86
PHOENIX PALACE
AFTER making sure that Kana is "alright" Minister Kim left the palace along with his assistants, Lady Sheen dispersed the guests and the entire palace went back on its tranquility.
Kana get up slowly and look at the women standing beside his bed.
Sheen purposely asked Xiao Mei to go guard on the dungeon so she won't see that Kana is fine otherwise she will have something to report whoever the hell her real master is, after what happened tonight, Sheen was convinced that Xiao Mei is the traitor. The possibility of her burning Jade Pavilion is a hundred percent.
"Your Majesty." All the women kneeled, face sullen and regretfull.
"We failed as Your Majesty's subordinates, Please hand down the punishment."
"Please rise, it's not really serious, I didn't drink the poison, I am pregnant after all, I just drink a pure osmanthus tea and acted the rest, what do you say? Am I capable enough to be one of the drama Troupe In Countless Pleasure?" Kana grinned at them making them comfortable.
Sheen secretly rolled her eyes, Countless Pleasure will not be able to accept the topnotch acting of their master.
Xiao Yue tapped her chest, "Your Majesty really scared this servant."
"It was Xiao Lu who acted immediately when she saw Xiao Mei changed the tea pot, come her and accept this gift." Kana reach out and hand her a small envelope, "All of you has work hard today, expect a raise on your salary this month."
The servants kneeled again in gratitude,
"We Thank Your Majesty for your grace."
"Rise," Kana playfully said as she motioned them to get up.
"Where's Xiao Mei by the way?"
Sheen step in and said, "I sent her to the dungeon to guard the prison cell of Consort Lin."
"Ask her to come back, all of you, dismissed." Kana then beckoned Sheen to come closer, "Prepare the poison pill that I refine last week."
Sheen's eyes bulged, "Your Majesty will use it on her?"
"Yes, she's very unruly, running around behind my back, I will surely make her obedient and by that, we will know who her master is." Kana smiled sweetly but Sheen shivered, that smile looks scary.
Sheen nodded, "Empress Regent Han is really intelligent."
Kana blushed by that compliment, he stuck the loose hair strands on his ear.
"Don't tease me Xiao Sheen! I'll send a message to my brother!"
Sheen immediately paled.
"Your Majesty!"
Laughters echoed the entire main chamber of Phoenix Palace.
***
RUI PALACE
"Yun'er? Any news about the event in Phoenix Palace?" Lili pace back and forth, she's overly anxious about their plan.
"It went well Your Grace, the servant of Noble Consort Song passed on a message that Empress Regent Han has been poisoned as planned and Consort Lin was sent to the dungeon." Yun'er carefully relied the message.
"I really hope she'll die this time." Lili slowly sat on the couch, tapping her chest slowly.
"Minister Kim was summoned and I'm afraid she's alright." Yun'er said calmly.
"It doesn't matter, as long as the discord between her and Consort Lin has been sowed, no matter what that woman will say, Empress Regent Han will not believe her since she already tried to poisoned her." Lili sneered, completely happy about the outcome.
Yun'er frown at that," But Noble Consort Song said that most likely the Empress Regent already know about your plan and Consort Lin already told him about it, Empress Regent Han whispered at Noble Consort Song about being an Empress when His Majesty returns."
"You're just overthinking, That Consort Lin is crazy over the second prince, and who is the second prince? He was the childhood sweetheart of Empress Regent Han, No one in their right mind will lend some help to their rival." Lili said as she get a fruit and bit on it, seemingly unbothered.
"Come, help me bath, I want to rest." Lili ordered, hence Yun'er only nodded and let out a sigh.
Yun'er didn't know how to pacify her mistress' wishful thinking
***
In the thick forest right after they passed the Yuan-Siam North borders, Emperor Sunwoo and Siwon left their tired horses in one of the paid stables to rest and they traveled by leaping trees after trees.
Emperor Sunwoo was skilled in martial arts and his qinggong is fast, followed by Siwon who was next to him.
Emperor Sunwoo abruptly stopped, he smirked after seeing some figures lurking in the dark.
"Assassins," He softly said as he draw his sword out of the sheath.
Siwon followed suit, taking out his bow and arrows, he leap on the tree and positioned himself.
No matter how fast their movements will be, Siwon won't miss even a single shot.
Sure enough, right after Emperor Sunwoo stopped, the men in black attacked.
Emperor Sunwoo was full of vigor, he did not go to the south borders to join the war, he went to look for the Emperor of Yuan for the last three days and after making sure that he is fine and he will manage to fix his problems, Emperor Sunwoo won't waste his time fixing other country's problem while he has his own problems to fix.
His inner strength is surging and a feeling of complete bloodlust erupted in his whole being, drawing his sword, he run and slash the nearest assassin.
Siwon helped him by shooting an arrow.
"Leave one person alive." Emperor Sunwoo ordered.
Soon enough, twenty nine skilled assassins were dead, bloodily sprawled on the ground.
Only one remaining who got bruises and small cuts.
Siwon pressed his acupuncture points so he stood there without moving, clearly terrified. The Emperor is so vicious. He killed his companions without even batting his eyes.
"I left you alive to deliver a message. Tell your Master that you did your task and the Emperor is dead." Emperor Sunwoo tear the clothes in his chest and took an arrow, he slash his own arm, drew a blood and put it in the tear cloth. "Show this to them as evidence."
The frightened assassin was dumbfounded. He is stunned and unable to move even if Siwon already released his acupuncture points.
He's thought as of that moment is, 'Does the Emperor gone mad?'
"You're still not moving?" Siwon warned him.
Emperor Sunwoo glared at him,
"Scram!"
The frightened assassin run away as fast as he could.
"Your Majesty, why did you do that?" Siwon is wondering as well.
"I'm laying traps on the mouse, Old Second will surely make a move." Emperor Sunwoo bitterly smiled.
"Should we send a message to Empress Regent Han to alert her?"
Emperor Sunwoo shook his head, "No need, this is part of our plan... Let's rest for a bit, we should arrived at the Capital for the next four days."
"Yes!"Siwon agreed and he walked around to gather the dead people and start a fire burning them.
"Who are these people?"
Siwon looked for clues carefully.
"Lotus Pavilion."
Emperor Sunwoo scoffs when he heard that, "Seems like Left Prime Minister Park's business has been booming. Let's continue our journey. We must arrive at the same date of their plan."
Besides, he is afraid if Kana will overdo his actions, he is pregnant after all.