23. Meeting Mother.

She sat up and subconsciously rubbed the bottom of her nose with her fingers and looked down at the red fluid flowing out her nose.

Her eyes remained fixated as she stared at the bright red fluid staining her fingers and smiled. There was no fear no anger nothing but calm she felt peaceful and clear-headed finally she knew everything.

Well, not everything as she had not regained all her memories but she now knew enough to move forward. Her eyes drifted to the tiny medicine bottle she had placed next to her on the bed and reached out to it. She held it in her other hand and smiled before climbing out of her bed.

She had a lot to do and none of it involved laying in bed longer or feeling sorry for herself. She would have all the time later now she had to come up with a way to handle her brother and this fight for the crown matter.

She took a bath before dressing up and walking out of the room she had been sleepy the previous day but still knew the way around.

Her footsteps were quiet and light as she sauntered out the courtyard and towards the main hall she had seen the previous day. Servants would bow and offer greetings whenever they met which she responded to with a slight bow.

"Young Miss!" she heard a familiar voice yell and looked up at the maidservant from the previous day who was now rushing towards her.

The girl made her feel uneasy with her overflowing enthusiasm and she stared at her expressionlessly as they approached each other.

"I was just coming to get you but it seems you already know the way out. Yesterday you were so sleepy and I thought that you would maybe not have known the way but you still do. That is so cool when I am sleepy I can't even think straight" she rumbled on as they walked towards the main hall.

"Why were you coming to get me, does my brother want to see me?" she inquired after the girl had stopped rumbling. He had told her they would talk she was ready because she also had something to say to him.

"Yes and no he asked me to get you for breakfast" she retorted joyfully not at all feeling how her companion was behaving.

"Is he alone or are there any guests present?" she continued to interrogate not ready for a similar situation like previously when she was embarrassed to occur.

"His mother, she usually doesn't visit and he is the one that visits her in the palace.

This time she decided to come to visit herself I think It is so strange because he doesn't even live in this mansion," she answered happily giving sensitive information about her master.

"Did he sleep here last night?" she asked seeing the girl didn't mind spilling the beans and liked talking a lot.

"No, he just came back this morning and asked us to prepare breakfast before his mother came. What do you think they are talking about?" she asked in a gossipy tone after answering the earlier question.

"Me," she simply retorted just as they got to the garden where two people sat next to each other on a wide table laden with food. She studied the middle-aged well-dressed woman as she slowly approached the duo.

They seemed to notice her and both turned to stare at her as she walked toward them. The woman was very beautiful and looked like an upgraded version of her sister the brothel madam probably why one sister was an imperial concubine and the other runs a brothel.

She gracefully bowed after getting to the table since she was meeting with royalty after all. If it had been yesterday or any day before she would have been interested in meeting this woman but now she was not.

Not after what had happened the previous night and everything she was able to recall. This elegant well-dressed lady sitting before her was no one to her and they both knew it.

She was just put on an act and she wondered why she bothered after leaving her when the emperor had taken her in. It all proved how heartless and vile she was to leave her own child for the glory.

"No need for all that please take a seat" she offered brightly after a few minutes of letting her bow to her and her son while they fed their egos. She felt disgusted as she stared at their pretentious smiles before taking a seat.

Their reunion was quiet and awkward as she answered the questions being asked by the woman with a forced smile.

"Do you have any questions about me?"the woman asked after being satisfied with drilling her for hours.

"None I am good" she retorted after some minutes. She had prepared herself to be more open and accepting when they would meet but still could not let herself depend on the woman.

If anything she had been unreliable and would not help even if she asked for anything.

"Are you sure you don't have to be embarrassed we are family" she tried to insist making her wonder what still made her pretend to care despite the problems the rumors caused.

"I am truly alright brother has been taking care of me and I will ask for anything if need be" she rejected while also praising her brother to show that they had already done enough and she did not need them for anything.

After all, she still had other people who would be of much more help to her. She had plans to visit the old man again today to discuss the attack.

She was still thinking about the old man just as a servant quickly approached them drawing her attention.

She was dressed in the typical pink and green uniform all the servants wore but seemed to have a high position due to the quality of her dress. It was also plausible as she was a bit on the older side meaning she had also served for a longer period.

"Didn't I tell you not to disturb us?" his brother snarled glaring at the trembling servant as she remained on the ground in a low bow.

He was harsh and did not seem to care that the woman was an elder just because he was upset. His mother also did not seem to notice anything strange as she watched on from the sidelines, as both of them stared at the woman in disdain.

"Calm down it must be something serious" his mother stated patting his shoulder with a gentle smile probably relieved at having someone diffuse the situation. It was clear from her delayed response and the tone she used while pretending to be magnanimous.

"What is it?" her brother went on to ask exasperatedly glaring at the trembling innocent servant.

She did not like the way he was treating her given the fact she was just doing her job of informing them of whatever had happened. The woman struggled to get on her feet and kept her head lowered before answering her angry brother.

"The old imperial tutor is here" she reported causing them all to sit up straighter all for different reasons. She didn't know why the rest reacted like that but was worried if he had come because of her.

"Are you sure?" the imperial concubine asked pretending to be calm but betraying her emotions due to her high-pitched tone. Her question was answered a group of well dressed men walked into the courtyard being led by Si Tianci.