13 TWELVE (1/2)
As days passed, Jiang Xi Yu's mind focused on the important words of Jing Guì Fēi's intention over her. Most of the time she would blankly stare at something, she played with her food, and she got quiet. Her mind builded scenarios on how Jing Guì Fēi would wipe her out from Duan Wang Fu.
”Wang fei, the imperial taiyi is here to give you acupuncture treatment.” Entering Jiang Xi Yu's chamber, Ru Qing distrubed Jiang Xi Yu's mind.
Tilting her head, it took a while for Jiang Xi Yu to come to her senses then gave a nod to Ru Qing.
Ru Ming assisted her to take a comfortable chair in the center of the room while Ru Qing headed out to lead the imperial taiyi to the outer part of the living space of the main chamber.
The imperial taiyi was the one who checked her the very first time at Zhong Jing Palace. The Emperor acknowledged his records and allowed this taiyi to continue the treatment that he suggested.
After checking Jiang Xi Yu's pulse, the taiyi laid out his acupuncture needles. This was the first time Jiang Xi Yu experienced acupuncture treatment. She was worried at the length of the needle. But the taiyi seemed confident and calm.
His fingers worked skillfully looking for the point and when he poked the needle, Jiang Xi Yu felt a slight sting. First needle was nothing, came the second which caused a bit of electric sensation. The third was on her waist and caused Jiang Xi Yu to feel weird on her lower abdomen. The moment the fourth needle pierced her right leg, then she felt a huge stream coming out from her private part below.
***
”Wang ye!”
The scream welcomed Li Fei Long as he was returning from his routine palace assembly. That day he returned a little bit late because Jing Guì Fēi had asked him to pay a visit. Li Fei Long used that moment to confront his own mother for her attempt at the night of the Moon Festival. Their confrontation did not end well therefore Li Fei Long was in an ugly mood by the time he reached Duan Wang Fu.
If the one who screams full of fear if anybody else, Li Fei Long would end up scolding that person away. But it was Ru Qing who kneeled on the ground and cried, kowtow- ing at him.
His heart skipped a beat. Li Fei Long ran inside towards the main chamber where Jiang Xi Yu and him resided. Ignoring Ru Qing who followed him along with Ming He and Qian Chang Xin.
What he feared, actually happened that day.
Li Fei Long growled angrily as he sat on the bed then shook Jiang Xi Yu.
”Wang ye, wang fei is losing a lot of blood. She is bleeding nonstop and according to the senior pozi, wang fei might having a miscarriage.” Ru Ming explained in between her tears.
The word miscarriage hit his mind like a bullet was shot on him. Li Fei Long turned his head and by then he just realized the imperial taiyi was being held by two house guards. He stood and lashed out on the imperial taiyi who was kneeling down with his forehead touching the ground.
”Who did this?! Who made you do this?! She was pregnant and you did not inform this news!” Li Fei Long shouted, horrifying everyone inside the chamber. He pulled the imperial taiyi easily until his feets floated above the ground.
When he faced the imperial taiyi, the face was already blueish. A trace of blood came out on the tip of his mouth. The imperial taiyi already suicide before he channel his anger.
Li Fei Ling threw the body on the ground. Furiously, he looked at the two guards. One had a huge body and was tall, the other one was thin with average height. Both seemed shock that the subject their has been held already suicide before their master can send him for trial. Both guards dropped their knees on the ground in fear.
”Wang ye, nu has sent people to fetch Master Gao.” Xiao Gan Zi gonggong bowed his head. Qian Chang Xin commanded some taijian to move the body of the imperial taiyi out of the chamber.
Li Fei Long stood still in the center of the room with his eyes fixed on the unconscious Jiang Xi Yu. For the first time in his life, he experienced the fear of losing someone. His hands were shaking. His mind was with Jiang Xi Yu.
His wife was with a child and the imperial taiyi never informed them. His fear mixed with anger. He recalled the argument he had with Jing Guì Fēi.
”If I lose her, I will never forgive…” The whisper stopped there. The thick blood smell filled the bedchamber like a slaughterhouse. Jiang Xi Yu's lower body was damp with blood. Obviously the imperial taiyi's plan was to kill both mother and child.
Ming He approached him quietly while some pozi and yahuan were still busy cleaning up the room. ”Wang ye, Qian Chang Xin is inspecting the body. Nu also will investigate the motive.”
”Drag out Ding mama and torture her to get confession. By the time Xi Yu conscious, I want her to see all the perpetrators get the punishment that is worth their crime.” Said Li Fei Long.
Everyone inside the chamber witnessed the tone and aura their master gave. From Li Fei Long's tone, one could be sure he was capable of skinning alive of all the suspects with his own bare hand. His eyes got reddish as a result of his anger. His fist was so tight until his hands turned red.
Ming He nodded then went out. Subsequently, a taijian entered the room and whispered to Xiao Gan Zi gonggong. The latter rounded his eyes then jumped up and stopped next to Li Fei Long.
”The master is here, wang ye.”
”Send him in. Assist him to treat wang fei.” Like a glimmer light, Li Fei Long believed Master Gao could save Jiang Xi Yu.
As confidant of the last Emperor from the previous dynasty, Master Gao lived secluded in a mysterious place. His former title was ambiguous. Majority of the people never believed Master Gao existed. Some folks, who believed Master Gao was a real person, have an opinion that he had been killed along with others close allies of the previous dynasty. As the matter of why The Late Emperor and Emperor Shang Di never put him to death, and even let him to live secluded in an unknown place, never known by the outsider.
