Upset the Heavens- 9

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I bowed deeper. "Y-Your Majesty! I have committed a crime! Please punish me!" I cried.

"What is this crime you have committed? Be clear!" He demanded. I shuddered. I stayed silent for a moment.

"Your highness, I have been cultivating in secrecy! Therefore, I have lied to his Majesty, I have committed a terrible crime!" I said. The 1st concubine quickly stood angered. She pointed her trembling hand at me.

"This girl! You dare continue to lie! You have been caught practicing dark magic and dare cover it up! Do you hate yourself!" She yelled. I bowed deeper.

"I dare not lie! What I say is the truth! If you must. I shall allow you to check!" I retorted. I heard a loud slam and quickly kept quiet.

"Enough! 1st concubine, you must control yourself! Someone call a practitioner, we must see if this girl is telling the truth!" The King roared. Quickly the guards bowed and left to summon one.

I couldn't help but grow uneasy, What if I had thought wrong? And the rock that had hit me this morning, did not raise my chi?? I quickly took another bow.

"Your Majesty is wise-"

"4th prince has arrived!" the booming voice interrupted me. I couldn't help but panic. It seems like many things in the story have changed from before. The room went silent as I only heard the footsteps of the prince. Either way, he would be my only hope now, I must rely on him! Suddenly, I heard something shatter. I flinched but remained bowing.

"You!- " the King yelled. "Your mother should know not to bring such a disruptive girl as a lady-in-training!"

'What to do what to do… quick!' An idea suddenly popped into my head. I quickly scampered in front of the 4th prince. I went on my knees and bowed deeper, my hands on the floor. I heard whispers echo throughout the room.

'If anything happens to the 4th prince, my peaceful life plan would be over!'

"Y-Your Majesty!! Please contain your anger against the 4th Prince and The Queen! It is I who hid this from them, if you must, punish me!" I exclaimed.

"You!!" The king was about to yell once more but began coughing. Quickly, the 1st consort rushed up to him.

"My king!" she cried. "Summon the Royal Physician!"

The king waved her off.

"I am fine, hurry and find someone who can read this girl's chi, if she is lying, she and her made will be killed!" He said. I couldn't help but gulp. I could only pray that my guess was right.

*

I stood behind her shocked. She had just opposed the king on my behalf?!? I quickly fixed my expression before glancing down at her. Her eyes were still focused on the ground. As beads of sweat collected at her temple. My hands twitched slightly, I had a sudden urge to protect her there and then, but I knew this was not the place. I clenched my jaw tightly and remained standing.

"Your highness! we have brought a practitioner for the girl." A maid quickly rush in and said. The king nodded.

"Alright. Take the girl to be examined!" The king ordered. I watched as she struggled to stand, curtly bowing towards the king before turning around. I bowed towards the king and the 1st concubine before following closely behind her she was swaying from side to side. Subconsciously, I placed my arms out at her sides. Incase she toppled over. Suddenly, she turned around abruptly, smacking herself into my chest before falling backward. I quickly outstretched my arm, catching her as she fell.

She was looking at me shocked, her dark eyes widened as she parted her lips and gasped. I stared at her for a moment, taking the chance to steal a glance up close. She had soft rounded cheeks with plump lips, her eyebrows furrowed and eyes turned into a look of confusion as she stared back at me.

'Beautiful…' I thought to myself. Seeing my unwillingness to move, she quickly pulled herself out of my arms and bowed. I couldn't help but miss the feeling of her body pressed against my own.

"M-My deepest apologize 4th prince! I was reckless, it shall not happen again!" she quickly rushed out. I hummed in response before turning to walk away. I took a different path towards the room where she would be read, feeling disappointed as I remembered her words.

*

Arriving at the room, I quickly rushed inside to get the process over with.

'Whether I die or live, my life is not my own anymore!' I sighed disappointingly. I sat down and did as instructed, I laid out my palm as the physician read it. I looked down, prepared for the bad news when suddenly, the physician screamed, I winced and pulled my arm back.

"W-why are you-" as soon as I spoke, the physician quickly kneeled and bowed towards me. The maids and servants in the room quickly grew shocked as well.

'What was going on!?!'

Without being told what was going on, the physician quickly pointed towards all the maids in the room.

"You!- you idiots!! Bow quickly before you upset the heavens!" He yelled. My eyes went wide.

"What!? What do you mean?" I asked. Instead of a response, the physician pointed to the maids again.

"Quickly!! Change her clothes and bring her back to the king!!" He ordered. Confused, they all bowed but obliged none the less. Before I could ask another question, I was rushed off to be changed and bathed.

'What on earth was happening?!?'

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(Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter)