c72 (1/2)
Chapter 72: The Empress’s Suspicions (Part 2)
The first night of winter came especially early. The moon has yet to be in the sky but the sun had already set. The sky was grey and the initially magnificent zigzag bridge cast a dark shadow. There was a dark shadow sitting on the railing of the bridge holding a bun, casually breaking into small pieces and throwing it down the pond a little at a time. There were many Kois gathering around the person’s foot, creating ripples as they fight got the small pieces of bun. Under the darkening sky, the jumping red figures in the pond was especially interesting to look at but it was a pity that that person’s mind was not on appreciating the fishes. The cool eyes was staring far off at the distant calm waters, turning a blind eye to the beauty.
“Ming Ze.” There was a slightly pleased male voice sounded from behind. Ming Ze held his bun in one hand as a touch off helplessness and frustration crosses his eyes. He threw the steam bun in his hands into the pond nearby. The Kois in the pond gathered in the small area to s.n.a.t.c.h for the food causing the water to spray out and splashed onto the person’s clothes.
“Not on duty today?”
Ming Jian only casually asked and Ming Ze coldly replied, “Just about to go.”
Finis.h.i.+ng, Ming Ze turn around and wanted to walk past the person. Ming Jian had early expected that he will do so, thus he lift his hands to stop the person from leaving.
Ming Jian’s heart had some grievances and unwillingness to resign. To this younger brother, he was truly sincere but he had never gotten a better expression from him. Even after so many years of understanding, Ming Jian knows that when talking to Ming Ze, he needs to speak to point and not any nonsense, thus he bluntly said, “This time during the celebration the Imperial city was heavily guarded and was in an orderly manner. The Emperor was very satisfied and will reward accordingly with one’s contribution. I intend to transfer you to Qian Yang Palace to protect the Emperor closely. Even though there will not be any change in rank, but your future would be better than your current position. If you are not willing to be bound, then you can be the lead of the squad guarding the Palace gates. There is already someone selected for the East Gate but for the rest of the gates, you can choose from it…”
“Not needed.” The ice cold voice interrupted Ming Jian’s words and before Ming Ze could lift his feet to walk away, an obviously hasty and anxious female voice cried out, “Jian-er, don’t listen to his nonsenses.”
Accompanying the low cry was a female around her forties with a well maintain face had deep dimples on which made her seemed like she was always smiling. She was wearing an unsuitable peach blossom colour dress for her age. She came running from the other side of the zig-zag bridge with light steps. When she was in front of the both of them, she faced Ming Jian with a big smile on her face. Ming Jian took a step back and called out lowly, “Aunt s.h.i.+.”
The female have a fawning smile on her face, “Jian-er, don’t care about him. You are the eldest brother, naturally he should listen to your arrangement. Ze-er’s future will be depended on you…”
The female was eagerly speaking and that curry favouring att.i.tude made Ming Ze’s non changing face add many layers of frost over. The female seem not to care about Ming Ze’s frosty att.i.tude and continue to gush, “Ze-er had been working in the Palace for so many years and is long overdue for a promotion. If there is such a good thing like this, you must definitely guide and help him!”
Ming Jian’s brows slightly knitted. It seems that the conversation today cannot be continued. If Aunt s.h.i.+ did not come over, there was still some possibility of him convincing Ming Ze. Now, it would seem that it was impossible. Seeing the veins on Ming Ze’s clenched fists almost bursting, Ming Jian quickly said, “Think about the things that was discussed with you. This is a good opportunity. You must think of your future career.”
“Don’t need you to be so nosey.” Each word seems to be coming out of his teeth. Ming Jian did not not feel bothered and there was still a smile on her lips. As compared to the previous cold indifference, this was also considered another mood right? Haha…
“Ming Ze!” Seeing that Ming Ze’s words becoming more agitated, that female glared at him before turning to Ming Jian and used a gentle voice with somewhat flatteringly, “Jian-er, he has this bad temper. Don’t pick on it. Aunt s.h.i.+ will apologize to you…”
Ming Ze’s face got completely black and with a movement, he leap up and out of Ming Residence. He cannot stay even for a moment in this home.
