Chapter 8 : Stay as my concubine
1955 Words
Right after the servant announced Xiu Ying's arrival, Wu Zhang Wei asked the servant to let him in but....alone. As soon as Xiu Ying stepped into the room, his steps were halted for a second when he accidentally met a pair of eyes staring dagger at him. Xiu Ying quickly lowers his head and continues, acting as if nothing happened. "Greetings, Your Majesty." Xiu Ying bows.
"Rise." Wu Zhang Wei stares at the person who is standing straight in front of him but with eyes on the floor. "Concubine Li, you must know the reason Zhen called you here, right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Then, without dilly dally, mind telling Zhen, what is the real reason Concubine Li wanted to be dismissed from the imperial harem? Zhen thought Concubine Li was the one who threatened Prime Minister Li to run away if Zhen didn't take you in, isn't it? Then, what makes you change your mind?" Wu Zhang Wei supported his chin using the back of his palms, waiting for the answer.
Taking a deep breath then releases a heavy sigh. Xiu Ying straightens his back. "First of all, pardon my mistakes, Your Majesty. I know it was rude of me to ask such a thing from Your Majesty. But...this lowly servant of Your Majesty doesn't want to disturb Your Majesty's quiet life. I know, it was foolish to do such things in the past. I was immature back then. I was blinded by my own feelings and didn't realize that my acts were all wrong. Thus, I would like to ask permission from Your Majesty, please allow me to be dismissed from the imperial harem and let me return to my home. I promise Your Majesty, from now onwards, I won't disturb Your Majesty anymore." Wu Zhang Wei is still staring at Xiu Ying with his poker face. Xiu Ying bites inside of his mouth.
"Your Majesty, I know, due to my inappropriate and indecent acts before, I've tainted Your Majesty's name and I make Your Majesty feel uncomfortable. But, to repay for that, I'd be willing to accept any punishment. Just please- don't do anything to my parents. They're the only ones I have and they only did as I forced them to do so. Please put all the blame upon me. I'm begging Your Majesty." Xiu Ying kneels.
'No... There's no way he's the same Li Xiu Ying. He acts too different from before. It's like he became someone else... No... It's impossible...' All the time Xiu Ying spoke, this thought wandered around Wu Zhang Wei's mind.
Xiu Ying doesn't know what else he should say to convince the emperor. He continues kneeling down waiting for the other party to speak up. "Li Xiu Ying.." Xiu Ying flinched when he was called. "Did you know... because of what you did, all of the ministers started to label Zhen as being biased towards your father and because of that, those ministers started to look at your father in a different way, a negative way to be exact? They thought your father was trying to secure his position by giving you to Zhen as a concubine. Your father had to face their resentment every day. They never stopped trying to find faults in your father. The only thing that keeps your father safe until now is because they thought he had Zhen's favor."
Xiu Ying tries to connect all the points with all the hints given by Wu Zhang Wei, but nothing comes up. "Do you dare to think what would happen if those ministers heard that Zhen took back that title concubine from you?"
"......."
"They'll think that Zhen is no longer being biassed towards your father..meaning? It's not a big problem if they.....put an end to your father's life, isn't it?" Wu Zhang Wei raises his brows. Hearing that, Xiu Ying unconsciously raises his head and looks straight into Wu Zhang Wei's eyes. Sadness is clearly shown in his clear light brown eyes.
'Only now you know how to look at me...,' thought Wu Zhang Wei. "You said, you're willing to carry all the blame right?" Xiu Ying nods his head vigorously. "Alright then, Zhen won't do anything to your family but in return you...." Xiu Ying gulps down his saliva. "You're required to keep on staying as Zhen's concubine and show your true worth, your value. Make some contributions and show your skills. Your mother said you have lots of talents, right? Show it to all those ministers. Make them shut their mouths. Can you?"
Xiu Ying tilts his head, blinks his eyes repeatedly, and knits his eyebrows. 'So cute...wait- what?!' Wu Zhang Wei quickly averted his eyes.
"B- but Your Majesty... I...."
Wu Zhang Wei raises his palm, stopping Xiu Ying from uttering any more words. "You said you're willing to be punished? Then, this is Zhen's punishment for you. Or you wished what Zhen said just now would happen?"
"N- no. I- I don't want that. Xiu Ying thank you, your majesty, for your kindness. Even though Xiu Ying doesn't have any remarkable talents, Xiu Ying promises to help Your Majesty in any way." The frown on his forehead contradicts his gratefulness.
Wu Zhang Wei hums. "If you have anything to say about other consorts just tell Zhen later on."
Those words make Xiu Ying more confused. 'And...why should I tell you about them? It's not like you're gonna help me if they harass me. Even when I was dying on the bed, you never cared. Hmph!'
"Yes, thank you for your care, Your Majesty but don't worry Xiu Ying will be fine on my own." 'The more I tell you, the faster I'll die in those bi**hes' hands.'
