The sly flower and the bored butterfly

Stories of the market

 
' Is that her?' I asked A'xi while looking at a group of soldiers led by a general. A'xi gave me a brief nod. ' Go back to the palace. Tell them I am resting and won't see anyone. If something happens then tell them you don't know anything.' She nodded and left me. I will be leaving this wretched place after so many days!!! After a while General Liu and her soldiers reached where I was hiding. I looked around to make sure no one was looking at me and joined the group.

　　I was wearing soldiers uniform so it was easy to blend in the group. Since, General Liu is a close aid of his majesty the guards don't inspect her strictly. It was easy getting out of the palace.

　　Once I got out of the palace, I discreetly left the group and headed for Jin mansion. I didn't tell General Liu anything about my plans. Though she is nice she may tell the emperor because they are close. But since she is nice, if she saw me getting into something troublesome then she would help me. She will most likely think that I sneaked out. My plan is simple and smooth. I just hope that everything falls into place like how I want.

　　I entered inside through the back door. When I reached the basement I saw uncle Zhao polishing his sword. He takes care of it like how he would care for his own child. I sneaked up to him and was about give him a good scare when he turned around.

　　He immediately knelt. ' Your majesty, forgive this old one for not greeting you earlier.' Greetings are simply a form of wasting time. I don't know why is everyone so concerned about these trifles. I asked him to get up. ' Your majesty why did you come here? Your attire looks a bit out of place......'
' I sneaked out.' Uncle Zhao looked like he would pass out the moment he heard the word sneak. I gave him a grin and said, ' I need your help.'

　　He immediately became attentive. ' Your majesty, what is it?'
' Find me an expert incense maker. Make sure he or she is trustworthy. My parents must not know about my visit. Do it secretively.'

　　Uncle Zhao immediately left. I had no other business in the mansion so I went out. I walked around the market, played a few games, watched the circus, ate ' cheap' candies that are deemed unworthy of my attention. I was enjoying until I was reminded by uncle Zhao about my initial purpose. Like I expected, he quickly found an expert for me. I went to the place where the person stayed. A modestly decorated incense store welcomed my presence. The servants led me to the inner area of the shop.
　　A middle aged woman was sitting in a bench. She seemed to be writing something. Uncle Zhao approached her first. ' Lady Xia, How have you been?'
' Old Zhao, what brings you here?'
' Actually, I need to ask a favor from you.'
' What is it? I am forever grateful towards you for saving my child, you can ask me anything.'
　　Uncle Zhao has been saving kids without telling me? Uncle Zhao explained that it was actually me who needed something from her. I made sure to veil my face. She didn't mind. I showed her the sachet bag. The smell was still there. I asked,' Can you recognize this smell?'
　　She sniffed the bag. She examined the bag once again before returning it to me. ' It is one of the special scents made by the flying spring brothel.'
' Flying spring brothel ? Wasn't it shut down half a year ago?'
' Yes, it was indeed shutdown because of it's involvement in the opium trade.' Uncle Zhao replied.
　　' But when it operated, it produced sedatives and incense like this one in secret. Few members of the brothel and high ranking people knew of this. I know about it because a close friend of mine used to work there.' Lady Xia added. Flying spring brothel. Tricky. ' What does this sedative exactly do?' Lady Xia sat down and sighed. 'This smell dosen't belong to a sedative at all. It is a poison. It is made in such a way that it feels like an ordinary sedative. But it is actually used for poisoning. It reduces the healing rate of body and causes high fever. It is designed to kill the person slowly.'
　　' So vicious. Are there many people familiar with the process of making this drug?'
' As far as I know, the process, ingredients and antidotes of all the drugs produced in secret was only known by the person making it themselves.'
　　' Ah, then thank you for your help Lady Xia. I believe you understand that I was never here and we never met you.' I bowed in front of her. Lady Xia chuckled and said, ' I was simply checking the account books today. I never met anyone.' I gave her an approving nod and went out. I would have liked playing around but I had to go. General Liu was entering the palace and I had a lot of thinking to do. I bid uncle Zhao a good bye and went back to my desolate palace. Like before I easily went in the palace. The security really left me speechless.
　　A'xi was anxiously waiting for me. She looked half dead. ' Did something happen when I was away?' I asked. ' No one other than noble consort Mei fen and some of her friends came by. I said you were recuperating. They left quickly.' I went in after hearing from A'xi.
　　So far I know that the culprit is trying to take revenge and has some sort of relation with the flying spring brothel. This princess is a cunning one. She definitely isn't as good as she seems. But she seems to value her status very much. As the pampered princess of second rank, she has no reason to wantonly visit a brothel. Could it be someone among the people that knew of the incense sold there? But from what Lady Xia said only high ranking and few notable people knew of this secret. They wouldn't be so stupid to assassinate a princess inside the palace.
　　Now that I think of it, this assassination attempt looks thoroughly planned but is actually quite stupid. Who would dare to harm a princess in her own palace unless they were so good that they can afford to be this arrogant? The princess doesn't have many interest that can attract attacks like this. So, it is unlikely that she irritated some brazen prodigy. The motive is still revenge. I need to find out who has the princess offended and their relationship with the Flying spring brothel. I need to dig in deep in the rumors once again.

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