Four Months Ago (Part 4)

"Move aside," the Crown Prince, Xia Zhi Hai demanded. His eyes filled with intense wrath wanted to glare holes into Prince Ping's body. "I'm going to see Yourong."

"Royal brother, you heard the imperial physician just now," Prince Ping said in a low-warning tone. He remained firm in his stance, continuing to block Zhi Hai's way. "My consort is fine," he spoke each word slowly and clearly.

Grasping the meaning of Prince Ping's words, Zhi Hai couldn't stop himself from fiercely grinding his teeth. His anger was almost at boiling point. "Yourong is your consort but she will forever remain my childhood sweetheart," Zhi Hai declared. "No one can stop me from caring about her."

"Do you realize what you're saying about your own brother's consort?" Prince Ping almost barked.

"Crown Prince," adviser Zhou quickly spoke up. He knew if he didn't intervene, the situation would only get out of hand. He cannot let the Crown Prince suffer in any way for something as trivial as today's matter of visiting his daughter. "I'm very content to know my daughter is fine and in good health again. I thank the Crown Prince for accompanying me here today. However, knowing my daughter is well, we should take our leave and allow her rest."

"Advisor Zhou," Zhi Hai was about to protest.

"My daughter Yourong is now a married woman. It is inappropriate for other men to visit her within her bedchambers," adviser Zhou said in a diplomatic way. "We should pay her a proper visit when she invites us to."

"But Yourong is-"

"I do not wish for unnecessary rumours and gossip to spread about my daughter," adviser Zhou stated clearly. "I ask for your highness's understanding. I know Yourong would appreciate this as well."

Zhi Hai gave in. He understood the true meanings behind adviser Zhou's words. There was no benefit to anyone should he force his way to see Yourong today. He knew Prince Ping wouldn't easily allow him to either.

"Xia Qian Ping, you better take good care of Yourong," Zhi Hai warned. Flicking his sleeves to vent some of his anger, he turned to leave.

"Father-in-law," Prince Ping began. He took a step towards adviser Zhou who retreated two steps back.

"I know you will treat my Yourong well. Therefore I'm not worried," adviser Zhou spoke. He gave a light bow towards Prince Ping. "I'll take my leave now. Take care your highness."

Without another glance at Prince Ping, adviser Zhou followed swiftly after Zhi Hai. The two men walked in silence back to their carriage outside Ping Tian Palace. Once they were inside, it was Zhi Hai who broke the quietness.

"Adviser Zhou, you appear to be on good terms with my younger brother, your son-in-law," Zhi Hai spoke in a deriding manner. "You've helped him remind me that Yourong is now Consort Zhou."

"Crown Prince, you should understand that everything I say and do has your best interests at heart," adviser Zhou said. "The situation with Yourong is… Well, it is as it is."

Zhi Hai slammed a fist against the carriages wooden walls. "The situation wouldn't be like this if…if…." He paused, finding it hard to continue. "If I was a more resolute man then Yourong-"

THUD! CRASH!

Both Zhi Hai and adviser Zhou pushed back the fabric covering the window on their carriage and peered out at the source of the noise. They saw four eunuchs pushing a wheel cart full of big boxes coming out of Ping Tian Palace. The heavy weight of the boxes must've caused the wheel cart to topple over. Clothes spilled out everywhere and all four eunuchs were scrambling about trying to pick things up.

"What's going on?" adviser Zhou asked out of curiosity.

One of the eunuchs saw Zhi Hai and immediately shouted for the others to kneel down before the Crown Prince.

"Greetings Crown Prince, this servant is taking these unwanted clothing to burn as instructed by the Consort."

Uninterested, Zhi Hai let down the fabric to cover the window and instructed for the carriage to leave. The second the Crown Prince's carriage left, the four eunuchs worked to restack the boxes back onto the wheel cart.

"3, 2, 1 and let go," one eunuch instructed the other two who were helping him mount a box onto the cart. "Aiyoo. Why is this box so heavy?" He nosily looked at the contents of the box. "A full box of clothes can't be this heavy." He rummaged around a little, randomly tossing some fabrics about.

"Hurry up and help us pick up these clothes," another eunuch shouted at the nosy one. He threw a long dress at the nosy eunuch.

"Alright. Alright," the nosy eunuch said. He was about to throw the long dress into the box when something caught his eyes. He narrowed his vision onto that strange object sticking out from the clothes. [That is…] he tried to figure out what the object was. It was awkwardly bent and thin, with something hard at the tip. The nosy eunuch narrowed his eyes more. [Is… Is that a nail? Then sticking out is….] All of a sudden, sweat like waterfall began to drench the nosy eunuch's face. "F…finger…."

Plop. A mass pile of clothes instantly covered up that strange object. The other eunuch snatched the long dress from the nosy one's hand and threw it into the box. He then slammed the box shut.

"Stop standing there like an idiot and help us," the other eunuch complained.

The nosy eunuch vigorously shook his head. He stared at the closed box, at the spot where he thought he saw a human finger sticking out. [Impossible] he dabbed at the cold sweat on his forehead with his sleeves. [I must've seen wrong….]