YOUR MAJESTY PLEASE CALM DOWN
Taiye Lake side planted a row of willow trees. At this time is the beginning of the spring, willow still not sprouted yet, but the soul already permeated into life, the outer layer of a dry branch appears luster and flexible. Spring breeze blowing, willow lightly swaying in the breeze. In a distance it resembles like a beautiful hair fluttering. Tianqi hands clasped behind at the same time pass through the willow.
She certainly not here for the spring tour, to face life and death crisis, she don’t have that carefree for enjoyment mood.
The frozen Taiye Lake has been completely changed into the lake, the surface lake reflects like a looking mirror, a cool breeze rippled the water surge a single wave just like following wind direction.
As dawn lit the sky yet the sun has not come out. The whole field is cold and gloomy, early on duty in the palace, imperial officer and the palace worker pass by once in a while, some bleary eyes and unconsciously yawn the breath turn into fog. These late spring days, the cool air gradually immerse, it chill until people become tense, everyone hands tuck inside the sleeve and lower their heads while walking, quickly wishing the foot swift as a wind, as quick as possible to enter the house.
For this reason no one will notice Tianqi.
Tianqi walks to a secluded place, looked around, grit her teeth, facial expression is generally unafraid of death then plunge into the lake.
The lake surface splash raises the water more than two feet tall, some people heard splashing sound, turn back looking around only to see the lake surface rippled in a circle. Thought that was the waterfowl submerged into the water, pay no attention to it, the pace did not slow down quickly walk away.
The ice cold lake, cover compeletely soaked clothes, sizes the chance, Tianqi was shivering, her teeth chattering. She determined to take risks, both hand and legs soak in the water for a while. Reckon it’t time to ashore, Tianqi carefully look around, take off the belt and clothes, throw away into the water, clothes are made with cotton, the belt trimmed with turquoise, it will sink into the water.
Through with these, Tianqi swims towards back the shore while patting the water and shouting: “Help.” It’s not that she incapable to climb back to shore, it’s just that need to put on an act in completely, she accidentally falls into the water, after all to have a witness is also good. Sure enough, anyone heard cries for help sound, will run towards here. Several eunuch untie the belt and tied together, toss to Tianqi direction, Tianqi grasps the belt to climb back to shore.
She coughs out water at the same times express thanks to others.
Right now Tianqi form is extremely uncomfortable, the whole body is soaking wet, robe and coat are gone, the small cold wind came blowing through her, like a withered leaf quivering.
A few people saw that could not bear, wanted to send Tianqi back.
Tianqi waves her hand and said: “No need you all already save me, I cannot afford to waste your time. Everyone has to be on time for duty, if delay everyone time, I might as well directly be drowned.” She stand up: “Rest assured from here is not far to thirteen place, I can go back on my own, today all of you rescue me, there is no words can express my appreciate for your great help, later in return if u need all need help, even died one million times I will not decline.
Then she asks their several names, which division they belong to, says goodbye and left.
Returned back to thirteen place, Tianqi already numb with cold, quickly calls out the young eunuch to bring in hot water for bath. As an eunuch she belongs in the medium level, live alone in a room, fairly spacious living room, there is a small partition room for a bath. The other roomate knows Tianqi habit, like to be clean, love to take bath yet cannot let others see, if someone look at, will suffer the inability to control the evacuative functioms of urination. This rumour has not been confirmed, but no one wants to take part to suffer this bad luck.
During bath time Tianqi will bare her chest. Beginning twelve to thirteen years old, her chest started to develop, at that time feeling bashfuk yetbis a minor issue, what’s important is afraid in case discover is a girl, her life will not be guaranteed. So she thinks of a way to wrap her chest with bandages, dress as usual not much difference as a eunuch. However to wrap the chest does not meanit will be small, in time it will develop.
During day time chest wrap with bandage feeling too uncomfortable, Tianqi feels embarrassed to show her distress to others, at night will uncover the bandages and cover with quilt to ease the pain.Her fear of being discovered, around the bedside hangs up bed curtain, as the plank bed turn into simple canopy bed, during sleep time will put down the bed curtain, then spread the rumour saying that she once saw a naked, become lost control of urination.
In this way, it want to have a secure days without fear. Frankly, there no one would be interested in eunuch body, even though within the eunuch circle it easily happens unsual attitude, but it always stirs up trouble in eunuch crowd.
After the bath Tianqi makes s ginger soup to drink. However, for her this cold is too severe, hot bath and ginger soup u able to save her, in the afternoon she begins to sneeze and feel dizzy.
At this time the palace eunuch that came before come again, say the Emperor summon her to Qian Qing gong (gong – palace) for questioning.
Tianqi heart secretly clapping, quietly rejoice herself for move one step ahead.
Instead in the Nuange(warm room) the Emperor now in the study room waiting for her. Tianqi perform courtesy, get up and drooping head, eyes stare at the floor, remain orderly waiting for questioning.
