บท 30: Visiting

After Wu Tan left with Consort Yao, Bai Zhi helped Da Ying bandage her wound. "Xiaojie, why did you let her harm you?" Bai Zhi couldn't understand, with Da Ying's level of skills, killing Consort Yao would not require much effort. "I'm taking a gamble on whether my father will come visit me or not," Da Ying casually answered. Ever since returning, she has not seen her father. She let Consort Yao hurt her on purpose. Surely Wu Tan would report the incident to the emperor. She didn't know why she wanted to see if her father would come see her or not. When Da Ying thought about it, she couldn't help but laugh at herself. He was the man who ordered the death of her mother, why did she want to see him?

The news about Consort Yao had also reached Xie De's estate too. "Your highness, Prime Minister Yao is scheduled to be executed in two days and Consort Yao will take the poisoned wine. Do we interfere?" asked An Du, Xie De's personal guard in hiding. "Prime Minister Yao is someone who has always been by the empress's side. If even the empress can't save him, what can I do?"

"Do you want me to investigate how the books got into Deputy Sheriff Wu Tan's hands?" An Du asked curiously. Everyone knew about Prime Minister Yao's secret funds but only a few knew about the accounting books that have been lost for years. Most importantly, who sent it? "I'll investigate it myself." Xie De sent An Du away. He stared at the flickering candle in front of him and seriously thought it through. Which official did not make enemies as the years went by? But who was brave enough to go against Prime Minister Yao, someone who had the backing of the Empress? He knew her well, if she found no use in someone anymore, she would toss them away. He had lived under the Empress's wings since 14 after his father passed away. It wasn't until he contributed to the country, helping defeat the Xi Army 3 years after residing in the palace that he left. He never thought he would get the chance to leave the palace. He has always known how calculative the Empress was and how many of her subjects she sacrificed in the past for her own purpose. But...she was someone he owed. Even if he did not agree with her decisions, he felt he owed her that much.

Back at Thousand Lotus Pavilion, Da Ying was painting blossom trees with her free hand when Chao gongong made an appearance. Da Ying set her brush down and walked over to him with a genuine smile. "Chao gongong, what brings you here?"

"Chao gongong greets Da Ying gongzhu. I brought good news, your father, his majesty will be here shortly," Da Ying didn't show any reactions, she only nodded. He then caught sight of her bandaged arm and sighed, "Consort Yao was really too much. Is gongzhu okay?"

"I'm fine, it is only a small scratch,"

"If you need anything, you know where to find me. I must leave now," he bowed to her and took his leave.

Not long later, the emperor arrived at her Thousand Lotus Pavilion. Before he entered through the gates, he couldn't help but stop and look at the headboard sign, "Thousand Lotus Pavilion". Back then, Da Ying and her mother resided in the nearest courtyard, Peacock Jade Palace. One day when Da Ying was 12, she came upon Thousand Lotus Pavilion by accident and fell in love with it. Thousand Lotus Pavilion at that time was used only by guests of the imperial family. He tried to persuade her for three days and night that it wasn't a good idea to move from the Peacock Jade Palace to Thousand Lotus Pavilion but she refused. In the end, because he spoiled her, he let her and Empress Mei Yun move there. Even if the distance was far, he would make a travel every day to Thousand Lotus Pavilion, where it was lively and merry. But now, all that was left was a withering courtyard filled with dust. "Your majesty," Chao gongong said when he noticed how long the emperor had been standing, staring at the sign. "Your majesty, Da Ying gongzhu must be waiting for you,"

"Mm…everyone stay here, I'll go by myself," he instructed. The two guards at the gate opened it for the emperor and then proceeded to close it. Chao gongong and the rest of the servants stood there, waiting patiently.

When the emperor arrived, he slowly opened the door to Da Ying's room. What he saw was his grown daughter, in a peach tunic holding a brush, making gentle strokes on the paper in front of her. He stood there quietly, afraid to interrupt her concentration. Da Ying already knew he came in but didn't say anything. She wasn't sure what to say to him, and so she continued to paint, waiting for him to respond first. He made a move after she put the brush down and looked at the drawing. "You've gotten much better," he complimented her.

"Father," she turned to greet him. She did not expect his first words would be to compliment her. "Have a seat," she offered. He waved his hand, rejecting the offer as he continued to look at the painting. He suddenly picked up the brush, Da Ying watched him. After a moment, he set it down. "Hummingbirds are a match for these blossoms," he turned and walked over to the table. Da Ying followed him. "Is your arm better?"

"It's only a small scratch, I'm okay," she said.

"You don't have to worry about Consort Yao anymore, get some rest," As she looked at him, even until now, she couldn't read his mind. He spoke with no care, as if Consort Yao's death didn't matter to him. Da Ying didn't know how to react. Was this the real him?

After checking up on her, he proceeded to leave. Just as he was about to leave, he spoke some final words. "Muyan is returning in a month's time, I'll have someone get you when the time comes,"

After he left, Da Ying walked over to the painting and stared at it for a long time. It was beautiful, just like in the past. She felt her paintings always lacked something, it was always her father who made the finishing touches.

One of the maids in Da Ying's court reported back to Empress Mei Wu about the emperor's visit. "Are you sure he only went to ask about her injury?" Empress Mei Wu questioned.

"Replying to your highness, his majesty only stayed for a little bit. After painting for a while, he asked about her injury and then left,"

"In the past week, has she met up with anyone suspicious?"

"Replying to your highness, Da Ying gongzhu has been in her courtyard. When she's not busy, she likes to laze around in her room or tend to her flower garden. There have been no suspicious actions,"

"You may leave," Once the maid left, Tao Mei walked over to the empress. "Tao Mei, have you found anything?"

"Nothing, the people sent to inquire information about the person behind Prime Minister Yao's execution haven't found any clues."

"Make sure they find who it is before the day of the execution,"

"Yes, your highness," Empress Mei Wu was still skeptical about Consort Yao's story. She had no doubt that Da Ying would try something but to pull something this big by herself, Empress Mei Wu did not fully believe in Consort Yao. The key answer to her doubts lied with Mama Zhou, the person she sent to care for Da Ying.

The day went by quickly and Da Ying was getting ready for bed. Just before she was about to blow the candle out, she sensed his movements. Qin Xie De was here.