As to how Duan Wang Fu turned out to have close connection to Master Gao, that was because The Emperor had Master Gao secretly teach all of four qin wang the base martial arts techniques.
Appraising Xiao Gan Zi gonggong's decision to fetch Master Gao without even waiting for Li Fei Long's arrival, this proved on which side Xiao Gan Zi gonggong put his loyalty.
A taijian led Master Gao in. No courtesy given to Li Fei Long as Master Gao just simply nodded at him and proceeded to the bed and examined Jiang Xi Yu's state.
”Nu had arranged Master Gao to enter from the back of the fu and if Master Gao needed to stay, Nu had prepared a room for Master Gao to rest.” Xiao Gan Zi gonggong whispered to Li Fei Long.
Li Fei Long just nodded and hurried to tag along behind Master Gao.
Master Gao put his point finger on Jiang Xi Yu's wrist. With closed eyes, he pressed his finger there. After a minute passed, he pressed the tip of his thumb under Jiang Xi Yu's nose. Then he checked all puncture marks on Jiang Xi Yu.
”Anyone who did this has expertise in acupuncture. The points he pinned was to abort the womb. If he pierce the last point here, this was to further launch the bleeding process and will result in instant death.” Master Gao pointed on the back of Jiang Xi Yu's right foot.
Quickly dragged herself closer, with teary eyes, Ru Qing opened her mouth. ”Ru Ming and I put an end to that attempt. That taiyi was going to pierce that point but at that time we both were already too astonished with the sudden flow of blood coming out from wang fei.”
”The taiyi intentionally intended to send wang fei to death.” Ru Ming said in shock.
Li Fei Long just kept silent and let Master Wong take out his expertise. His finger pressed some point around Jiang Xi Yu's neck then turned to her low abdomen. After that Master Gao reached out a small ceramic bottle which contained some pills from his animal skinned satchel.
Pouring a few of it, then Master Gao forced the pills into Jiang Xi Yu's mouth. He opened her mouth to check whether the pills had been swallowed or not.
”This drug was made from rare herbs I found on the outside west border. I planted some of it and made it as a drug and proven to effectively stop the internal bleeding.”
The Master kept the rest of the bottle inside his old looking satchel. Master Gao's attitude surprised the servants around them. Casually patted Li Fei Long's shoulder, Master Gao tried to calm Li Fei Long's emotion like they were brothers of a common household.
”This two servants acted fast, they prevented this assassination attempt. Your wife can still be saved. The pregnancy was still in the early stage. The taiyi performed abortion accupunture so immidietaly the baby was gone. But it will not prevent her from bearing sons in the future. ”
”Will she be fine?” The question was asked in a soft voice.
Master Gao pulled back his hand and stood by Li Fei Long's side, looking at the same subject. ”She should be conscious in a couple hours. I will manage her diet for a few days.”
The explanation made Li Fei Long breath in relief. His eyes fixed on the unconscious Jiang Xi Yu. Her face tone gradually back to normal. It seemed like she was in a deep sleep.
***
It was a regular supper at The Grand Chancellor's mansion. The main meals served on the table was personal selection made by The Grand Princess. Each meal always represents each family member's favorite. Han Hong Yuan was still at the border, even so his favorite cuisine was still served.
Han Yao Ying was always the last to take her seat around the table, and The Grand Chancellor and The Grand Princess were always waiting patiently.
”Today I went to the usual jewelry store and everyone along the street has been talking about the imperial taiyi who dare to kill the unborn fetus of Duan Wang Fei. The body of the crook and his family members are hanging in the middle of a public market on the main of Zhuque street. I heard that Duan Qin Wang wants that crook to hang there for a full three days.” Took a seat in front of her parents, right away Han Yao Ying came out with the gossip.
The hot news actually irritated her. First, she was annoyed that Li Fei Long let Jiang Xi Yu have his child that fast. Knowing that fact was good enough to know that Li Fei Long really has his feelings for Jiang Xi Yu. Second was the fact that Jiang Xi Yu survived this assassination plot.
Casually starting the supper, Han Yao Ying let Li Liang Rong put some meat on top of Han Xiu Wen's bowl of rice before putting some of it on top of Han Yao Ying's bowl of rice. If Han Hong Yuan was there, Li Liang Rong would spare some meat for her older first before her.
Both of her parents were not moved by this news. Both have flat expressions, almost like this family did not have any soul inside. Everything needed to be done according to Li Liang Rong's arrangement and Han Xiu Wen would act like a good devoting husband who gave full respect toward his wife.
”The Minister of Justice, who is Jiang Xi Yu's maternal uncle, has to finalize the case in three days. The Emperor granted the Duke of Jiang and his wife to pay a visit to Duan Wang Fu. Duan Qin Wang asked permission to take leave from his official post during this winter and to go to his estate in Luoyang for the rest of winter season.”
Han Xiu Wen added information to his daughter which made Han Yao Ying grow even more annoyed. Li Fei Long that she knew would never dare to leave his official post just for temporary resting. Especially with the current situation where every political side was watching between the qin wang who would be the crown prince.
”Li Fei Long is a person with caution. Even though it seemed like he was letting things off, it does not mean that he is giving up his chance.” A simple warning by Li Liang Rong was said calmly between her casual movement. ”The marriage degree was final. Your eyes and mind need to be focused on Li Qing Feng. The intention is still the same, just different on the ally.”