c53 (1/2)

Chapter 53: Endure Humiliation for a Mission

Who else was there?

Qing Feng’s heart raised as her eyes starred at the patch of gra.s.s that was shaking. Her arms tightly held together and she unconsciously trembled. It was originally a desolate place and it was rather cold. Qing Feng did not believe in ghosts but this was the Palace. It would be a lie if she was not scared. Qing Feng took a deep breath so that she could calm down. Qing Feng held her breath and carefully stepped into the patch of leaves as she wanted to see what was creating the noise.

“Don’t… Don’t be like this… What if others see…” A vague female voice sounding from the bushes intermittently. Qing Feng thought that she had heard wrongly and wanted to go closer when a slightly impatient male voice sounded, “There would not be any one in this place.”

Qing Feng was surprised for a moment and quickly stop her steps. Soon enough, the sounds of the female and male sounded heavily. Qing Feng finally knew what was going on and her face redden. She immediately turned to leave but because of the dark night, she stepped on a dried stick and made a ‘kacha’ sound.

“Who is it?!” The alertness level of the person inside was quite high that even a slight noise was noticed by them. Qing Feng stiffen on the spot and dare not move unnecessarily. The person was also listening attentively and could only hear the wind rustling through the trees.

That male apparently know some martial arts and there was no one around. If they were cornered… Qing Feng maintained her state of mind and loudly yelled, “Who that is there better roll out of there in front of Bengong.”

The cold voice was able to cut through the silent night and the people who was inside was frightened and the bushes and vegetations started to shake much more dramatically. One was also able to hear the female tearful voice in the rustling of the clothes.

“Could it be that you want Bengong to go in to grab you before you are willing to come out?” The people who were listening started to panic and Qing Feng took this time to continue bluffing, “Someone come!”

When Qing Feng words were out, a figure rushed out from the trees and that man was clad with dark red uniform from the Imperial Guards and his hat was hung low making one unable to see his looks. His skills were good enough that after a short time he was able to run more than one zhang (1 zhang = 10 feet = 3.3m). With the dark night as his cover, he quickly disappear from Qing Feng sight and did not even look back once.

He just ran away like that? Qing Feng’s heart despised that man running away at the sight of trouble and at the same time she was able to put her worried heart at ease. Looking at the depths of the bushes, Qing Feng cold voice sounded, “You still don’t want to come out? He was able to run away but do you think you are able to get away?”

After a while, the tree shook for a bit before a palace maid came out sheepishly. The clothes on her were still tidy but her hair was already loosen and hung behind her. After walking two steps, that female suddenly fell to her knees and slowly crawled to Qing Feng. Not even daring to lift her head, she kept kowtowing and her trembling voice keep chanting, “May your Ladys.h.i.+p please have mercy! This servant will not dare to do it in the future!”

“Lift your head.” The female slowly lifted her head, she look like twenty year old with a delicate and pretty face. Qing Feng was standing against the moonlight and thus she was unable to see her expressions but was able to see the scars on her face. The already paled face palace maid got whiter as the fear in her eyes were as if one saw a ghost. It is… Imperial Concubine Qing…

Qing Feng raised her eyebrow sightly, what kind of expression was that, was she that frightening? Her hand could not help but to feel the scar on her face and her heart somehow felt uncomfortable. Her voice became even colder, “What is your name and which palace are you from?”

The female trembled but her entire body was shaking like a leaf. Qing Feng frowned, “Since you don’t want to say then leave it. Will hand you over to the Imperial Household, Bengong do not have the mood to care about this filthy things.”

“Don’t!” Seeing that Qing Feng turned and wanted to leave, the female threw herself at her feet and grabbed tightly onto her dress and replied, “This servant is called… Yao Chan, a palace maid in Xi Xia Palace. In another two years, this servant will reach the age to leave the Palace. When this servant is in the Palace, he was the one who has been taking care and we have agreed that once we leave the Palace, we will get married so… So that is why we cannot control our emotions… Seeking forgiveness from your Ladys.h.i.+p!” If she handed her over to the Imperial Household, she would be dead!

So it was someone from the West Empress Dowager’s palace. No wonder when she saw her, it was like she has seen a ghost. Qing Feng said indifferently, “Since there are two more years before you are allowed out of the Palace, then you should abide to the rules. The crime that you committed today is enough to take both of your heads away.”

“This servant knows the mistake and will not dare to do it again! Seeking forgiveness from your Ladys.h.i.+p.” The quivering voice was heard with the ‘dong dong’ sound of her kowtows that Qing Feng felt irritated when she heard it. Remembering that figure who did not look back once, Qing Feng asked, “Who is that man?”

“He…” Squeaking for a long time, the palace maid bit her dry lips and started to kowtow again, “It is all this servant’s fault. If your Ladys.h.i.+p wants to punish, please punish this servant!”

The ground was filled with gravel and for her to kowtow like that, even if she does not lift her head, Qing Feng knows how much her injury would be like. That man threw her away to escape without any conscience and she was still defending him silly. For something that was not worth persevering, she was also regretful.

After a long time, Qing Feng replied softly, “With regards to today’s event, just drop it and withdraw.”

Yao Chan did not dare to believe her own ears, her Ladys.h.i.+p was really… Not going to pursue it? In a daze, she lifted up her head to look at Qing Feng but was unable to see anything clearly due to the dark shadows. “Thanking your Ladys.h.i.+p! Thanking your Ladys.h.i.+p!” Fearing that Qing Feng would go back on her words, Yao Chan quickly got up after she recovered her senses and ran away in an embarra.s.sing state.

Seeing that figure fleeing, the corner of Qing Feng’s lips raised slightly, Xi Xia Palace, Yao Chan… She had noted it down.

“Mistress? Mistress!”

Fu Ling anxious low voice was heard from the small path and Qing Feng replied, “I am here.”

“Why are you in the bushes?” Seeing an unclear figure who was almost drowned in the bushes, Fu Ling quickly stepped forward to help her out of it as she rapidly said, “There are lots of bugs in there. Do come out quickly.”

Both of them got out of the bushes with great difficulty and Fu Ling squatted down to tidy up her dress from the gra.s.s bits/ Qing Feng held her hand as she pull her up and asked, “Chen Zhen, how is she?”

Qing Feng felt that Fu Ling stiffen a bit but she was unable to see her expression due to the dark night. Qing Feng chuckled, “Not good?” It should be. She previously was in such a distinguished position and now was reduced as a discarded woman in the Cold Palace. Not many people will be able to handle it. A quiet and suffering life was not scary but what was scary was the disparity in one’s heart and the endless despair.

After being out for a long time, Qing Feng was hungry and was intending to head back but Fu Ling look around then and suddenly got close to her to whisper a few words in her ear.

“What?!” Qing Feng stared at Fu Ling in astonishment and after a long time she then lowered her voice and asked, “Are you speaking the truth?”

“This servant just witnessed it herself.”

How was this possible? “I want to see it for myself.” She did not believe it.

*****