บท 21: Chapter twenty one: Your Queen is sick
The blonde walking behind the King and the Queen's long entourage.
Was she the servant that made waves during the Queen's wedding?
Her servant she sent out to spy had told her all about it. The blonde was walking as if she is scared even to occupy the very air she breathed. She reminded Su of a mouse.
So what is the King's interest in one so basic?
The girl can somewhat be seen as a beauty but she wasn't attractive so what caught the King's eyes and why did he give her to the Queen?
All these questions ran through Lady Su's mind with no answers.
When the entourage has disappeared she turned to one of the female servants standing behind her.
" Find out everything that happens in the revealing ceremony and tell me, " she instructed with an inscrutable look on her face.
" Yes, my lady, " the servant curtsied and turned to walk away.
I would like to meet the new Queen, Lady Su thought to herself heading back towards her chambers. She had gone out for a little bit of fresh air this morning.
At the ceremony ground, people have begun to arrive, the ministers and other high-ranking officials were also present and all that was missing was the King and the Queen.
The sight of the approaching King and Queen had everyone on their feet and the people screaming their joy at the new Queen.
Onyx barely revealed any emotions at the sight of the crowd's excitement while her parents walked with a puff to their shoulders.
Her father couldn't help flaunting his arrival with the King.
Minister Wang where he stood wore a dark displeased look as he noticed the war Minister arriving with the King.
When the King got to the throne seat he and his Queen stood and waited for the people's greetings.
The war Minister went to join his fellow ministers. His cahoots welcomed him with happy smiles while the opposing party merely glared at them.
The Queen's mother found a place for herself, preening like a peacock while the servants stood off to the side, Salsa still hiding at the back trying not to make her presence felt.
" Long live your Majesty, " the crowd screamed and everyone went down on their knees and bowed to the King.
The King stared at his subjects a pleased look on his face. He waved his hand for everyone to rise and when they did he and his Queen took their seat before everyone else sat.
The ceremony was opened by a soulful beautiful music played by one of the kingdom's best musicians which was accompanied by his masterful zither.
After his performance, the crowd screamed and applauded their pleasure.
Onyx sat still and stiff at the throne watching everything happening around her with barely concealed indifference. The only time there was a mark on her stone-cold expression was when her eyes went towards her servant.
She frowned as she saw the blonde hurdled into herself with her head cast down. It troubles her how meek and shy the girl acts. She wanted to pull her out of her shell.
She remembered the smile that whisked across the blonde's lips when she saw her belongings and wish to bring that expression to her face once again.
The King looked at his Queen wanting to gauge her reaction to the fantastic display in her honor but she was barely paying attention.
What was she staring at?
The King looked but frowned when he couldn't see anything that could hold his Queen's interest.
Salsa kept her gaze to the ground though she stole glances at what was happening in front of her. She felt excited seeing the dances and the swordplay displayed just like they have done during the wedding just without the interruption.
She also noticed that the barbarians were not present. That put her at ease. The man that had asked for her at the wedding had scared her. He was so tall and very intimidating.
Salsa shuddered imagining belonging to one like him. She felt someone watching her and looked up.
She almost fainted on the spot when she saw the King and the Queen looking at her. Her heart leaped to her throat at the Queen's gaze and then nosedived to her belly when she met the King's eyes.
She quickly threw her eyes to the floor wondering why they were looking at her. Her stomach was fluttering in dread and excitement.
The two confusing emotions running through her were making her belly hurt and making her feel sick.
Onyx saw the blonde shrink further into herself and frowned.
Why is she acting scared?
She tried to find the source and that is when she saw the King looking in the blonde's direction. Her hand tightened as a dark look appeared in her eyes.
Does the King fancy the blonde?
The thought of the King possessing the blonde caused acid to fill her throat.
No, she will not let that happen. The blonde was hers, she thought looking away.
When the King couldn't find what had his young Queen's attention he returned his attention to the activity happening in front of him just in time to watch the maiden dance performance.
He smiled with a pleased look as he watched the young women move their slim waists to the upbeat music beating in the background.
After the performance, it was time for the King to introduce his Queen to his people.
The King stood up in all his glory and faced his people. He watched them before he began to speak. He told them of his disappointment at not giving the Kingdom a succeeding heir but he strongly believes that the gods will bless him with an heir through his new queen, he turned to look in her direction and waved her to come to him with his hand.
Onyx stood with a polite, and humble look on her face as she walked toward the King. She was playing the role of the perfect meek wife to the King when on the inside all she wanted is to tear off the overwhelming ceremonial clothing she has on and run till she was far from the kingdom.
She plastered a fake smile on her lips as the King introduced her.
The crowd screamed and whistled after the introduction. Their excitement was like strong windy dust shaking the grounds of the ceremony.
Their excited and resounding jubilation to her presence moved and shocked Onyx. She hadn't expected that kind of acceptance from her people.
All of a sudden she felt this urge to make things better for her people. She has no clue how to go about that but she was going to try. She wasn't going to be a silent Queen.
Among the crowd, a young man watched the Queen with a bold look of lust on his face. He was the first son of Minister Wang, Haitao. He was surprised to see how gorgeous the Queen was and began to entertain unhealthy thoughts in his mind.
