东宫 Eastern Palace: Chapter 17

Why do men always have this type of behaviour?

        I was not willing: "Yesterday you kissed me so many times, I don't owe you anything." Li Cheng Yin pulled apart his clothes showing me the scar on his stomach: "Then what about this? How are you going to repay me?" I looked at the scar, couldn't help but sighed: "The assassin stabbed you, it wasn't me that stabbed you." "However I saved your life! If I didn't push you away, the assassin would have hurt you instead." I don't have any other way to refuse because what he had said was the truth, however I was still reluctant: "What do you want then?" "Next time when you go to Ming Yu Fang, bring me with you."

       I was surprised: "You.....you....." I said in a very loud voice: "The Crown Prince wants to go to the brothel!"

        This time Li Cheng Yin quickly covered my mouth: "Stop shouting! Stop shouting! I only wanted to go see, I am not doing something bad!"
　　

        "We were still locked in here, if we still can't get out, how can we go to Ming Yu Fang....." I sighed: "The Great Empress Dowager is not going to lock us here until the new year right? Li Cheng Yin said: "Don't worry, I've got a plan!" The plan that he came up with was a rotten idea, me pretending that I was sick.
        
        I can't pretend to be sick.

        Ever since being in the Capital, I was only sick once, telling me to pretend to be sick, no matter how hard I pretend, it won't be believable.
　
        Li Cheng Yin told me to pretend to faint, I don't think I can do that, the moment I tried I couldn't help but to laugh, after Li Cheng Yin got angry and said: "If you can't do it, then I will do it!" When he did pretended to faint, it was quite realistic, fainting on the bed motionless. I shouted out the window: "Someone come! The Crown Prince has fainted! Someone come......" After shouting for a few times, the doors of the palace hall were finally opened, a lot of people came in, the palace maids urgently went to get the imperial physician, even the Great Empress Dowager knew about it.
　
        The imperial physician examined his pulse, the result was that Li Cheng Yin's pulse wasn't stable.
　　
        We were starving for this long, of course his pulse wasn't stable. However the Great Empress Dowager didn't think that way, she thought that Li Cheng Yin was exhausted, even though she was being disrespectful, she didn't want to lock us up ever again.
　　
        I was brought back to the Eastern Palace, Li Cheng Yin wasn't that lucky, he had to constantly go to the temple, because tomorrow there is a ritual.  Even though I went back to the Eastern Palace, I was still busy because the Emperor wanted me to host the ceremony instead of Noble Consort Gao.

        The new year was the busiest time, very tiring, not fun at all.
　　
        I was mostly worried about the ceremony, although there was Yong Niang and Noble Consort Gao helping me, however these unnecessary and elaborate writing took me a long time to memorize, also there were many feasts and ceremonies to attend.

        Every night I was so tired, I could fall asleep while just sitting there removing my makeup, also every morning when the sky was not even bright yet, Yong Niang would bring a group of people to drag me out of bed to get dressed. Before when there was an Empress, I didn't feel this way, however now I felt that my life was very bitter. Everyday I see countless people that I know and don't know, receiving respect from them, eating food without tasting the food, there were female officials saying lucky phrases, seeing boring dances, hearing other people talking endlessly.
　　
        During feasting, the only day that was fun was the fifth of the first month of the lunar year, it's a day where married women visit their parents, also the imperial family had invited all the princesses to the feast. The main table consists of two of the Emperor's father's sisters, the next table had a few other princesses who are Li Cheng Yin's aunts. Princess Ping Nan greeted me with wine, because I am the Crown Princess, although I am younger, however there is no Empress in place, so I became the main female host of the feast.

　　I drank some wine, I wanted to stand up, Yong Niang went over to support Princess Ping Nan, who is Pei Zhao's mother.
        
        Pei Zhao doesn't look like her at all.

