The escape

Your highness, your highness…

What is it Yang Mei?

Is morning already, today you actually overslept, I didn't wake you up because you came back late last night.

Then you should let me sleep more.

No your Highness, you should wake up and yesterday where were you, his majesty was looking all over for you?

Yesterday I went out to get some fresh air, I feel suffocated in this palace and what does he want now?

His majesty send eunuch Mo to delivered a message for you.

What is it?

He said "Is the lanterns festival in two days, the whole royal family will accompany you to the lake oracle's and after that you will be grounded for one month to repent for what you have done.

He also said I should tell you "he knew you were lacking on your studies so you will also copy scriptures as punishment.

What? Oh no this is a disaster…

What happened my lady, why did you scream like that?

Nothing I just had a nightmare.

What did you just say; the whole royal family is coming with me, even the empress dowager?

No your Highness, you know the empress dowager doesn't leave longevity hall but the empress is coming along, Yang Mei replied.

So father is doing this so I don't sneak out again fine, I have already gotten use to be grounded and there is nothing new in copying mantras, sutras or copying scriptures but I promise Lu Qian Feng to meet him by the shore.

What now, what should I do, father has put me in a dilemma?

Hmmmm Yang Mei, go tell his majesty, I'm not going and he can ground me forever if he wants.

I rather be grounded forever than to be accompanied by the royal family and I don't want any visitors in my courtyard either.

Your highness, are you still angry with his majesty?

But...

Yang Mei, go tell him!!

Okay, your Highness.

Now I can finally escape successfully, the whole palace will be wondering why I refused but while the drama is ongoing, I can have the time to escape through the backyard without anyone's detection.

But Yang Mei... if I escape through the backyard again, his majesty will punish her severely this time and I don't know for how long I will be away this time.

I can't let Yang Mei be punished again and again because of me but I have to leave to help Lu Qian Fang find the clues in the Chen's residence.

How will I do both things at once?

How? Oh I'm really trapped this time.

Trap? Oh yes the underground tunnel.

I never once went out through that tunnel before because is uncle Li's protection shield and also because I can't risk his majesty finding that tunnel.

But now I have to take that risk for my friends.

Speaking of friends, I never thought that I will have a ghost as a friend nor help prove someone's innocence.

Is true what they say "life is unpredictable"

Did she say that?

Fine!!

I was trying to pacify her but she is being this insolent, his majesty said.

You have spoiled her too much, look at Ming Xi she is a dignified lady among all the ladies in the capital but her…You have always pampered her that is why she is behaving like this your majesty, the empress said.

Fine since she made her mind to be grounded then pass my order, the second princess is not allowed to leave her palace without my permission.

Yes your majesty.

What did she said? The first princess asked.

She said… answered maid Ru Min

But why?

I don't understand what is wrong with this Ling Xian, she keep causing trouble and I thought she loves going out so she should be happy with father's arrangement however, why did she gave up the idea of going to the lake oracle's?

Something is wrong for sure.

I don't know that for sure your highness, maid Ru Min replied however, the little princess has always been mischievous and mysterious but she has never been a klutz.

I'm certain this is a new move for sure, she is being inconspicuous again,the first princess said.

Again?

Yes, I suddenly have a reminisced of the first time she sneak out is because of lanterns festival...

She is someone who can be very adamant and settle leisurely on a believe even if it's wrong.

She never budged easily without a reason but this move I don't know for sure.

This is indeed an unsolved mystery and I have a feeling a storm is rising, the first princess replied.

Whatever might happened, it has nothing to do with us', maid Ru Min said.

I hope so but this time I have a very bad feeling about this', the first princess said.

I feel very unease like the storm will shook the whole royal palace, Ming Xi thought to herself.

Your highness, what have you done? Asked Yang Mei.

Now we made his majesty angry.

The whole palace is talking about it right?

Yes your highness, and not only that his majesty passed an order to send the imperial guards to guard your palace.

News spreads like wildfire, Ling Xian said.

Yang Mei… Yes your highness.

Will you do me a favor?

I will do anything you want your highness. Don't come to my chamber anymore.

Why your highness, did I do anything wrong?

No you didn't. But… No ifs or buts, it's better if you don't know, I don't want to drag you into this mess.

Your highness we have gone through many ups and downs together, we can get through this one as well.

Yes, but this time is different, is better not to get you involved.

How is it different?

The enemy is the same, the palace is the same and regarding his majesty, he has always forgiven you even when you sneak out.

You won't understand Yang Mei.

Then make me understand your highness.

Yang Mei, I never once requested anything from you but this time I am begging you not to make it difficult for me please.

So in your highness's eyes I am nothing but a burden right? Burden… you said you are a burden, oh really!!

