The sly flower and the bored butterfly

A crimson dot

I was told that someone had already told my entourage about my whereabouts. I went back to the my temporary residence since I had no desire to go back to the market. When I reached back, eunuch Su had a somewhat disappointed look. " Why the long face, eunuch Su? Were you hoping that bengong would never return?" He immediately knelt down. " This servant, doesn't dare. It's just..."
" It's just, what? What are you trying to say?" I asked. A'xi took over and started to remove my shoes." He means that he wished your majesty spent more time with his majesty."

　　Head court lady An started massaging my shoulders." At first, we were very panicked. We couldn't find the guards so we immediately came back and tried to think of ways to contact lord Jin. Before we could do that we got news that your majesty was fine, so we calmed down." I nodded my head in response. They handled the situation properly. " Niang niang, what did you do with his majesty?" Eunuch Su eagerly asked. Head court lady An and A'xi glared at him. He understood and left. No one talked any more but I did hope I could talk to him..."

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　　Eunuch Li came to say that his majesty will be dining here. I thanked him for the information and he left. Eunuch Su told some court maids to prepare for the dinner. "Quick, prepare for tonight. Don't make any mistakes in serving his majesty."
" Don't act so surprised." Head court lady An reprimanded Eunuch Su. " It is only natural that huang shang accompanies our empress." Even though she said this, happiness was evident on her face. It's not like his majesty has thrown me in the cold palace and he is visiting me for the first time in decades, why are they so happy?

　　" His majesty, has arrived."
" Chen qi, greets your majesty. May your majesty be well." He sat down and beckoned me to come over. " Are you alright now? You must have been startled earlier."
" Chen qi is fine now." He apologized . " Zhen is truly sorry that you had to go through that." He's apologetic? I laughed. " Well, Chen qi doesn't think it was unfortunate." He looked puzzled. " Why so?" I poured tea for him.
" When Chen qi went to the market, it was very lively. It seemed as if every had good lives." I offered him the tea.

　　" However, after Chen qi got abducted and saw so many people being traded like animals, Chen qis eyes opened." I briefly paused. " Chen qi was not raised in the capital, hence Chen qi thought that Chen qi had seen the suffering of ordinary people. But turns out that the ' ordinary' life Chen qi had would be the most extravagant life style for some people. They are suffering at the hands of the powerful lords of the country." His majesty stood up and went over to the window. I followed his suit. " You are openly criticizing Zhen. Do you have no fear?" He whispered in a cold tone.

　　" Chen qi is not scared." I faced him. " What must be said should be said."
" Stubborn." That was all he said.A'xi called from outside. " Niang Niang, the dinner is ready." I told them to come in and we started eating. I didn't know that something as simple as eating could be so uncomfortable. We ate in uncomfortable silence and he showed no signs of leaving. He broke the silence. " You—aren't you that, why yes you are. Since things have come to this I will extract my revenge you wench."

　　" Zhen heard someone speak such vile words. Was it directed towards you." Is he trying to fluster me? Well that won't work since I have my story ready. I composed my face. A sad face with a drop of disgust. Perfect. " Yes it was, your majesty."
" Why did he say such things?"
" When Chen qi was still a maiden, Chen qi was returning after nursing my grandmother. Unfortunately, Chen qi encountered a storm and got lost." He showed interest. " When Chen qi tried to search for help, Chen qi came across those men."

　　" They wanted to capture chen qi but my fathers men were already on their way. While rescuing me, they injured those evil men. Chen qi didn't know that they were slave traders, neither did Chen qi think that today's incident would happen."
He nodded his head in a satisfied manner. Jin hui ying, your lies are getting smother by the day. His majesty had decided that he was full and started wiping his hands.
" Zhen shall not punish those men immediately." Just as I had predicted. " Zhen suspects that there are more people behind this incident."

　　" Ah, how many guards did you take when going out?" His majesty asked. His question suddenly reminded me of a suspicion. " Chen qi had two guards. They were referred by imperial mother and were well versed in martial arts." Before his majesty could say anything, I continued. " Chen qi actually finds something suspicious."
" What is it?"
" Those guards were excellent at their job. Chen qi thinks it suspicious that some ruffians were able to take them down without any noise."

　　" Do you remember anything else?" He asked. " Chen qi remembers seeing a purple flash before becoming unconscious. And Chen qi remembers feeling a very sharp pain in shoulders." He raised an eyebrow. " Infact, Chen qi had sore shoulders for a while after gaining consciousness." Somehow we had already reached in the inner part of my residence. They had tried to decorate as properly as they could. A bed was set up, there were huge silk curtains hanging from the top. He was already sitting in the bed. He asked me to come close and sit on the bed. He said, " Take off your robes."

　　Does he want to.....? But it's not appropriate. I haven't bathed, washed my face or put on fragrance. No decorum has been followed. Besides I'm not feeling comfortable.
" Huang hou, what are you thinking?" His voice brought me back. " Ah, it's nothing  your majesty." He said again, " Well then, show Zhen the area where you were hurt."
Oh, that is what he meant. I sat down and started loosening the torso of my clothes. There were many layers. I don't know why but my fingers were slower and clumsier than usual. Slowly, I managed to reveal my shoulder.

　　I felt his hands tracing my shoulders. A tingling sensation went down my spine. He was caressing the place where I felt sore. The back of my neck was very hot, but I could feel the cold breeze. My heart was beating loudly. He stopped. " Look at your shoulders." There was a crimson dot on my shoulder. It wasn't there before. " Could this be?" His majesty lifted my robes. " Zhen has not seen this kind of mark before. Zhen will have someone investigate it." A crimson dot. I don't know of any weapon that leaves a crimson imprint.

　　" You must be exhausted. Let's retire for the night." His majesty was standing with his arms spread out. I went ahead and removed his outer robes. Fortunately I had heard plenty about this practice so I was not confused. " Zhen will be sleeping. Good night."
" You should drink a soothing tea, your cheeks are flushed." I felt the temperature rising in my face. I won't be able to sleep peacefully today.

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If anyone is confused then 'Huang  Shang' = ' Lord emperor'. It is used by all the subjects of the emperor including the empress. Only the empress dowager doesn't address the emperor using ' Huang Shang'

' Huang hou'= ' Empress'

Thank you for reading ~~~