06. Hoping to get out the palace

On her way out she saw a group of people approaching so she stood aside and bowed deeply. A young voice resounded making her furrow her eyebrows for a moment but then her face became again calm.

''You are that damnable mute servant. Disgusting. Rise your head. No matter what you are after all just a servant, you must listen to what I say. I say, rise your head!'' Her roar resonated through the long walkway where many servants turned around and shook their heads.

Seeing the clothes on the bowing young woman they knew that the one screaming will be in trouble soon, very soon.

''What is going on here. Who dares to raise voice in Emperor's palace?''

''I am Wen Guifei's niece that was visiting her and this damnable servant doesn't show me needed respect.''

''Looking at the clothes she is third-grade servant. You are just niece of Wen Guifei. Not her master. Why are you screaming at her? What is going on?''

He walked in front of Lan Lian and she rose her head. She pointed at her lips and throat and crossed her arms to show she cant talk. He knew about this child, just like most people in the palace so he nodded.

''You must be Lan Lian. Go back to your work. I will handle this. Go...'' He waved his hand for her to go away.

She bowed respectfully towards both of them and rushed with quick steps back down the walkway while he turned his cold eyes towards the young woman.

''It seems your elders didn't teach you palace etiquette. Even third-grade yahuan in Guifei's palace is a higher grade than you. Only consorts are higher than her. And as I know you are not one.''

The young woman suddenly paled then became red in anger. She pointed at the back of the girl that was rushing away.

''Y...you want to say she has higher standing than I do? But my family is nobler than hers!''

''Are you sure? Servants, bring her back home. I see that Wen Guifei want to send her back home. Good idea. Such people around the palace would just make me tired.'' He patted his head and turned around to leave her completely flabbergasted.

But the later story about her bad conduct became a reason to point at her and cause her family to send her one year to the monastery to pray until the rumours don't calm down.

Inside the room, mother and son sat and drank tea together. Wen Guifei could see the heavy expression on his face. ''What is going on?''

''Lan family is an old family. Even tho they don't have any accomplishments for many years, but they are literati and many scholars highly regard them for their simplicity and good bearing. Their pure and completely devoted respect towards the Empire is something no other family have.''

''But what has that to do with us?''

''In few months, their sentence will be gone and they will be given back their names and lands. Lan Lian must heal slowly. Listening to the Taiyi she will soon recover her voice. Until her voice and body are not recovered she is to be protected.''

''Why don't I appoint her to be my personal maid?''

''No. In that case she has to stay by your side many more years. She is about to be in marriageable age. She cant miss that. And if I take care well about her, then Lan family might set a few good words later.''

''Son, did you change your idea?''

''Mother. Fuhuang will appoint our eldest brother as Crown Prince at the end of the year. Do not make any movements against this decision or we might die even before knowing what happened. You know he is actually a calm man, but if you make him angry...''

She nodded but then looked at him.

''Then why?''

''Crown Prince is the one that found the evidence about Lan family innocence. If I save a few more members before he presents the evidence to Emperor, I might have a chance in future to live normally. Mufei. After he gets crowned you will be able to leave the palace and live finally with me. Then you can finally travel without worry. I plan to travel to the southern parts and take you with me.''

He knew her greatest wish. To travel through Dalan Empire and see all the things people were talking about. She rose her head towards him and smiled brightly.

''That... would be my wish come true. Let's support him. Then we can leave faster.'' This place was like a cage for her. Luckily she had weak health and summer heat was really devastating to her, so the Emperor gave her permission to leave the palace and live in the Summer Palace. Change of the palaces made her feel lively absolutely every time.

''I will be leaving to Summer Palace. Will you visit me?''

''Of course. Mufei, let's hope everything goes smoothly.''

When he left her room, he sighed. She gave up on the Emperor long time ago. They were childhood sweethearts, but do to the war and few unfortunate events he was pushed to mary daughter of an General to have his full support.

Both women were clearly in love with him and somewhat accepted each other but then more and more and more people entered the palace and she became just colder and colder. The only thing that still connected them was him.

The Empress never slighted her in anything and even gave her many things when he was born as they were the first women by his side. But other women, she clearly hated to the bone. Luckily Empress gave birth to the son and he will be crowned as Crown Prince.

Min Wang sighed. Seeing all the messy things in place and his own fu, he was stirred. He wished he could kick out all those women out his place, but for now, it was impossible. Too many eyes watching him.

He then thought about the beaten face of the Luo girl and his face became ice cold. Some people really moved too much in the fu. He actually appointed her in his own courtyard, how did she become a servant in Wang Fai's yard? He must find out...