8 Brother

Hearing our improvement in our investigation the commander and i were summoned by the empress for discussions. First we planned of arresting and questioning the agents we found in the records and the once supplying the salt.

After discussions i was unable to reach back home because i got caught by the young crown prince. He spoke and made me to speak for hours. However playing games with him was fun. Even the empress joined us on archery. She is a strong women. So we were having a happy family time without my brother or the Emporer. And it was kind of wiered cause whenever i came to the palace i used to see him atleast once.

Then came the news ringingout the whole palace.

A maid came running to the empress who was having an evening tea with us at her garden.

"Your highness! The Emporer fell unconsious!"

As it was usual the empress without panicing stoodup and started to hurry towards the emporer's palace. We followed too. Stupid brother! Why do you make everyone bother?

As we went inside the palace to his highness's bedroom, Commander was there with the royal physician. It seems like brother has fainted while conversing with him.

Brother was laid down on the mattress on the floor(they didnt use beds by that time) still and pale. The physician who was checking his pulse turned towards the empress as soon as we entered and lowered his head in respect.

"What has happened? How is his highness?" She questioned worried.

He spoke unsure." It seems as if his highness was poisened your majesty!"

"What? But how is it possible?" He was speaking the truth. Brother's finger tips looked blue. Small red blisters were there in his arms and his face was too pale.

"Im not sure your majesty. But I checked the food and nothing was wrong. Other than that his majesty has only taken the medicine ive given prepared by my most trusted students."

"Then what's wrong. Treat his majesty!" She said furiously.

The doctor then again started to observe his majesty. Again checking the pulse his face changed. Clouded with fear.

Commander:

"What's wrong?" The empress demanded.

"The pulse is too faint"

"Do something!!!! Do something!" She yelled.

"Imsorry your majesty! Im too late!"the doctor lowered his head as the empress was rushing to the emporer's hands. This is impossible. His highness was talking with me while ago though he was feeble. I must have noticed and called the doctor soon. The empress started to cry to his highness's hands. The crown prince held to the princess's waist who was standing next to me and cried shouting. The princess kept still looking at the emporer.

"Its not too late! How can you say so! His pulse still beats" she said without even winking.

Everyone turned to her as the doctor spoke crying." But we are too late princess. Its too weak!"

"Weak??? But how can you say he is dead!" The empress got furious.

"Get aside!" The princess spoke. The doctor looked at her confused.

"Give me space!" The doctor bowing at her paced away from the emporer.

She then kneeled beside the emoporer as even the empress paced away. She then checked the pulse and checked his highness's blisters and his tongue.

"Bekha and Yeun Rahye, pressure his feet!" As the princess spoke one of the nurses and doctors who were aiding the royal physician few minutes ago bowed and started to do so. She then took out the flute she found that day near the cave from her dress's sleeve. As she pulled its lower part appeared a set of needles. She then started to pin them in his majesties bare chest.

Everyone kept silent looking at what she is doing.

"Someone bring everything in huge amounts what his majesty ate and drank today. Even the medicine."

Even i helped the maids and the nurses's and brought his highness's breakfast, lunch, medicine and some more. Everything was laid behind the princess.

"Someone keep on pressuring his highness's feet and arms. Bekha keep on to the pulse." The nurses hurried massaging as the young doctor checked his highness's pulse. The royal physician stared shocked.

Then she turned to the food and then she took the medicine and a plate of stewed meat and ate few.Then she tried to eat more.

"Princess! Are you sure about what you are doing?" The empress asked worried about the princess too. She nodded.

"But princess if the things are poisoness you have already taken in a huge amount and it might even kill you." The young doctor Bekha spoke worried.but she ignored. What are you doing princess!

"Please think about it again princess? Or let me do it! Its my duty to protect the emporer!!" My voice begged her though im sure nothing can stop her from doing so.

