CH 13

“County Princess, there are footsteps outside.” Yuanwei turned around and went to support Hua Liuli up from bed. But Hua Liuli was even faster than her, sitting up without her help.　　

“Miss Yuanwei,” said a female official standing exterior to the room, not entering. Seeing Yuanwei exit, she softly said, “Is County Princess properly dressed? His Majesty has issued an imperial decree. May County Princess prepare to come out and receive it.”　　　　

“Many thanks, Older Sister. I will inform County Princess.” Yuanwei saluted the palace maid, before turning around and returning inside the room in large strides.　　　　　

“County Princess…”

Sitting in front of a mirror, Hua Liuli adjusted her hairpins and jewelry. “I heard what was said.”　　

After helping her press down her dress, Yuanwei said somewhat suspiciously, “If the left eye twitches, good fortune is on the way. If the right eye twitches, disaster is impending. This slave should have remembered the saying correctly, right?”　　

“Correct.” Hua Liuli stood, using Yuanwei’s hand for support. “Properly support your county princess of poor health. Let’s go.”　　　　

As Yuanwei held Hua Liuli’s soft hand, her heart calmed in a flash.　　　　　

“Hold on.” At that moment, Hua Liuli released Yuanwei’s hand. She turned around and put on an amulet she had placed under her pillow.

To which Yuanwei stood there, speechless.　　

County Princess appeared so calm on the surface, but her actions are so honest, huh?　　

“County Princess, didn’t you say you didn’t believe in these kinds of things?” asked Yuanwei in a whisper.　　

“Do you still not know what kind of person I am?” said Hua Liuli, just and forceful. “When can you trust what I say?”　　　　

“For things like praying to gods, the more sincere one is, the more effective the prayer.” 　　

“Stop talking nonsense. The gods and Buddha are very lenient. Even if I’m typically not sincere enough, they will still protect me.” Hua Liuli touched the amulet beneath her clothes, an indescribable confidence in her own good luck.　　

As she stepped foot outside of the bedroom, Yuanwei’s smile proved deferential. Hua Liuli’s footsteps slowed. In the presence of others, master and servant always shared a mutual understanding.　　　　

Originally, the palace maid waiting outside wanted to reach out and help Yuanwei support County Princess Hua. Yet, she also felt that doing so would seem meddlesome and suspicious. The palace maid glanced at Yuanwei in a somewhat envious manner. To be a servant of a master who trusted them this much was a fortune many people dreamed of yet never attained.　　

Once she arrived at the main palace hall, Hua Liuli caught sight of the crown prince with the imperial edict in hand, her third brother dressed to the nines, and a few civil officials she did not recognize.　　　　

Noticing her arrival, the crown prince opened the imperial edict. “County Princess Hua, here is an imperial decree for you. Accept it.”　　

Hua Liuli had long since prepared for a praying mat to kneel on. Hua Changkong lifted the ends of his robe, before kneeling by her side. Brother and sister pretended to accidentally exchange a confused gaze.　　　　

It was reasonable to say that after she had entered the capital, she itched to have everyone know this: Hua Liuli was a sickly person who would collapse from a gust of wind. It was unlikely Prince Ying and Consort Xian wanted her to be his princess consort.　　

Much less, it was marriage, not making enemies. Many generations of the Hua clan had accumulated many war exploits for the Great State of Jin. Even if the emperor truly had the intention of making her an imperial daughter-in-law, he would discuss such matters with her parents in advance before officially issuing an imperial edict. There was no way he would bestow her a marriage to someone all willy-nilly.　　

Noticing the girl grasping at her sleeves nervously, the crown prince unfurled the imperial edict, reading it aloud quickly.　　　　

Hua Liuli thought, Uh oh, the beginning all praises Father. Things don’t seem reassuring…　　　　

“Yingting’s daughter is Our half-daughter…”　　

Hua Liuli pressed a hand to her chest. She had to spit out blood, had to fall seriously ill, had to hover between life and death.　　

“…will be conferred the noble position of Commandery Princess, and bestowed precious horses and fertile land.” 　　　　

Hua Liuli thought, His Majesty is rewarding me according to the standard of rewarding a Prince of the First Rank’s eldest daughter. Not only did he raise my noble title, it isn’t an empty one. And he also bestowed me an estate?　　

Just what happened that the emperor would suddenly stuff a commandery princess title on her? Could it be that her father accidentally defeated the Daimao Country next to Jinpo Country?　　

“She will be conferred the title of Fushou.”　　

What the heck was happening?　　　　

