33 You Will Not Live Anyway (2/2)
”Very well. Tell the rest of the other girls to go back to attending to their duties,” the senior palace maid replied then looked at Le-anne, ”Follow me.”
Le-anne was getting more agitated by the animosity but she kept her cool. The senior palace maid took big steps, to which they ended up entering a building she had not been in before within no time. In her short stay in the palace, she was not yet familiar with all the numerous buildings that were all over the palace.
”My lady, it is I.” The senior palace maid announced her arrival then pushed the sliding doors open. They set foot into an ample room that Le-anne assumed to be the sleeping quarters of the lady. Already kneeling before the lady was also another senior palace maid with a maid that Le-anne had seen earlier standing among the Grand Dowager Empress' palace maids. The girl had loudly voiced how she could not die for she had to provide for her family.
Le-anne looked at the lady and froze for a second. Why had she been summoned to the Senior Court Lady of the Harem's sleeping quarters? She downplayed herself by kneeling behind the senior palace maid, daring not to utter her greetings without being addressed. Court ladies, especially those in power were brutal beings thus this was the time for her to be on her best behaviour.
”My lady, this is the girl who lost when we cast the lot for the Grand Consort Shu's palace maids,” the senior palace maid that led Le-anne in, spoke up.
”Is it?” her eyes narrowed towards Le-anne in assessment, ”What is this? Why is a palace maid disguising her face?”
”My lady, this palace maid is―”
”Forget it. You will not live anyway.” The Senior Court Lady rudely interrupted Le-anne. A sound of disbelief escaped from the Grand Dowager Empress' palace maid.
”You may leave.” The Senior Court Lady eyed the the senior palace maids who obediently bowed for their leave and respectfully stepped out of the room.
”As you all know, Prince Kuan Hui has been poisoned,” her tone changed to one ofbusiness as she took out a sealed letter.
”Here,” she put it on the table, ”have this delivered to the emperor's Senior Court Lady at the Dura Mountain Camp and she will know what to do.”
She stopped talking for a moment as if in deep thought.
”And remember this,” her tone warned, ”Prince Kuan Hui has not been poisoned.” Her eyebrows raised to clarify what she meant and they caught on. The harem was fighting to have the emperor find out about the poisoning from the Grand Dowager Empress to avoid unnecessary loss of life.
”You may go back to your sleeping quarters andchange into your quest uniform, then one of the standby military serviceman will brief you with the camp rules.”
S.V