Chapter 3: The Message
[To the Emperor Yang Shun
Greetings to His Royal Highness,
The Osmanthus is on peril. I shall not stand still.
I will keep my word.
Li Zhong He]
A loud bang echoed across the intricately decorated halls of the Imperial Study. Scattered among the tousled items on top of the reading table were a few sheets of blank paper, a stained ink brush, a fine looking inkstone and that pen holder with some high quality ink brushes.
Inside the tightly shut fist of Yang Shun was a letter from the General confirming the report he just received.
Four days ago, Shan Daiyu left the Imperial City for the South; Alone and without a word. He was worried sick that he sent his personal guards to follow her around as soon as she was reported missing.
She just gave birth to her son a few weeks ago to begin with. Not to mention that travelling down the South means almost two days of ride on horseback. She needed to rest for the time being as she had a very sensitive pregnancy that already weakened her body.
Initially, he could not understand her sudden departure. For the longest time, Shan Daiyu's presence inside the Imperial Palace is his only contentment. He could not help feeling upset after realizing her absence. But he collected himself and considered her reasons for leaving without his knowledge. So, the Emperor instructed his trusted aide to investigate on the matter.
Earlier, he received the full report of the people he summoned to follow Shan Daiyu after four days of waiting.
"Reporting to His Majesty, as we continued to track down Lady Shan's movements, we encountered a group of assassins that appeared to have been following her as well. To protect the lady, we planned on slowing them down by taking one after another whilst continuously following her path. Although we successfully finished half of their members, we still could not keep up with their strength in number. So we decided to just follow them and act only if they were to touch Lady Shan. The pursuit lasted until she stopped in front of the gates of General Li's Manor."
"General Li?" he interrupted raising a brow. His uneasiness elevated to another level.
"Yes, Your Highness. After a brief moment, the gates opened for her, and she was welcomed inside by the General himself." Yilan, one of the Emperor's personal guards from the mission answered.
The three guards sensed the abrupt change of the Emperor's mood, thus another man hastily continued,
"The assassins then started to enter the manor and so we followed suit. They took their chance to attack the General but failed to do so as he overpowered them alone with his sword. Before the last unscathed man could be able to strike back, the General warned them to scram or none will be left alive. Moreover, not only did he sensed the presence of the assassins, we also believe he saw through our hiding as he finally declared in a loud voice that he will send a personal message to Your Majesty."
Subsequently dismissing the guards, he was left alone in the Imperial Study again. He was still trying to piece the information together.
'What could have possibly happened for her to finally run to Zhong He's side this time?'
Yang Shun felt lost. Shan Daiyu has never left his side ever since the day she married the Emperor. He truly loved her and respected her so much, even though he knew that she will never return his feelings towards her.
To Shan Daiyu, he is only a monarch who happened to be one of her best friends.
After receiving the letter from Li Zhong He, he was all the more distressed. He knocked hard on the tabletop with all his might, as if trying to disintegrate that piece of paper inside his balled fist. Apparently, his already sleep-deprived self did not help in this situation.
He was breathing in and out trying to calm his nerves when the eunuch announced another arrival for an audience, his aide, Xu Fengtian.
"Fengtian greets His Royal Highness." he cupped his hands and bowed politely. Yang Shun ordered him at ease and asked him to speak without further ado.
"Your Highness, after careful investigation, we have come to the conclusion that someone of the higher position inside the Imperial Palace has been plotting to kill Consort Shan and her child. We have also gathered evidence of her supposed miscarriage that eventually failed. At the moment, we still could not clear the power behind the schemes against Consort Shan because of some information block. But we do have a wild deduction for that person in question…as Your Highness may have already guessed." He seriously said without constriction.
Yang Shun frowned, "I see."
After that, nothing followed out of his mouth. He only nodded and waved his hands off to drive Xu Fengtian out.
"Then I will first take my leave, your Highness."
Xu Fengtian bade him his departure. He could understand that headache the Emperor must be dealing with right now.
Silence engulfed his entire space once more, until…
"hah…!" he scowled before finally bellowing in utter rage "PIECE OF TRASH!!!" and again, everything in front of him turned into a mess.
Is Zhong He the only person she will ever consider? Had he not sacrificed enough for her own happiness?
He felt useless. The woman he yearned to give his love and protection for, above anyone else, has been going through such trouble and yet, he does not even have the slightest idea. In the end, he only overestimated his own ability to protect her.
Then, his last conversation with Shan Daiyu flashed through his mind.
{"Your Majesty, if I were to die one day, will you protect my child?" she nonchalantly asked.}
His eyes widened upon the sudden realization.
'Wait, did she just asked for my help?' thinking of missing his chance to help her, he continued to sulk.
{That time, he only replied "What are you saying? Of course I would. After all, he is a child who will take up my name." Not realizing her true intent for asking that serious question.}
'Wei You…' snapping back to reality, his voice rang in command. "Wei You! Protect him! Protect Daiyu's child!" His worries tripled over.
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