       I started to look for Princess Luo Zi, I have never noticed her before, after all the imperial family had a lot of princesses, I don't see them often, in my eyes all the princesses look the same, all wearing long clothing. This time because of Pei Zhao, I cautiously pay attention to Princess Luo Xi, she's quite pretty, with graceful posture, even Princess Ping An and her looked quite alike. Yong Niang helped me find a person to write a three verse poem for me, then I memorized and recited it during the feast. Princess Luo Xi also recited a poem, there were a few words that I didn't recognize. Everyone was praising me saying that the poem that I had written was the best, Princess Luo Xi was second place, I felt that Princess Luo Xi was a women that most men likes, a descendant of the imperial family, gentle personality, multi-talented, matches well with Pei Zhao.
　　
        I wasn't happy this new year, maybe because I was too tired, even I didn't see Li Cheng Yin for so many days, I heard him and Zhao Liang Di have reconciled again, like two people dripping more grease into honey. I wasn't excited for anything, only excited for the fifteenth of the first month of the lunar year as it was the Lantern Festival.
　　
        What I like most about the Capital was the Lantern Festival there.
　　
         Ten miles of lanterns, nine layers of watchtower gates, fireworks in all directions, seven star tiered tower, being happy together, to go and to return, peace: This was the Lantern Festival in the Capital. There were a few days left until the Lantern Festival, people were busily hanging the lanterns on the streets, these lanterns were very unique, different colour and design, with wonderful craftsmanship. Also all of the well-known fireworks that night would be happening at the top of the seven tiered tower because it was really tall and half of the Capital city would be able to see the fireworks. That night the four main gates of the Capital city will be opened so that people can go and see the lanterns. San Yin mountain is a place where people go to seek luck in marriage, it is said that the temple at San Yin mountain will bring marriage to people which are predestined by fate, however if unmarried men and women go to the temple and pray on the night of the Lantern Festival then it will not be effective. If a woman is already married, they should go with their husbands to go see the lanterns to pray for the new year. If a woman is not married but they have a true love, then this would be considered a private meeting between two lovers which are permitted based on ceremonial rites.

        Last year when it was the Lantern Festival, A'Du and I went to the San Yin mountain to look at lanterns, even losing our shoes. I heard that night there were thousands of shoes left behind, the people sweeping the mountain gave those shoes to the poor people, using a few big carts to carry the shoes.
　
        This year I decided that I will wear boots and use leather strings to tie them onto my legs, so that I wouldn't lose my shoes again. It will be crowded and lively, so I must go there and see!
　　
        On the fourteenth of the first month of the lunar year, the feasting has finally came to an end, I finally don't have any duties, can go back to Eastern Palace and sleep, saving some strength for the Lantern Festival. However when I fell in a deep sleep, Yong Niang woke me up again.

        I yawned and asked her: "What happened now?" "There's a talisman found under Xu Bao Lin's bed, it is said that it is a witchcraft object, it has Zhao Liang Di's birth date written on it, right now Zhao Liang Di has taken hold of Xu Bao Lin, waiting outside of the palace hall, Crown Princess please deal with this." I was tired and angry: What's the big issue? A talisman and you're making a big fuss out of nothing, the new year is not over yet! Xu Bao Lin is not that foolish, also would this talisman be able to curse Zhao Liang Di to death? Zhao Liang Di is still alive and well!" Yong Niang told me: "Witchcraft is prohibited in the Imperial Palace, Crown Princess you must have not known, ten years ago Chen Zheng used witchcraft to curse the previous emperor, as a result was forced to commit suicide and the whole family was executed. When the country was first formed, Empress Wu had used witchcraft on Consort Xu, as a result she was demoted to the status of a commoner, even her son cannot be bestow with the title of a prince........" My head was hurting, I don't like it when Yong Niang talks about things that happened hundreds of years ago, I got up and let the palace maids help me get dressed. Yong Niang said: "Xu Bao Lin's witchcraft matter is strange, Crown Princess must be careful, and don't fall into a trap." I straightforwardly asked her: "What do you think I should do?" Yong Niang said: "Before you could've allowed the Empress to deal with this matter, however now there's no Empress, also right now is the lunar new year celebration, we should not deal with matters that will bring us misfortune. I think we should allow the Crown Prince to deal with this matter." I did not say anything, I felt that if I let Li Cheng Yin deal with this matter, Xu Bao Lin would be the person that will be punished.

        Zhao Liang Di is Li Cheng Yin's heart and the apple of his eyes, even not knowing the whole situation, he would definitely be angry, and then Xu Bao Lin would be in trouble. Xu Bao Lin was quite pitiful, Li Cheng Yin doesn't like her, last time when I visited her, she was crying, now that this type of matter had happened, she won't be able to give an explanation to defend herself. I thought and thought, I couldn't bear to do so.