The floor surface is a white marble crave with auspicious lotus pattern, clean not a bit of dust on the slightest gap.
Although in the heart already prepare, she still very tense, hearbeat keep beating very fast, cannot calm down, the mind feels heavy, not as good at the usual quick response.
Ji Heng looked up from the elongated writing desk and looked at her. Her head down not able to see the face, slender figure, wearing dark green uniform, furthermore, is thinner and weaker than others, but it does not mean be sympathize, it reveal a trace of strong and unyielding.
He suddenly thought of comparing the cliff top of the jujube tree, it looks as it extremely thin, but every year it blossom and bear fruits.
The more humble, the more tenacious.
Ji Heng stands up walk toward to Tianqi.
“You lift up your head.” He ordered.
Tianqi obedient looked up, eyes level look at his chin as well as part neck. Today he in casual robe in crimson color with black collar, underneath the collar is a white undergarment has expose slender fair neck.
“Lift up head, look at me.” Ji Heng command again.
Tianqi then look at him. To be honest, although she met the Emperor many times, this time really seriously look at him. Smooth full forehead, dashing black eyebrow and clean, nice shape not messy, long and narrow eyes(phoneix eyes) reveal a faint glint, high bridges nose, thin lip, fair complexion……. natural striking apperance, a gentleman like jade, carrying the formidable air.
When Tianqi admires Ji Heng face, then a hand touch at her waist. Tianqi mind tense, body become stiff didn’t move a muscle.
Ji Heng lowers his gazed observe Tianqi expression, look calm. This person face haggard, misty eyes, red nose could it be sick?
His finger puts at her waist, spring clothes still very thick yet cannot hide her slender waist. The hand touch yoward the buckle belt, lightly untie the belt.
Tianqi eyes flash of anxiety, both cheeks emerge flush red.
Ji Heng let go Tianqi, move away two steps and look at her. Ah really nervous butnit seem to be……. shy?
Sheng Anhuai comes over, Ji Heng passes the belt to him, after a while coming back again:”Reporting to the Emperor, nucai and taiyi (servant and imperial doctor) carefully examined and nothing at all.
Ji Heng sat back at the writing desk, stare at Tianqi, asked: “How many of this belt you have?”
Tianqi: “Replying to your majesty, altogether is two.”
Ji Heng: “The other one?”
Tianqi: “Lost.”
Ji Heng eyes narrow, gaze gradually become cold.
Tianqi quickly kneel down: “Nucai have no choice, beg your majesty forgiveness.”
Ji Heng: “Has no choice?”
Tianqi: “Yes, nucai accidentally fall into water this morning, due to wearing cotton clothes, it drenches in water become heavy, weigh down cannot go ashore, nucai had to take off the clothes, throw into the water and the pass by at the Taiye lake fellow worker come to rescue, only can get back this life, those people can testify me. Following the belt and clothes submerged in water, went back to search cannot be found, nucai do not know the Emperor want the belt for what purpose, also did not dare to guess the Emperor intention, if Emperor need this then take it, supposing it not enough, Needle and Industry bureau supposedly got a lot.
Ji Heng stares at her: “You generous.”
Tianqi swallows saliva: “Thank the Emperor praise.”
Ji Heng notice she has tick skinned when taunting the praise, let out a sighs, waved his hand: ” Withdraw, go to Needle and Industry bureau, require what you lost, today matter must not mention to anyone.”
“Zhunzi.”(to obey the emperor decrees) Tianqi gets up, slowly walk out.
Ji Heng looks at the writing desk with a piece of paper written in crooked words: “Inside Tianqi belt got Qiankun.”乾坤(yin and yang reverse,trick)
This is an anonymous letter of accusation, the person who reports this afraid to recongnize the handwriting, wrote with left hand. The source of this letter he has already ordered an investigation, since the other dare to write it assumed to have take precautions not to be found.
As for Tianqi belt whether it has Qiankun, Ji Heng has affirmative answer. The person who fabricates accusation would not dare to endanger himself, the tell off was so clear it distinguish precise.
Today ask Tianqi to come over for investigation, know that he fell into water, lost the belt, Ji Heng already verify this speculation.
Tianqi belt is the key to this problem that involves Song Zhaoyi death.
But the culprit is not Tianqi, is it really is him, that belt already been dispose early when Song Zhaoyi dies that time, not wait until today.
In other words, this eunuch has been plotted by someone also bears the blame.
He does have somewhat intelligent, discover early, quietly dispose the evidence, even got proof, not even yield any mistake.
Ji Heng finger leisurely tapping the desk top, suddenly remember he boldly stupid sleeping in front of him. When it clever it really clever, when it silly it really silly.
Thinking back when he untie his belt both cheek was flush red and shy, look nervous, same like a girl. He mouth pulled into smile and laugh, shook his head, summon Sheng Anhuai: “Go call taiyi to have a look at Tianqi.”