Chapter 10

She had arrived at the palace that morning with a half awake Prince Li. They didn't speak much save for the occasional directional inquiry. They had woken up entangled in each other's arms, setting the tone for a rather awkward ride home.

Yin made her way past pavilions back to the east palace amidst a symphony of rustling leaves and distant songbirds. The late afternoon sun had cast long, dappled shadows across the pathway eclipsed by her own as she walked.

She had not been in the palace for close to a week. It was arranged that she was on a supposed visit to her aunt's house, a plausible ruse that served as a cover for her absence.

"Help!" A scream erupted from the nearby lake, the shrill sound piercing the otherwise tranquil atmosphere.

She ran towards the sound, arriving at the scene. Two concubines, their faces contorted with a mix of rage and desperation, clung to another woman suspended over the gaping maw of a stone well. The accused concubine dangled mid-air, her delicate silk robes billowed above the seemingly bottomless abyss that threatened to swallow her whole. Her terrified gasps filled the air, her hands grasping at the empty space.

"Princess." One of the two concubines stopped and bowed her head upon her arrival, teal silk draped on her shoulders. It was Concubine Xi, daughter of a minister. She never spoke too much during breakfast and was known for her rather timid personality, her voice scarcely rising above a whisper. Yin knew that this couldn't have been orchestrated by her.

The other, whose fingers were clutching the hair of her victim, did not acknowledge her presence. Cloaked in mauve chiffon, she was a newcomer to the palace, arriving with an aura of brazen self-assuredness. Her features were sharp, contrasted by a set of doe-like eyes. The juxtaposition made her look sinister, snake-like almost.

"What's going on?" Yin said gently with a raised eyebrow, "Did the harem instate an executioner?"

The newcomer didn't reply.

"Well," Concubine Xi stammered. "This girl is suspected to have stolen Consort Hong's bracelet."

"She stole it." Consort Hong snapped, dunking the girl's head in water yet again. "It's not suspicion, it's the truth."

"I'm sure the evidence found was especially incriminating?" Yin said, looking at the girl whose appearance had been thrown in disarray.

"My words are the evidence," Consort Hong narrowed her eyes. "If I say it's the truth, it simply is."

"Let her go." Yin looked the consort up and down. "We can talk about this over a cup of tea."

"I won't. You can't make me."

"You will have the right to refuse once the heavens appoint you as Princess." Yin smiled sarcastically through gritted teeth. "For now, you can do as I say."

"Consort Hong-"

"You can't tell me to do anything." Consort Hong scoffed.

Yin looked at her, surprised at her impudence. Noblewomen were not often this brazen towards her. She had a sneaking suspicion that there might have been other forces at play, perhaps a dangerously important benefactor, that caused the consort to be so audacious.

"This is pathetic," She continued. "You're stupid brother can't even-"

Her suspicion was replaced with anger. The mention of her brother by the arrogant consort was a piercing note in an otherwise irritating but tolerable conversation. It struck Yin unexpectedly, and before she could temper her reaction, her hand shot out with instinctive speed, delivering a sharp, resounding slap across Consort Hong's cheek.

XXX

"You shouldn't have offended her so."

"I displayed immense self restraint." Yin took a bite of an apple. "I imagined you wouldn't like it if I sent her family their daughter's severed fingers in a box."

She had gone straight to the Empress Dowager's residence after the confrontation, leaving a screaming Consort Hong behind. Due to their small squabble, she was a few minutes late to her arranged meeting where she was to brief her mother on what she had been doing for the past few days at JingLu house.

"Indeed I would not." Empress Dowager poured herself a cup of tea.

"Yin," She sighed. Her mother's voice was gentle, yet stern over the sound of tea hitting the bottom of the cup. "We can't afford to offend these nobles. If we are to engage in war, we'll need her family's funds."

Yin responded with a silent frown.

"Please," Empress Dowager took her hands in hers. "Don't make things harder for Kai."

She could feel the weight of her mothers concern. Kai was no doubt a good emperor, but Yin understood that the responsibility of protecting him rested heavily on her shoulders.

"Alright."

She thought about the slap she had just delivered to Consort Hong and felt the regret wash over her. It was a moment of immaturity and she should have known better to put her personal feelings above the long term stability of her brother's rule. The three of them had come too far for her to ruin it all by offending an influential but annoying consort.

"What about the merchant?" Empress Dowager inquired. "Did you find anything?"

"He died before I could get anything out of him." Yin looked down.

"Died?" She set her teacup down. "Of what?"

"Assassinated. Arrow to the head."

"I see." Empress Dowager pursed her lips in disappointment.

"Prince Li found letters on him." Yin said. "We're having them deciphered."

"Prince Li?" Empress Dowager raised a brow.

"We met by accident." Yin hastily added, not wanting her mother to misunderstand. "His presence was rather unwelcome."

"Of course." She hummed, her voice gentle but laced with a subtle warning. "I trust you know how to handle this intervention of sorts."

"I do."

A maid walked into the room, cradling a tray laden with rice cakes. Their sweet scent filled the air as she set them down on the table.

"He said something rather bizarre before he died though." Yin said after the maid took her leave, helping herself to a rice cake.

"He said something?" Empress Dowager furrowed her brow. "The merchant?"

"He was quite sure that someone was paying us to corner him." Yin said. "He seemed to know who they were as well."

"Did he say who?"

"Not before he..." Yin shifted in her seat. "You know."

The words lingered in the air, suspended like a heavy fog that refused to dissipate. Each syllable seemed to carry its own burden, creating an uneasy silence that settled between them.

"Yin," Empress Dowager said after a long pause. "I want you to be very careful with this situation."

"I know, mother."

"I mean it." She said, with more emphasis this time. "There are so many parties involved in such a delicate matter. One misstep and.."

Empress Dowager trailed off.

"And we go to war." She said, "Not only with the Li, but with our own people."