        Yong Niang saw that I wasn't saying anything, said: " Crown Princess this is a complex situation, you should not get involved in this situation. I said in a loud voice: "What do you mean I should not get involved? Letting Li Cheng Yin deal with this matter, I will not allow that to happen!" Yong Niang wanted persuade me, I fixed my clothes and said: "Tell Zhao Liang Di and Xu Bao Lin's to come here." Every time when I give out a Crown Princess presence, Yong Niang would have no other way. Yong Niang knows all the palace rules, also she's a very well educated person, so she never disrespects me.

        Zhao Liang Di saw me, bowed out of respect, I politely told Yong Niang to help her get up, after I told her to sit down.
　　
        Xu Bao Lin was still kneeling on the floor, her cheeks and eyes were red as if she just had cried.
　　
        I asked left and right: "How come no one is helping Xu Bao Lin get up?" The palace maids do not dare to disobey me, hurriedly helped Xu Bao Lin get up. I started to talk nonsense: "Today's weather wasn't bad........Two of you came here to give new year greetings?" This phrase caused Zhao Liang Di's complexion to turn red and white.
　　
        Based on the rules of the Eastern Palace, during the lunar celebrations they are suppose to wear special clothing and bow to me, however for the past three years Li Cheng Yin was afraid that I would mistreat Zhao Liang Di, so he never allows her to be alone with me, so this rule was abolished. As a result, Zhao Liang Di must have thought that I was mocking her. Actually I was just busy with the lunar year ceremonies, only able to go back to the Eastern Palace when the sky was dark, I don't have strength to argue with them.
　　
        Yong Niang quietly told me, at that time I noticed that Zhao Liang Di's expressions were not good, I thought that it was because I was treating Xu Bao Lin to politely, so I comforted Xu Bao Lin with a few words, then went and take a look at the talisman.
　　
        The talisman is an item that brings misfortune, so it was put on a tray, when the palace maid had brought the item, Yong Niang didn't allow me to grab the item. I looked at the birth date that was on the item, but I couldn't find any clues. I thought of a question and asked: "How did you suddenly remembered to go to Xu Bao Lin's place and search under her bed?" The moment I asked this question, Zhao Liang Di's expressions suddenly changed.
　　
        It turned out Zhao Liang Di's pet was suddenly missing, the palace maids were searching everywhere, someone saw that the pet had went into Xu Bao Lin's courtyard, so Zhao Liang Di's palace maids went in and searched. Xu Bao Lin had said that she didn't see any pet, Zhao Liang Di's palace maids were not convinced, so they kept on searching, never thought that the pet was not found, but this witchcraft item was found.
　　
        Zhao Liang Di said: "Crown Princess please investigate." I asked Xu Bao Lin: "Where did this item come from?" Xu Bao Lin kneeled again: "I don't know, Crown Princess please investigate." "Get up first." I don't like it when people constantly kneel down, then I told Zhao Liang Di: "There's always a reason for something to happen, Xu Bao Lin doesn't have any reason, why would she use witchcraft on you? I think this matter is not that simple........" Zhao Liang Di faintly said: "There's evidence, Crown Princess's words, are you planning to side with Xu Bao Lin?" She was saying it impolitely, with an aggressive gaze. When I was about to say something, Yong Niang had already said: "The Crown Princess just wanted to observe carefully, she is not trying to side with anyone, Zhao Liang Di please speak cautiously." Zhao Liang Di suddenly left her seat and bowed to me, said: "I will quietly wait for Crown Princess's investigation on this matter, only hoping that the truth will come to light, and then Crown Princess will give me an explanation." After she continued to say: "I will take my leave now." I didn't finish speaking, but she had turned and left abruptly.
　　
        Yong Niang was angry, said: "How can she be so ridiculous?!" I understand Zhao Liang Di's dislike towards me, anyways I don't like her either.
　　
        Xu Bao Lin was still kneeling there and looked at me. I sighed, and went over to help her get up, asked her: "Tell me what actually happened today." Xu Bao Lin was panicking, Yong Niang told someone to give a cup of tea to her, slowly she told me what had happened.
　　
        Apparently Xu Bao Lin lives in a remote place, the past few days was the lunar new year celebration, they were bestows with items. These items weren't important to me and Zhao Liang Di, however to Xu Bao Lin these were rare items. Xu Bao Lin has a gentle personality, the two palace maids that I had sent to Xu Bao Lin weren't bad, Xu Bao Lin had shared the pastries with them. Items that were bestowed by the Emperor cannot be shared with anyone, so the doors of the courtyard were locked, preventing people from seeing.
　
        At that moment Zhao Liang Di's people suddenly came knocking on the door, they hurriedly put away the pastries and opened the door. Zhao Liang Di's people entered the courtyard and searched everywhere, Xu Bao Lin felt guilty, Zhao Liang Di's people were impolite, quickly argue back when they don't get along, Zhao Liang Di's people are the type of people to finish something once it has started, creating a mess in the room, never thought that the pet was not found, however there was a talisman found under Xu Bao Lin's bed. Zhao Liang Di's people went back and reported to her, Xu Bao Lin's two palace maids were detained. When Zhao Liang Di saw the talisman, her whole body was trembling with anger, brought Xu Bao Lin to see me. "I really don't know where that object had came from." Xu Bao Lin said with teary eyes: "Crown Princess please investigate this matter......" How can I investigate this? Each of them have their own side of the story, I am unable to investigate this, however this object obviously did not came out of nowhere. I asked Xu Bao Lin: "This object was underneath your bed, you don't have any idea who put it there?" Xu Bao Lin thought that I was questioning her, suddenly she kneeled down: "Crown Princess I know I am an unlucky person, however I don't strive for favoritism, I don't dare to curse Zhao Liang Di......." I could tell that she was scared, quickly said: "I don't mean this way, I just wanted to say that for someone to put this object under your bed without anyone noticing was not easy. You were at your place the whole day, also the two palace maids were with you, did you notice any suspicious people going to your place, or did you notice any clues? Hearing the words that I said, she slowly calmed down, thinking if there are any clues left behind.

