Chapter 11 Initiation (2/2)
”Long live Your Majesty. Long live Your Imperial Highness...” Cheers and acclaims prevailed in the Jinluan Hall.
When this news spread to Hua Jing's chamber at Jinglin Hall, she shivered with anger, and said with clenched teeth, ”Yun Shang, you really are a bitch. I will ensure that you are miserable for as long as I live.”
Seeing Hua Jing's anger, all maids and eunuchs in her chamber fell to their knees lest they anger her more. Sounds of things breaking could be heard out in the Hall. Hua Jing was so furious that she smashed everything that could be smashed in her chamber.
”Let's go to Qiwu Palace. I wanna to hear what my mother has to say.” Hua Jing frowned when a dull ache spread across her bottom. The reminder of the dog bite only seemed to further aggravate her rage.
When Hua Jing arrived at Qiwu Palace, she grew more irritated when she saw Empress Yuan Zhen drinking peacefully. She ran to the Empress and took her hands. ”Mother, that vile Yun Shang, she must have done this on purpose. She knew that the seventeenth day of this month is my day of Coming-of-age Ceremony. Mother, you must help me...”
Empress Yuan Zhen frowned, ”Shut up. It's been a waste of time teaching you how to behave properly all these years. If I were you, I would go to your father. I would tell him how I felt inferior to Yun Shang as she has shared your father's burden while you have done nothing. However, as a Princess of the State of Ning, you are willing to do your part in to ease the nation's hardships by cancelling your Coming-of-age Ceremony which happens to be on the seventeenth day of this month...”
Hua Jing pouted and tugged at the Queen's sleeve, ”Mother, this is obviously a trick by that little whore. She is jealous of my Coming-of-age Ceremony. So she designed this.”
Putting down the cup, Empress Yuan Zhen shook her head, ”She is just an eight-year-old girl. How could she know about all this? She cannot even read a single word. How could she speak words like that? Besides, she has been under my control all these years, and there isn't a person in her employ who can devise such an plan. This is a serious matter. We cannot speak about it as a trivial matter. I do not believe that a little girl could be capable of commanding the Heavenly God to call for rains or winds.”
Hua Jing sighed, taking a seat by the Empress' side. She accepted defeat, ”So I should just let it go? I hate her for this. I wish she would just die.”
Empress Yuan Zhen lowered her head to look at her scarlet nails, a gentle smile dancing on her face. ”There will definitely be an opportunity. Just wait and see. It's fine if it rains on the seventeenth day. If not, I won't even have to kill her myself. Someone will eliminate her for us.”
”Hmm, ” Hua Jing said, ”It is hard to believe that it will rain on the seventeenth day of this month just because Yun Shang prayed. I'll see what that little bitch will do to cover her lies on that day. Thank you, mother. I will leave now...”
Empress Yuan Zhen nodded and then frowned at Hua Jing's ungraceful posture while getting up, ”You are behaving unbecomingly. No ladies from noble families would rise to their feet like you just did. You will be deemed as a girl without grace and politeness if that was seen by outsiders.”
Hua Jing's agitation returned. ”That's all due to the damned Taoist priest. I meant to humiliate Yun Shang in everyone's presence, but that beast bit me instead. I cannot figure out what's going on, as the wound is always aching.”
Empress Yuan Zhen had not considered this. She frowned, ”Your discomfort may be because of the heat. I will ask the Imperial Physicians to prepare some medicines for you. Remember to take them on time.”
”Got it. Got it...” Hua Jing waved a hasty goodbye, and walked out of Qiwu Palace.
”Your Imperial Highness. Just let it be? You agree to let Princess Yun Shang be pardoned? Your Imperial Highness is too noble and too treasured to accept such humiliation. That Princess Yun Shang is too stupid to figure out who she is.” Maid Die'er was resentful and murmured her disapproval.
A coldness surged in Hua Jing's eyes when she heard this. Her expression changed from anger to rage, ”Pardon her? Don't even dream about it! As mother will not help me with this, I'll do it myself. Wipe out that little bitch no matter what the cost.” Hua Jing's eyes sparkled and a grin emerged as a thought occurred to her. ”Come here...”
The maid walked up to Hua Jing and stood close. Hua Jing whispered something in her ear, to which the maid nodded. Then Hua Jing left. The maid looked around tentatively before turning and leaving in the opposite direction.