"Tell this King what you were thinking when you poisoned yourself at the tea party?"  Takeshi asked as he held Lihua in his arms.  His hand drew lazy circles on her back as he swallowed his anger enough to listen to her.  

"I really didn't plan on poisoning myself."  Lihua tells him.  "But when Lisa gave me the tea as a peace offering, I took the chance to poison myself."  

"What about the sandalwood box filled with the poison?"  

"I secretly sent it to her and had planned to use this method at a later date.  However when I saw this opportunity, I took it."  Lihua tells him.  "I'm sorry if I scared you and made you worry.  I couldn't tell you my plans in that moment everything was happening so fast.  My opportunity would have passed if I didn't take it.  Forgive me?"  

Takeshi stared at her for a long period of time before breathing out heavily.  He too would have taken the same opportunity should it have shown itself in front of him.  How could he be mad at her for doing the same?  What happened has already happened and she is alright.  That is what matters.  

"Very well, but you scared this King, you must make up for it!"  Takeshi said as he held her chin in his fingers.  

"I've already taken responsibility for you for a lifetime!  You still want me to make it up to you!"  Lihua said as lifted herself up to straddle him.  "This Mistress Shiro shall make you regret those words!"  

Takeshi laughed as Lihua tickles him.  His hands had come up to block her, however with Lihua's speed she took advantage of his weakness.  

Soon sounds of laughter became sounds of moaning.  They stayed in bed for the rest of the day, hiding away in their bedroom, closed off from the world.  

------------------

The next day Concubine Lei's trail was to be held.  King Nao knew he could not hold off on her trail any longer for King Takeshi had sent several men to guard the dungeons and sent men in inquire about the investigations.  He received word from Takeshi that Lihua survived the poisoning due to her extensive training as a poison taste tester and was the only reason why she still lived.  However, her health and body was still frail and had to bed in bed for at least a month to recuperate.  

Takeshi strode into King Nao's study with a tight and cold face.  He bowed and was quickly told to rise as King Nao stared at his brother trying to read his mood.  Upon seeing the mask over his brother's face, King Nao knew that it would be impossible for his brother to let the matter go.  As King, he had to punish Prime Minister Lei's daughter for poisoning.  All the evidence pointed to her and there were more than one witness at the party who saw her give the teacup to Lady Lihua to drink.   The sandalwood box that contained the poison was also in her room with her hand stained from the broken seal on the sandalwood box.  It was an open and shut case.  The only thing that he hesitated on is that now Prime Minister Lei would cause a commotion in court.  His court hall would be more troublesome for him.  

However, the look on his brother's face, he knew he would rather deal with the troublesome ministers than deal with an angry brother.  Resigned to his fate, King Nao tried his best to calm Takeshi before the trail with his favorite tea and snacks.  

"King Brother."  Takeshi said slowly.  "How can I eat when when my Lady Wife lays still in bed unable to eat herself?  Her body keeps rejecting the food she eats...."  Takeshi sighed as he stared at the snacks.  "Now her body is even more weak then it was before."  

King Nao watches as Takeshi's hands curls up into a fist on the table.  The hand that was holding the teacup broke, suddenly shaking him out of his thoughts.  

"I know if you hand her over to me, you will have more trouble on your hands."  Takeshi said as he stared at his hands.  "I know you would give her over to me after the trails, however as your brother, who has always held you in my heart, I will give you a way out."  

King Nao looks up and studies his younger brother.  To give him a way out of Takeshi's request must mean that Lady Lihua has convinced him in some way to change his mind.  

"After finding her guilty, her punishment will be death." Takeshi told him.  "I will not settle for less. A public beheading to warn others of trying to poison the Imperial Family."  

King Nao could settle for this compromise between the brothers.  This way Takeshi gets the death he wants and since everything was done by the law, Prime Minister Lei wouldn't cause such a big fuss if she was instead handed over to Takeshi to punish.  Takeshi compromising for the both of them made King Nao love his brother even more.  His brother has always thought about him and cared for him.  

"Thank you brother."  King Nao said.  

------------

The trial for Concubine Lei was the trial of the year. Several noble families had come to witness the trial so they can talk about it later to their friends and rub it in the faces of the Lei Madams. As Concubine Lei was brought out from the dungeons, her hair and clothes were dry and unkempt. Whispers could be heard from the audience as she was lead to sit in a chair and then she was tied down to the chair with red ropes. Two guards stood behind her as she faced the stage.

Her family and father stood to her left, while the prosecutor and witnesses at the tea party stood to her right. The judge, King Nao and King Takeshi all came in together, while everyone stood up and bowed. King Nao told them to stand and start the trial. King Nao and King Takeshi sat on the stage while the judge came down the stage to sit by the table set in front of the stage.

Once the trial started. There were no refuting the words of the witnesses. The evidence of the poisoned teacup, the sandalwood box filled with the same poison that was found in her room. The trace of the broken seal on Concubine Lei's hand. And the fact that everyone knew of the altercations between Lady Lihua and Concubine Lei.

The prosecutor twisted Concubine Lei's hatred towards Lady Lihua into something bigger than it was, making it seem like Concubine Lisa invited Lady Lihua to the tea party for the sole purpose of poisoning her enemy.

After he presented his narrative, the facts, the evidence and the witnesses. There was no disputing from Prime Minister Lei. He tried to pull as many strings as he could but to his disappointment, when he found out that King Takeshi sent his own guards to the dungeon, he knew he had no choice but to wait for the trial. His spies that he put into his daughter's courtyard have all been rounded up and also put into the dungeon.

With nothing he could do before the trail started, he and his family came to court to stand by his daughter's side. Upon hearing the prosecutor present the evidence, his heart sank deeper for he knew there was no way out for his daughter. Such is the life women live in the Back Palace. It is the price they pay to be Queen. To become Queen Dowager. To become the mother of the nation, a mother to a King.

Even if his daughter was innocent, there were too many factors against her. The case against her was solid. All he could do now is hide his anger within him and resign himself to his daughter's fate. Promising her to pay those that wronged her back.

She fell into their trap and now she must pay for it's consequences.