       She thought for a long time, in the end she told me: "I couldn't think of any suspicious person....." Forget it, this Xu Bao Lin was just as clueless as I am.

        I used kind words to comfort her, also telling her to go back first.  Xu Bao Lin believe but also doubt the things I had said, I told her: "After some time has passed, the truth will come to light, there is nothing to be afraid of, we'll talk about this after the festival is over." Seeing that I was taking the matter seriously, she bowed to me and then left.

　　 Yong Niang asked me: "What plan do you have to find out who's the person behind this?" I yawned: "What plan would I have? I couldn't find anything in this matter." Yong Niang did not know whether to laugh or cry, asked me: "Crown Princess how are you going to explain this to Zhao Liang Di?" I rolled my eyes: "I didn't put the talisman under her bed, why do I have to explain to her?" Hearing the words I said, Yong Niang didn't know whether to laugh or cry, talking endlessly to me, I was tired, not a moment later, I had fell asleep.

        I fell into a deep sleep until someone lifted me up from my bed, I was still half asleep, although Yong Niang would frequently tell people to drag me out of bed, it would usually be carrying or supporting me with one hand, unlike this person who's rude.
　　
        The moment I opened my eyes, Li Cheng Yin! Not only did he lifted me up, he also said: "You could still sleep?" Oh no oh no I forgot!

        Zhao Liang Di must have complained in front of him, so he came to interrogate me. I said in a loud voice: "Why can't I sleep?! I couldn't find anything in the investigation of Xu Bao Lin's matter, there's no use in questioning me!" "What happened to Xu Bao Lin?" He looked at me with his eyebrows wrinkled.
　
        Ah? He doesn't know! Zhao Liang Di didn't complained about it to him? I smiled: "Eh.....nothing nothing, why did you come here?" "Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival!" "I know." Nonsense, that's why I wanted to sleep the whole day today, so that I have some strength for tomorrow night, so I can play a game of solving riddles on lanterns.

        He looked at me expressionless, said: "Tomorrow I will go to Zhu Que Lou with my father to greet our people." "I know." Of course I know, every year during the Lantern Festival him and the Emperor would go there to wave to the people, hearing people chant 'long live the Emperor,' although it is to greet the people, but actually standing there for half of the night being blown by the cold wind, fortunately women in the imperial family don't have to go there, or else I will become an ice pole, becoming an ice pole was a small issue, however not being able to see the lanterns was a big issue. He glared at me with an angry expression: "Do you remember what you had promised me?"
　　
        Why was he saying that, accompanying him is like accompanying a tiger, power is hard to fathom. This phrase was the truth, accompanying the Emperor's son is the same as accompanying a small tiger, as well as power that is hard to fathom, I can never guess what's in his mind, I can only ask him: "What did I promise you?" He raised his voice: "You must have completely forgotten! You promised to bring me to the brothel." How can he say that in such a loud voice?

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