Not once have I ever considered you a burden. In my eyes you are more than a friend to me but more like an older sister because apart from my mother you were the only one to see my pain, to help me, to support and to love me.

You know the situation in the palace don't you and how we both suffered, before you came my suffering is worst than now.

My father all he ever cared about was being the emperor and the people of Great Tang Empire.

After my mother's death, he filled his harem with women of different backgrounds.

I used to say that maybe is because he misses our mother but in fact he has already forgotten her.

And my sister, she only cares about competing with me, bullying me and snatching my things.

Whenever his majesty rewarded my palace, she and the empress will send the servants to snatch it away, leaving me with nothing.

She has always been instigated by the empress and you know not once has she ever called me sister but she always called me names.

The harem no one really cared about anyone, all they want is his Majesty's affection, before I once thought consort Yu was a good person, she tried to get close to me because I hated the empress, she thought I will help her get rid of the empress, so she will be the empress but the empress was too devious and vicious not to notice her little schemes.

She trapped her by pretending to be her loving sister and gave her his Majesty's Jude Ruyi Scepter and accused her of stealing it from her chamber, she dare not say anything because it wouldn't do her any good so she shifted the blame onto her servant and had him executed.

The empress has only warned her by accusing her so she had to give up and forget the idea of becoming the empress.

All those concubines, consorts and ladies in the harem are not better than the empress if they have the same power as her, they will do worst.

They are all power hungry women and can use anybody to their advantage.

Then the empress dowager, since the late emperor's death she has been mourning in longevity hall and chanting mantras in honor of her husband and the worldly peace.

The empress dowager has never liked my mother, she used to say my mother; seduces her son and made him forget his duty and obligations towards the people of Tang but after my mother's death, she disposed her hatred for my mother, she even despises this empress more than my mother and rumors had it that every year on lanterns festivals she light a lantern in the memory of my mother.

My family emerges from the so called royalty and to the commoners; the royal family is the ideal family.

So you tell me, this is how a perfect family is right?

The commoners envied us because we have a luxurious palace and a lavish lifestyle but we lack love, harmony, happiness and unity which they clearly have.

They say "every family has problems but blessings for those who skill have a family".

"Sometimes our strength lies beneath the surface or inside the core" but the royal family is different, everyone here has ulterior motive, hidden agenda or rebellious reasons for staying like my uncle…No one really has a cleared conscious here; everyone is opportunist and cunning.

Yeah, their king is knowledgeable, he provides them with a prosperous nation.

However, from my perspective, he is not the emperor but my father and every individual wish for good parents.

My mother is dead but I still have a father, who after my mother's death secluded himself from worldly attachments or should I say devoted himself to his subjects and harem.

I know, I'm not a filial daughter like my sister, I don't have any filial piety towards his harem and I am not a boy to be his successor but I still wish for a loving father.

Motherless child… Remember the second princess asked. I have heard these words ever since I can remember.

My sister has the empress so nobody calls her that but I'm like an urchin, before you came I was just a forgotten princess without ends meets.

No your Highness, you still have me, your sister, his majesty, and… Duke Li.

Uncle Li, I almost forgot him, he taught me martial arts.

I once told my father that I wanted to joined in the Tang training academy but he forbid me and prohibited me from learning anything that has to do with martial arts.

Uncle Li secretly taught me and he trained me in both martial arts and military strategies.

Uncle Li?

Yes. But his majesty's brother is Lu Ying Tang right, how did duke Li become your uncle?

They are some ties that are not based on blood but are bonded by stronger forces, which is love and compassion.

Uncle Li is my father's military strategist and his childhood friend but after uncle Lu Ying Tang came back to the capital, my father rewarded uncle Li as the Duke but he said "he wishes to leave for the military outpost and guard the broader in uncle Lu Ying Tang's place".

His majesty granted it and he was rewarded to leave for the military outpost.

After he was rewarded, he built me a protection shield and he said I should hide in it if anyone tries to bully me in the future.

Back then, I wondered why he would said that, doesn't he remembered, he taught me Kung Fu but before he leave he told me that ''the reason why his majesty forbid me from practicing martial arts was because of the first king of Tang Dynasty's rules but I saw a warrior princess in you so I taught you everything I knew and I hope one day you will use it to do good '' and after that I never heard from him again.

Please trust me your Highness, I won't ever betray you nor forsake you.

Of course I trust you but this is dangerous and you have already suffered so much because me.

Your highness please… Okay, the second princess said.

Yang Mei will remain adamant but for her own safety, I simply can't let her know what I'm about to do otherwise, it will hinder my plans and after I am gone father will find out, he will questioned her although Yang Mei is honest but she can't lie to his majesty.

what if that evil witch comes to torture her again after I'm gone?

