Emperor's Cunning Wife

"Xiao Qu, Yan'jie is back. Did you miss me?"

Xiao Yan was hoping to get a response from Xiao Qu, however the latter only remained motionless. Xiao Yan couldn't help but hugged her tighter and rest her head on those little shoulders. Ever since dawn, Xiao Qu never uttered any words and sound. She was like a dead person, an empty shell.

"Xiao Qu….Hic…I save…some….hic…mantous for you." Xiao Yan retrieved the mantous she hid in her clothes and placed them in Xiao Qu's hands. "Come on. Eat now." Xiao Yan wiped the tears with her sleeves, trying her best to stay strong. But no matter how much she tried, just the sight of Xiao Qu's staring into space and the endless wounds that yet to heal crumbled her will in holding on. Although she had seen blood drew on the palace walls but to experience it herself was too much to take.

Biting her lips, she took the mantou in Xiao Qu's motionless hand and tore a portion and brought it on the little girl's mouth instead, her hand obviously shaking from intense emotions.

"Xiao Qu, You need to eat, so you can have energy. Then we can run away. Yan'jie promises I will get you out of here." Xiao Yan said those words between sobs. Her heart filled with guilt, anger, sadness and exhaustion, and there was nowhere to vent, she could only allow the tears fall, each drop streaking Xiao Qu's coarse clothes forming a small stain.

The tears acc.u.mulating in Xiao Yan's eyes blurring her ability to see Xiao Qu's face, so she decided to rub them again and in the midst her eyes widened gazing at the red mark clearly formed like being held by someone with might on Xiao Qu's chin. A breeze on the window came; lifting the curtains letting the light from the sun descent on them, the mark on the chin became more striking.

Xiao Yan went alarmed and dropped the mantou in her hand on the dusty floor. She brought her hand on Xiao Qu's chin to clarify her conjecture. Tracing the shape, she put her thumb and other finger on the two prominent spot and was shocked after finding out the truth

Her head turned around to scan the room of the culprit but was unable to find any figure. Danger hanging on her mind, as she again inspected the mark that was bigger that her own fingers, those clearly belong to man with a larger build.

"Xiao Qu, did someone come in?" Xiao Yan choked imagining a scene where Xiao Qu was molested, she immediately checked if there were any other red marks on the girl's body and was glad that the man only grabbed Xiao Qu's chin. Look likes that man had other intentions. Her eyes gazed on Xiao Qu's face again, she was afraid that someone was aiming for Xiao Qu's life, Xiao Yan dearly prayed that it was only her thinking too much.

She held those cold hands of Xiao Qu and rubbed them to transfer some warmth. Her eyes turned grim but within those deep pools firm resolution appeared.

I will get you out whatever it takes. This is what I owe you.

Too bad for Xiao Yan for she never knew that between the gaps of her dilapidated room, a shadow was watching her every moves, it eyes like hawk gazed at the little girl with foreboding intentions.

"Are you sure?" The mama asked wanting to confirm is she saw and hear it right.

The other person nodded, eagerness to please the person in front of her can be seen on her visage.

The person who received the information frowned but nonetheless still fished out a pouch full of coins and tossed it to the informer.

"As agreed, here is your reward." The mama had a bewildered expression when she handed the payment, however there was still a hidden delight in her heart when she thought of the other things this trip had gained. Her master would be happy if she heard this information.

"Thank you Mama. Just leave it to me. I will be your eyes and ears in this place." The other mama expressed her thanks, her hands itching for the gold coins inside the pouch. Her eyes filled with greed as her hand stroke her reward.

"Remember, we never met today." The mama spoke threat laced every word she uttered with emphasis.

"Aiyo. Where am I? Why am I doing here?" The other person bowed and turned around while exclaiming those fake remarks.

The old mama brushed her sleeves and dusted the non-existent dirt on her decent clothes. The expression of disgust she purposely hidden resurfaced. Such a insignificant place, for her to come personally!