Chapter 23
***
A woman wearing a black veil was talking to a group of bandits.
"Make sure to hit each of the Princes to avoid further accusations and to mislead the assassination for a plain threat, but make sure that there's no poison in the arrow that will hit my son. Or I will kill you all with my bare hands, remember You must kill the two Princes, don't even leave anyone alive except for my son."
"Yes, Your Grace."
This is definitely the most beautiful day of her life.
***
Loud sound of gong filled the whole Empire that wakes Kana in his deep sleep.
Sheen came rushing in his room.
"Your Grace! That sound.. Someone from the Royal family... Died." She said in a quivering voice.
Kana felt a sudden fear crept up in his system.
"What?!" he abruptly got up, Sheen handed him his robe and they get out in the courtyard.
'Please be safe, Sunwoo.' His mind keeps on repeating this like an endless mantra.
They waited there for the announcement until a Eunuch came holding a letter looking like an edict from the inner court.
Kana opened it with shaking hands.
"The son of heavens, Emperor Jong already pass away. Everyone is requested to attend his funeral."
Kana somewhat felt relief that it wasn't Sunwoo but felt sad for the Emperor who died in the hands of cruel people.
Kana glance at the antidotes he prepared.
He didn't even had the chance to give it to him but he knows that he is already late. If the Emperor consumed too much poison no matter how strong the antidotes, it won't have any effect.
Sheen helps her master prepare for the funeral.
Kana was in a deep thought and he realized something.
"Sheen, call Lili and the rest of the servants to tidy up everything. Tell Jeon to hide all the antidotes I made and the remaining herbs to their usual hideout, some people from the Bureau of Investigation might come to inspect all the pavilions.. Someone is behind this and I don't want fall on their traps. Now! Quick!"
Kana pace back and forth,
He remembered what Yoongi said.
"This came from the Imperial Academy of Medicine I saw a servant burying them at the back of the Sunflower Palace, I took one and wash it to see what's inside but the smell wasn't even removed by running water."
The Empress is in danger!
Kana put on his black outer robe and run out of the door but he is meet by men wearing red in their foreheads.
The Shadow guards of Sunwoo!
"What happened?" Kana ask in daze.
The event went on so fast.
"The Empress is facing trial and no one is allowed to see her." Xiumin said.
"But she's framed up!" Kana retorted.
"His Highness Prince Sunwoo ordered us to keep you here safe in your Own courtyard until the investigation is done. They are on their way here."
Kana look at the empty cage of Moon.
They use the bird for a message to the borders.
"Who's with Sunwoo? Why did you left him! Something might happen to him while going back here! Quick! Fetch him now!" Kana frantically said while pacing back and forth.
"The rest of us are with him Your Grace. No need to fret."
Madame Yoon came and calm him down, and behind her was soldiers assigned by his father to guard their home.
"Kana'er, I came here to attend the funeral but the Palace is close, and I was send here instead, my servant send me a message that our Manor was under thurough investigation about what happened to the Emperor, why we are involved? The whole time your father and brother was with the princes in the borders." Madame Yoon massage her forehead.
Looks like having Kana in the Palace brings problems to their peaceful home.
"What mother? They did that?" Kana ask while looking around the servant clearing his courtyard.
"Yes, they bought some letter coming from the Bureau of Investigation. I can't say no for that so I let them be. They won't find anything on our home."
So the real perpetrator was like forming a spider web, and they are all trap at the same time!