CH 10

As the sun was setting, the roof became covered with snow, a few magpies that hadn't had time to go south were standing on the roof, chirping and chattering.

After three more days, the crown still did not come to Wangyue Pavilion. Counting the days, they had not seen the crown prince for a little more than half a month.

The maids in the outer courtyard were discussing privately between themselves. All felt that miss Ming Zhu had lost favor.

A woman who used her body to serve people couldn't last long. So what if she was beautiful ? She couldn't be introduced to the public. Before, they felt that since the crown prince exclusively favored the miss, that it was love coming from his bones, but now thinking about it carefully, it was not matching up. If it was really love, he wouldn't not even give her a concubine's title and keep her in a remote outside courtyard. The truth was that she was just a toy to vent his lust on.

Seeing how miss Ming Zhu was spending her days as usual, in complete leisure and carefreeness, Biying's heart was filled with anxiety : "Miss, perhaps you should yield to His Highness."

This morning she heard those people in the front yard gossiping and she got extremely angry.

Inside the room, charcoal was burning, Ming Zhu, only wearing a thin jacket, was sitting happily by the window, holding a book in her hand, her fingers slowly turning the pages, "I don't want to eat tonight, I'll just be eating two pieces of sweet cake, that'll be enough to satisfy my stomach."

What Biying said went in one ear and out the other, and she sighed with concern.

She felt that miss Ming Zhu had never suffered hardships before. During this year, she lived sheltered delicately in the crown prince's golden palace, and was too well kept, she still didn't know how hard it could get after losing favor. This was only half a month, and she could already hear taunts that couldn't be heard before, if another half a month passed, it would get even worse.

"Miss, listen to my advice ......"

Ming Zhu who was sitting on the pouf stretched out, "I'm tired."

Biying knew that she didn't want to listen, and she also knew that it was useless for her to say anymore, she sighed and sighed, "This slave will go prepare the cakes."

Ming Zhu smiled at her, "Go quickly."

Ming Zhu opened the wooden window, cold wind blew in and, feeling comfortable, she squinted her eyes. In these days where Zhao Zhi did not come, she didn't need to be restrained by people, and also didn't need to pay attention to his mood and be careful and cautious at all times in order to safeguard herself. She was as comfortable and happy as a deity.

Biying quickly brought over the rice cakes made in the small kitchen, and also boiled a pot of rose tea, whose rich aroma filled the room.

Ming Zhu ate two pieces of cake to feed her stomach and continued to read her book. After she finished reading the folk tale, it was time to go to sleep. She took off her shoes and nestled into the blanket. Before closing her eyes, she ordered Biying to blow out the candles to turn off the lights.

There was no need to leave a light for Zhao Zhi, if he intended to give her the cold treatment, he wasn't going to come over for a while.

Ming Zhu curled up and slept on the inside part of the bed, alongside the sandalwood incense burning inside the incense burner, it didn't take long for her to slowly drift off to sleep.

Ming Zhu's ears were surrounded by voices who spoke inaudible words. It seemed that many people were kneeling in front of her eyes. She immediately recognized the woman who was prostrating and trembling on the ground, it was the old momo who had forcibly poured poisoned wine into her mouth.

(momo is an old female servant)

The old momo was shaking all over as cold sweat was dripping from her forehead. Her expression was hideous and her face pale, tears full of regret were flowing down her wrinkled face.

Ming Zhu found it strange and at the same time, she also felt some pleasure. It was indeed a dream. The dream was an image, a picture where she got her great revenge.

The old momo kept begging for mercy. She was so scared that her speech became slurred. Ming Zhu took a few steps forward, but she could not hear clearly what she said, and gradually, even the picture in front of her could not be seen clearly anymore.

The place seemed to have changed, and everywhere she looked, there were white fabrics hanging.

(TL's note : white fabric hanging everywhere is the sign that a funeral is being held)

Ming Zhu, frightened by this ghastly picture, woke up from her dream, her thin upper-garment was drenched with cold sweat. She sat up hugging the quilt, breathing heavily. Her breathing only calmed down after a long while.

Biying heard the sound and hurried in, seeing her pale appearance, she asked, "Miss, did you have a nightmare?"

Mingzhu first shook her head and then nodded, "Biying, I want to sleep with the lights on."

"Yes."

Biying again lit two red candles before retreating from the room.

Fortunately, Ming Zhu didn't dream again during the second half of the night and slept peacefully until dawn. She heard that the red plum flowers in the back garden had blossomed today and thus intended to go see the plum flowers.