Chapter 9 A Shimmering Light in the Dark (2/2)
Yun Shang pulled out a small white jade bottle from her sleeve and began to hand it to Hua Jing. ”I want to give you this, sister. It is a medicine from the imperial physician himself. I used it before and it worked well. There isn't even a scar now.”
”Who needs your damn snake oil!” Princess Hua Jing shouted as she slapped the vial from Yun Shang's hand. As the slap landed, Yun Shang lost her grasp on the vial, which smashed into pieces on the floor.
Yun Shang quickly squatted down and began to pick up the pieces of glass with her fingers. ”Sister, your wound must be very painful. Mine also tortured me and put me in a sour mood. But it will be OK, I promise. Mother will get the best doctor in the imperium. You'll be fine in a few days.”
”Hua Jing, apologize to your sister. She was only trying to help.” And Yun Shang, be careful. The shards are sharp and cut through skin like paper. I'll have my servants clean it up. I'm fatigued now and need to rest. You should return to Qingxin Hall for a rest yourself. You must be exhausted from the courtyard earlier.” The empress gazed contemptuously at Yun Shang, who was still squatting on the ground. Her voice though, was masked with a loving, motherly tone.
Yun Shang rose and curtsied to the empress. ”Take care, Mother.” She backed out of the room slowly and left Qiwu Palace at once.
After the door closed behind Yun Shang, Pricess Hua Jing walked gingerly over to the empress and held her hands. ”Mother, it's obvious that she was behind this. Why did you take her side?”
Empress Yuan Zhen sat down in her chair and frowned, with a touch of weariness in her face. ”No, it wasn't Yun Shang. For all these years she has been short-tempered and unwise. She is no capable of something so elaborate. Even if she had some part in the events earlier, it was while being used by another. I think I've become to kind and generous to the emperor's concubines lately. But it is them who are mistaken. I will not be an easy target. I will teach Lady Shu a lesson. The ladies of his majesty's harem will once again know who has power around her.”
”Mother, how can you be so sure it was Lady Shu? How could she have known what we were planning? Besides, Yun Shang was the only person unhurt today. How do we explain that?” Hua Jing seemed to have her doubts.
But the empress didn't seem to be listening. She murmured to herself. ”Even if his majesty has forbidden me to launch an investigation, I'll find a way to figure out who's behind this. And when I find out, I swear I'll show no mercy.”
The empress stood and called for her attendant, ”Xiu Xin, Xiu Xin!”
The top maid hurried in and bowed slightly to her master, diligently awaiting her orders.
”I need you to secretly bring all of the servants of Qingxin Hall before me. I'll sift through them and get to the bottom of this!”