c41 (1/2)
Chapter 41: Cold Heart Freeze
“Kw.a.n.g dang!”
“Peng-”
Fu Ling crouched at a corner and quietly watch Qing Feng crazily venting out on everything in the room. After she return, she shut herself in the room in the entire afternoon. The sun only just set when she started to smash everything like she was insane. The porcelain in the room and the ornaments were all smashed into pieces. Perhaps this is also good, it is better than her being sullen and silent and keep everything in her heart.
Everything that can be smashed was smashed. Qing Feng however could not relieve all the hatred in her heart. Grabbing the curtain veil, she tore it down. The satin brocade on her bed was also thrown to the ground by her. Qing Feng picked up the pillow and threw it forcefully onto the screen. A peng sound was heard and the golden embroidered screen collapsed. The pillow also fell apart upon impact and a small white brocade bag fell out of it.
Fu Ling bend down to pick it up. The brocade bag was really very light and the things inside was already grounded into powder, no wonder it was not found. A light scent of sandalwood was emitted and if one does not attentively smell it, one will not be able to detect it.
Which girl was so thoughtful to place sandalwood into the pillow? t.i.tling the brocade bag closer to smell, Fu Ling’s brows wrinkled. Other than the scent of sandalwood, there was also another faint smell? Fu Ling opened up the brocade bag and found that there was also powder lined in the small bag. Such a delicate thing is not usually found on normal palace maids.
She started to have some doubts thus Fu Ling examined the thing inside the brocade bag. Upon closer examination, there are some star like white powder in the sandalwood chips. Fu Ling lowered her head to smell it… This is…
Fu Ling’s face suddenly changed colour and Qing Feng who was watching Fu Ling every move silently guessed that that was not anything good. She asked coldly, “What is that thing?”
Fu Ling was slightly startled and looked up. Directly facing Qing Feng brutally cold sight, Fu Ling clam herself up before whispering her reply, “Zhuxin gra.s.s.”
Qing Feng took the brocade bag and gave it a closer look. It was only some powder and some sandalwood scent. When she was sleeping, she occasionally smelt some of it. Initially she thought it was the palace maids that prepared it to calm her nerves but now it would seems that some mischief was in play. Fu Ling did not do anything for a long time which made Qing Feng’s eyes raised. Fu Ling paused and thought of what to say as Qing Feng has already suffered a number of shocking things today.
“Its scent is similar to that of sandalwood. But… Smelling it long term, a female…”
“Speak.” Even if this was a poison that will wear her intestine down, she will not be surprised.
“Can never be pregnant.”
Can never be pregnant? The four words slowly processed into her mind. There were indeed to many shocks today and Qing Feng’s brain was unable to process it. Yan Hong Tian no longer seek for her and she also drank the abortion medicine, what else do they still want? To let her not have her own children for the rest of her life? So cruel! Her head started throbbing in pain and her heart felt as if someone stabbed her. Qing Feng lost her balance and fell onto the ground. As she looked up to Fu Ling, Qing Feng susurrate, “Why are they doing this to me?”
Why? For a position in the Palace, for the future Imperial Throne, for the Emperor’s favour, too many why but it is not the reason. Qing Feng sat on the floor with her face gaunt like it was ashes. With a pair of red and swollen eyes filled with despair and doubts looking at her, Fu Ling could not mutter a single word.
Suddenly Qing Feng started laughing aloud. Not sure if it was she was too angry that it became laughter as that laughter was so sharp that it can pierce one’s heart.
She hated Yan Hong Tian but for her sisters to be able to carry on living in Qiong Yue, she has decided not to seek for revenge. She did not bother to fight or s.n.a.t.c.h anything and only wanted to live her life by herself. Even if she were to go to the Cold Palace, it would not matter. But now it would seem that she was really silly and really stupid!
The brocade bag that was still in her hands was still exuding a faint scent. This thing was actually hidden so near to her. She thought that the once safe bed that she lie on every night, was actually lying on top of poisonous daggers. She was still full of herself thinking that if one doesn’t fight or s.n.a.t.c.h, one will be able to survive. She cannot even protect herself, let alone her Elder Sister…
Suddenly she violently raise her head and Qing Feng stared at Fu Ling asking, “Fu Ling, will you or will you not betray me?”
Fu Ling knows that perhaps Qing Feng was giving her the last chance to choose. To choose to stay with her or leave… Where can she leave to? To the place where she came from? Continue to let others chase her from one palace to another? Waiting for the so far away it seems forever date to leave the Palace or die of old age in the Palace? Or not knowing who she offended and die due to an “accident”? She has already survived ten over years like this and no longer want to live like that.
Receiving the look of full of hope and a faint of appeal in her eyes, Fu Ling smiled. Being needed and trusted was also a form of reward. Secretly taking a deep breath, Fu Ling calmly and firmly replied, “Will not.”
“Mistress, get up first as the ground is cold.” Supporting Qing Feng’s arm, Fu Ling gently pull her up.
Clasping Fu Ling’s hand tightly, Qing Feng slowly straightened up and place the almost smashed up brocade bag into Fu Ling’s hand. Keeping her voice very low, she spoke, “Take this thing away and change it to a similar sandalwood scent and sew it back before placing it back into the pillow. Don’t let anyone discover it, especially the people in Qing Feng Hall.”
Fu Ling gripped the brocade bag and nodded her head.
Taking a look at the despondent room, Qing Feng calm expression slowly restored as she said, “Get the thing done by tomorrow morning before letting people tidy this up. You can go out.”
“Yes.” Fu Ling place the small brocade bag in the deepest pocket around her waist before gently opening the room doors to withdraw.
When the door closes, the room was once again shrouded in darkness. Qing Feng quietly stood in front of the window and slowly raise her hand against it. The paper on the windows separated the moonlight and the warm light from the lanterns. After a while, Qing Feng withdraw her hands. These warm no longer belongs to her. What was left to her was the coldness and darkness of this room, like her heart.
It is you all who forced me–
When Fu Ling exited from the room, Lan-er quickly went up to her and pull her hand to the big tree in the middle of the courtyard to where the not inquisitive Xia Yin was standing there. Seeing there there was no one around, Lan-er softly questioned, “Older sister Fu Ling, what is wrong… With her ladys.h.i.+p?” When her Ladys.h.i.+p walked it, her face was so pale and her forehead had a trace of blood and bruise was enough to scare everyone. Walking into the room, she has smashed don’t know how many items, let along the sharp cries and laughter that were heard in the courtyard. scaring her till she has gooseb.u.mps!
Xia Yin also softly said, “Fu Ling, we are also worried about her Ladys.h.i.+p and even more afraid that our mouths are clumsy and speak any wrong words to offend her Ladys.h.i.+p.”
Fu Ling lightly shook her head and replied, “You all should not worry too much, Mistress is only… Tired. Don’t disturb her tonight and clear up the things tomorrow.” Finis.h.i.+ng her words, Fu Ling did not wait for both of their reply and turned to walk back to her own room.
Lan-er softly scoffed, “So petty, she thinks that others want to fight with her for favours!” Finis.h.i.+ng her words, she also walked back to the house.
Xua Yin looked back once again at the shut doors. There was no candlelight nor any sounds of weeping. It was scarily quiet.