Chapter 28 (2/2)

After a while, he looked at her again.  ”He.........what else did he say?”

”He said that every day he prays for blessings for the person he loves and prays the person will be benevolent all living things.”  She thinks Brother Mei should not mind if she says some words of truth mixed with some words of falsehood to soften the Emperor's heart.

”When he misses that person, he would prepare some special dishes.  I had the privilege of tasting a few of those dishes and if Brother Mei did not put his feelings into it........or if he did not miss that person so terribly.........he would not have put so much effort into his skills.”

Hei Xing Jia recalled his predestined love with Mei Yi Wen.  It was at a vegetarian feast that he first tasted Mei Yi Wen's tofu dish - 'Pining for Love' and as the Emperor, he summoned for Mei Yi Wen to meet him.  After that meeting, his mind was filled with the image of Mei Yi Wen.

”What were the dishes he prepared?”  He asked.

”Pining for Love.........the tofu was like a chrysanthemum blooming in the soup.  The taste was excellent and it was out of this world.”  She said.

Hei Xing Jian gripped the white jade bracelet tightly and let the coldness penetrated into his heart......Mei Yi Wen.  If I had known you would miss me so deeply, whatever you say I would not have allowed you to leave.  What is the use of an Emperor's reputation?  Can it protect someone you love?

”Anything else?”  Hei Xing Jian stared into her eyes and prompted.

”There was also a clear stewed melon soup.  He named it - 'End of Love without Regrets.”

An incredible painful feeling rose in his heart and unable to bear the extreme pain in his chest, he lifted his head and roared with all his strength.

”Why do you treat me so?!  Come back to me!  Come back!”

Hua Ming Zi bowed her head.  Initially, she had wanted to avoid witnessing the Emperor's embarra.s.sing behavior but when she heard his roar, involuntarily her eyes turned red.  Even if one is the Emperor, one is also unable to hold on to the one you love.  When it is time for a life to leave, no one is able to make it stay........

”You.......do you know how to prepare 'End of Love without Regrets'?”  Hei Xing Jian asked.

”I know but at the most, I can only achieve half of Brother Mei's skills.”

”Later you will cook it.  Whatever ingredients you need, just let Zhen's guards look for it.”

”Understood.”  Hua Ming Zi nodded.  Feeling anxious, she wondered when would be the right time to plead on behalf of Ying Yan Long.

Hei Xing Jian was watching her.  He noticed she was trying hard to remain calm and struggling as if she wanted to speak but lacking in courage.  Then he recalled when he was on the way here, the spy had briefed him about the background of Hua Ming Zi including her marriage with Ying Yan Long and Luo Ji Cai's pa.s.sionate pursuit of her.

These days, he was suffering because of Mei Yi Wen's death and did not want to manage anything.  So he had handed the matter of Ying Yan Long to Imperial Consort Luo for her to deal with it.  He thought that Imperial Consort Luo and Ying Yan Long did not have any grudges between them, so he just let Ying Yan Long remain in the palace prison for a few more days.

But he did not expect the three people, Hua Ming Zi, Ying Yan Long, and Luo Ji Cai would have a connected relations.h.i.+p.  As such, the treatment Ying Yan Long received in the palace prison would not be any good.

”Why did you bring the white jade bracelet to Jin Fu Lai?  To save Ying Yan Long?”  He looked at her as she nodded vigorously and then kowtowed to him.  Then he asked.  ”Do you know the crime Concubine Xu accused him of?  No woman will use her reputation to accuse a man of molestation, let alone she is a concubine........”

”He was framed.”  Hua Ming Zi said anxiously.  Involuntarily, she crawled a few steps forward on her knees.

”Do you have evidence?”

”Yes!”  Hua Ming Zi quickly told him about the evidence she had collected over the past few days and her voice trembled as her words came rus.h.i.+ng out.

After listening, without even lifting up his eyebrows, Hei Xing Jian said.  ”You all have heard.  Investigate this thoroughly!”

”Yes.”  A reply came from outside the door.

”Thank you, Your Highness!”  Hua Ming Zi kowtowed again giving three hard knocks on the ground.

”Stand up and prepare the soup 'End of Love without Regrets.”  Hei Xing Jian said.

”Yes.”  Hua Ming Zi stood up but she could not control her knees which had turned numbed after prolonged kneeling.  Her legs softened and she fell back onto the ground.

A cold sweat broke out on her back.  Then she tried to get up using both her hands as support.  However, her body was still weak and when her hands fumbled clumsily for support, her body swayed and she fell down again.

Hua Ming Zi's face had turned white.  Not daring to look at the Emperor, she forced herself to get up slowly.

”Seeking Your Highness's forgiveness, this woman is not deliberately being disrespectful.......”  Hua Ming Zi's legs were shaking and her voice trembled.

”When Zhen met him the first time, he was kneeling far, far away near the door and waited until Zhen had finished tasting the dishes.  However, his health was not good and when I summoned him to come forward, he wanted to get up but he couldn't.  He struggled to get up but he fell back to the ground again, falling a few times in a row........”  Hei Xing Jian looked at her.  His gaze was vacant and his voice was sad.

She sighed and quickly glanced at the Emperor before she carefully started to speak.

”Once when we were sitting face to face enjoying tea, Brother Mei who had not sat for long began to feel his feet turning numb.  Smiling, he said that in the past, he had drunk tea until his feet turned numb and he had to bother people to piggyback him down from the couch.”

”Yes, ah.......  The doctor said that his qi* and blood is not sufficient so it was not suitable for him to either sit or stand for too long.”  Therefore, he had would carry him when there was no one present.

(Qi means life force of a body in Chinese Traditional Medicine and it governs the well-being of the whole body.)

When Hua Ming Zi saw the Emperor's face with a thoughtful expression, she did not dare to ask more questions or look at him.  After she had performed a gesture of respect, she said.  ”This woman will go out to get the ingredients ready first.”

”Wait a moment.”  Hei Xing Jian said.

Hua Ming Zi looked at the Emperor and saw he was looking at her with a complex gaze.

She stood motionless, not daring to move and she was so frightened that she broke out in cold sweat.

”Take this.”  Hei Xing Jian handed the white jade bracelet to her.

Hua Ming Zi shook her head and did not dare to reach out for it.

”This is what he left for you.  Zhen does not want him to feel resentment for me in Heaven.”  He said.

Hua Ming Zi knotted her eyebrows. Then she took the white jade bracelet and gave him a respectful bow.

”Thank you, Your Highness.”

Hua Ming Zi put the white jade bracelet on her wrist and nervously walked out of the chamber in a hurry.  She did not dare to ask a question more, a question that was of utmost concern in her heart........ How is Ying Yan Long now?

Due to her relations.h.i.+p with Brother Mei, the Emperor looked at her differently, and whatever she can say, she had already said.  It is not advisable to say anymore.  If she had incurred the Emperor's wrath, then the situation will even be more unfavorable.  Moreover, now the Emperor had sent his people to investigate this matter, then Ying Yan Long will have the opportunity to seek redress.

She quickened her footsteps and moved towards the kitchen while praying to Heaven in her heart.

~ Let the Emperor be able to find out the truth as soon as possible and let Ying Yan Long be able to return safely as soon as possible.  Even if her lifespan is reduced leaving her with only a few more days to live..........she is still willing...........

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