Four Months Ago (Part 2)

The next day....

News of Consort Zhou's sudden illness had spread like wildfire throughout Ping Tian Palace. This incident caused the whole of Ping Tian Palace to be on high alert, and a heavy atmosphere hung over the heads of all within its walls. Today was not the day for anyone to make a simple mistake or start trouble. Everyone understood this. Even the normally boisterous Madam Xiong had toned down her officious manner. She kept low key, 'gently' ordering the servants to get on with their work.

"Move faster. Have you lot not eaten today?" Madam Xiong called out to a bunch of servants. She then pointed at some maids taking in the laundry, "you lot as well. Hurry up."

Seeing the incompetence of these servants, Madam Xiong's head began to hurt. Taking in deep breaths to calm herself, her beady eyes scanned around for the next idiot that needed to be disciplined. [I need to make sure everything is done perfectly today. Nothing can go wrong] she thought. [With poor Consort Zhou being ill, I'm afraid the tiniest of mistakes would cause me disaster].

"M-madam Xiong," a timid voice called from behind.

Hearing that squeak-like voice Madam Xiong's massive body naturally turned towards it. Her beady eyes looked down from high above at the little maid from the laundry house. "Speak," she ordered.

"Erm… well… it's like this… Yun…" the little maid stuttered. She was clearly intimidated by Madam Xiong's overbearing presence.

"Stop stuttering and speak properly. What's your name?" Madam Xiong said loudly. "What do you want?"

"My name is Yuyu," Yuyu spoke up a little. "I... I'm worried about Yunyun jie. She's not come back. I think... I think she might've gone missing."

There was silence as Madam Xiong stared intensely down on Yuyu. Her gaze was so fierce that Yuyu felt her body burn. In fact, the hotness coming from Madam Xiong made her a volcano ready to erupt at any second.

[Missing!] Madam Xiong internally fumed. [Missing! On such a day where our masters are in the worst mood ever, you tell me a maid has gone missing!] Her hands formed tight fists. [If this gets out, what will Prince Ping and the Consorts think of me? They'll think I'm incompetent like the rest of you. I may even get severely punished for giving our masters unnecessary trouble. No. I can't let that happen].

Assuming Madam Xiong didn't hear the first time, Yuyu repeated herself more loudly. "Yunyun jie went out on cleaning duty yesterday and hasn't come back. Madam Xiong, Yunyun jie is missin-"

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Madam Xiong suddenly released her usual deafening bellow. It caused Yuyu to fall backwards from fright and the surrounding servants to tremble. [Calm down. I need to calm down. I can't do anything attention seeking today. I'll have to let this stupid maid off]. "Get back to work," she ordered curtly, waving a hand at Yuyu to scram.

"But Yunyun jie is-"

"That maid was dismissed yesterday. She err... She caused trouble for Consort Liu. Now stop being a busybody and get back to work," Madam Xiong blurted out. She held in a content smile at her quick thinking. No one would care for a missing maid. Should anyone question this, she would push the blame onto Consort Liu. At least she wouldn't have to deal with it now. Madam Xiong raised her arm, pointing towards the washing area, "I SAID GET BACK TO WORK."

"Y-yes Madam Xiong," a scared and shocked Yuyu clambered to her feet and ran. She started to wash the clothes whilst holding back some tears. [Yunyun jie….]

Elsewhere in Ping Tian Palace...

The fifth imperial physician now rushed into LiHua Palace with his apprentice. He joined his fellow colleagues outside Consort Zhou's bedchambers. Their conversation had become increasingly intense with the pressure placed upon each one of them. Consort Zhou had fallen ill to the point that she was bedridden. Her condition just aggravated within hours yet she was perfectly fine that same morning.

"I've been studying medicine for thirty-five years and I've not heard of such symptoms," a more elderly physician reported to an anxious Prince Ping. "Consort Zhou describes prickling pains that seems to appear and disappear at random parts of her body. This is simply unheard off."

"We've all taken her pulse and none of us knows what could be causing this," another physician added.

"Check again," Prince Ping demanded, pacing up and down the room. "None of you are leaving until someone heals Yourong."

All physicians timorously looked at one another. They immediately huddled into a circle again, discussing the possibilities.

"Prince Ping," Sixi called, walking into the room. He gave a light bow.

"What is it?"

"The Crown Prince is here," Sixi announced.

Prince Ping's expression darkened. [Why is Xia Zhi Hai here?]