Xinye's view

Having been informed that the emperor would be visiting I went to Bao and asked, "Bao, I am sorry, but I need to ask you this."

"What is it Xinye? You seem distressed about it," Bao touched my arm with his hand in comfort.

"Did you know emperor Taiji and consort Harjol are coming here to visit?" I asked attempting to find out how much he knew.

"I did not," Bao frowned, "Why though?"

"Because of what happened to me," I said.

"I thought it was all sorted out when we delivered the staff to the emperor," Bao said, "That was why I returned."

"There is something you did not know," I said, "It is about Prince Dudo's will."

"What is it?" his interest was pricked.

"Prince Dudo left me that palace and all its staff in his will. It was to Maelgwyn after me, but I told Maelgwyn he could have it now as I never want to go there again."

"Understandable, how is this an issue?" Bao asked.

"His first wife is making it an issue. She did not know he, in his mind, had married me and so she is contesting the word sent to him. Taiji is here to verify the will and seal."

"I see, so what did you need me for?"

"I was wondering if you would not mind sleeping in the hall with the guards while the emperor is here, as you are in our best room aside from my own room and although we built the extension, we still do not have rooms for guests." I asked nervously, I hated kicking Bao out since he had done so much for me. It was him or Shen, and as Shen and Sari had just gotten married, I did not want to kick Shen out.

"Thank you for asking, and yes, it is ok. If they come again, I will move out then too, it is only fair that the emperor gets a good room and your family keeps their rooms, and of the servants there is only me who can be moved." he took the move reasonably.

A bird arrived announcing the arrival of emperor Taiji and consort Harjol the next day. We spent that day getting the room ready for our esteemed guests, giving them the best, we had.

The next day I walked out into the sunshine to greet emperor Taiji and Harjol. By rights, we should have gone to them to explain ourselves, but Taiji wanted to get out of the palace and spend some quality time with Harjol. They, with my abduction, had finally been spending some time together, however, the empress kept coming up with some plot as to why Taiji could not see Harjol. It was fair enough since she was the empress and ranked first amongst his wives.

Taiji had loved Harjol a long time though, first as Li and now as Harjol. Taiji had not known and still did not know that Harjol was Li. He assumed Li was killed in war and spent a year unofficially grieving him. He did not know the Princess Harjol was him.

Despite grieving Li, Taiji did try unsuccessfully to court Harjol. But it turned out he was hopeless at courting and turned Harjol off him. It took him till I was abducted to get his act together and treat her how she wanted to be treated - like a precious and desired person, not a thing to be humped.

"Welcome emperor Taiji and consort Harjol," I bowed the best I could, welcoming them.

Prince Taiji hurried over and picked me up, "Don't worry about formalities with us here," he said, "only if you come to the royal capital."

"Thank you Taiji," I smiled, "May I greet Harjol?"

"You may," he smiled, but seemed a little disgruntled.

I hurried over to Harjol, "Harjol! It is so good to see you again!" and gave her a hug.

"Xinye! It is good to see you too," and she hugged me back, "You have no idea how much I have missed your honest frankness. The royal court is a pit of vipers. One wrong move and you are dead and everything has a double meaning."

"Well, you can relax here," I drew back and looked at her, still holding her arms to comfort her, "No--one here would hurt you."

"I know, thanks," Harjol smiled at me.

I stood back altogether, "Would you like to come in? or would you prefer to go to the room where Taiji and you will be sleeping?"

"If it is ok," Harjol said, "I would like to go to the room, travelling has worn me out and I would like to take a little while to recover."

"Follow me then," I said and linked my arm with hers and led her to the room Taiji and she would be sharing.

"It's beautiful," she complimented the room, "I can tell you spent some time preparing it for us. But isn't this your room?"

"No," I shook my head, "It has not been since I was abducted by Dudo."

"I was surprised to hear that you were, and by Dudo of all people," Harjol said, "Are you ok? I know he is the handsomest of the brothers, and was the most faithful of all of them, but that can mean nothing behind closed doors."

I smiled a rather weak teary smile, "I am alright now. I have Xin."

Hajol did not press me to tell her of my experiences, just squeezed my arm in sympathy. I left her to rest not long afterwards, feeling tired again myself. I did not rest though I went and found my husband and Taiji in my husband's study.

"Good, you are here," my husband said, standing up and coming over to me to hold my hand, he paused and looked at me concern in his eyes, "I need you to tell Taiji what happened when you were abducted. Can you do that?"