He imagined himself kissing the Queen and touching her. A sick look of pleasure twisted his face as he continued to watch the Queen.
The crowd continued to cheer happily at the Kingdom's new chance at birthing an heir.
Everyone in the Kingdom was longing for an heir to the throne and was beginning to despair with the long wait. Most have begun to think the King cursed because of the rumored evil things he had done, though no one dares voice these ominous thoughts for fear of having their heads detached from their necks.
These thoughts didn't just crop up in the minds of the people, it was planted by someone with a nefarious objective.
The first time the wave of these thoughts shook the Kingdom the King had sent his guards to investigate the source but they had not come up with anything and ended up having to behead a few citizens as a warning to people to desist.
The lesson was learned as no one has dared mention it again even though the thoughts still reside in the minds of the people.
The arrival of the new Queen was like a new beginning, a beginning they hope will bring about changes for good in the Kingdom. They couldn't help being enticed by the Queen's beautiful face.
Most of the people present fell in love with her there and there. Some were boiling with envy at the King for capturing such a beautiful woman.
When the applause and screams settled the ministers stood up one by one to offer a toast to the King and to wish him well.
First was the Minister of ceremony. Minister Yuxuan. He was an elderly man with strings of white air in his black long hair swept back from his face flowing down his shoulders.
He is the oldest minister alive and one of the King's advisors. He sits on the fence when it comes to the power struggles going on in the palace. He was a strong supporter of the King. Despite the King's numerous faults, he was a strong supporter of the King because the King's father had been a good friend of his.
The two competing houses, the house of Zhang and Wang have tried to court his help but he remains resolute on not getting involved in their scheming.
The two houses have tried severally to have him removed from his post and put their own man but the King favors the old man and has resisted every suggestion made by both parties to have him removed.
Minister Yuxuan gave the King a respectful bow and wished him well before drinking from the wine on his cup.
After him, the Minister of war went wishing the King an heir soon.
Most of the ministers went before it got to Minister Wang's turn. He offered his wishes smoothly missing out on wishing the King an heir. The only person allowed to give the King an heir was his daughter. If his offspring don't get to seat on the throne he will conquer it. He has already made his plans underground.
The King stood after his ministers' salutations and acknowledged them before a hard look appeared on his face like a dark cloud about to rain.
" Last night someone dares to hurt the Queen, " he started shocking the crowd. They all looked at one another asking questions.
" Who was it? "
" What did the person do? "
" And who dares hurt the new Queen? "
" That is the shortest route to death. "
While the crowd murmured to each other the King continued.
" The man in question tried to rape one of the Queen's servants. "
The mention of a servant had the crowd pausing.
Why was the King making a big deal of this? Everyone knows no one cared about what happened to the servants, they have no right in the Kingdom.
The ministers all gave each other sharp looks. They wondered when the royal family get involved in servants' matters.
" So this morning I am going to punish the man to tell everyone that whoever goes against my Queen goes against me, " the King waves his hand to his guards and two of them disappeared.
A few minutes later they reappeared dragging a barely alive Master Chang towards the center of the ceremony ground.
They dropped him unceremoniously to the ground. He had bruises all over his face and body. The Queen had instructed that he not be treated kindly.
The appearance of Master Chang triggered Onyx's rage once again and she watched him with strong hostility. It pleased her to see him in worse shape.
Salsa gasped in softly at the sight of battered Master Chang. She felt pity for him. Despite what he did to her she wouldn't have wanted this for him. She wondered what the King plans to do to him. Surely he has suffered enough.
Master Chang could barely look up. His shoulders were slumped, a defeated look on his face.
" I will let the Queen decide his fate, " the King said shocking the crowd and Master Chang.
He quickly overcame his shock and began to plead for his life. The Queen was a woman surely he could appeal to her delicate sensibilities and that of the crowd by showing he was sorry.
Onyx had not expected the King to let her handle this but she was happy all the same.
A wicked smirk appeared on her face as she got to her feet to pass her judgment.
Salsa looked quickly towards the Queen when the King mentioned her and the look she saw in her eyes shook her to the bone. It revealed a side of the Queen she didn't know existed, a dark side and she felt a little uncomfortable with it even though her heart tells her that the Queen will never hurt her.
The crowd waits with anticipation to see what the Queen. Most doesn't expect her to pass a harsh judgment after all it was a servant while others wanted a strong punishment for the man.
" Master Chang, I believe you are a wealthy merchant, correct? "
Master Chang nodded rapidly wondering where the Queen was going with this.
" Then my judgment is this..."
" All your wealth is going to be sold and the proceeding given to your servants and then, " Onyx took a pregnant pause as the dark smirk on her face grew.
" You and your family will be sold as slaves, " she finished in a very chilled tone that made most of the crowd shiver.
The Queen was viewed in a new light. She wasn't a woman to be trifled with.
Master Chang seeing that his fate has been sealed lost the remorseful look on his face and a spiteful look appeared on his face as he began to laugh maniacally.
The crowd stared at him as if he has lost his mind.
" My King, I pity you, your Queen is a sick woman, " he yelled at top of his voice freezing the crowd, and then he turned towards the Queen.
" Do you think I didn't see the way you looked at your servant. You are only mad at me because I wanted to do something you hungered to do. "
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