"Alright. You can go now." The frown on Xiu Ying's face makes Wu Zhang Wei smirks. 'Already hate me, huh? Now you know the feeling of being forced to stay with someone you don't like.'
Xiu Ying rises from kneeling, bowing down then quickly turns to the door. Jing Yi approaches him as soon as he closes the door behind him. "Young master...what's wrong? Was His Majesty...mad at you? You were punished?" Jing Yi asked in haste.
All the curses and swears that are about to be spoken, have to be swallowed back when he notices the Great General who was standing not far from them. "Let's go back to my room first."
Once the door is shut, Xiu Ying...
"What the hell is wrong with this guy?! Is it so hard to take back this useless title?! I'm not that desperate for it! Didn't you say before I'm a pest? A pest should be chased away not to keep them! And what's wrong with your eyes?! You said I was ugly and never spared a glance before but now you're boring a hole in my face. s**t!" Xiu Ying walks back and forth.
Jing Yi is lost for words when he sees this new side of his young master. Yes, Xiu Ying always whines and gets mad, but not to this extent. Most of the time Xiu Ying will use his tears or threats, not bad words.
"Ha! Trying to use my dad against me. Fine! Let me see how long you can stand me. I'll annoy you to the death. You just wait for it!"
Xiu Ying flicks his sleeves, taking a seat and pouring himself a cup of water. Jing Yi, who was still shocked by what he witnessed, didn't have time to do it for his young master.
He slams down the teacup on the table. "Why the hell is the cup so small?! You're an emperor but can't afford to buy a glass!" Xiu Ying pours another two to three times full cups of water.
'Young master.....how big do you want the cup to be? That's the normal size. No matter where you go, people use the same size,' Jing Yi whines.
"Yo- young master...?"
"Ha? What?" Still engulfed in his rage, Xiu Ying forgot to tone down his voice, making the poor servant jolt.
"Sorry. Sorry. My bad. What is it?" said Xiu Ying with a gentler voice.
"Are you alright Young Master? Wh- what did His Majesty say to you?"
Xiu Ying calms himself first before telling everything that Wu Zhang Wei said to him in the room. Jing Yi's expression keeps on changing. From big bulging eyes to knitted brows and frowns then mouth gaping, loss for words.
Jing Yi never thought the emperor wouldn't let Xiu Ying be dismissed and even let Xiu Ying show his true values and skills. Xiu Ying might not notice but Jing Yi, who always stands at his side, always sees how the emperor looks at his young master in disgust. Never once has the emperor shown any interest in Xiu Ying. Wu Zhang Wei even looked like he was about to throw Xiu Ying out of the window anytime.
"Jing Yi? What's wrong? What are you thinking?" Xiu Ying flicks his fingers in front of Jing Yi's face.
"Ah? Oh, nothing. It just...sounds impossible for His Majesty to say something like that. I know a deep hatred His Majesty had towards Young Master so... something feels wrong." Jing Yi shrugs his shoulders.
"By the way, Young Master, when you were inside the room, General Fei Hong asked me a few questions regarding young master. It seems like he and His Majesty are curious about how Young Master recovered and why Young Master looks different as of now.."
Xiu Ying becomes stiff. 'Wait..there's no way they know right? Even my parents and Jing Yi, who was the closest to me, didn't suspect anything. Why would they ask like that?'
"Th- then... what did you say?"
"Oh. I just told him that I gave young master what the physician prescribed and about young master's appearance. I just say I didn't know and there's nothing else changed in young master." Xiu Ying heaves sighs of relief.
'They're getting weirder. Why would they care about me so suddenly? Are they planning something?' Knocks on the door make Xiu Ying snap back from his thoughts. "Now what?!" said Xiu Ying, slightly annoyed.
Jing Yi went to the door and it revealed a female servant behind it. "Greetings, my lady." Even the female tried to sound respectful but her face clearly expressed disdain when she mentioned 'my lady'.
"Yes. May I know who you are and why are you coming here?" Xiu Ying's eyes twitched when he saw the female servant's expression.
"My lady, I'm Xiao Mao. I'm here on behalf of my master, Noble Consort Li Na to invite my lady to the tea party this evening. My master hoped my lady could attend as it's been a while since all residents of the imperial harem spent time together."
'Tea party? Or... Party to scheme on me?' "Oh really? What a good person Noble Consort Li Na is. Inviting a lowly concubine like me. Don't worry. If your master has gone so far as to invite me, I'll surely be there." Xiu Ying gives Xiao Mao the widest smile.
Feeling slightly intimidated by the way Xiu Ying spoke, Xiao Mao was flustered. "Th- then... My master and other consorts will be waiting for my lady at the courtyard this evening." Xiao Mao quickly excused herself.
"Young master, is it really fine to go there? You know they're...." Jing Yi couldn't help but feel worried when he knows his young master is going to meet those consorts, who is one of them responsible for the poisoning.
"Don't worry. I know how to handle them. Well, if things get out of control, I'll just use my fist." Xiu Ying mumbles the last part.
- Writer
