Chapter 20
Date Published: March 28, 2020
Chapter t.i.tle: What Happens to Those Who Betray Me? (2)
Chapter no. 21
(Qin Zetian's POV)
I thought the travel back home will take eternity because of the uncommon silence, thankfully it didn't. The carriage stopped at the front gates of Qin Clan's Residence. My father stood outside along with my brothers and their worried faces greeted me. The prince motioned for me to step out of the carriage and I did as told. The prince did not bother getting out of his carriage or greeting my father since we know people from the imperial family is not obliged to greet someone lower than their status.
"Greetings your majesty" my father said as he saluted the prince who was kept hidden inside the motionless carriage.
"Hmm. Right prime minister, I hope there won't be any misunderstandings with me sending your daughter home. Treat it as a lucky encounter that this prince has saved her life from the a.s.sa.s.sins. I have another proposal to the Prime minister. Since she is acknowledged by my sister as her closest friend, I would like to bestow two shadow guards to her, this prince hope you won't mind. She was chased by a.s.sa.s.sins late in the evening, I care for the safety of my sister when she accompany her. Thus having trustable aids is fine."
"This subject thanks his highness for his magnanimous offer. This subject will have no disagreements with his highness' arrangements." My father answered politely
"Good to hear. This prince shall take his leave now. Third miss, keep watch the road is rough, be tough." Then the carriage start moving towards the opposite direction of where we came from, so how exactly did he end up helping me?
The prince said I encountered an a.s.sa.s.sination attempt and coincidentally my maid protected someone from the a.s.sa.s.sins. Therefore, there must be a deeper meaning to it and I need to find the answers on my own.
"Let's go inside. Ze'er are you hurt
All of us went inside the manor. My father wanted to talk to me in his office so we went there and I was interrogated. Then he sent a message to someone and asked my statement about the incident. I guess he will likely investigate the matter himself, while he asked the bureau of justice to search for my maid.
My father is a curios man, he even asked me why and how the prince came to my rescue. I narrated what exactly happened back there, but I never told him that I've done embarra.s.sing things; like sitting on someone else's lap. I also hid the truth that I used my sword to save myself. My father then told me to rest back at my courtyard. I purposely pa.s.sed my mother's room, luckily she gave me food and took care of me for a while which made me feel loved, my mother even insisted on letting me sleep in her room so she can take care of me, but I feel awkward.
Then I continued on going back to my courtyard and saw unfamiliar faces.
"Greetings your ladys.h.i.+p"
"You are?"
"With respect to the young miss, we are sent by his highness the second prince here to serve you"
"What are your names?"
"This servant is called Han Yuomei, while this servant's sister is called Han Wan. We are servants from the palace of the empress."
I saw tattoo marks on their necks, too little to notice but I know they must be a member of an organization. I walk ahead and went to the living room, they followed behind me like they were floating on the air. I knew the difference between people who practice higher level of martial arts in comparison with ordinary people. I purposely poured myself a cup of tea and intentionally let the jade gla.s.s fall on the floor. But their hands moved instantly and not a drop of tea was spilled on any surface, be it on my clothes or on the floor. I conclude, that prince is not an ordinary man. He has servants who martial art pract.i.tioners and shadow guards with excellent fighting abilities. But why was he not crowned as the crown prince?
I slowly sat at one of the chairs in the room.
"Why did your master sent you?"
"His highness wanted the princess to be safe wherever she goes and to ensure that his highness a.s.signed shadow guards to people close to the princess." So does he mean it's not for my safety but for the princess? He should have a.s.signed them to her instead. I shook my head and smiled.
"I see. Have you captured Lin Tsu? I suppose she is also involved with the a.s.sa.s.sination. I'd like to pay her a visit"
"We have your ladys.h.i.+p, she is already locked in the dungeons"
"Come and accompany me there"
I brought my sword with me and set to the dungeons. The rotten smell of dried blood and old flesh greeted us. Lin Tsu was chained down. I smiled sweetly as I remember what I always do in the dungeons of the 21st century. Oh how I missed the feeling of killing people. My hand itches to peel someone's skin and let them suffer the torture.