The Lei Clan stayed quiet for three months.  Keeping to themselves.  Talk about the fall of the Lei household were soon forgotten as other scandals, news and rumors came up. There were three biggest rumors that kept going around.  

The first, was the fall of King Nao's favorite concubine, Concubine Akira.  Even though she has been moved to a smaller courtyard and her living expenses were cut in half.  She was moved closer to the King's courtyard and there have been rumors of him visiting her every night.  Screams of pain and pleasure could be heard coming from her small courtyard.  Lady Akira's personality has changed as well, becoming erratic and strange.  Hiding in her room all day and night.  Calling servants animals and raging about nonsense.  All of this was talked about in hushed tones and unfounded truths. No one being able to confirm or deny the rumors.    

The second big scandal was the fall of Concubine Lei of the First Class.  Although not favored by the Crown Prince.  She was treated just the same as his first wife, being that they both were daughters of Prime Ministers.  However with the whole Winter Rain Tea House debacle, he no longer visited Concubine Lei at night as much as he use to. He instead opted to use the nights to visit whore houses, insulting both his wife and concubine. 

The last big news was Hell King's wedding.  No expense has been spared when his wedding date was announced.  His estate had been lavishly decorated with hundreds of red lanterns. Strings of pearls and diamonds have been hung on the trees to catch and reflect the sun. The whole estate has been re-landscaped.  It is said that Lady Lihua loves cherry blossoms and plum blossoms, so he planted a cherry blossom and plum blossom forest for her in his estate.  His once lacking flower garden, now flourished with all different types of flowers, a koi pond and a gazebo.  All buildings in the estate got a fresh coat of paint. Every servant got a year's worth of salary, four sets of clothing, a winter coat made of goose feathers and two new pairs of shoes, one for the summer and one for winter. All gifts for the servants were from their new Lady and Mistress of the Shiro Household.  Everyone in the Shiro Estate counted their lucky stars that their new Mistress has a big heart.  She got along well with the servants and got to know everyone's name and asked about their families.  She was graceful and elegant.  Her womanly virtues, outshine any noble lady's.  Some days, Lihua and Takeshi would stay in the gazebo enjoying the day.  Drinking tea, talking, and playing chess.  Lihua would then take out the guqin and play it for him.  

One night, Lady Lihua walked to the gazebo alone. The guqin could be heard being played in the middle of the night, a melody that sounded sad and desolate.  It's sad music had woken up Takeshi and he followed it.  The moonlight lit her from behind and cast her in a shadow.  Making her lonely form even more isolated.  Her music cried out from her soul and by the end of the song those that had night duty and those that had woken up because of the music, had tears running down their face.  Her sad song from her soul reached out to theirs and touched them in a place they all hid deep within them. She let them know that she too, also hid sadness and loneliness in her heart.  

When the song ended, Takeshi strode up to her and held her in his arms, whispering sweet nothings to her.  And in his arms, did she finally calm down and let him take care of her.  

"What happened?"  Takeshi asks as he rubs the small of her back in small circles.  

"I dreamt of Young Miss Lihua and her mother."  Lihua tells him.  "I don't know if it was a memory or a dream, maybe a little bit of both.  In the beginning, they were sad.  So sad and lonely that my heart hurt for them. They were alone and had no one to help them.  They called for help and as I tried to help them, no matter what I did, no body could hear me.  Nobody could see me.  I was just a wisp of a soul watching from afar.  And even in death, instead of peace, they were sad and lonely.  Not even in death could they meet each other."  

Her tears fell fast as she told him.  "Young Miss Lihua lived such a pitiful life, how could her death be just as pitiful?  Her spirit couldn't find her Mother.  I thought, at the very least their spirits would meet and at least they'll have each other, but... but..."  

Lihua got even more upset.  "I don't know how to make it right for her.  I don't know how else I can help her.  I took her body, her life, her revenge...I took everything away from her and how can I keep living this life in such happiness knowing how lonely her spirit is."  

"Hush." Takeshi said as he held on to her tighter.  "When we take revenge for her, her soul will finally find peace.  Maybe with that peace, she'll be able to meet her mother. You didn't take anything away from her.  If your soul didn't go into her body, she would have died in that cave and her body would have lay in that cave for animals and beasts to feast on.  And I would have still been chained up and hanging in that cave as well.  Its not like you purposefully seek her body after death, you were lead there by some higher power and put into her body to fulfill her last request.  You, living a good, a happy life, will give her peace knowing that you didn't waste the second life you were given.  You living well is the same as Young Miss Lihua living well." 

"Why do you always know the right words to say, Takeshi?"  Lihua said as she smiled softly at him.  "Take me to bed, Hell King." 

Takeshi sweeps her off of her feet, carrying her in his arms.  He takes her to their bedroom that they now shared every night and made love to her.  Reminding her that she was not alone.  That she would never be alone again.