Emperor's Cunning Wife

Ning Lou's flapping had caused the half of the patio and Xiao Yan's clothes to be damp. Droplets of water also wetted the grasses and rockery, the lotuses dispersed and crowded the edges, and the koi fishes swam deeper from the disturbances.

Water entered her mouth, it slipped into her throat, and occupied her lungs. Her eyelids became heavier; both shoulders seemed to weigh a thousand jin. Under the one-sided oppression, Ning Lou surrendered finally succ.u.mbing to this tragedy.

Ning Lou ah! Ning Lou! The water seemed to have some hostility towards you! I'm tired anyway! Better bring me back! This was her last thought before once again drowning.

Xiao Yan felt the Empress' head was sinking, there was no movement coming from her anymore. There was no more noise except for the intense beating of her heart.

He slowly looked at her hands that took a person's life and trembled. Her hatred replaced by panic and fear. Just then the hatred had consumed her logic, her mind was only shouting to kill! Kill that one that made Xiao Qu suffer!

Xiao Yan gulped and quickly looked at the mess of the place, her limbs started cleaning and erasing any traces to cover the crime that she made. Inside she knew, that no matter how she covered and washed her hands, they were forever be tainted by blood.

Deep in the night, the Soaring Phoenix Palace was in chaos. Lines of eunuchs, maids, and mamas tried to extinguish the fire that was devouring the main room of the Empress. Several guards also helped but as if the water was fuel when thrown into the fire, it only made it more intense, and this greatly made them more anxious.

The ones resting in the Loving Piety Palace and Imperial Study also received the news and quickly came with reinforcements. Some of the concubines and consorts also brought their people. Each carried a sorrowful and anxious mind-set, however the Empress Dowager and Tang mama were both horrified witnessing the blaze, too preoccupied to see who's lamenting at Ning Lou's misfortune.

Don't know if that woman is dead!

Burn her! Burn her! The karma is finally working!

"Why are you so slow?! Quickly put out the fire! Or I'll have your heads!" The old woman shouted at the people whose sweating from the heat. Her eyes were red from tears and anger.

A eunuch came with a wooden bucket brimming with water from a nearby water source and tossed the contents to the fire.

The old woman noticed that the spot where the water landed, only devoured it raged even more

The same thing happened to the others. The old woman finally leaned back to Tang mama, her back soaked with cold sweat despite the temperature rising in the surroundings, she gripped her aching c.h.e.s.t, and helplessness tortured her. Her granddaughter was still inside!

Suddenly her eyes drifted to the Emperor, blame and anger both prominent. The Emperor also stared back before approaching her.

But before he could approach her Grandmother, the old woman strode and strike his face, that slap contain all the strength she could muster, the Emperor paused, and fisted his hands.

Such display of humiliation! The Empress Dowager clearly didn't want to save him some face!

"Send your men inside to rescue Lou'er!"

"Didn't you hear me?!" The old woman exclaimed after the Emperor made no movements.

The ladies present felt the emperor's gloominess and instantly quietened their fake cries.

Consort Han hid her smile behind her handkerchief that was covering her nose from the smoke.

Consort De frowned worried for the Emperor.

The rest had complicated feelings. They already knew the bad relationship between the two, but witnessing it first hand was another matter. If the courtiers of the court had a glimpse of this, words of the Emperor being unfilial would spread.

Just as she was about to raise her hand in attempt to slap him again, a guard with his tattered clothes caused by the embers and fire appeared beside the Emperor whispering something in his ears.

The Emperor nodded and said without looking at the old woman's direction, "She's safe."

Then he left covered in desolation, leaving behind the people in a myriad of emotions.

......

High Priest Zhang clad in grey clothes was currently meditating in his room, rubbing the Buddhist beads in his left hand. Amidst his chants, his temples wrinkled, and the fingers continuously c.a.r.e.s.sing the round beads also stopped, his eyes profound eyes opened and gazed at a certain direction.

Beside him, Abbot He noticing his distraction asked, "Did Mentor see anything?"

But instead of answering, High Priest Zhang stood up and said, "Get a lamp and accompany me in the Purple Star Garden."

This left Abbot He curious, but he nonetheless picked up a lamp and supported the priest along the way to the garden.

The Purple Star Garden was simple full of greens and flowers, bared of any fancy decorations except for a lone bridge on the small lake full of lotuses connecting a gazebo and the dry land.

The only silhouettes in this place were the two of them, as it was the time for the apprentices and other abbots to perform meditation.

High priest Zhang observed the calm lake. He strode and casually rubbed the buddhist beads waiting for something.

Abbot He stood by, observing High Priest Zhang's line of sight.

The wind blew fluttering their robes.

Abbot He leaned closer noticing some bubbles afloat.

"What is that?" Abbot He inquired after some tinge of color soon emerged.

"What! How come there's a body!" he shouted having fully examined it.

High Priest Zhang's figure vanished from the bridge, he appeared again in the lake, feet lightly touching the lotuses, using them to come close to the body.

His fingertips touched the drench cold body.

"Amitabha.." he uttered softly after finding this timely coincidence.