Hua Liuli practically could not trust her own ears. A delicate beauty like herself should be granted the title of “Shu’an,” “Rouyi,” and so on. What the heck was Fushou?　　

It wasn’t like she was a guard dog from the barracks.　　

“This official’s daughter is untalented, and kowtows in thanks for His Majesty’s grace.” Hua Liuli raised her hands above her head to accept the decree. “Hearing such happy news all of a sudden, this official’s daughter is very terrified. In the future, this official’s daughter will definitely live according to the bestowed title, and not let down His Majesty’s great expectations.”　　　

The crown prince placed the imperial edict onto her hands and let the female official support her to her feet. “The commandery princess estate has yet to be renovated. If Commandery Princess has any preferences, just have a blueprint drawn and sent to the Ministry of Works. They will figure it out for you.”　　

Following that, he said to the officials from the Ministry of Rites who had followed him here, “Commandery Princess Fushou is not in good health. The subsequent procedures need not be followed.  May you gentlemen copy the imperial edict, stamp it with a seal, and place the copy in storage.”　　

In the past, the officials from the Ministry of Rites had heard that the Hua clan’s daughter was very delicate. At once, they saluted and took their leave without wasting time. It was evident that the crown prince’s words held much weight before them.　　　　

Once the unrelated officials and servants had left, the crown prince noticed that the Hua clan’s brother-and-sister pair seemed still caught in a daze. He laughed. “Imperial Father has always remembered the Hua clan’s loyalty.”　　　　

Hua Changkong bowed with his hands held in front of him. “This humble subject’s family cannot thank His Majesty enough for the favor.”　　

“Little girl.” The crown prince lifted his chin, looking at Hua Liuli. “You’re still in a daze?”　　　

“May Your Highness forgive me. This official’s daughter has yet to snap out of this joy,” said Hua Liuli. “These two characters of Fushou especially reflect His Majesty’s beautiful blessing and wish toward this official’s daughter. This official’s daughter is overwhelmed by emotions, moved to tears.” 　　

“It’s very common but also very elegant. I also find this title great.” Regarding this, the crown prince was very satisfied.　　　

Hua Liuli was rendered speechless.　　

Fine. You’re the crown prince. Whatever you say is right.　　

Silent, Hua Changkong looked at his sister. Then he gradually averted his gaze. Fortunately, his little sister had been living in the palace recently. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to placate her.　　　　

“I am setting up a feast in the Eastern Palace at the moment. Will you two do me the honor of coming?”　　　　

Hua Changkong looked down. Noticed his little sister’s fingers moving about in her sleeves, faintly curling.　　

“Many thanks to Your Highness. Then this humble subject and my younger sister will be disturbing your honored self.”　　

The Eastern Palace was home to a stand-alone courtyard, a stable and field for horses, a drill hall that even had a unit of guards, and many kinds of officials. Just like a miniature imperial palace within the imperial palace.

From the main doors to the inner palace hall, Hua Liuli watched as many of the crown prince’s officials carefully curried favor with him. Now wonder every imperial prince desired to be the crown prince. This feeling of being above others was too enticing.　　

“Commandery Princess, please have some tea,” said a palace maid, placing a cup of steaming tea next to Hua Liuli’s hand.

Covering her mouth, she coughed a few times. “Sorry, I cannot have any tea.”　　　　

“May Commandery Princess forgive this slave. This slave will immediately bring something else.”　

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Hua Liuli reached out. Her fingers proved tender and fair, and they were weakly placed on top of that palace maid’s wrist, as if she did not have any strength. “There’s no need for the trouble. I’m not thirsty.” 　　　

The crown prince looked at said palace maid, expression one of indifference. “Men!”　　

“May Your Highness forgive this slave,” said the palace maid, kneeling at once. Hua Liuli still had her hand on the palace maid, and as such was dragged down suddenly, knocking into the palace maid’s arm. 　　　　

A spring-loaded arrow concealed in the palace maid’s sleeve shot out.　　

Realizing that her plan had fallen through, the palace maid’s expression grew ruthless. She rose to her feet and pulled out a flexible sword from her waist, charging the crown prince’s way.　　　　

Her gaze was cold to the bone, movements so quick that only a shadow could be seen. She was the most top-notch assassin. She knew that as long as she undertook the task today, she wouldn’t be able to live. However, she had no regrets.　　

“Assassin!” screamed a guard as he witnessed the events unfold, hating that he could not fly to the crown prince and take the hit for him. But the assassin was too fast; there wasn’t enough time for the guards to stop her.　

