Chapter 145: A taste of his genuine heart 2 (1/2)

The Eastern courtyard, the Crown Prince's mansion.

Daiyu glanced from the stained bed linens to her crying mistress and frowned. While this was a sign that the couple were now truly married, she couldn't help but worry how this would be perceived or seen by others. The royal family were very particular about the consummation of marriage for it”s member. There were strict rules that each member including the Emperor himself must follow.

The rules about the marriage consummation demanded that the white coloured blood-stained linen used on the wedding night of every member of the royal family be submitted to the palate as proof of the bride's virginity. This is done to prevent the marriage of an impure woman already with child into the royal family. This is mainly done to maintain the purity of the royal succession.

Her Mistress and the Crown Prince must have submitted a fake proof. if that was discovered, they could both face severe punishments. That could include, if not limited to losing their position and title. Since their offence could be associated with lying to the Emperor and the royal court. Her mistress and the Crown Prince has been married for months if this was seen by anyone.

There could be disastrous consequences, hence she had to take care of this promptly. She walked around her mistress and pulled out the bed linen, careful not to disturb her mistress. She worked quickly, within seconds the white bed linen was folded and put In a bag. She would get rid of it later, it could be left so the only option was to burn it in the kiln at the small kitchen beside the courtyard.

Going to the kitchen might attract attention, she took out fresh linens from the cupboard by the wall and spread it on the bed to replace the old one. Everyone was back to ”normal” at record time, she glanced at her mistress who had stopped crying silently and now sat on the ground by the bed, his head leaning on the bed while looking ahead. She didn't seem to be mentally present in the room.

Daiyu felt her heartbeat increase as she looked down at her mistress, she didn't quite know what to make of this new vulnerable side of her mistress. She has never seen her mistress behave this way, she was suddenly scared that Xia Ying would do something dangerous. She glanced at the bag containing the rolled-up bed linens and sighed.

”Mistress, we need to get rid of those linens before the cleaning maids come if they see this....”

Xia Ying Glanced at her and sighed, ”do whatever you want”.

Daiyu gazed at her mistress's pale face before nodding, ”okay then I will take my leave” she said bowing and retreating quietly. She picked up the bag containing the linens on her way out. There was no one in the small kitchen but to be sure, she looked out the window and listened carefully for any newcomers but found none.

She tools the linen out of the box and placed it on the table before lighting the stove and threw it into the fire. She pushed the linen deeper into the fire with poker and watched it until it was completely burned. She left when it was all burned, Xia Ying was seated on a stool next to the dressing table when she returned to the room.

She let out a loud breath when she saw her seated by the dressing table. Although Xia Yong didn't look happy, her expression was still better than when she first left the room to burn the linens. She was glad that her mistress no longer had a lost expression on her face. That was a well-desired progress in her books, she walked to Xia Ying.

Xia Ying side-eyed Daiyu for a brief second before turning away to look into the mirror. Without looking away from the mirror she asked, ”have you gotten rid of the linens?”

”Yes Mistress, his highness sends over some medicine for you. Should I bring that over for you?”

Xia Ying looked up from the mirror and gazed far ahead, she couldn't understand why Zhongshan Ling would send over some medicine for her. She wasn't used to him being thus concerned for her. He treated her properly with the utmost respect, they treated each other like guests and nothing more.

He was only ever emotional to Zhu Fenfang, speaking of his concubine, ”has madam Zhu come here this morning?”

”No mistress, the Crown Prince before leaving for court instructed everyone to stay away and let you rest. No one was to come over without your permission”.

”really?”