Hua Jing stepped toward Wei Ling, her eyes flickering with curiosity and caution.
Wei Ling bowed deeply as she approached.
"Greetings, Your Highness," he said, his voice low but firm.
Then, with precise movents, he reached into his robe and pulled out a golden paper, holding it out to her.
Hua Jing’s brows furrowed slightly as she accepted it, feeling the smooth texture of the expensive parchnt between her fingertips.
A letter?
From Zhao Yan?
Her mind raced with possibilities as she turned the paper over in her hands.
Why would he send a letter so suddenly?
Why not just send word through Wei Ling?
Wei Ling’s gaze hardened.
"Your Highness," he said in a low, urgent tone, "be discreet. No one else should see this letter. Once you’ve read it, you must burn it imdiately. That is an order from the Crown Prince."
Hua Jing’s fingers tightened around the golden paper.
If Zhao Yan was being this secretive, then whatever was inside must be incredibly important.
She gave a small nod, signaling her understanding.
Wei Ling took a step back, his expression grave.
"The Crown Prince also sends his apologies," he added. "He will not be able to et you in the Back Garden as promised. The explanation is in the letter."
Hua Jing’s lips pressed together, a flicker of concern passing through her chest.
Sothing had happened.
Sothing big.
But what?
She turned her gaze back to Wei Ling, but he lowered his head respectfully.
His job was done—and whatever else she wanted to know, she would have to find out from the letter itself.
And just as swiftly as he had co—
He left.
Hua Jing watched him disappear from the courtyard, his movents swift and precise, like a shadow vanishing into thin air.
The two etiquette instructors, who had been watching the exchange hungrily, had stiffened completely, their expressions riddled with curiosity and suspicion.
They wanted to know what was in the letter.
But they never would.
Hua Jing’s eyes flickered toward them briefly, amusent curling at the edges of her lips.
She could see the fear in their faces now, but more than fear—they were dying to know what she had just received.
So she turned, voice smooth yet cutting.
"These cheap tricks won’t work on ."
She didn’t stop walking, her words floating through the air like a deadly whisper.
"Go tell whoever sent you to co at herself instead of sending puny maidservants to try ."
A sharp silence followed.
The two won’s faces twisted, but they didn’t dare speak.
And then—
Hua Jing’s steps echoed in the hallway, each one firm, deliberate, commanding.
She turned slightly to Xia Lin.
"Throw them out."
Xia Lin’s eyes glead with satisfaction.
"With pleasure, My Lady."
The two instructors gasped sharply, their faces twisting in outrage.
"You—You cannot do this!" Madam Lu shrieked, stepping forward as if she could protest her way back into power.
"We were sent by the Empress herself!" Madam Qiao added, her voice shaking.
"And yet you have already failed her," Hua Jing said without looking back.
The words landed like a slap, cutting through whatever pathetic confidence they had left.
Xia Lin stepped forward, grinning wickedly.
"You heard Her Highness," she said. "Get out."
Madam Qiao huffed angrily, her hands clenching into fists.
"You are making a mistake! This will not—"
She never got to finish her sentence.
Because Xia Lin grabbed her sleeve and dragged her toward the entrance.
Madam Lu shrieked, but Xia Lin’s grip was strong, and she had no patience left for their nonsense.
The other palace maids quickly joined in, pushing and pulling the struggling won out of the courtyard.
The two won yelled and protested, their voices shrieking into the morning air.
But no one listened.
And soon—
The courtyard was silent again.
Hua Jing stood in her room, listening as the last echoes of their voices disappeared beyond the gates.
Then, at last, she turned her attention to the golden paper in her hands.
She exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening slightly.
Whatever was in this letter—
It wasn’t going to be good news.
She moved toward her desk, lighting the small candle on the side before carefully breaking the wax seal.
The parchnt unfolded smoothly, revealing perfectly inked characters—Zhao Yan’s handwriting.
Her breath caught slightly.
It was beautiful, bold yet precise.
But sothing about it felt different.
It was written in a hurry—as if he had little ti to spare, as if every stroke had been done in secrecy.
And then—
Her eyes scanned the words.
The mont she read them—
Her face fell.
"The Emperor is ill. I will not be able to co to you anyti soon."
Hua Jing’s heart clenched.
The Emperor?
Ill?
The timing of this was way too suspicious. It was as if it had been planned before and now the person who was trying to do things in secret was clearly making his moves!
Hua Jing had seen the emperor back at the banquet which he had prepared for them. He looked completely fine but why was it that now he was suddenly sick?
Who was behind all these?
Her mind chunned as she tried to rember back then when they were attacked at the honeymoon place.
The person who had attacked them was so precise and he had wanted Zhao Yan dead.
It seed as if this was a play for power and with the crown prince dead then it will be easy for anyone to help soone ascend the throne or the person behind the scenes wanted to ascend the throne by himself!
None of this looked like a coincidence and if all of this was real then war was eminent.
If everything was like this then she was also in danger and she was wondering about one thing,
Back when they were attacked she had saved the prince and so did that person know that she was the one behind it?
If so, then she had to start preparing as well!
....
In a dark corner sowhere...
Reviews
All reviews (0)