Chapter 48

48 A Lesson

“What happened, Physician Peng? Why did Li Hua faint?” Court Lady Hong asked as Peng Yuxian examined Li Hua.

“I am unable to understand the cause, Lady Hong,” Peng Yuxian replied, who put Li Hua’s hand down and pulled the long sleeve down.

“Miss Hua asked for the water and then she screamed,” Court Lady Hong again briefed. Peng Yuxian was puzzled to hear it. “Ah, Miss Hua said that she is allergic to the oil. Probably because of that she fainted,” Court Lady Hong suggested.

“Miss Hua doesn’t seem to have an allergy to oil. Her scalp would have been affected if she was allergic,” Peng Yuxian clarified. He refuted the fact that Li Hua was allergic to the hair oil used.

“Then, what could be the reason, Physician Peng?” Court Lady Hong questioned with a concerned expression.

“It can be found only after Miss Hua will be awake,” Peng Yuxian replied. Court Lady Hong nodded and stood straight. They both waited for Li Hua to wake up, who after a while gained consciousness.

“Miss Hua, how are you feeling?” Peng Yuxian asked in a humble tone. Li Hua was bewildered to find herself on the bed and recollected what happened to her earlier.

Peng Yuxian observed a thin line of frowns on Li Hua’s forehead and asked about the same. “What happened, Miss Hua? Lady Hong informed me that you screamed aloud before fainting,” Peng Yuxian tried to find the reason behind her sudden unconsciousness.

Li Hua didn’t answer him. Peng Yuxian glanced at Lady Hong, who asked Li Hua to tell the Royal Physician.

.....

“I felt weak suddenly,” Li Hua lied to them. “I felt my head get heavy and I felt dizzy,” she asserted while fidgeting with her fingers.

“Alright, Miss Hua. You need to eat healthy meals and don’t put any kind of pressure on yourself. You have servants in your service,” Peng Yuxian suggested to her. Li Hua nodded her head and apologized for troubling them. Peng Yuxian rose to his feet while picking up the bag. Court Lady Hong bowed before him, who left the chamber.

Lady Hong handed the water glass to Li Hua, who thanked her. She sipped the water and wondered why she fainted recalling her. It happened for the first time with her.

Lady Hong took the water glass from her and put it on the table. “If Miss Hua is feeling better, then she should follow me to the bathhouse. Her hair needed to be washed,” she said humbly.

“I am better, Court Lady Hong,” Li Hua answered and got down from the bed. They both left for the bathhouse, where a few maidservants could be seen. One of them helped her in taking off the clothes. She was left in the white thin satin robes.

Li Hua carefully lifted her one leg and it landed on the wooden surface of the bathtub. She put another leg too and settled on its one end. The rose petals were spread on the water surface and herbal essence was also mixed into the water.

The maidservant took a section of her hair and washed them with normal water. She felt ticklish when the water hit her scalp and then traveled down her body. After that, rice water was used to remove the oil from her scalp and hair. Several orange-sized balls were used which were made of honey locust powder into the water and bubbles created in the bathtub.

She took such a bath after a long time. Though, the products used in the Palace were much more exquisite than used in noble families. Her eyes closed automatically, and she let the maidservants help her wash.

At that moment, Lóng Wei’s face came in front of her. She promptly opened her eyes and sighed. ‘I need to make some rules with him, but he won’t let me. I need to find a way so that he will agree with me,’ she thought.

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Lóng Wei crossed the main palace ground to go to the barracks when he encountered Mingquan, who had returned after practicing with his sword. Mingquan passed a tiny smile to him, but Lóng Wei ignored him and walked ahead.

“Sixth Brother is still angry,” Mingquan mumbled and walked ahead to his manor.

Lóng Wei entered the barracks gate and asked one of the soldiers to take him to the prison where the man was taken in the morning.

“General Qiu Mu is the one who will investigate the matter. He has been told that no one can go to prison without his permission,” the soldier informed Lóng Wei.

“Tell your General to stop resting and do some work. The King has permitted me to interrogate the man. After all, I am the one who caught him. Take me to the prison, else I will drag you to the King,” Lóng Wei threatened him. The soldier found himself tongue-tied and took the Sixth Prince with him.

“Prince Lóng Wei,” the son of the first General, Hei Huang Xi, greeted Lóng Wei. He was the Commander in the Qiu Army. Lóng Wei thought to greet him and stopped at his place.

“What is His Highness doing here?” Huang Xi asked with curiosity.

“I’ve to interrogate someone,” Lóng Wei answered.

Huang Xi was astonished to hear it. “I heard that the Prince again did mischief with his elder sister,” he stated.

Lóng Wei chuckled. “I taught her a lesson,” he corrected him. “If you do not have any further queries, then please excuse me,” he said.

Huang Xi stepped away to give the way to Lóng Wei to go ahead. “Hopefully, the Prince will stay in the palace for a long time,” Huang Xi stated.

“Don’t worry. This time, I won’t leave,” Lóng Wei told him and soon vanished from his sight. Huang Xi decided to follow the Sixth Prince and went after him.

Lóng Wei stepped into the prison. The soldier was going to close it when Huang Xi told him not to do so and stepped inside. He closed the door behind him and saw the man in black robes was chained in shackles.

“Can you tell me where you meet the person, who ordered you to kill those thirty servants? Also, how did you recognize them? All the servants have similar dresses and it is difficult to remember the faces,” Lóng Wei stated.

“I was told that they would head to the same quarter yesterday night. That’s why it wasn’t difficult for me to target them,” the man answered. Lóng Wei understood that someone from the servants’ quarter sent those servants to the same quarter.

“The person met me after the curfew occurred near the forest. I was unable to see the face. I was given one hundred golden coins which I readily accepted,” the man explained to Lóng Wei.

“Who told you to meet in the forest?” Lóng Wei questioned him.

“I got a message, Your Highness.”

“Where is it?” Lóng Wei asked for it.

“I burned it as per the instructions,” the man answered.

“Tell us the location of the forest where you met this unknown man,” Huang Xi said.

“Yes, Your Highness. Please don’t kill me,” the man rubbed his hands together, pleading with them.

“This you should have thought before killing thirty innocent servants,” Huang Xi affirmed.

“You won’t be killed. I assure you. You did your job. Just make me reach the person who made you do this. I promise, I will save you from the King’s next judgment,” Lóng Wei said in a confident tone. His words were full of assurance and it somewhere made the man trust his words.

Huang Xi glanced at the Sixth Prince, who again asked about the forest location. The man told him the route and Lóng Wei left the prison. Huang Xi also followed the Sixth Prince to help him in the investigation.