Why flowers wither {Completed}

Darkness envelopes

Yoo hwa's POV.

We met them by the pound which was at the centre of several verandas for events.
The very thought of they were by the pound was too alarming and all the maids were on the floor crying.

"What is this, what are you crying for?"
She beseeched.

Eun bi and Ji ae who were in the pond came into view.

"Your highness"
"Your highness" Eun bi shook him with her trembling body.
Ji ae was kneeling in the pond, the water was up to her chest.

"Aga(baby)! Aga!"
Yeon woo took the few steps down the pond, and i followed.
"Give me my child"
She forced him out of Eun bi's hold.
"What is wrong with him?"
His face was white and still.
"Is he asleep?" She asked.
"Aga? Aga"
"He is not waking up"
Warm tears escaped my eyes, watching them in this state.
"Unni, what is wrong with my baby?"
"Has he left his mother as they say?"

"No..he hasn't"
"I think he is sick, let's take him for a check up"

***********
After Yeon woo's family came we were able to take the Prince from her to prepare for his funeral tomorrow, i am afraid something has happened to her seeing that she still hasn't accepted the Prince's passing.
I made my way to see his Majesty, i can't start to imagine the anguish he is in to loose two children on the same day.
Prince Chin mae and the Commander were with him and they stood up to leave when i made entry.
His Majesty wasn't wearing his robe and his eyes were red but i don't think he was crying.
I sat beside him.

"Your Majesty, Yeon woo..i think she will be fine after a few days but i don't think she can attend the..the funeral"
He shifted his attention to me.

"Alright"

I drew my hand forward to hold his.
"Your Majesty"
"Should i bring Young soo to you?"

"I wanted to ask too, where is he?"

"He is asleep with Doha but you can carry h.."

"Your Majesties, it is urgent"
Sounds like the Court minister.
"Consort Ji ae is making a scene close to the pond with a dagger, she vows to end her life if anyone approaches her"
"I think she intends to drown herself"
His Majesty was out before he could finish and i followed.
She was standing in the icy pond, waving the dagger.

"Don't come close"

"Your highness"
Her attendants cried not noticing our presence.

"Their Majesties have arrived"
His Majesty made his way directly down the small steps and she lowered the dagger from sight.

"What are you doing?"
"Give it to me"
She did as she was told slowly turning it to her direction.

"Leave all of you"
I ordered, and even the Commander and Court minister stepped back and i turned my full attention to them.

"You are suppose to humbly await your punishment, why are you here acting cowardly?"
"Or as a parent i don't have the right to punish you in my own way?"

"Your Majesty, i did wrong, i really didn't intend to hurt him"
She knelt in front of him.
'Even though the maids reported it was during her fight with Eun bi to take the Prince from her that he fell it still doesn't change the fact that she stood by the pond with a thought as deadly as that'
"Your Majesty is not suppose to forgive me but please your Majesty, have mercy on me and my family"
"No, i don't care what happens to me but please don't put my family to death"
"I really didn't intend to hurt him, i am sorry, i did wrong"

"Do you know what it means when people say ' No parent should bury their own child'? "
"Are you saying we should burden the pain while you want no share of it?"

"No i wouldn't be sham.."

"So wait for your punishment"
He turned to leave but she held his legs.

"Your Majesty, if you do this it will only cause you more pain"
'Does she mean to say she means so much to him?'
I waved my hand for the Commander.
"Just know i am really sorry, your Majesty"
She finished.

"Commander, you can take her away, lock her up in a safe place where she wouldn't have any funny thoughts"
His Majesty was now out of the water.

"The prison you mean?"the Commander hesitantly asked.
'She just had a miscarriage so she wouldn't survive there'

"A safe room for now"

**********
~A few days after the funeral~

I made my way to Ji ae's execution ground to confirm he report i received.
'Does his Majesty really intend to execute her?'
'No, there has to be an explanation'

The execution ground was almost empty, she was kneeling on the brown mat with a white gown, i have never seen her look so plain and miserable even though she has little makeup on her face.

"Your Majesty, it is good you are here, your Majesty should announce her execution" the Court minister said with remorse.

"Did his Majesty really write this?"
He shook his head in affirmation.

"Yes"
'I never thought his majesty could when he was quiet fond of her'

I moved to stand close to her and unlike other days which when ever she looked at me there has to be so many emotions on her face, today her face was empty of any, she was just simply staring at me.

"The Royal edict has arrived therefore hear and obey"
"Firstly, i retract my Royal edict that makes Ji ae a Consort and i strip her of all her previous responsibilities"
'Is this part just a formality? 'Because i see no point to it?'
"Ahn Ji ae has committed the High treason of killing a Royal blood, the first Prince and future Crown Prince of this nation, Even though it has been reported to have been a mistake she will still be executed for the intent"
'Meaning she is not being charged with treason, his Majesty intends to spare her family'
"Her father will turn over all his wealth to the national treasury"
'It is good she is the only child to her parents'
I kept the scroll aside to announce my punishment to Yeon woo and Ji ae's attendants.
"All the maids and Eunuchs attending to Consort Yeon woo and Ji ae on that day will be stroked a hundred times and moved down to the lowest of ranks"
'That will be sweeping and washing all their lives, even though the Queen dowager suggests i maim one of their eyes and ears and throw them out, i can not pass a verdict like that because that cruelty is worst than death and further more, on the subjects who have hope i will have mercy on them.
She can call it being soft but even Ji ae doesn't follow her ways'
'I wonder what is taking the Queen dowager so long'
"You can go on" i ordered.

She picked the bowl of poison up.
"Your Majesty" she lifted her lids up slowly.
"Your Majesty i would to thank you for protecting me at that camp and for standing up for me during those times"
"I..well.."
"This should be our Goodbye your Majesty"she smiled weakly.
I turned my face up to the side to restrain the tears fighting their way out.
'Only if things didn't turn out this way'
She placed the bowl between her lips and drank.
I restrained myself from trashing the bowl from her hands.

Just then the Queen dowager screamed from behind.
"Aga! Aga! Ji ae don't"
She was with Ji ae's mother who was held at the entrance.
They came too late because the bowl was already empty.
"Your highness"
Queen dowager fell on the mat beside her.
"Your highness" she held Ji ae's arms and shook her.
"You will be fine right? You didn't take it right?"

She leaned in on her shoulder.
"Aunt(Queen dowager) i am sorry"

"Let me see my child please! Please let me see my child"
The screams of Ji ae's mother could be heard.

Ji ae spurted blood all over Queen dowager's clothes.
I knelt down alarmed.

"Your highnes"
'Is she really dying?'
Her eyes closed.
"Stay with me child, stay with me, your mother is waiting"

Her eyes made a final flutter then her head faced down to the Queen dowager's direction and her hand went limp to her side.