I just don't understand why the empress is after Yang Mei all the time, maybe because Yang Mei is serving at my palace or because she is the only servant that willingly accept me as a master.

All others refuses to serve at my palace but only Yang Mei didn't, I must protect her in return for her royalty.

When I am gone, no one can save her if they come again to bully her so I must keep her safe even after I am gone.

please forgive me Yang Mei, but I can't drag an innocent soul like you into this mess and endangered your life.

what I'm about do, I'm not sure if I can survive myself and even if I don't survive at least I know you will remember me.

Yang Mei? Yes!

Do you remember my underground tunnel?

The one you used for practicing?

No, the second one, there is a hidden passage there that leads to outside the palace.

That is how I always manage to sneak unnoticed without the detection of the guards.

So, what do you need me to do, your Highness?

I need you to go to the imperial kitchen to pretend to prepare breakfast for me, and when you come back scream as loud as you can.

But why?

That is because before you come back, I will leave the royal palace and if the guards ask what happened; tell them I escaped, they will go and tell his majesty.

His majesty will come to my courtyard, he will investigate and even interrogated you, just said you don't know okay?

Yang Mei will never betrayed me, she would rather suffers, I will have to leave some clue behind so his majesty wouldn't suspect Yang Mei. She thought.

Silence embarked between them and she knew she disagrees with whatever she said but she still has to keep it from her.

Yang Mei if his majesty asked tell him you gone to prepared breakfast and when you came back I was gone.

Okay?

I can't take you with me, Please take care of yourself.

Don't be sad okay...

For how long this time?

I don't really know but I promise when I come back, I will take you to eat the delicious foods in the capital and I will get you married to the man you love.

okay deal?

Will you come back for me your Highness?

Yes I will Yang Mei.

Your highness, take care of yourself, I won't be there to serve you, so please be careful, okay?

Okay, you too Yang Mei.

Where are you going ? The imperial guards asked.

I'm going to prepare her Highness's breakfast for her.

Fine, they said.

Hahahah... Your master has screwed up again and again she is being grounded again, the servants in the imperial kitchen mocked Yang Mei.

So what, Yang Mei said.

Both you and your so called master are pathetic, they said.

Don't you dare talk bad about her Highness, do you all think his Majesty wouldn't kill you all and your family if he finds out about all you have done to the princess?

She is a princess his Majesty's daughter and you all are just servants to the royal palace.

Please, p..please help...

Why are crying?

What happened? They guards asked

Tell us why you are crying and what happened, they said.

Is...is her Highness, she gasped and replied.

What happened to her Highness and where is she? They asked.

Answer, they shouted.

I don't know, I just came back from the imperial kitchen and found her Highness is missing.

Please find her highness, I'm very worry about her, what if she is in trouble.

How is this possible, we have been guarding outside, no one was in or out except you, so tell the truth where is her Highness?

I really don't know, I have no idea and you all see me going to the imperial kitchen...

Let inform his majesty and you guys stay with her until we come back, okay.

Your Majesty, your majesty...

His majesty has attended morning court and can't be disturbed, said eunuch Mo.

Please inform his majesty that the second princess has escaped.

What!! Didn't his majesty put you guys in charged of guarding the princess?

Yes, and we did but somehow she escaped.

Please inform his majesty.

Your majesty, eunuch Mo whispered in his Majesty's ear; the second princess has escaped.

What? Everyone in the imperial court, heard his Majesty's angry voice and his majesty told eunuch Mo to dismissed everyone .

How did she escaped, didn't I told you all to guard her?

We did your majesty but the second princess seem to vanished into thin air, without any trace.

Who was with her?

Nobody except for her maiden and she also went to the imperial kitchen to prepare food for her highness.

Okay let's go to her palace.

What happened? The empress asked.

His majesty is going to the second princess's palace, her servant madam Mu said.

What, why is his majesty going there? Because she has escaped again.

If his majesty see her chamber and that woman then...?

Let's go to her chamber too.

His majesty has arrived, the eunuchs said.

Greetings your majesty, Yang Mei said.

She...

What happened and where is the princess? Asked eunuch Mo.

The princess is missing and I don't know where she is, Yang Mei replied.

How dare you lied to his majesty?

I..I really don't know.

The empress has arrived, the servants said.

Your majesty!!

Empress why is this palace different from others?

Well your majesty, you know Ling Xian's character she doesn't like lavish things, the empress said.

Yang Mei looked at the empress with a surprising gaze and smirked.

His majesty saw the smirked and look away not wanting the empress's attention.

Eunuch Mo pass my order, the second princess should be track down no matter what and no words of her escaped should be leaked outside the palace and I want this palace secured and seal.

Okay your majesty but what about this maid?

Send her to serve at my palace before her master comes back. Yes your majesty.

But your majesty, she....