The sound of fabric tearing echoed throughout the palace hall. Hua Liuli, who was lying on the ground prone, gripped the torn fabric in her hand. With a deathly-pale complexion, she watched as the assassin had charged forth in an elegant manner yet tumbled to the ground, looking very miserable. The hand holding the torn fabric trembled to no end, resembling a little white flower swaying in the breeze.

The top-notch assassin’s success came from her speed. However, Hua Liuli had destroyed this advantage. In order to be close to the crown prince, the assassin pretended to be a palace maid from the Eastern Palace for half a year. Finding an opportunity to be close to the crown prince hadn’t been easy, but all this was foiled by a woman who didn’t drink tea.　　　　

She glared hatefully at Hua Liuli, itching to take a bite out of her flesh.　　

“If I say I didn’t mean to hold onto you, would you believe me?” In a haste, she threw away the fabric in her hand, pressing her hand to her chest and doing her utmost to breathe. Once Hua Changkong was near her, she lay down on the ground in a soft manner.　　　　

She was so exhausted. And she didn’t even have a taste of the Eastern Palace’s food yet.　　

“Little Sis, Little Sis.” Hua Changkong rushed to lift his younger sister from the ice-cold ground. Just as he was about to shout “summon an imperial physician,” the crown prince was one step ahead. “Summon a yuyi.”　　　　

The crown prince did not care about the already-subdued assassin. He quickly appeared by Hua Changkong’s side. However, his gaze was upon Hua Liuli. “I will dispatch the best yuyis to examine Commandery Princess.”　　

“This humble subject has lost manners. May Crown Prince forgive me,” said Hua Changkong. “This humble subject’s sister is timid and cannot bear being frightened. It’s actually just an old illness of hers flaring up. She will be fine after resting for a couple days.”

“First send Commandery Princess to the side palace hall so she can rest,” said the crown prince, looking at Hua Liuli who was leaning against Hua Changkong’s chest. “Dispatch many soldiers to guard her. No one can get close to Commandery Princess.”　　　　

The imperial guards rushed to accept the order. For an assassination attempt to occur in the Eastern Palace pointed to their failure to fulfil their duties. If something had happened to the crown prince, they dared not imagine how much political unrest would shake the country.　　　　

“Ji Yuansu, do you think that after escaping from today’s disaster you will be safe from now on?” The assassin’s eyes were bloodshot. “Our Highness Prince Ying is the true master of Great Jin.” 

Following that, she broke the small sack of poison hidden in her teeth, waiting for death’s clutches.　　

“Prince Ying?” The crown prince watched the assassin who spat out blood endlessly. “You even failed at the assassination, but you still try to sow dissension, something that requires brains to do?　　　　

“Who gave you such confidence? The master behind you?” The crown prince received a handkerchief from a palace maid. Took his time to wipe his hands. “From my youth until now, there have been many people who tried to assassinate me. But there were few that were as stupid as you.”　　

The assassin widened her eyes. Gasped. She wasn’t afraid of dying, but she could not tolerate people denying she was a top-notch assassin. This was her dignity we’re talking about here!

“Did you think I would be curious who your master is?” The crown prince continued to wipe his fingers with the handkerchief, the picture of calm. “They rely on a useless assassin to succeed in getting what they want. How different is that from being a useless person?”

The assassin spat out her last mouthful of blood, eyes wide as she stopped breathing.　　　　

Whether she had died from anger or poison in the end was anyone’s guess.　　

Now that the assassin was dead and the crown prince had finished wiping his hands, he turned around and made for the side palace hall. 

Hua Changkong placed Hua Liuli onto the bed, a light sigh escaping his lips. The capital truly was a deep pool of dirty water, the bottom of which could not be touched. It was uncertain whether the assassin had chosen this day to strike because he and his sister were around, or if it had all been just a coincidence.　　　　

The emperor’s most favorite child was the crown prince. If the crown prince had died in front of them, the emperor would definitely take his anger out on the Hua clan.　　

If the monarch and the subjects did not get along, such was an immense taboo. But right now, someone hoped for Great Jin’s court to become overrun with chaos.　　

No matter if it was Lin Hiuzhi nearly dying from poison at the post house, or his younger sister nearly drinking poisoned wine in Lincui Palace, or today’s assassination attempt, as long as one plot was successful, it would give Great Jin endless inconvenience.　　　　

Although the imperial princes had ambition, they most likely wouldn’t do such things that would cause enemy countries joy.　　

As such, which f*ckng small country in the peripheral area was behind this?