Zis.h.i.+ (modern timing: 11 pm – 1 am) was over and the surrounding was silent. On the palace roads, there was a team of guards patrolling. when they faced a tall figure approaching, everyone was nervous as they clenched their swords but once they saw who was it, they relaxed. Instead they nodded politely at the dark figure and continued to head forwards without further communication.
That person numbly walking alone was Ming Ze who ran out of the Ming Residence. His duty only starts tomorrow morning and he was here at this moment because… He had nowhere to go. Other sons of aristocratic families will not mix around with a shu (born from a concubine) son like him, other shu sons like him dislike his cold and arrogant att.i.tude and the public dared not befriend him as he was a son from the Ming Residence. It was indeed funny, not only he does not have a family, he did not even have a friend or a place to hang around.
Today he did not drink a drop of win and was abnormally awake thus was acutely aware of how pathetic he was. There was only one reason he could not stay in that home and that reason was – That female. If she was contented with her part, perhaps he would be able to be like the rest of the shu sons, living a humble but carefree life. If she could forsake the Ming family, even it was just both of them, mother and son, and lived a normal ordinary life, it would have been great. Unfortunately what she wanted was wealth, status, ident.i.ty and honour. Her skills other than being calling herself beautiful, was him as her son. It was hilarious that this person was his own mother.
Without him even knowing, he actually walked to Qing Feng Hall. Qing Feng… She was pregnant. What kind of mother will she be? Will she also be like the rest of them who use their own child for that position in the Palace?
There was a light sound from the direction of the side door which interrupted Ming Ze’s thoughts and he turned to his side to blend into the trees at the side of the palace road. The side door was pushed open lightly and a slender figure walked out, carrying a basket in her arms. After observing the surroundings for a while, she then lightly close the door and quickly headed to the other direction of the palace road.
Seeing that physique and appearance, it should be her female official – Fu Ling. It was already this late, where would she be going? The first time when he saw her, she was also running out in the middle of the night. Ming Ze was considering if he should follow her when another figure came out from the side door and cautiously followed behind Fu Ling.
If they were together, why was there a need to leave one after another, unless the female behind was following Fu Ling? What was exactly going on? Thinking about the blood dripping from the sedan, was it possibly hers? Ming Ze pondered for a moment and picked a thumb sized stone and threw it at the female who was following. It hit her pressure points and her entire body stiffen, and she stopped there motionless.
Ming Ze bypa.s.sed the female and saw Fu Ling from afar. Seeing her footsteps getting quicker and her walking further away, the direction she was heading towards was… The Cold Palace?
Indeed, Fu Ling stopped in front of the Cold Palace and lightly knock on that huge door. The door immediately open from inside and Fu Ling quickly entered before the door closed. What was she doing here? Ming Ze gently leap onto the big banyan tree outside the Cold Palace and peered behind the leaves. He was able to see clearly the small courtyard in the Cold Palace. Fu Ling gave the basket in her hands to another palace maid and exchanged some words before leaving in a rush. That palace maid carried the basket and entered the house.
She came to the Cold Palace to give Imperial Concubine Hui some things. This was her own intentions or was it Qing Feng’s orders?
Looking down, Fu Ling came out of the Cold Palace and was about to jog back when Ming Ze leap and landed about three zhang (1 zhang = 10 feet) away, just in front of her.
“Ah!”
Fu Ling was scared by the figure that appeared and gave a soft cry. She even step back several steps. Seeing this person not chasing over and also not moving, Fu Ling’s mind became settled as she looked intently. That person stood under the shade of the tree, with the darkness of the night, she cannot see anything clearly. Fu Ling asked hesitatingly, “Who.. Are you?