LoT Phoenix 1

Chapter 171: Eastern Palace Imprisonment

The night is young and the stars shine in the sky. A gust blows through the trees and you feel the cold stinging your skin. Shi Lian walks over and puts a cloak on you. Under normal circumstances, she would have scolded you for not looking after yourself. But tonight she can see that you have a lot on your mind, and so she quietly stands by you.

Xiu Ying: Shi Lian, do you like the palace?

Shi Lian: Yes, because you are here, my Lady. But I didn't like it during the two years when you were gone...

Her voice reverberates through you. You smile and pinch her cheek, but also feel a little sad about what she said.

Xiu Ying: Silly girl. Thank you for always being here for me.

Shi Lian: I will be by your side forever, my Lady.

You and Shi Lian lean on each other in the hallway. The two of you have grown closer.

Shi Lian: [Stands straight and pulls you behind her] My Lady, I think I see a ghost...

Xiu Ying: [Laughs] Can't be. Probably someone with great qinggong skills?

Just as you finish talking, the shadow lands in front of you. You take a closer look to see that it's someone you know.

Shadow: [Cold] My Lady, the Fourth Prince is being held in the Eastern Palace by His Majesty. Do you know about this?

The Shadow comes and goes, but he is very careful inside the palace. However, he came straight to you, disregarding palace rules. Yin Zhen must be in a precarious situation.

Xiu Ying: [Surprised] What? Held in Eastern Palace?

Shadow: I guess you don't know, then, my Lady.

Xiu Ying: What happened?

Shadow: I do not know. I came to see if you know anything, and I would like to ask you to come with me.

He is courteous but cold. Upon hearing he wants to take you, Shi Lian gets angry and speaks up.

Shi Lian: Who are you? Not only did you not greet her, you are also being very rude! Lord Fu is nearby and he will be here instantly if I call out to him.

Shadow: [Scoffs] Fu Heng? I guess it's not easy to ask you to come, my Lady.

Xiu Ying: Shi Lian, he's with the Fourth Prince. It's alright.

Shi Lian manages to stay calm but still stands by your side, in case the Shadow does something unexpected.

Xiu Ying: [Looks at Shadow] Do you want to take me to the Fourth Prince?

Shadow: He is not allowed to have visitors. I would like you to ask His Majesty for mercy.

You think about the Emperor's aura and his gaze, and find it a little difficult. The Emperor might not even see you, but you can't do nothing about Yin Zhen. You suddenly think of something right before you are about to leave with the Shadow.

Xiu Ying: Did the Fourth Prince meet with His Majesty today in the Hall of Mental Cultivation?

Shadow: Yes, my Lady. How did you know?

Xiu Ying: [Defeated] In that case, I don't think I can go see His Majesty.

You remember that Yin Zhen said he would interfere if the Emperor wanted to include you in the royal Family. And you think his house arrest is probably related to that. The Emperor is angry partially because of you, so if you go see him now, it might put Yin Zhen in more danger.

Shadow: [Realizes something] My Lady, do you mean that his house arrest has something to do with you?

Xiu Ying: [Nods] I am afraid so. His Majesty wanted to include me in the royal family, but the Fourth Prince knew that I did not want that to happen, so he tried to help me. Maybe that is why His Majesty is angry.

Shadow: If it's just that, His Majesty might not have been too angry. I'm afraid maybe it's something he said.

The Shadow looks at you with something in his eyes. It looks like he wants to tell you something, but he's holding Back. You do not notice the change because you are too busy blaming yourself. You sigh after worrying about this for a moment.

Xiu Ying: I wonder how he is. Can you visit the Fourth Prince?

Shadow: No, but we can communicate by writing. However, he doesn't want to say anything right now, so that is why I am here.

Xiu Ying: If so, I will write a letter. Please bring it to him for me.

Shadow: [Nods] I will. But I cannot stay for long, so please write the letter quickly.

You wrote to Yin Zhen to see if there was anything you can do to help him. But it's been two days and he has not written back. You also can't find the Shadow, so you have no idea what's going on.

Xiu Ying: (Did Yin Zhen not get my letter? Did something happen?)

You are worried and unable to sleep for two days in a row. You take a stroll to clear your mind, and end up at the Eastern Palace without thinking. The Eastern Palace is quiet and under heave guard. Maybe you can talk to them and see if you can find any information. You pretend to be looking at the plum flower and walk slowly. Pretty soon the guards notice you.

Guard A: Who are you and why are you loitering here? Leave at once!

Guard B: This is the Ping Le Infante! My Lady, he is new. Please forgive him.

Xiu Ying: It's alright. There is nothing wrong with not recognizing me. Why is this place under such heavy guard?

Guard B: My Lady, His Majesty ordered us to guard this place. Please leave quickly and don't make this difficult for us.

The Shadow is standing in the yard and hears the commotion. He takes a step forward, but then thinks of something and turns to the Prince's bedroom. The door is closed and the box of food is still where the Shadow left it. It has not been opened.

Shadow: [Knocks on door] My Lord, the box is from her. Why are you not reading her letter?

A low voice rings out from behind the door after a period of silence.

Yin Zhen: I can't... I might not be able to control my emotions if I do.

The Eastern Palace is under heavy guard. You can't get close and can't get any information. The only thing you can do it turn back. You happen to see a familiar figure just up ahead. You catch up and call out to him.

Xiu Ying: What a coincidence, Lord Fu.

He turns around and sees a smiling woman. He smiles as well, but he immediately knows why you are here.

Fu Heng: You... went to the Eastern Palace?

Xiu Ying: [Touches your nose] Yes...

Fu Heng: The Prince is under house arrest there, under the order of His Majesty. Don't go near it or you might get in trouble. His majesty is extremely angry this time, and you shouldn't try to help the Prince, either.

Xiu Ying: His Majesty is angry? What did the Prince do?

If Yin Zhen was only asking the Emperor to exclude you, the Emperor should not have been this angry. But there might be something more that you don't know.

Fu Heng: [Shakes head] I don't know what the Prince said in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but His Majesty was so angry that he smashed all the vases. I have never seen his Majesty like that.

You are equally surprised as Fu Heng. When the Emperor gets angry, he usually just tosses the reports to the ground, and has never broken anything to vent his anger. But he did this time.

Xiu Ying: (Yin Zhen, what did you say to him?)