Chapter 37: Concubine Shi's death

"Childe! Childe! Something bad has happened," shouted Yu Xuan. "Yu Xuan, haven't I told you that you must do everything calmly and thoughtfully?" I scolded " Calm down and try again,". Yu Xuan grabbed the kettle and poured himself some tea, gulping it down he began speaking "Chang Le Jun Zhu*(1) wrote a letter to us and Madam Shi died yesterday, she hanged herself and they're all waiting for you to come back to decided on what to do,".

Jotting straight up I shouted, "why didn't you say this earlier? hurry up and tell Chun Hua and Shang Gu we're leaving right now,". "Didn't you just say to calm down?" muttered Yu Xuan as he ran off to find the other two. "Are you two following? We're heading there with Qing Gong," I asked directing my question to Shang Guan Tao and Shang Guan Yue as they nodded heading off to grab their weapons*(2).

Half an hour later we were all gathered outside with Chun Hua holding a small bag. "Shang Gu take Chun Hua with you," I ordered "Miss Chun Hua please do not let go of my hand," commanded Shang Gu. After much hassle, we finally set off and arrive very quickly. Shang Guan Yue and Shang Guan Tao set off to their own house, as they flew off I gently knocked on the door. Tian Xia opened the door crying "Gege you're finally back. Niang she ate poison and died," whilst hiccupping every once in a while, I wrapped her into my arm in a state of a console as she crew deeper into my sleeves. "Tian Xia that's enough you're getting your brother's shirt wet. And where are your manners?" ranted Tian Yao as she step out from behind the door. "Tian Yao," I warned as Tian Xia stepped beside Tian Yao and curtsied. "hmm," I muttered, "Where is Tian An?". "Ge I'm here," interrupted Tian An as she slowly walked her way here curtsying she walked over to my side and whispered, "the third princess tried to make a ruckus after you left demanding to see the account books but I stopped her in time,". I walked in with Tian An as everyone followed me in "Accountant books? What does she want with those?" I queried as Tian An shook her head. As we entered the main hall everyone sat down in their normal seats whilst Chun Hua stayed standing. "Tian Ming greets ge ge," he greeted as I nudged him to sit down. "Do we need to call Princess Chiu Yeung?" he asked as I shook my head ' this is a family matter, no need for her to participate'.

"Let me introduce this is Miss Chun Hua who is our long lost sister," I introduced. "Since she is back then the hegemony order should be changed. Chun Hua would be known as the third young miss after Tian Yao for she hasn't received a title yet. I will ask his majesty about that matter. Lastly, what happened in the two days I've been gone?" I asked as Tian Ming and Tian Xia's heads slumped down whereas Tian An and Tian Yao looked infuriated. "Ge I'm so sorry for what my Ah Niang did to Imperial Mother," commented Tian Ming as he held out a letter addressed to me and Tian Ming. "Niang didn't come out of her room the whole day you were gone so when the servants went inside her room they found mother already dead with foam coming out of her mouth, we immediately called a doctor but he said that mother had been dead for a good 4 hrs. When we found mother this morning there was a letter their address to me and you. I opened it and I'm so sorry Ge. I know that my mother did can never be forgiven and I don't hope for your forgiveness but please don't take it out on Tian Xia she still needs to marry into the Shang Guan family," he explained as I ripe open the letter.

It explains that Concubine Shi was devastated that her husband died and wanted to be buried with him. She had wished for me to look after her children, but what caught my eye was the bottom part of the letter where she explained deeply how she drug my father one night to get married into this family. Also how she poisoned my mother... So Shang Gu's information had been correct. But how did she even find these herbs? And yet she left her letter with the words gravely sorry for your loss. Would saying sorry revive my mother? No, it would not, you killed my mother and I would never forget nothing can change that fact. But since you've died than let this matter rest. But you would never be able to bury next to my father, mother wouldn't want to see you. You should be happy I will look after Tian Xia and Tian Ming after all they are my siblings...

"Tian Ming, are you threatening me?" I asked "No I dare not," he stammered. "Your mother would never be buried with father. Father is a Prince and he would usually be buried in the royal ancestral Hall however he requested to be buried with my mother and mother is buried in the Snow Yard where father and she was the happiest. After mother died father Snow Yard only left the cherry blossom tree above their gravestones. They will be buried there. I hope father would be happy there," I muttered. "Ge wouldn't you move houses?" asked Tian An. "Even if I were to move this house will still be ours," I replied. "How dare you guys not call me to participate in this meeting?" screamed Chiu Yeung. "Meeting adjoined," I announce whilst walking out completely ignoring Chiu Yeung because as far as I'm concerned as long as we act in love in front of elders then everything will be fine, why would I act in front of my sisters who know the truth? Though I suppose she has gotten slimmer after being a vegetarian for 2 months.

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After dinner:

"Yu Xuan is there any follow up on where Tian Jing is?" I asked "It's been two months,". "No Master, it seems as though after she left Emei Sect there is no news of her. I even searched for Sun Mu Chen*(3) but to no avail apart from him running away with Tian Jing Jun Zhu," he replied. I banged the table furiously " USE HAN SHANG YUE'S NAME TO FIND TIAN JING. ALSO SEND NEWS THROUGH JIANG HU THAT I LI TIAN YOU IS GONNA GIVE THE PERSON WHO FINDS TIAN JING. 100 GOLD INGOT*(4) AS THEIR REWARD!" I shouted. Tian Jing, you better arrive home yourself before 100 days are over.

Glossary:

1. Chang Le Jun Zhu is Tian An's official title, which means always happy.

2. Shang Guan Tao uses gu qin kept in his special pouch and Shang Guan Yue uses a flute.

3. The nephew of the Emei Sect leader who fell in love with Tian Jing however both sides of their family did not agree for them to be together as people from the Imperial Court and Jiang Hu are not meant to mingle. So they eloped.

4. Currency used in Dong Yue.