Gratitude and favours

Eunuch Su stood respectfully beside the carriage in front of the mansion, bowing his head as he addressed Princess Xuan Cheng. "Your Highness, you have a heart of gold. I don't know if it's a coincidence, but we know the sky kept pouring all night."

Xuan Cheng responded with a light-hearted laugh. "Obviously a coincidence, I can't predict the weather."

She then suggested, "Well, the road must be muddy and messy. Why don't you wait and go back tomorrow?" Xuan Cheng glanced briefly at Huan, who stood near the wide wooden gate. Behind Huan, two bronze maids held wooden trays covered by yellow drapes.

Eunuch Su regretfully replied, "I wish we could stay for a few days and be freeloaders, however, our duty calls us back," His eyes focused on the ground.

Huan gracefully approached him with the two maids and removed the drapes, revealing the meticulously crafted boxes beneath. The intricate blue paint and detailed carvings added a distinct charm to the boxes.

The eunuchs, utterly surprised, widened their eyes and exchanged bewildered glances as they lifted their gazes. They watched in astonishment as the events unfolded.

Huan clarified the purpose of the boxes, saying, "Her Highness is awarding you with her precious medicines. She hopes that you won't need them at all, but in case you do, please make good use of them." The maids began distributing the boxes to each eunuch, who received them with a sense of gratitude and amazement.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" the eunuchs bowed continuously, their gratitude overflowing as they received the treasures that had, until a short while ago, been beyond their wildest dreams. They cherished the gifts as if they were now in their humble possession.

Eunuch Su, filled with sincere appreciation, spoke directly to the princess who stood a couple of meters away. "Your Highness, we shall never forget your kindness." She nodded in acknowledgment.

"There is a note inside, detailing which medicine to use for various conditions. Please be careful. Her Highness has granted you premium tokens for the Du Yi Pharmacy. There is also a branch in the capital city, so you can use it when you need it."

"The Du Yi Pharmacy? It's rare for people to possess their premium tokens. I can only imagine the effort Her Highness went through to obtain these for us. I thank Your Highness from the bottom of my heart for bestowing us with such a treasure," Eunuch Su expressed his gratitude, his smile reflecting his astonishment.

Xuan Cheng, in response, chuckled and said, "Well, it's quite surprising that people from the Imperial Palace know about it." The exchange revealed the depth of her generosity and the rarity of such tokens, leaving the eunuchs truly humbled by her kindness.

Pride swelled within her chest. She had laboured tirelessly, day and night, to build a small business empire of her own, all without a prominent backer or significant support. Despite her remarkable achievements, you would never detect a trace of arrogance on her face. Staying humble had been the secret to her enduring success.

.....

-Secret Adobe- 

"Prince Zhao Ming, you deserve capital punishment for deceiving the emperor, you two-faced scoundrel!" His aunt cursed him as soon as he came into her sight.

He allowed a sly smirk to grace his face as he placed his hat and cape in the lobby and strode towards the prison. Standing before the cold, unyielding bars, he locked eyes with the woman, who was desperately trying to find solid ground just inches from her dangling toes.

"How dare you! A wretch has the audacity to address His Highness in such a manner! Control yourself, or I will not hesitate to employ every instrument at my disposal tonight," Officer Peng bellowed, his words flowing like molten lava.

Sensing someone's gaze upon him, he turned his head to the prince, who discreetly signaled for him to remain composed and allow the prince to handle the situation. Officer Peng respectfully retreated with a bow.

"Why must you continue to subject me to this torment when I've already provided my testimony? Even the most heinous criminals in our dynasty are afforded food and clothing," she growled, her intent palpable as she strained against her restraints, as if harboring a wolf's desire to leap at the prince and tear into his flesh.

"Well, that doesn't absolve you from your debts," Prince Zhao Ming declared in a menacing tone.

"What debts?" the woman lifted her head, her eyes widening, her frame trembling from a combination of hunger and exhaustion.

"Debts of Karma!" Zhao Ming's voice reverberated through the basement, jolting her with its intensity.

"What are you talking about? I am your aunt! How dare you punish me, and that too, unlawfully! I watched you grow up! You... you wretched child!" she groaned, breaking into a painful sob, her state akin to a lifeless rat hung there, awaiting to be devoured by his pet cat.

"My father could wrong his innocent aunt despite being a filial man and a magnanimous ruler. Why can't I? The indolent, cruel prince can do it when you are nothing more than a criminal and a traitor."

"I may be a criminal, indeed... but how dare you label me a traitor based solely on your words...!" the woman articulated.

Prince Zhao Ming sneered and exchanged glances with Officer Peng, who promptly set up a chair for him. With an elegant flip of his raven-colored attire, he seated himself with unwavering poise.

"No need to feign ignorance... Why do you think there's been no war at the northern border ever since I returned? My grandfather couldn't put an end to it even after the peace treaty was signed. He grappled with maintaining peace and harmony, one disaster after another looming over our empire.

His Majesty, my father, believed it was the northern people who were too unreliable, failing to honor their commitments and meet the terms. Little did he know that the real threat lay among those closest to him, undermining his empire from within, turning it into a hollow, decaying, and desolate shell... his very own sister aiding the enemies.

Still not comprehending...?

Huh?

I already know who was responsible for the assassination of Xiu, the Union of Tribes leader. Are you still pretending?" He rose from his seat and paced closer to the bars, casting her a withering glare, his voice conveying only a fraction of the anger he harbored.

"You have no proof!" she shouted, her anger causing her mouth to foam.

"How do you know I don't?" His voice turned chilling and ominous. "Your words and actions have only further confirmed that you were the mastermind. I had the slightest doubt when Xiu's daughter sent me her testimony. She mentioned that her father was killed by a group of men with a peculiar mark on their necks, resembling a sword and a moon. I knew only one such cult, the Dead Knights. That was all I needed to start my investigation. The evidence pointed consistently to your husband, who was once a part of that cult in the early years of his career, even though he had died before the assassination."

He paused, his gaze unwavering. "Unless, I uncovered that my dear aunt, a princess of this Empire, had maintained a private troop, which obviously turned out to be the Dead Knights. It was a bitter truth to accept until I delved into more cases of your cruelty against the people of this Empire. It all began to make sense. When I dug deeper, I found there wasn't a single reprehensible act you hadn't committed. Trading opium, western weapons, and people. Theft, looting, embezzlement, murder... woman, you even spared not your own kind. You sold girls to barbarians, killed children in the womb, and tortured the elderly. Your sinister schemes are now fully exposed, dear aunt!"

Zhao Ming's anger raged as he continued, "You claimed I couldn't punish you... huh. I see my actions as a final favour, given that you are of my blood. I fear that if my father or my brother discover your true nature, they may forget who you are. Be thankful to me. Just meet your end."

With these harsh words, Zhao Ming turned his back on her, striding away to another room, leaving her bewildered and dumbfounded. However, she soon noticed another dozen pieces of torture equipment brought by Officer Jiang and his subordinates; only then did she realise it was going to be her last day. 

In the next cell, the cousin wailed and pleaded for the aunt to be spared, but they all turned a deaf ear to her, and she feared that she might suffer the same torturous death. 

"Your Highness, we have a lead, Duyi Pharmacy has a connection with the poison master, as it is through them that the medicines were distributed to the people during the plague." Officer Peng informed him. 

Prince Ming's eyes lit up and he headed straight to the said place. He wanted to get rid of this responsibility as soon as possible.