"Keep your duty to yourself Commander!!!! I cant risk anyones life and this is my brother though he is your emporer...My Brother's situation is much more worse. Theres no other option cause we dont have time to test things slowly. But do not let me get uncontious. And dont worry the food isnt poisoness. This is a simple meal. But when you eat things together inside us different reactions may happen between them with the things inside our stomachs. Also if this meal was regular everyday it means this has been effecting the body little by little daily and has damaged severely. The physicians should be aware about the food too." Frowning at the royal physician She then gulped the rest of the food and the medicine leaving nothing in the dishes.

Princess:

The tastes didnt match. So probably this should be the poison. I mean this is a common matter of eating different meat. Then i felt my head too heavy. I felt dizzy. Sweat rolled down my forehead.

"Princess! Please gain concsious!" I felt the commander's hands around my shoulders. The empress rubbed my hands.

I gained my sight. I then started with the pins on my brother.

"Princess! The pulse is weakning again!" Bekha announced.

"Brother! Please fight for yourself. Im asking you to be selfish though i hated it before. Now i love it. Please stay alive!" His eyelids slightly moved and closed tightly.

It was hard to me. My hands were trembling because of the poisoning. Since now i know exactly that this is something caused by internal reactions i know what to do. But i fear if im too late!

"Princess are you sure you are going to pin that point? You taught us that method as the last step!"

Bekha my best student asked.

"Its the only left option as i see now." I said.

"What are you doing princess? You'll kill his highness. That point is used to kill people!" As the royal physician said so everyone got corrupted.

"Now you tried nothing. But ill do everything to save him! And im sorry to know that you only know that the point can kill not save in any situation." I shot him words cause i feel furious at him.

"Princess be careful!" Bekha said calming me down.

I then pinned them in.

"Brother please live!" I grabbed his hands. I have done everything i can. If you stand up right now he will live. Orelse you will never. Tears blended with my sweat.

I closed my eyes.

"Sister!" The emporer's, my only family's.... voice came out making me the happiest ive ever been.

Emporer:

I could faintly hear my sisters voice though nothing said was clear. Im sorry for not looking after you!

I could feel her warm hands on mine. I slightly could open my eyes. A sudden strength ran inside my body. The vision cleared.

"Sister?" She smiled at me her eyes filled with tears. The empress and my little son rushed to me as Huwanuwei gave them space.

"My Empress! My Son!" Empress rubbed my hands as my little son tried to swipe away his tears. I tried to stand up.

The Commander helped me sit.

I love my family!

"Shall i know why you'll were crying?" I asked ignoring the princess, my sister. Did she cry for me?

"Your highness almost died because of the Royal Physician's carelessness." Empress turned a bit angry.

"Please punish me your highness!" The royal physician started to cry. Ignoring him the empress spoke.

"If it wasn't for the princess's sacrifice and skills your highness will no longer be with us!" Did she save me?

"Thank you!" I said without turning to her. I just still cant stand her. She wasnt there for me when father died and after years she appears.

She didnt reply. As i turned she was closing her eyes. Sweat rolled down her forhead. She was pale and her cheeks were no longer rosy. Fear rose within me.

"Sister!!!" She then fainted into my hands. Commander and a young doctor rushed to us. I held her on my arms tight. Please dont happen anything to my little sister! Im sorry!!!!!!

"Sister !!! Princess!!! Wake up.please!!!" She slightly opened her eyes.

"Brother!" Her voice murmered. A current went through me. I love you my sister!!!!!

"Please stay awake!!!!!" Empress pleaded.

"Stay strong just as you are!!" My heart begged.

I felt something wet on my palm holding my sister's shoulder.

"Blood!" My voice trembled." She's wounded." I shouted at the royal physician.

"Brother! Dont worry, .....thats an old wound.....please let me take a rest....Bekha and Yeun Ray knows to treat me.... let them....." after her feeble yet sweet voice spoke she shut her eyes exhaling a deep breath.

"Sister! Wake up!" Imurmered with fear. "Bekha!!!! Who's Bekha!!!!!"

