Jade Rain – Chapter 2 (WIP)

The voice of a young woman.
A pause, the person most probably contemplating what to do.
“Forgive this maid trespassing I’ll be coming in”  
Firm steps came and soon the door was opened.
Mother and son stood straight regarding the newcomer, blood flowing from the dead eunuch on the ground.
Lingyin scrutinized the clothing so very familiar to him.
Northern Qi. Qi tribe’s Yin-Yang guards. They wore either black or white clothing depending on their gender, white for males, black for females.
In the future that won’t exist, Qi Liyao modified her guards’s uniform to have similarity and later Lingyin also saw the real ones.
It doesn’t explain why this person would be here, last time Qi Liyao was ambushed the way and only entered the palace with the carriage driver, but that person had injuries and age and didn’t live long. The girl in front of him had neither.
“You are?”
His mother inquired in a tone as indifferent as his on a normal day.
The maid genuinely deferential bowed.
“This maid serves Qi princess Qi Liyao and was tasked with delivering presents to all children in the inner palace.”
Lingyin was certain that this was not a simple maid, her movement gave her away if her clothing hadn’t, she was certainly a well-trained guard.
“After careful consideration our princess chose this plant for you in hope it will delight your health”
A pot with a single stem was placed on the table opposite of the poisonous soup, straight blades of leaves with red lines were sprouting skywards, few bud of unbloomed flowers hung at the top. If Lingyin’s eyes didn’t deceive him, this was Sleeping Dragon Snapper Grass, a rare medical herb that could heal his mother’s condition.
Although joy was in his heart it was suppressed by mistrust and suspicion, he still would not reject. Examining the plant before use could still be done.
“Would Qi princess’ maid be willing to stay with my mother as I go get the guards?”
He didn’t trust her but thought Qi Liyao wouldn’t even at this age, not be as blatant as to just murder his mother.
The older girl looked at him surprised, she would have pretended not to see as long as she wasn’t certain what happened although she suspected, but it really was an assassination attempt.
“This maid is willing”
He nodded before running off. As a child this seemed more naturally than walking swiftly.
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Quickly he returned with guards. Who knows how the female mind worked, but his mother was already conversing with the maid as if they knew each other longer.“What is going on here?”Lingyin tensed up. If this wasn’t the voice of his father.All four people in the courtyard greeted the emperor.A gaggle of concubines and their children were also present there, probably came to ridicule this mother-son pair.The guard reported what happened.The emperor’s face became dark.He quickly ordered the woman and children to be send back and then the guards to inspect carefully and bring him the culprit daring enough.As emperor he naturally was aware enough of his harem’s infighting, but blatant assassination has to be unveiled or it would seem he didn’t care.He made to leave when he noticed that his little guest wasn’t with him.He thought she’d gone back with the others, but seeing her guard stand at the door proved otherwise.The guard bowed when he stepped in as did the maid about to leave.A servant inquired for him where she was going and she replied to draw water for a bath to take the tenseness out of the fragile lady.Was a woman truly fragile if she could stab a man in his face.“Yu mother, your hands are shaking. It must have been terrible. Only holding a testing needle before the man fell on it. But you have to praise your son for having an heroic spirit like the Qing emperor.”It was Qi princess who spoke dissipating the unflattering thoughts he held for his concubine.Gratified the emperor could see how pale this concubine of his was making him pity the trembling her instantly.If only she was neither frail nor did her father make that mistake and she not try to oppose his ruling in regards of her family’s punishment she would not suffer like this.“Move Yu lady into Jade River courtyard”, he ordered after short contemplation before he left the place.