29 No Longer The Door Ma (1/2)

WEI LI LIAN

PRINCESS LE-ANNE

MINISTRY OF INVESTIGATIONS

The palace went upside down after the news of Prince Kuai Hui spread. Maids ran up and down, frantic about who was going to take the fall for his poisoning. Nurses and physicians scattered all over the palace, desperate to find the cure to the lethal poison.

Princess Le-anne had never seen such chaos without reason of war but Court Lady Park cautioned her that it was just the beginning of the havoc that was going to break loose, when the emperor returned.

Grand Consort Shu would walk up and down by Prince Kuan Hui's palace with a worried demeanor and then pridefully, she would dismiss her concerns for him by claiming she did not care much about what happened to Dowager Empress Wang's son. The relationship between Consort Shu and Prince Kuan Hui consisted more of him showering endless affection towards her to spite his own mother. Although, Consort Shu had always been an ice block towards him, it seemed like the ice was melting away gradually.

Princes Le-anne tried to peep over Court Lady Park's shoulders but only managed to see the back of Grand Consort Shu. Rows of entourages that belonged to the elders of the harem were lined up in front of the Bureau of Investigations, waiting on their mistresses that gathered in the consultation room. The bureau was surprisingly a gloomy looking place that was made of maroon bricks with nothing but the founding emperor's huge carved statue at the gate entrance.

Inside the consultation room was the Grand Dowager Empress, the Dowager Empress Wang, Grand Consort Shu and Consort Wang alongside two subjects; the Minister of Investigations and the Senior Court Lady of the harem. What was notable is how neither of the consorts that were present had said a word since the meeting began.

Consort Wang probably saw it fit to hide in quietude as speaking would easily have her, either on Consort Shu or Dowager Empress Wang's bad side. Their relationship was toxic that it was either you were on one's side or you were against them; there was no in between that a person could choose.

”Make sure to round up all suspicious maids that may have had any outside communication and have them investigated,” the Grand Dowager Empress spoke up loudly, making her words audible to the entourage that quietly waited outside. At this, a wave of tension deluged the atmosphere.

”Your Royal Highness is expedient!” the Minister of Investigations shouted his praises.

”Was Huticah involved in this?” the Dowager Empress Wang suspiciously asked. At the mention of Huticah, Le-anne's heart pounced. There was no way her father would cause problems in the palace when he knew his daughter lived there.

Or was she wrong?

”Nothing is for sure at this moment,” the minister bowed his head.

”Huticah killed my son and now they want my grandchild?” the Grand Dowager Empress choked over her words in heartache. ”If it is indeed Huticah then their sorrow must impend sooner than planned, we have been patient considering that they are the sole suspect regarding my son's death.”

Suddenly, the Senior Court Lady threw herself on the floor and lowered her head for attention.