen Hong's heart skipped a beat. "Is that so?"

She innocently nodded. "It is her."

He took a big intake of air and rubbed her back in assurance. How was he to go around this as a good father?

"Cai Wenjin." His voice was firm and calm.

"Fuhuang."

"What did I say happens to a princess who lies?"

Her eyes enlarged. "But Fuhuang―"

"What did I say happens to a princess who lies?"

She looked up, thinking deeply. Her thoughts were a buzz reflected by the confusion in her eyes. "Princesses who lie do not deserve their title," she choked.

"Thus I should strip off your title, right?"

"Fuhuang, Princess is telling the truth!" She started to panic.

"And a daughter who is not a princess cannot live in the palace. So you have decided to leave the palace?"

She swallowed hard, one lone tear slipping. "It was Li Lian."

"Imperial Concubine Wei," he corrected.

"Fuhuang!" The rest of her tears raptured as she sobbed.

"Court Lady Nam, get me a stick." He was not accepting the mockery of tears. "Princess Cai Wenjin must be disciplined."

"Bù yào!" (No)

"That's what happens to a child who lies."

"Fuhuang, Princess is not lying. Princess is being obedient." She wiped off her mucus using the back of her hand, and coughed.

"Obedient to who?"

She shook her head, hiccupping.

"Court Lady―"

"Fuhuang, I can't tell you... I don't want to die. You will kill me!" There and then, she began sobbing into his chest unceasingly, hands clutching his robes.

Frozen by the heartbreaking words, he held her in silence with his heart shredding. He was everything bad but not a murderer when it came to his family. Who planted these ugly words into her mind?

"Princess, why would I kill you? Fuhuang loves you."

"Mother said if I say anything, you will kill me and her. I don't want us to die!"

Shen Hong saw red. Of course, it was her. Of course! Consort Wang had crossed the line again. That snake of a woman!

"She hit you?"

"My court lady did... because Mother said so. Fuhuang, please don't kill me..."

"No, Princess Wenjin." He took her into his arms and hugged her tenderly. "Fuhuang would never. You are a priceless jewel to me."

She cried heartily into his arms as he appeased her. Besides her crying, all he could hear was his heart hammering. His daughter was pitiful to have such a vicious woman as her mother.

"Your Majesty, Grand Dowager Empress' court lady seeks your audience!" Eunuch Nam announced from the door.

Shen Hong shook his head. This was his time with his daughter. Not now.

This was his opportunity to console and talk to her, untangle the pain, cast away the demons and shine the light into her darkness.

An hour later, when the princess finally slept and got carried to bed, he allowed the court lady to have his audience.

"Your Majesty, a good evening to our emperor."

"No need to kneel, state the message you carry."

"Your Majesty, this servant was sent with evidence that Imperial Concubine Wei did not do anything to our princess."

Grand Dowager Empress was taking sides? So many secrets he was not aware of than he imagined. Why would his grandmother support Li Lian? They were from different political factions. And earlier, the Grand Dowager refused to judge the matter and took a neutral position. Why did she change her mind now?

"What is the evidence?"

The elderly woman pulled out a wooden case and handed it to Court Lady Nam so she could hand it to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, if Imperial Concubine Wei was to hurt the princess, it would be because she seeks to have only her child as the sole existing child of the emperor later on." She took a few seconds to carry on, seeming nervous. "Imperial Concubine Wei however, does not want children, so why would she hurt the princess? She wouldn't dare to."

"Why would she not want children when she is a woman of the Inner Court? It's her duty to have one."

"That, Your Majesty..." She looked at the box she gave to Court Lady Nam.

His stomach tightened already knowing what it may be. "What is inside the box?"

"Buckwheat, Your Majesty."

~Author's Note~

I love this cliff hanger. Mwahaha. This one is a good one. I like to see you guys anticipate for what's next!

Three chapters in one day, I have worked hard! Now I can sleep well.

S.V