I nodded, this was something unavoidable, I had been preparing myself to speak ever since I had been told Taiji would be coming." I noticed the official scribe in the corner and nodded to him.

Taiji was sitting where my husband would have normally sat, and my husband had been sitting where a guest would normally sit. Taiji got up then and gestured for me to come over and sit, and so I did.

"Now, Xinye, can you please tell me what happened to you?" Taiji asked.

I nodded, "But how far back do you wish to go?"

"How did you meet my brother Dudo?"

"I rescued him from an alligator and Dr Hack and I looked after him after he lost his arm," I said.

"Oh, that makes sense now. He was always talking of the person who saved him from an alligator and how he was going to marry that person," Taiji said, "Ok skip forward and continue."

"He took me away from my family, perhaps eleven weeks ago now. He knocked me unconscious with some drug and carried me to some palace. When I awoke, he told me I was his wife now. The first week he was a perfect gentleman, the second week I was forced to sleep next to him at night and the third week I became his sexual toy," I started crying then, unable to hold back my tears, "I could not stop him, if I reminded him of Xin I was punished."

"Punished how?" Taiji wondered.

"I was beaten with a switch of some description. He took to beating me with that as he liked the bruises on my skin. Thankfully I really only had his attentions for 5 days. 2 at the beginning and 3 at the end before Xin rescued me."

"Can you tell me what happened the day you were rescued?" Taiji asked.

"I was taken in the morning and Sari bathed me after which I had some time in the garden, I was allowed to rest in. Dudo found me there and walked me back to my room. In that time, he decided he wanted me again, and for some reason I yelled at him "No," but it availed me nothing as I was thrown onto the bed and he pinned me, starting to take me again when Xin entered and pulled him off me. I was afraid of Xin as he looked like he was going to kill me, but he didn't. Dudo tried to attack Xin from behind, but empaled himself on Xin's sword instead. That is not the correct word, but he did it to himself. He died there then. Xin took me away and later at the inn Sari gave Xin Dudo's will and seal. The head butler of the estate gave it to her." I summarised my time between the tears falling.

"Thank you, your story aligns with Xin's," Taiji said before adding, "All I have to do now is question Sari and see the will and seal. Call the maid!"

And Sari was called in, her witness was similar to mine except from her point of view. At the end she was asked, "If you knew what Prince Dudo was doing was wrong, why did you not stop him?"

"I think you underestimate my value, my emperor, I am but a mere maidservant, I have no strength or position to help my lady except to heal her body."

"Fair enough," Taiji nodded before ordering, "Show me the will."

Xin brought out the will and seal, "Here you go."

Taiji held it before him, "Sari, is this the document you were given by the butler at the palace?"

Sari looked at it, "It look like it, but I cannot be certain as I cannot read. That is definitely the seal though, and it is attached to the document the same way as the one that was given to me was."

"How about you Xin," Taiji asked as a mere formality, "Is this the document and seal you were given by Sari?"

"Yes, it is," Xin nodded, having read it before he had handed it over to Taiji for the proceedings.

"Did you know Prince Dudo was going to do this? Did you pressure him in any way for this?" Taiji questioned me.

"No, I did not," I replied, "I was too busy praying for God to rescue me from the situation."

Taiji raised his eyebrow at me as if to say "God? What God? I do not believe in God." but he said nothing, instead reading the document in front of him.

"Scribe!"

"Yes, your majesty," the scribe bowed.

"I will make a decision now. Make sure you record it accurately and send off my proclamation."

"Yes, your majesty," the scribe intoned.

"In the appeal of Lady Hong in regard to the Hua Quin Chi Palace and its servants, I proclaim the contents of this will; will be upheld. Lady Fang Xinye and her son Maelgwyn are the owners of that palace and staff. Any further application by the remaining family of Prince Hong Dudo in regards to this matter is to be denied. So shall it be," and with that the hearing ended and we were able to leave. Later that day I saw multiple birds released with messages attached, I assumed with the proclamation.

Hajol and Taiji stayed for three weeks before heading back to the palace. Even though they were staying with us, we did not see them much. I guess, like Shen and Sari they were having a honeymoon at our manor.

Unfortunately, also in this time Dr Hack passed away and he was given full burial honours for the work he had done while he was alive. I was shattered as my father figure in this era had died.

A/N If you enjoyed this chapter, please take the time to vote by pressing the star. Please let me know if you see any errors, as this is unedited.