A young physician bowed. "Treat her! Do something!" I let him check her pulse. Then he pinned some needles on her face and removed them.

"Why doesn't she open her eyes?" As i asked Commander replied.

"Your highness! The princess is strong. I saw it at the war. She said that she needs to rest!"

"How dare you speak like that!" He bowed to the ground.

How can he know about mysister! As i raised my voice with anger the young physician spoke.

"Your highness! Her pulse is steady though its weak! What commander says is right! The princess was my teacher. She is stronger than everyone ive seen. Most of the time she tests herself for new treatments cause she doesnt want to risk any other life than herself and she was capable of holding up. Now she swallowed everything to check what has affected your highness risking her own life. A good rest is important.Please let me treat her!" He bowed.

So i calmed down myself and carried her to her palace as the maids announced that its ready.

She has sacrificed herslf forme...but why??? Let me die instead of you!!!!!!

Princess:

My head felt so heavy however i managed to open my eyes and understand where i am.

I was in my palace. The crown prince showed before the war celebrations. I sat up.

"Are you awake!" My brother's cheerful voice spoke. A bowl of water was by his side as i noticed another towel on his hand as the one on my forhead dropped. My brother had eye bages. Have you stayed all night by my side!!!! He looked happy by my recovery. He hugged me tight.

"Im sorry for not looking after you!! Will you forgive me? " His tears wet my collar as mine did his."im sorry too for leaving you brother!" After few minutes of hugging and crying i recomposed myself and gave a smile at my brother.

"How long was i like this?"

"You worried me two days!" He smiled. Then he smooyhly brushed my shoulder.

"How did it happen? Was it at the war??? The doctor said that it made your situation too bad!" He was reffering to my wound on the shoulder.

"Ah! Yes! It was healing little by little.... just a small arrow..... your medicine picks up blood pressure..since i drank it.... it must have...you know...never mind..... now im fine..."

"Do this dummy worth that much for you to sacrifice your life???" He asked worried.

I nodded. He again hugged me.

"Empress told me many things happened in your life.....im sorry for not being with you at those times....."

"But now you are here with me." I patted his shoulder." I love you brother!"

"I love you too my little sister!"

I took a deep breath.

"Brother i want to go for a walk!"

"You should rest! And you havent eaten anything for two days." I swayed my head.

"See! Two days... i cant stay in anymore!! Ill eat something and get dressed so we can have a family talk at the garden!!! I mean a whole family talk!!"  I said excited.

"Fine! My little princess!!! Family time!!! Ill come with the others. They were waiting for you. Specially the Crown Prince!!" We both laughed.

So with the help of maids having a breakfast and the medicine i got dressed and joined my  family  at the royal garden.

Commander:

As i heard that the princess was conscious back again feeling so happy and relieved i ran towards her palace.

But wrong timing .....she was with the royal members...so i turned back to leave.

"Commander!!!" The princess's voiced announced my presence. As i turned even the emporer looked concerned about my presence. I went towards them and bowed." Greetings your highness!"

"What made you come here?" The emporer asked suspiciously though i dont know why.

"I came to give my apology to the princess your highness!"

"For what?" Princess asked.

"The doctor said that it was the wound that made it worse for you princess. And thats all because of me. Princess was wounded because of saving my life. Im sorry princess!"

"Its not your fault! I was a bit careless. I didnt treat my wound properly after coming back because of being busy... and also it was you who treated my wound at the first place keeping me alive!" She gave her usual warm smile.

"Uhmm! So it was not only my fault and im relieved to hear.... however since you have helped her when i wasnt their i ll forgive you for her.." the emporer said sarcastically making the princess laugh with humor. Then the empress joined.

"You both have done your parts it seems.... while your Brother was all night by your side while you were unconscious i was surprised to hear Commander coming to your palace day and night asking the doctors your progress! Now that explains it!" Empress meant more. She squeezed the princess's arm smilling, as the princess changed the topic quickly with the help of the talkative crown prince. I didnt get what she meant and it seems like emporer didnt too.