White lie under the sky

The next few days, Lady Peng comes to Banou to report that the she had write to the emperor but there is no reply for him. Thus everything is quiet now. However he keep asking for intimate information like what Li Cheng like about her etc etc. Lady peng ask Banou how to reply the emperor on this. Hence everyday afternoon, they sit together to write white lies to reply the emperor. While outside Wang MoMo have asked some male servants to pretend to clear the flowers that have fallen on the streets. Wang MoMo look around while directing them, she look at every corner the vendors and beggars who are sitting near the junctions to the mansion. Min Min who sometimes bring the daughter of Banou outside will look at Lady Peng's maid where she stop at to deliver the letter. Both of them report to Banou. Meanwhile Banou have talk to Li Cheng in the evenings about what happen in the mansion. He too doesn't understand what his brother the emperor is doing. Whatever he is thinking or doing, they will continue the white lie. 

The following week, Li Cheng leave for camp. Li Nan and his brothers have pass the test thus they are going to their new division with their father. Banou watch her sons ride off together with Li Cheng, It feels like she have accomplish something for her family and she is proud of them. All four men ride off on their horses with the dust flying in the air. She wave and finally enter the mansion. Her days are once again quiet. She have arrange Lady Peng and her maid to do sewing or gardening. After the agreement talk, their lives in the mansion is rather peaceful. Lady Peng is less aggressive and less upset. However Banou still keep her distance away from her and talk only when needed to do so. Still Banou have Wang MoMo to keep watch if Lady Peng does something strange. Two weeks later, the one doing strange thing is not Lady Peng but her maid. Banou have her maid punished by locking her up in the woodshed. Lady Peng cry and beg for forgiveness. 

"Lady Peng, do you know why she goes through my box of letters from my father? Also she took my letter that i was about to deliver out."

"Consort Princess! I Don't know! I am sure she have been brainwash for whatever the reason is! Please!!"

She is on her knees and she walk to Banou on them. She hold on to Banou's skirt. Banou reach out and help her up. 

"It's not my intention to humiliate anyone. I too don't want you to beg for another. I too don't kill another human because it's against my believes. So don't cry. Can i trust you that you are kept in the dark what she is doing?"

"I truly do not know anything Consort Princess!"

"Fine. Then i have Wang MoMo to bring you to the woodshed where she is lock in. Ask her on who's order is she acting on."

Lady Peng wipe her tears. 

"I will still lock her inn there for at least a day if she tell you why she is doing that. If not she can stay inside there till she talks."

Lady Peng bow and walk out together with Wang MoMo. Aylin who is in the room talk in their language.

"My princess, you know who she is acting on order. Why..."

"Sometimes, i need to show them that i am merciful too. If i need to protect myself my family from outsiders. I have to peel layer by layer. I am sure soon the emperor will summon me into the palace. He is my brother-in-law but he never see me as family as i never interact with him. Maybe it's time i have to show him that i will standby the royal family." 

Around dinner time, Lady Peng's maid kill herself in the woodshed without telling Lady Peng anything. Banou have arrange a small funeral to be carry out at the funeral house. She have given a silver tael to the coroner to certified that she died of illness. Thus the death record in the Yamen will be less complicated. Lady peng cry for her friend who grow up with her. They often dream of a life where they will be married with honour. All their dreams are shatter when the royal guards came to their mansion and arrested all the family members. She watch her father and brothers in chains are march to a land where life is hard. It's a one way with no return unless the emperor pardon them. While her mother, her sister and her including their maids and some other house servants are send to the Royal Music academy. Her sister a ten years old was forced to serve a seventy year old man. He was the highest bidder for a young virgin girl. That morning she is found died on the bed with excess bleeding while that old man is still living. Her mother was force to serve an old friend of her father. She cry and ask for help. Father's friend agree by visiting her everyday so that she doesn't suffer like the other woman. He gave a big bag of silver, every month to the in-charge to book for her mother and Lady Peng. He said this is the only way he can help his long time friend. Thus Lady Peng and her mother, Lady Lu stay away from serving other men. Their servants and maids are serving different men every night and return beaten or crying in pain. A few years later, a man came to visit. He gave her everything she need in her daily life. Her maid was too spare from serving other men. They were given special privileges along with other girls. They are to sing, dance and play music for him whenever he visits. They are the special ones. Later her mother pass away in the royal music academy. While other servants and maids some die some are sold to be concubines. She remain there and be faithful to her master, later when she learn who he is, she becomes more obedience.